Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Suy Niệm các bài đọc Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm các bài đọc Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Tin Mừng hôm nay, cho chúng ta thấy chính Chúa Giêsu cũng đã đang phải gặp những vấn đề khó khăn tương tự tiên tri Jeremiah trong bài đọc thứ Nhất, Vì Chúa Giêsu cũng bị người Do Thái thời bấy giờ chống đối và tìm cách hãm hại khi Ngài hành thi hành sứ vụ rao giảng Cứu Rỗi mà Chúa Cha đã trao giao phó cho Ngài. Đây là vấn để dễ làm cho chúng ta thất vọng, dễ gây ra cho chúng ta sự nản lòng và mất niềm tin.
          Như vậy, có lẽ Chúa Giêsu đã có sự cảm nhận như thế trong ngày hôm nay về thái độ của chúng ta, vì thế Ngài đã thách thức mọi người chúng ta hãy nhìn vào những gì mà Ngài đã làm, những gì mà chỉ có Thiên Chúa mới có thể làm được; để rồi chúng ta sẽ đưa ra quyết định riêng cho mỗi người chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy xem xét, kiểm tra cuộc sống của chúng ta và hành vi mà chúng ta đã đối xử với người khác: Chúng ta hãy tự hỏi chính mình là: chúng ta có mang ấn dấu của Chúa Giêsu nơi chúng ta và và mang trong lòng chúng ta cái sức mạnh của lòng nhân từ và đầy thương xót của Ngài?
               Hình ảnh và sự hiện diện của Chúa Giêsu trong mỗi người chúng ta như thế nào với những ân sủng Ngài mang đến cho mỗi người chúng ta? Những gì khác biệt Ngài đã thực hiện trong cuộc sống của chúng ta và những người chung quanh?.Chúng ta không thể “phát hiện ra” hay phân tích được Chúa Giêsu, Nhưng chúng ta chỉ có thể chấp nhận và cảm nghiệm được Ngài mà thôi.
               Lạy Chúa, Xin ban cho chúng con có lòng tin vững chãi vào Chúa và được sống trong tình yêu vô biên của Ngài. .
 
Saturday 4th Sunday of Lent
Jeremiah was not a happy or joyful prophet. He was reluctant from the start, and as his ministry unfolded, we can see why. He was constantly opposed — and more than that, those in power actually tried to have him killed. There was not much cause for rejoicing, and he even tried to quit a couple of times, but the Spirit of God in him would not leave him in peace. In his lament about the plot against his life, he reaffirmed his trust in God. Alone he could not accomplish his mission, but with God all things were possible. We should remember this when we feel discouraged, especially when we are doing God’s work. It’s not about us; it’s all about God.
               Jesus met the same sort of resistance in his ministry. It must have been discouraging and disheartening to face such unbelief and hardheartedness — and he would probably feel the same way today about the attitudes of many Christians. He challenged people to look at his record — the things that he was doing, which only God could do — and then make their decision. We can examine our own lives and those of others: do they bear the marks of Jesus and his compassionate power?
               What sort of presence has Jesus graced us with? What difference has He made? Jesus cannot be ‘figured out’ or analyzed; He can only be accepted and experienced.  Lord, deepen my trust in You.
 
Saturday 4th week of Lent
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” John 7:46–49
Hopefully the Pharisees mentioned above went through a deep interior conversion before they died. If they did not, then their day of particular judgment would have been shocking and frightening to them. The greatest act of love ever known was God becoming one of us, being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, growing up in the household of Saint Joseph, and eventually beginning His public ministry by which the saving truth of the Gospel was proclaimed so that all may come to know God and be saved. And it was of this act of perfect love given to us by God that the Pharisees attacked and called those who believed in it “deceived” and “accursed.”
Though the Pharisees do not offer us much by way of inspiration, they do provide us with many lessons. In the passage above, the Pharisees model for us one of the most common tactics of the evil one. In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that when a person is moving from a life of sin to a life of holiness, the evil one will attack in various ways. He will try to unsettle you and cause an undue anxiety about serving God, he will try to sadden you with an unexplained sorrow, put obstacles in your way of virtue causing you to feel overwhelmed and think you are too weak to live a good Christian life of virtue, and he will tempt you to lose your peace of heart by doubting God’s love or His action in your life. It seems clear that this attack by the Pharisees also has these goals.
Again, though this may not appear “inspiring,” it is very useful to understand. The Pharisees were vicious in their attacks, not only to Jesus but also upon anyone who began to believe in Jesus. They said to the guards who were impressed by Jesus, “Have you also been deceived?” This was clearly the evil one at work through them trying to intimidate the guards and anyone who dared believe in Jesus.
But understanding the tactics of the evil one and his messengers is of great value, because it helps us reject the lies and deceptions spewed out at us. Sometimes these lies come from individuals and are directed directly at us, and sometimes the lies are more universal, coming through the media, the culture and even the government, at times.
Reflect, today, upon the distasteful and bitter words of these Pharisees. But do so to help yourself understand the tactics the evil one often takes as you seek greater holiness in life. Be assured that the closer you get to God, the more you will be attacked. But do not be afraid. Identify any personal, social, cultural or even governmental attack for what it is. Have confidence and do not be deterred as you seek to follow Christ more completely every day.
My divine Judge of all, at the end of time You will establish Your permanent Kingdom of truth and justice. You will reign over all and will bestow Your mercy and justice on all. May I live fully in Your truth and never be deterred by the attacks and lies of the evil one. Give me courage and strength, dear Lord, as I always trust in You. Jesus, I do trust in You
 
Saturday 4th week of Lent 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your only begotten Son to save the world. In all things, you
manifest your infinite love for humanity. You did not abandon us when we deserved death.
Instead, you sent your Son to redeem us, to lift the ancient curse, and to restore us as your children.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Christ from David’s Family: During the week-long Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus began to teach in the Temple area feast. He demonstrated a deep knowledge of scripture without having attended a rabbinic school in Jerusalem. He also addressed the concern of the people that he worked on the Sabbath to cure a paralytic (John 5:1-18). During his teaching, the people began to wonder whether Jesus was the Prophet-like-Moses or the Messiah (the Christ). One issue was that for Jesus to be the Messiah, he had to come from David’s family and be born in Bethlehem as prophesied in Micah 5:1. The Gospel of John indicates that the crowds were seemingly ignorant of the circumstances of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and also his Davidic lineage. This is something we know from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. John alludes to this but also teaches that Jesus has a divine and eternal origin. He is the Word, eternally begotten of the Father, who became flesh in the fullness of time (John 1:1-18).
2. The Galilean Prophet: When the guards, sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees to arrest Jesus, returned without Jesus, they professed their admiration for Jesus’ teaching and words. The Pharisees and religious authorities tried to downplay the authority of Jesus’ teaching and accused the crowds of being accursed and ignorant of the Law of Moses. The Pharisees were adamant that Jesus violated the Sabbath rest by curing the paralytic on the Sabbath, during either the Feast of Pentecost or the Feast of Tabernacles the prior year. The Pharisees also addressed those in the crowds who thought Jesus was the Prophet. Earlier Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and proclaimed him “a teacher who has come from God” (John 3:2). Here, Nicodemus asks that the religious authorities follow the Law of Moses and listen to Jesus and find out what he is doing before condemning him (Deuteronomy 1:16-17). When the Pharisees responded to Nicodemus, they accused him of being ignorant of the fact that no prophet arises from Galilee. On the one hand, this is false since there were at least five northern prophets – Jonah, Nahum, Hosea, Elijah, and Elisha – all connected to the land known as Galilee. As well, Isaiah 8:23 actually prophesied that Galilee would see a great light (see Matthew 4:12-17). On the other hand, Jesus was born, not in Galilee, but in Bethlehem. This is something John’s readers know from Matthew’s Gospel.
3. The Lamb of God and the New Tree of Life: The Gospel proclaims Jesus as the Christ, the royal Son of David, sent by God to redeem his people. It also proclaims Jesus as the Prophet-like-Moses, who will teach the New Law of grace and truth. The First Reading, from Jeremiah, gives us two more Old Testament images that Jesus fulfills in his person. The first image is that of a lamb led to the slaughter. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who through his sacrifice on the Cross, takes away the sins of the world. As we saw in the Gospel, the Pharisees and chief priests were the ones who hatched plots against the Lamb. The second image is that of a tree. Those who hatched plots against the Lamb of God also sought to cut down the tree in its vigor. Jesus, we know, is the branch that shoots forth from the fallen stump of Jesse. Jesus will be cut down at his crucifixion, but rise again as the Tree of Life. The way to the old Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was blocked by the cherubim (Genesis 3:24). The way to the new Tree of Life has been opened up (Revelation 22:2). This new Tree of Life is Jesus, who gives us the Eucharist, the food of eternal life, as we journey toward heaven.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the Anointed One who reigns at the right hand of the Father. You bring the gift of eternal life and the joy of salvation to the world. Grant me this gift today and the joy that springs from love.
 
Saturday 4th week of Lent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your only begotten Son to save the world. In all things you manifest your infinite love for humanity. You did not abandon us when we deserved death. Instead, you sent your Son to redeem us, to lift the ancient curse, and to restore us as your children.
 Encountering the Word of God
 1. Who is Jesus? On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus proclaims to the crowds that he will give living water to those who believe in him. The promise of water recalls the figure of Moses, who struck the rock and provided water for the people of Israel in the desert. The new Moses-like figure of Jesus makes the crowd wonder: “Who is Jesus? Is he the prophet? Is he the Christ?” All four Gospels ask and seek to answer the question: “Who is Jesus?” Matthew takes up the question in Chapter 16 when Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they reply, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (16:13-14). Jesus inquires further: “And who do you say that I am?” Peter responds that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In Mark, Peter answers simply: “You are the Christ” (8:29). In Luke, Peter says that Jesus is “the Christ of God” (9:20). Peter also confesses in the Gospel of John that Jesus is “the Holy One of God” (6:69). The identification of Jesus with the Christ posed an insurmountable problem for the crowds: How can Jesus be the Christ if he is from Galilee? The Christ, they knew from the prophets, would descend from David and be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). What the crowds did not know was that, as Matthew and Luke relate, Jesus was in fact born in Bethlehem, the City of David (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4), and that Joseph – the spouse of Mary and the mother of Jesus – was a descendant of David and belonged to the royal house of David (Matthew 1:16, 20). The chief priests and the Pharisees were also ignorant of Jesus’ heavenly and earthly origins. They responded in anger to Nicodemus who suggested that they give Jesus a hearing and learn more about his person, his message, and the purpose of his actions.
 2. Is Jesus the Prophet? The crowds, the chief priests, and the Pharisees all mention “the prophet.” This refers to the prophecy about the return of Elijah before the coming of the Lord (Malachi 4:5-6), and the appearance of a prophet-like-Moses, promised in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18. Earlier in John’s Gospel, John the Baptist denied that he was the Christ, that he was Elijah, and that he was the prophet (John 1:20-21). John understood himself as the voice in the desert (Isaiah 40:3), who prepares the way of the Lord. Jesus, however, will identify John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Micha’s prophecy about the return of Elijah: “If you are willing to accept it, [John] is Elijah who is to come” (Matthew 11:14). In Acts 3:22, Peter will identify Jesus as the Prophet-like-Moses. Jesus, then, is both the Christ (Messiah) and the Prophet-like-Moses. The Pharisees are wrong to say that no prophet arose in Galilee. The prophet Jonah was from Galilee (2 Kings 14:25) and the prophet Hosea also was likely from Galilee. They might have meant, though, that “the prophet” does not rise from Galilee. Whether they meant “a prophet” or “the prophet,” the chief priests and the Pharisees are blind because they refuse to see and believe in Jesus. Nicodemus, however, is not blind. He appears three times in John’s Gospel. He first comes to Jesus by night and professes that Jesus is a teacher come from God. That night, Jesus taught Nicodemus three things: first, that entry into the kingdom of God is accomplished through being born anew; second, that this re-birth is not physical but rather spiritual and accomplished through the Spirit; third, that Jesus, the Son of man, must be lifted up in order to send the Spirit. In his second appearance, Nicodemus attempts to convince the Pharisees to listen to Jesus and give him a hearing. Finally, Nicodemus appears at Jesus’ burial and brings a mixture of myrrh and aloes. Nicodemus is a man of faith, who desires to learn from Jesus the Rabbi, to defend Jesus the Christ, and to honor Jesus the King.
 3. The Plot against Jesus: The first reading from Jeremiah reflects the attitude of the Pharisees who wanted to arrest and kill Jesus: they wanted to “destroy the tree with its fruit” and “cut him off from the land of the living.” They wanted Jesus’ name to be remembered no more. The death of Jesus, the gentle Lamb led to the slaughter, will produce the opposite effects: the Cross becomes the tree of life with supernatural fruit; Jesus destroys death by dying and wins eternal life for us; because of his obedience unto death, God highly exalts Jesus and bestows on him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:8-9). There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12).
 Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the Anointed One who reigns at the right hand of the Father. You bring the gift of eternal life and the joy of salvation to the world. Grant me this gift today and the joy that springs from love.
 
Saturday 4th week of Lent
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time you have given me to ponder your words of truth. Allow them to sink into the depths of my soul so that I can be forever faithful to you.
Encountering Christ:
Truth Can Surprise: What were the words of Christ that caused so much consternation? "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. As the Scripture says: 'He who believes in me—rivers of living water shall flow from his belly.'" Christ preached the truth and people reacted to him with awe, indifference, or hatred. Perhaps most surprising was the reaction of the guards, who were so amazed that they did not obey the Jewish leaders’ order to bring Jesus to them. “Never before has anyone spoken like this man,” they told their superiors. We don’t know if this was not a life-changing moment for the guards, but they had certainly taken the first step toward conversion: They listened with open hearts to the words of Christ and their hearts were moved.
Truth Can Be Rejected: The chief priests and the Pharisees held Jesus in contempt. Jesus was beneath them and the people who listened to him were beneath them. No message of any value could have come from someone of such lowly birth, so they thought. In their hatred, they went so far as to curse the whole crowd following Jesus and mock Nicodemus, one of their own. Anger closes minds and hardens hearts to the truth. “If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, ‘Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment’” (CCC 2303).
Truth Can Be Divisive: Nicodemus experienced a battle all Christians face. Nicodemus had met Christ personally, had conversed with Christ about seminal truths but, at this point, he was not quite ready to put his own neck on the line. His head told him one thing, while his heart told him differently. He did not defend Christ directly before the Pharisees, but quoted some legal statutes so that Christ might be able to defend himself. However, after Christ’s death, Nicodemus stepped forward, publicly admitting his allegiance to Christ (John 19:39). Nicodemus, like many of us, grew in his love for Christ over time, not all at once. What hope his story gives to those of us who pray that family and friends will one day draw close to Christ!
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you spoke and lived what was in your heart with perfect authenticity. You know that I love you. Please give me the courage to defend you when necessary. Please continue to draw those I love ever closer to you.
 
Suy Niệm các bài đọc Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Trong bào đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay, chúng ta nhận thấy Tiên tri Jeremiah không phải là một tiên tri có được cuốc sống hạnh phúc, vui vẻ và thích thú với sứ vụ của mình. Ngay từ lúv đầu, ông đã miễn cưỡng cuộc sống và sứ mệnh Tiên Tri mà Chúa đã gọi ông. Bởi vì ông đã liên tục bị chống đối, và hơn thế nữa, những người cầm quyền những người có thế lưc Do Thái thời bấy giờ đã cố gắng tìm cách để ám hại và giết ông ta Vì thế cuộc đời Tiên Tri của ông chẳng có gì để đáng thích thú và vui mừng, và thậm chí một vài lần ông đã, chán chường, bất mẵn và muốn tránh né cái sứ vụ thiêng liêng này , nhưng Thánh Thần của Thiên Chúa ở nơi ông ấy đã thục dẩy ông không thể bỏ cuộc được. Trong những than vãn đau khổ về những âm mưu của dân Israel nổi dậy để chống đối ông và đe doạ về sự sống của ông ta, ông đã tái khẳng định niềm tin của ông vào Thiên Chúa. Nếu như ,một mình ông, với sức con người chắc chắn ông ta sẽ không thể hoàn thành những nhiệm vụ mà Thiên Chúa đã giao phó cho ông ta, nhưng có Thiên Chúa, mọi sự đều hoàn tất hoàn chỉnh. Không có gì mà Thiên Chúa không làm được. Chúng ta nên nhớ điều này khi chúng ta cảm thấy chán chường và thất vọng, đặc biệt là những khi chúng ta đang làm công việc của Thiên Chúa. Vì đó không phải vấn đề riêng của chúng ta; Nhưng tất cả các vấn đề đó là vấn đề chung của Thiên Chúa.
            Tin Mừng hôm nay, cho chúng ta thấy chính Chúa Giêsu cũng đã đang phải gặp những vấn đề tương tự, cũng bị người Do Thái thời bấy giờ chống đối và tìm cách hãm hại Ngài, khi Ngài hành thi hánh sứ vụ rao giảng mà Chúa Cha đã trao cho. Thật đây là vấn để dễ làm cho chúng ta thất vọng, dễ gây ra sự nản lòng và mất niềm tin, như vậy, Chúa Giêsu có lẽ đã có sự cảm nhận như thế trong ngày hôm nay về thái độ của chúng ta và những kitô hữu khác. Chúa Giêsu đã thách thức mọi người chúng ta hãy nhìn vào những gì mà Ngài đã làm, những gì mà chỉ có Thiên Chúa mới có thể làm được. và rồi chúng ta sẽ đưa ra quyết định riêng của mỗi chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy xem xét, kiểm tra cuộc sống của chúng ta và hành vi đối xử với người khác: Chúng ta có mang ấn dấu của Chúa Giêsu nơi chúng ta và và mang trong lòng chúng ta cái sức mạnh của lòng nhân từ thương xót của Ngài?
            Hình Ảnh và sự hiện diện của Chúa Giêsu trong mỗi người chúng ta như thế nào với những ân sủng Ngài mang đến cho mỗi người chúng ta? Những gì khác biệt Ngài đã thực hiện trong cuộc sống của chúng ta và những người chung quanh?.Chúng ta không thể “phát hiện ra” hay phân tích được Chúa Giêsu, Nhưng chúng ta chỉ có thể chấp nhận và cảm nghiệm được Ngài mà thôi.
            Lạy Chúa, Xin ban cho chúng con có lòng tin vững chãi vào Chúa và được sống trong tình yêu vô biên của Ngài. .
Sat 5th April 2014  4th Sunday of Lent
Jeremiah was not a happy or joyful prophet. He was reluctant from the start, and as his ministry unfolded, we can see why. He was constantly opposed — and more than that, those in power actually tried to have him killed. There was not much cause for rejoicing, and he even tried to quit a couple of times, but the Spirit of God in him would not leave him in peace. In his lament about the plot against his life, he reaffirmed his trust in God. Alone he could not accomplish his mission, but with God all things were possible. We should remember this when we feel discouraged, especially when we are doing God’s work. It’s not about us; it’s all about God.
            Jesus met the same sort of resistance in his ministry. It must have been discouraging and disheartening to face such unbelief and hardheartedness — and he would probably feel the same way today about the attitudes of many Christians. He challenged people to look at his record — the things that he was doing, which only God could do — and then make their decision. We can examine our own lives and those of others: do they bear the marks of Jesus and his compassionate power?
            What sort of presence has Jesus graced us with? What difference has He made? Jesus cannot be ‘figured out’ or analyzed; He can only be accepted and experienced.  Lord, deepen my trust in You.
 
Reflection:
     "Doesn't Scripture say that the Christ is a descendant of David and from Bethlehem, the city of David?"  John 7:42
     The Scripture speaks of signs...what to expect. Most often we take them literally. We live by labels and the dictates of society. Sadly we fail to see that life is a mystery. Things happen which we could not understand. When it does we fall back on understanding literally what was written. Have we ever thought that God is God? He does not need to explain Himself to us. "I Am Who Am." The great "I Am" works in ways so much different from ours. We may not see it but He is true to His word. We cannot put God in a box. Neither can we do the same with life. Our faith has to transcend signs. We simply must believe that our Father is taking good care of us every microsecond of the day.
 
REFLECTION
During his time, Jesus encountered many people who changed their ways because of his teachings and examples. Silenced and dumbfounded by his great wisdom, many accepted his great authority as divine.
            Challenged by Jesus, those who accepted and recognized him as "the One" promised to establish the Kingdom of God, in whatsoever way they understood it. They were gradually molded and came to understand his love more deeply. However, pride blocked this offer of peace and love. It betrayed the truth and schemed to work against what was good and true. That was why the prophets who spoke the truth about the Messiah were killed. That was why Jesus was betrayed. It also happened to his apostles, who had witnessed the Gospel of Jesus.
            Today as in the past, the "Culture of Death," as Pope John Paul II called it, opposes all that the "Culture of Life" offers. Many will be deceived. That is why the followers of Christ must be unrelenting and vigilant in proclaiming what the Lenten season celebrates – the Love of God and His desire that we "turn from sin and believe in the Gospel."
 
REFLECTION
            The Gospel today has Jesus also caught up in controversy. The people in the crowd are divided, some thinking him to be the prophet or even the Messiah, others denying he is either, some even in favor of his arrest. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, who secretly became a disciple of Jesus, openly defends him, asserting that the law allows no one to be condemned without the facts having been established and without the accused being given a hearing. Nicodemus's colleagues, dismiss his legal advice with smothering ridicule.
            Jesus and Jeremiah are alike in several ways. Each is a prophet sent by God. Each preaches the truth as God wants it preached. Each enjoys a close relationship with God. Each turns to God in prayer when difficulties and problems arise. But it is here that Jesus and Jeremiah differ completely from each other - in their prayer.
            In the first reading, Jeremiah prays that God will take revenge on his enemies and that he be allowed to look on when God's vengeance consumes his enemies. Jesus will pray-and in this he is being true to his teaching-Jesus will pray for those who are crucifying him. This is the great difference between the two testaments. Jesus here brings Jewish Law to fulfillment. The desire for vengeance against an enemy is to be replaced by love for the enemy. The law of love is to dominate Christian thinking and behavior.
 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Qua Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được thấy cuộc tranh luận giữa những người Do Thái về nguồn gốc của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Ngài chưa bao giờ được học ở một trường nào đạo nào của người Do Tháivì thế, đâu là nguồn gốc về những kiến thức của NgàiNgài có đáng giá  đâuLàm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là một Đấng Thiên Sai (Messiah ) khi Ngài được sinh ra trong máng cỏ, hang lừa, được lớn lên trong một làng nhỏ bé NazarethLàm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là Con Thiên Chúa khi cha mẹ củ Ngài chính làông thợ mộc nghèo Giuse và bà Maria?
            Có lẽ chúng ta cũng chẳng khác gì hơn những người Do Thái thời bấy giờ, bởi vìchúng ta cũng có nhiều nghi vấn về Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Nếu Ngài thực sự là Con Thiên Chúa, tại sao Ngài không giúp  chúng ta? Tại sao những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta không được Ngài đáp lại và ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta muốn? Tại sao trongcuộc sống của chúng ta lại có rất nhiều đau khổ Còn kẻ thù của chúng ta thì thanh thản, có chức quyền cao, có tiền, có của??... Chúa Giêsu Kitô của chúng ta là ai? Có phải Ngài đến chỉ để ban cho chúng ta hạnh phúc và những ước mơ vật chất như chúng ta mong muốn?
             Chúa Kitô muốn cho chúng ta một kinh nghiệm của hạnh phúc ở giữa những nỗi đau khổ, hòa bình ở giữa những xung đột, tình yêu ở trong những sự thù hằnNhưng những ân sủng và  hồng ân đó sẽ mãi mãi bền lâu vì chúng thuộc về Đức KitôCon Thiên ChúaNhững gì  hạnh phúc, sung túc mà chúng ta muốn có ở trên cõi đời này có phải là niềm hạnh phúc thật và vĩnh cửu?
            "Lạy Thiên Chúa hằng hữu,  Chúa chính là ánh sáng của những tâm hồn mà biết Chúa là niềm vui của những tấm lòng hay những trái tim biết yêu Chúa là sức mạnh của những ý chí muốn phục vụ Chúa Xin Chúa ban cho chúngcon một tâm hồn mở rộng để nhận biết Chúa, để chúng con có thể thật lòng yêuChúa, và vì yêu mến Chúa mà chúng con có thể hoàn toàn biết sẵn sằng  phục vụ Chúa, Vì Chúa đã đem đến cho chúng con sự tự do hoàn hảo, trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta. "(Thánh Augustinô)
 
REFLECTION Friday 4th week of Lent
There is a discussion among the Jews about the origin of Christ. He has never been a pupil of the rabbis, so where is the source of his knowledge? Is he worth anything? How can he be the Messiah when he was born in Nazareth, an insignificant town? How can he be the Son of God when his parents are Joseph and Mary? We are not any different from the Jews because we, too, have many doubts about Christ. If he really is the Son of God, why doesn't he help me? Why are my prayers unanswered? Why are there a lot of suffering in my life?
Who is Jesus Christ for us? Is he there only to give us the happiness we want? Christ wants to give us an experience of happiness in the midst of woe, peace in the midst of conflict, love when there is enmity. These gifts last because they belong to Christ, the Son of God. What about the earthly happiness that we want – is this eternal?
 
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. John 7:1–210
The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was one of three great feasts during which the people made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem to commemorate God’s saving action in their lives. This particular feast was to commemorate the 40 years that the Israelites traveled through the desert and dwelt in tents, or booths, as they wandered and were led by Moses. Therefore, the feast is also referred to as the “Feast of Booths.” During the seven days of this feast, people would set up tents (booths) around the Temple area and live in them to commemorate the journey of their ancestors.
In the Gospel passage quoted above, we read that Jesus went up to the feast secretly. Saint Augustine explains that this means that though Jesus was present, the full revelation of His divine identity was hidden from many. He was physically there, but many did not know Who He was.
That particular year, when the feast was half over, Jesus appeared in the Temple area and began to teach. Many were amazed at His words, and others thought He was possessed. After teaching the people, there was much disagreement among them about our Lord’s identity. Jesus said to them, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” In that statement, Jesus essentially was saying that among those listening to Him, some had come to faith in Him and discovered His true identity as the Messiah, while others lacked the gift of faith and remained blind to Him. To them, His divine essence remained a secret.
In a symbolic way, Jesus’ presence at the Feast of Tabernacles reveals Him as the new Moses. It was Moses who led the people through the desert for 40 years toward the promised land while they dwelt in tents. Our Lord now took on that role of leading the people who were commemorating this 40-year journey by appearing in the Temple and pointing the people to Heaven, the true Promised Land.
Today, our Lord continues to lead His people through the journey of life by coming to each of us to teach us and to reveal His divine presence. Some listen and believe and continue on the journey. To them, the secrets of our Lord are revealed. Others do not believe and, as a result of their lack of faith, fail to discover the hidden presence of our Lord all around them.
Reflect, today, upon the image of Jesus coming to you during your long journey through the desert of this life. He initially comes to you in secret, veiled in His true essence. As He teaches you, He desires to lift that veil and reveal to You His true glory. He desires that you dwell with Him through prayer and remain attentive to His Word. As you gaze upon our Lord, reflect upon the question of how clearly you hear Him speak each day. He is here, with you always. But are you with Him? Do you hear Him, believe in Him, follow Him and serve Him? Do you allow Him to lead you every day toward His promises of new life? Allow our Lord to pitch His tent next to yours so that You will daily be attentive to His teaching and be led by Him to the glories of Heaven.
My hidden Lord, You came to reveal to all people Your burning love and invitation to eternal life. Please come and dwell with me during my journey through life, and open my mind and heart to all that You wish to reveal. May I know You fully and follow You to the Promised Land of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday 4th week of Lent 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, from the beginning you knew how history and your plan of salvation would unfold. You guide all things to their completion. Guide me with your Spirit so that I may accomplish your holy will and attain eternal life with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Feast of Tabernacles: In the Gospel of John, the Jewish feasts have an important role. Jesus is seen as bringing the feasts to fulfillment. For example, the old feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits, were all transformed by Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection and memorialized in the New Passover of the Eucharist. The feast of Pentecost, which commemorated the giving of the old Law, becomes the day when the Spirit of God descends upon the Church gathered around Mary. The grace of the Spirit enables us to live the New Law of Charity (John 13:34). The feast in today’s Gospel is that of Tabernacles. It commemorated the time of Israel in the desert, was a thanksgiving for the fall harvest, and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, when God would once again dwell with his people and gather the nations to worship. It was a feast of water and light. The priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out on the altar to symbolize the outpouring of God’s Spirit. During the feast, Jesus will declare himself as the source of living water and the one who pours out the Spirit. There was also a light ceremony that illuminated the Temple. It symbolized the pillar of fire that guided the people in the desert. During the feast, Jesus will declare himself as the Light of the World. 
2. Jesus’ Hour: Jesus went to the Feast of Tabernacles, not with the pilgrim crowds and his disciples, but in secret. Secrecy was necessary this time because, during a previous feast in Jerusalem, the Judeans tried to kill Jesus: “For this reason, the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God” (John 5:18). Something similar happens at this feast. The religious authorities tried to arrest Jesus and will later try to trap him. Secrecy was also necessary because Jesus’ family wanted him to use the feast to show himself to the world (John 7:4). But John points out that the hour of Jesus’ passion, death, and glorification had not yet come.
3. The Plot of the Wicked against the Son of God: The First Reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom, foretells the plotting of the religious authorities against Jesus: “The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: ‘Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training’” (Wisdom 2:12). The wicked religious authorities will doubt Jesus’ claim to be the “Son of God” and seek to put him to the test. They condemned Jesus to a shameful death, asking for crucifixion (John 19:15). The wickedness of the Pharisees blinded them (John 9:35-41). Instead of welcoming the Light of Christ and seeing with spiritual eyes of faith, they chose to remain in darkness.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your hour is one of love and suffering. You drank the bitter chalice of suffering so that you could save us from the curse of death. You did this out of love for your Father and all humanity. You did this out of love for me. I love you and welcome the chalice of suffering you offer to me.
 
Friday 4th week of Lent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, from the beginning you knew how history and your plan of salvation would unfold. You guide all things to their completion. Guide me with your Spirit so that I may accomplish your holy will and attain eternal life with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Opposition to Jesus: The Judeans, John tells us, were trying to arrest and kill Jesus. Earlier, in Chapter Five, John identified the reason for this opposition: “This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God” (5:18). Jesus is fully aware of the increasing opposition to his doctrine, to his miracles, and to his person. Instead of going with his disciples to the feast, Jesus chooses to go up to Jerusalem in secret. The occasion is the Feast of Tabernacles, an autumn feast of seven days that followed the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:33-38). The feast recalled the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert, celebrated God's presence with his Covenant people, and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. A pilgrimage to the Temple during this time was obligatory (Deuteronomy 16:13-15). The prophet Zechariah sees the day when all nations – and not just Israel – will travel to Jerusalem for the feast to worship the Lord (Zechariah 14:16-19). Jesus does not hide while he is in Jerusalem for the feast and instead preaches openly. He continues to preach his message about the Father sending him as the only begotten Son to save the world from sin and death.
2. The Thoughts of the Wicked: The passage from the Book of Wisdom characterizes the thoughts of those who sought to kill Jesus. The wicked say among themselves: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” In his teaching, Jesus often corrected the Pharisees’ misinterpretation of the law and their abuse of the law of Moses to cover their injustices. The liturgy today identifies the just one in the Book of Wisdom with Jesus in the Gospel of John. The wicked think that the just one only professes to know God but really does not; they think that the claim that God is his father is only a boast: “He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the Lord.” They do not know that Jesus is the just one who has true interior knowledge of God and who reveals his divine sonship through miraculous signs. Jesus reveals the Father to us and says today: “I know him, for I come from him and he sent me.” As Matthew writes: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (11:27).
3. Jesus’ Hour: In the Book of Wisdom, the wicked desire to test the just one to see if his doctrine is true and if he is the Son of God. They conspire to revile, torture, and condemn the just one to a shameful death. Their wickedness has blinded them to the truth of the just one’s claim. This is exactly what happens to Jesus on the night of Holy Thursday and on the afternoon of Good Friday. The Judeans in the Gospel try to arrest Jesus but are unable to lay a hand upon him, for Jesus’ hour had not yet come. This hour was first mentioned in Chapter Two of John’s Gospel when Mary told Jesus about the lack of wine. “Woman,” Jesus says, “my hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). Jesus’ hour arrives three years later when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. About this hour, Jesus will pray: “And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to his hour” (12:27).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your hour is one of love and suffering. You drank the bitter chalice of suffering so that you could save us from the curse of death. You did this out of love for your Father and all humanity. You did this out of love for me. I love you and welcome the chalice of suffering you offer to me.
 
REFLECTION
The Jews were already after Jesus, but still he went around his mission of teaching the people. He was so passionate with what he was doing that he did not mind if his life was in danger. All he knew was that he was doing the will of his Father. Some of the people who heard him recognized him. They knew his parents Joseph and Mary. They were surprised. They could not believe that the son of the carpenter could be the Messiah. Even though he was speaking with authority, they doubted the origin of his wisdom and miracles.
"A prophet is despised in his own country among his own relation and in his own house." (Mark 6:4) Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith among the people he knew, but he praised the faith of the centurion who did not doubt him – "In truth I tell you, no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this." (Mt. 8:10)
We can learn from the actions of the townspeople. They were quick to judge Jesus about his credibility. What standard did they use – his poor background? Just because he was the son of Joseph the carpenter?  They did not know that he was sent by his Father in heaven, his source
 
Friday 4th week of Lent
“You know where I am from… But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him.”
To know Jesus' native place is information, but to know Jesus himself is a revelation. Smart phones, Wi-Fi, internet connections can provide information but do not lead us to a deeper revelation of the Divine.
            Jesus derived his identity from his relationship with his Father — a relationship he built on the awareness of his Father's abiding presence. How blessed are we if we too derive our identity from our relationship with Jesus! Now, during Lent, is a time for us consciously to experience the love of Christ crucified and to deepen our response to that passionate love.  Your love for us, Lord, we realize, is an experience and not information. We pray, Lord, that we may experience more of that love and let not our sinfulness blind us to your abounding love.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Trong  bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu rất là băn khoăn bởi vì các nhà lãnh đạo người Do Thái không tin là Ngài đã đến từ Thiên Chúa. Ngài chỉ trích họ vì họ không thể nhìn thấy Thiên Chúa đang hoạt động trong các phép lạ và giáo lý của Ngài. Đáng tiếc thay là họ không thể nhận được các dấu hiệu của thời đại.
            "Để nhận được các dấu chỉ của thời đại!"  Điều này có nghĩa là khi nhìn vào những sự kiện thế tục, đượxảy ra trong thế giới của chúng ta, và qua con mắt đức tin chúng ta có thể nhận ra được ý nghĩa Thiên Chúa đã đặt trong những biến cố đó. Ví dụ như sự đóng đinh của Chúa Giêsu là một sự kiện thế tụcđượxảy ra trên một ngọn đồi bên ngoài thành Giêrusalem. Biến cố này đã được chính quyền dân sự ban hành, được thực hiện bởi lực lượng quân đội với võ trang của đế quốc La mã. Nhưng khi chúng ta nhìn vào biến cố thế tục này với đức tin của chúng ta, chúng ta thấy đượý nghĩa của Thiên Chúa đã đặt vào đó là: Con Thiên Chúa đã phải chịu đau khổ và chịu chết để mang lại cho chúng ta ơn cứu độ và được sống đời đời.
      Tại sao các nhà lãnh đạo Do Thái không nhìn thấy được  những ý nghĩa mà Thiên Chúa đã đặt vào trong những phép lạ của Chúa Giêsu đã m và những lời rao giảng của Ngài
Bởi vì họ biết rằng nếu họ nghe theo lời Chúa để sống theo các giá trị của Chúa Giêsu, thì họ sẽ phải từ bỏ chức vụ ăn trên ngồi trốc của họ, phải từ bỏ quyền lựcsự giàu sang đang có của họ. Vì thế, họ đã từ chối để nhận biết các dấu chỉ của thời đại, để nhìn thấy Thiên Chúa trong công việc và trong cuộc đời của Chúa Giêsu.,
            Đó là cái tâm lý chung thường ngày đã ngăn cản, làm cản trở chúng ta trong việc tìm kiếm ý nghĩa của Thiên Chúa trong những biến cố  của cuộc sống. Chúng ta không muốn từ bỏ những gì mà chúng ta đang bám víu trong cuộc đời này. Do đó mà chúng ta đã trờ nên mù loà với chính mình, vì thế mà chúng ta không muốn tìm hiểu để biết những gì mà Thiên Chúa mong muốn nơi chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện để xin Chúa giúp chúng ta biết sẵn lòng mở rộng tâm hồn của Chúa ta với Thiên Chúa và biếttìm kiếm ý chỉ của Ngài cho chúng ta trong những biến cố của cuộc sống.
            "Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Xin lấp đầy tâm hồn chúng con với ơChúa Thánh Thần của Chúa để chúng con có thể biết lắng nghe lời của Chúa một cách chăm chú và vui vẻchấp hành và tuân theo lời Chúa."
 
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel Jesus is disturbed because the leaders of the Jewish people refuse to believe that he comes from God. He chides them because they could not see God at work in his miracles and teaching.  Unfortunately they could not read the signs of the times.
            What does this mean, "to read the signs of the times? " It means to look at a secular event, a happening in our world, and through faith to see in it the meaning God puts into it. For instance, the crucifixion of Jesus was a secular event. It happened on a hill outside of Jerusalem. It was decreed by the civil authority, carried out by the police force of the state. But we look at this secular event and our faith sees there the meaning that God put into it, the Son of God suffering and dying to bring about our eternal redemption.
            Why did the leaders of Israel not see in Jesus' miracles and preaching the meaning God put in them? Because they knew that if they did, they would have to give up their positions of power and wealth and live by Jesus' values. So they refused to read the signs of the times, to see God at work in the life of Jesus.
It is this same mentality that blocks us from finding God's meaning in the events of our lives. We do not want to give up what we cling to. Therefore, we blind ourselves so as not to learn what it is he wants of us. Let us pray for openness to the Lord and to finding his will for us in the events of our lives. "Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may listen to your word attentively and obey it joyfully."
 
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
“How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” John 5:44
It’s quite normal and healthy for a parent to praise a young child for the good that they do. This healthy positive reinforcement is a way of teaching them the importance of doing good and avoiding what’s wrong. But human praise is not an infallible guide of what is right and wrong. In fact, when human praise is not based in the truth of God, it does great damage.
This short Scripture quote above comes from a lengthy teaching from Jesus about the difference between human praise and “the praise that comes only from God.” Jesus makes it clear that the only thing that has value is the praise that comes from God alone. In fact, earlier in this Gospel, Jesus says clearly, “I do not accept human praise…” Why is that?
Turning back to the example of a parent praising a child for the good they do, when the praise they offer is truly a praise of their goodness, then this is much more than human praise. It is praise from God given through a parent. A parent’s duty must be to teach right from wrong in accord with the will of God.
As for the “human praise” of which Jesus speaks, this is clearly praise of another that is void of the truthfulness of God. In other words, Jesus is saying that if someone were to praise Him for something that did not originate from the Father in Heaven, He would reject it. For example, if someone were to say of Jesus, “I think He would be a great governor of our nation because he could lead a revolt against the current leadership.” Obviously such “praise” would be rejected.
The bottom line is that we must praise one another, but our praise must only be that which originates from God. Our words must be spoken only in accord with the Truth. Our admiration must only be of that which is the presence of God alive in others. Otherwise, if we praise others based on worldly or self-centered values, we only encourage them in sin.
Reflect, today, upon the praise you give and receive. Do you allow misguided praise of others to misdirect you in life? And when you compliment and praise another, is that praise based on the Truth of God and directed to His glory. Seek to give and receive praise only when it is grounded in the Truth of God and directs all to His glory.
My praiseworthy Lord, I do thank You and praise You for Your perfect goodness. I thank You for the way that You act in perfect union with the will of the Father. Help me to listen only to Your voice in this life and to reject all the misleading and confusing voices of the world. May my values and choices be guided by You and You alone. Jesus, I trust in You
 
Thursday 4th week of Lent 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I believe in you. Help my unbelief. I renew my faith in you as Father, that you are all-powerful and have created all things. I renew my faith in your Son and all that he accomplished as my redeemer. I renew my faith in your Spirit, who sanctifies me and leads me along the path of eternal life.
Encountering the Word of God
1. John’s Testimony: As we continue to read from the Gospel of John this Lent, we hear Jesus speak about testimony. The religious authorities in Jerusalem were doubtful about Jesus’ authority and claim to be equal to God the Father. And Jesus wants to respond to their doubts and accusations. In First-century Jewish thought, no one could testify on behalf of themselves to sustain a claim in court nor was just one witness sufficient. You needed two or three witnesses. As it is written in Deuteronomy 19:15: “One witness alone shall not stand against someone in regard to any crime or any offense that may have been committed; a charge shall stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” And so, Jesus invokes the testimony of four witnesses: first, the testimony of John the Baptist; second, the works Jesus has accomplished; third, the witness of God the Father; and lastly, the testimony of Scripture, especially the Five Books of Moses. John testified that Jesus was the Light of God (John 1:8), was the Lamb of God (John 1:28), was anointed by the Spirit (John 1:33), was the Son of God (John 1:34), and was the Bridegroom Christ (John 3:28-29).
2. Belief in Moses: Jesus challenges the religious authorities who “search the Scriptures” and think that they have eternal life through them, especially through the Law of Moses. Jesus tells them that the Law is not the source of eternal life. Instead, the Law points to something, to someone else as the source of eternal life. The Law of Moses points to Jesus, who is the New Moses. How did Moses write about Jesus? The First Book of Moses, Genesis, describes the future Messiah as a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15) and a universal king (Genesis 49:10). The Fifth Book of Moses, Deuteronomy, promises that this figure will be a Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1899). The religious authorities are failing to see how Jesus is acting as a kinsman redeemer, freeing his brothers and sisters from the debt and slavery of sin. They are failing to see how Jesus, the Son of David, is acting as a servant king. They are failing to grasp the prophetic dimension of Jesus’ work and teaching. In short, they are failing to believe all that Moses wrote about the Messiah.
3. The Intercession of the Old Moses and the New: In the First Reading, Moses reacts to the breaking of the Sinai Covenant by the people, who worshipped the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). God offered to consume the people and make of Moses a great nation. Instead of accepting this offer, Moses pleads with the Lord to remember the covenant oaths he made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord swore an oath to Abraham to make him a great nation with numerous descendants (Genesis 22:16-18). The oath was reiterated to Isaac, Abraham’s son (Genesis 26:3), and to Jacob, Abraham’s grandson (28:13-14; 35:9-12). The episode proclaims not that God changed his mind due to Moses’ prayer, but that God is merciful and faithful even when his people, his children, are stiff-necked and rebellious. Jesus will act as the New Moses on the Cross and intercede for his brothers and sisters: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The Old Covenant that Moses mediated was broken and awaited its fulfillment in the New Covenant mediated by Jesus, the New Moses. The New Covenant accomplishes what the Old was unable to do – the effective forgiveness of sins.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I love you, and thank you for interceding for me as our eternal high priest before the Father. Be with me today as I strive to heed your life-giving word.
 
Thursday 4th week of Lent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are at work bringing all creation to its consummation. You work through your Son and Spirit so that I may share in your eternal rest and divine life. Help me to do the good deeds, empowered by your grace, that lead to the resurrection of life.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Work of the Servant of the Lord: In the First Reading God speaks to the Suffering Servant about his mission and commissions him. The Lord tells the Servant that he has been given as a covenant to the people. This Servant is revealed in the New Testament to be Jesus Christ, who establishes the New Covenant in his blood. Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection will truly restore the land, free those imprisoned by sin, enlighten those in darkness, and give heavenly food and living water to those who hunger and thirst. The people, referred to as Zion, think that the Lord has forsaken them after the fall of David’s Kingdom. But God responds that he does not forget them, nor will he ever forget them, and uses the image of the unchanging love a mother has for her child. God will comfort his people in their exile and show mercy to them despite their sins. In sending his only begotten Son to save us from sin and death, the Lord reveals to us that he “is gracious and merciful.” He is faithful, holy, just, and near to those who call upon him.
2. The First Work of God: In the Gospel, Jesus declares that God is his Father. The works and signs that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, accomplishes are in full agreement with the works of the Father. The Son is the Word and Image of the Father and does what he “sees” the Father doing. In the Gospel passage we read, Jesus speaks about two of these divine and fatherly works. The first work concerns the bestowal of life. The Father, Jesus says, has life in himself. He raises the dead and gives life. The Father eternally gives life to the Son. The Son, in turn, gives life to those who believe in the Father and the Son.
3. The Second Work of God: The second work concerns judgment. The Father himself does not judge, but instead has given all judgment to his Son. By becoming man and assuming our human nature, Jesus enters into solidarity with humanity. He can sympathize with our weakness. He understands us and was tested in all things as we are. He undergoes suffering and is transformed by suffering. He became like us in all things but sin and took upon himself the fate of sinful humankind (see A. Vanhoye, A Different Priest, 159-160). Our passage from death to life, our sharing in Christ's passion, death, and resurrection, depends on hearing the voice of the Son and responding to him in faith, as well as doing good deeds through the grace of God. We should recall that the Father sent the Son into the world not to condemn it but to save and redeem it (John 3:16). Those who reject the Father and the Son, those who love darkness rather than light (John 3:19), share in the resurrection of condemnation. Those, on the other hand, who believe in the Father and the Son and do good deeds – meritorious works of love and charity empowered by divine grace – will share in the resurrection of life. To all who receive the Word, to all who believe in his name, the Word gives power to become children of God.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are coming to judge the world. You know our weaknesses and struggles. Be merciful to me when you judge me. Help me to repent and turn from sin as I journey toward you and your Father.
 
Thursday 4th week of Lent
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this opportunity to enter into your relationship with the Father. I welcome your revelations today and humbly ask that you give me the grace to know your will and act upon it.
Encountering Christ:
Clear Testimony: When Jesus was questioned by the Jews, he drew their attention to the mission of John the Baptist. “The testimony he gives on my behalf is true,” Jesus told them. “But I have a greater testimony.” Jesus was clearly identifying himself as the Messiah, the one whose sandal straps John was unworthy to untie. John’s mission was winding down as Jesus was accomplishing the works the Father sent him to do. We can see the divine plan of salvation clearly unfolding in these few lines of the Gospel. Yet many of Jesus’s listeners missed it. Why? “I know that you do not have the love of God in you,” Jesus said. May we nurture and safeguard the sanctifying grace in our souls so that these words of Jesus are never directed at us.
Christ Is Always Reaching Out: When Christ was on trial before the Sanhedrin during his Passion, he was quiet and did not defend himself. When he was taken before Herod, he did not say a word. To Pontius Pilate, he said very few words. In today’s Gospel passage, when he is asked to give evidence that he is who he proclaims to be, he speaks eloquently of the testimony of John the Baptist and insists that God the Father also testifies on his behalf. The Scriptures, he says, speak of him as well. It's as if Jesus is trying his very best to convince the unbelievers one more time about his Sonship and his mission. Likewise, he never tires of speaking into our lives! In moments of doubt or long periods of spiritual drought, we can be confident that Jesus is there, reaching into our lives through our prayer, the sacraments, and our circumstances to speak his truth into our soul. He never abandons us.
All for Good: Does it seem that Christ was being hard on the Jews? Jesus never ceases trying to reach us with the truth. If we are blind, deaf, or dumb to his message, it can take a lot to awaken us. Christ was very blunt here: “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.” In every encounter, Christ is looking out for our good. Whether we perceive harsh words, difficult circumstances, or unexplained suffering, we can be reassured that Christ knows what we need and can work it all out for our benefit. “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you point me to your loving Father! Help me to recognize your voice in my life and to see the evidence of the love that you are sharing with me. When difficulties arise, increase my faith so that I can confidently proclaim that you are at work.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Trong  bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu rất băn khoăn bởi vì các nhà lãnh đạo người Do Thái không tin là Ngài đã đến từ Thiên Chúa. Ngài chỉ trích họ vì họ không thể nhìn thấy Thiên Chúa đang hoạt động trong các phép lạ và giáo lý của Ngài. Đáng tiếc thay là họ không thể nhận được các dấu hiệu của thời đại.
            "Đnhận được các dấu chỉ của thời đại!"  Điều này có nghĩa là khi nhìn vào những sự kiện thế tục, được xảy ra trong thế giới của chúng ta, qua con mắt đức tin chúng ta có thể nhận ra được  ý nghĩa Thiên Chúa đã đặt trong những biến cố đó. Ví dụ, sự đóng đinh của Chúa Giêsu là một sự kiện thế tục, được xảy ra trên một ngọn đồi bên ngoài thành Giêrusalem. Biến cố này đã được chính quyền dân sự ban hành, được thực hiện bởi lực lượng quân đội với võ trang của đế quốc La mã. Nhưng khi chúng ta nhìn vào biến c thế tục này với đức tin của chúng ta, chúng ta thấy được ý nghĩa của Thiên Chúa đã đặt vào đó là: Con Thiên Chúa đã phải chịu đau khổ và chịu chết để mang lại cho chúng ta ơn cứu độ và được sống đời đời .'
            Tại sao các nhà lãnh đạo Do Thái không nhìn thấy được  những ý nghĩa Thiên Chúa đã đặt vào trong những phép lạ của Chúa Giêsu là và những lời rao giảng của Ngài? Bởi vì họ biết rằng nếu họ nghe theo lời Chúa để sống theo các giá trị của Chúa Giêsu, thì họ sẽ phải từ bỏ chức vụ ăn trên ngồi trốc của họ, phải từ bỏ quyền lực, sự giàu sang đang có của họ. thế, họ đã từ chối để nhận biết các dấu chỉ của thời đại, để nhìn thấy Thiên Chúa trong công việctrong cuộc đời của Chúa Giêsu.,
            Đó là cái tâm lý chung thường ngày đã ngăn cản, đã cản trở chúng ta trong việc tìm kiếm ý nghĩa của Thiên Chúa trong những biến cố  của cuộc sống. Chúng ta không muốn từ bỏ những gì chúng ta đang bám víu trong cuộc đời này. Do đó mà chúng ta đã trờ nên loà với chính mình, vì thế mà chúng ta không muốn tìm hiểu để biết những gì mà Thiên Chúa mong muốn nơi chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện để xin Chúa giúp chúng ta biết sẵn lòng mở rộng tâm hồn của Chúa ta với Thiên Chúa và biết tìm kiếm ý chỉ của Ngài cho chúng ta trong những biến cố của cuộc sống.
            "Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Xin lấp đầy tâm hồn chúng con với ơn Chúa Thánh Thần của Chúa để chúng con có thể biết lắng nghe lời của Chúa một cách chăm chú vui vẻ chấp hành và tuân theo lời Chúa."
 
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel Jesus is disturbed because the leaders of the Jewish people refuse to believe that he comes from God. He chides them because they could not see God at work in his miracles and teaching.  Unfortunately they could not read the signs of the times.
            What does this mean, "to read the signs of the times? " It means to look at a secular event, a happening in our world, and through faith to see in it the meaning God puts into it. For instance, the crucifixion of Jesus was a secular event. It happened on a hill outside of Jerusalem. It was decreed by the civil authority, carried out by the police force of the state. But we look at this secular event and our faith sees there the meaning that God put into it, the Son of God suffering and dying to bring about our eternal redemption.
            Why did the leaders of Israel not see in Jesus' miracles and preaching the meaning God put in them? Because they knew that if they did, they would have to give up their positions of power and wealth and live by Jesus' values. So they refused to read the signs of the times, to see God at work in the life of Jesus.
It is this same mentality that blocks us from finding God's meaning in the events of our lives. We do not want to give up what we cling to. Therefore we blind ourselves so as not to learn what it is he wants of us. Let us pray for openness to the Lord and to finding his will for us in the events of our lives. "Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may listen to your word attentively and obey it joyfully."