Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 17 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 17 Thường Niên
Trong hai dụ ngộn gắn gọn, Chúa Giêsu dậy cho mọi người biết rằng vương quốc trên Trời là gì: Nước của Thiên Chúa thì giống như một người đi tìm thấy một kho tàng ẩn giấu trong ngoài đồng, khi đã tìm thấy được thì ông ta  bán tất cả những gì ông có để mua cho được cánh đồng đó, và Nước Trời cũng giống như một nhà buôn truy lùng loại ngọc trai quý, khi ông ta tìm  được rồi thì anh ta bán tất cả những gì anh ta có để mua cho được viên ngọc trai quý đó.
  Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa còn rất quý giá hơn những kho tang hay ngọc trai quý giá, vì thế chúng ta nên sẵn lòng bán tất cả những gì chúng ta có để chúng ta có thể đến được Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa.
  Những điều khác nhau có thể làm cản trở việc chúng ta theo đuổi Nước Trời: đó là những giới hạn và điểm yếu của con người, sự thiếu kiên trì và đức tin của chúng ta, vì chúng ta chỉ biết tập trung vào những thứ của thế gian này thay vì những thứ tồn tại ở bên ngoài cái thế giới mà chúng ta đang sống đây với những sự bí hiểm của cái ma quỷ đang vây bủa chung quianh chúng ta. Chúng ta cần có một mối quan hệ cá nhân với Chúa Giêsu cho dù bất kể những trở ngại nào đó có thể xảy ra như Chúa Giêsu đã nói với chúng ta về Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa và chính Ngài là người sẽ dẫn đường cho chúng ta vào tận hưởng trong Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa.
  Xin Chúa giúp dẫn đường, chỉ lối cho chúng ta để chúng ta không bao giờ phải lạc lối trong việc theo đuổi Thiên Chúa Trời và Nước thiên đàng.
 
REFLECTION WEDNESDAY, 17TH Week in Ordinary Time
 In two brief parables Jesus tries to tell people what the kingdom of heaven is about: like one who finds a hidden treasure in the field and sells all he owns to be able to purchase the field and like a trader who finds a truly exceptional pearl and sells all he owns to purchase the pearl.
 The kingdom of heaven is so valuable we should be willing to sell all we own to get to the kingdom of heaven.
 Various things may hinder our pursuit of the kingdom of heaven: our own human limitations and weaknesses, our lack of faith, our focus on things of this earth rather on things which persist beyond this earth and the guiles of the evil one. Whatever the hindrances may be, we do need a personal relationship with Jesus who has told us about the kingdom of heaven and who has led the way for us to enjoy the kingdom of heaven.
 May we never go astray in our pursuit of God and the kingdom of heaven.
 
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Matthew 13:44–46
Imagine not only finding a buried treasure or a pearl of great price, but discovering an entire Kingdom—a Kingdom whose citizens are perfectly healthy, strong, wise, joyful, and holy. Its streets are paved with brilliant stone, its castles radiate with splendor. And yet, this Kingdom is hidden from the eyes of most, nestled deep within an undiscovered jungle. Though this may sound like the stuff of fairy tales, it is the reality of Heaven.
In Heaven, the angels and saints are purified of every stain of sin, filled with divine light, and live in perfect happiness. They behold the face of God and dwell in unbroken order, love, and peace. Though this Kingdom is, for now, spiritual—except for the glorified bodies of Jesus and His Blessed Mother—at the end of time it will be both spiritual and physical. And we can be certain that its glory will surpass anything we could ever imagine or hope for in this life. Yet how often we fail to long for and strive toward full citizenship in that Kingdom!
The Kingdom of Heaven is real—more real than all the visible kingdoms of this world—yet many fail to discover it. It remains hidden, veiled to worldly eyes. This is one reason our Lord likens it to a treasure buried in a field. It lies in obscurity, unnoticed by most, though it is more valuable than all the riches of the world combined. But to the soul open to grace, to the one receptive to divine revelation, it may be found.
In the first parable, the treasure is discovered unexpectedly. The one who finds it was not even seeking. This reveals how God often speaks to the humble heart—one that is open, attentive, and ready. Sometimes, when we least expect it, God breaks in, revealing Himself and offering us a glimpse of His Kingdom: through prayer, through suffering, through a sudden moment of grace.
In the second parable, by contrast, the merchant is actively searching. He is seeking fine pearls and knows what he is looking for. This represents those who have come to understand the value of the Kingdom—those who long for it, strive for it, and dedicate their lives to possessing it. These souls fast, pray, and practice charity, always seeking to deepen their share in the Kingdom of Grace here and now, while preparing for the Kingdom in glory yet to come.
What treasure do you hold most dear in your heart? Intellectually, most Christians would say that the Kingdom of Heaven is the greatest treasure. But how often do our actions reflect that belief? Because God’s Kingdom is “buried” beyond the visible world—or requires a diligent search, employing every power of our soul—it is easy to turn our eyes and hearts toward what lies immediately before us: possessions, entertainment, status. Again, what treasure do you truly hold most dear? Today’s parables are meant to be prayerfully pondered, so that the message Jesus teaches can slowly sink in and permeate all that we are. Our minds must come to grasp the indescribable glory of the Kingdom of Heaven; our wills must choose to live for that Kingdom above all else; and every desire of our hearts must be gradually realigned by grace—to long for and actively pursue the Kingdom of Grace offered to us now, in anticipation of its fulfillment at the end of time.
Reflect today on the hidden treasure God has placed before you. Has your soul stumbled upon it unexpectedly through grace? Or are you searching diligently, with a heart fixed on Heaven? In either case, do not hesitate to “sell all”—to detach from everything that competes with God—so that you may purchase the field, obtain the pearl, and enter the joy of His glorious Kingdom.
Most glorious King, come and reign in my soul. Order my life, and make me a full and faithful member of Your Kingdom of Grace. Fill my heart with a longing not only for a share in Your Kingdom here on earth, but also for the glorious fulfillment of Your Kingdom when You return in majesty to judge the living and the dead and to establish the New Heavens and the New Earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
Today’s Gospel presents us with two very short and similar parables. In the first, quoted above, the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a “treasure.” In the second parable, the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a “pearl of great price.” Though these parables are very similar to each other, there are also subtle differences worth pondering. It appears that the treasure mentioned in the first parable is discovered almost by accident. The person simply “finds” it. This is in contrast to the second parable, in that the merchant who finds the pearl of great price did so after “searching” for it. 
We often encounter the Treasure of the Gospel without even looking for it. We do so any time God intervenes in our lives without us seeking His intervention. For example, if someone were to offer an act of charity to you without you seeking it out, this is God giving you a treasure of His Kingdom. Or if someone shares with you their faith, or an inspiration they received, this is indeed a treasure given to you by God. The problem is that many times when we are given these treasures of the Gospel, we do not always see them as treasures. Imagine, for example, if the person in this parable were to stumble upon the treasure in the field and fail to open it out of indifference. They see it from a distance, have a bit of curiosity about what is in the box, but they are not energetic enough to actually open the box and look inside. In that case, the person would have no reason to go and sell all that they have so as to buy the field in which the treasure is found.
One clear message that this first parable reveals is that we must be attentive to the countless treasures of God’s graces given to us each and every day. God is so prolific in offering us grace, that we truly do stumble upon His grace all the time. Thus, having eyes to perceive His actions and ears to Hear His Voice is essential.
A second message clearly given in both of these parables is that once we discover the graces God gives us every day, we must foster within ourselves a desire for those graces that is so strong that we are willing to do anything necessary to obtain them. The discovery is made through the gift of faith, but the discovery by faith must then be followed with a zeal that drives our will to conform to that discovery.
Reflect, today, upon two things. First, have you discovered the treasures God has given to you? If you hesitate in answering this, then it’s most likely the case that there is much you have yet to discover. Secondly, as you do discover the riches that come with the gift of faith, then have you allowed that which God has spoken to you to consume you to such a point that you are willing to sell all you have, meaning, do whatever it takes to further accept all God wants to bestow? Resolutely determine to go forth on this holy search and you will find that the riches of grace that you obtain are of infinite value.
My Lord of all riches, You bestow upon me and upon all Your children countless graces every day. The treasures of Your mercy are of infinite value. Please open my eyes so that I can see and my ears so that I can hear so as to discover all that You wish to bestow. May You and the riches of Your Kingdom become the one and only, all-consuming focus of my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday 17^th Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your Son to seek out the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the fine pearl. I am all three of these. I am the lost sheep who sometimes wanders from the fold. I am the coin lost within your house. I am a pearl of great price who has been found and redeemed by your Son.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Kingdom’s Hidden Nature: All seven parables in the Gospel of Matthew 13 can be seen as emphasizing the hidden nature of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven has arrived with the coming of Jesus, the royal son of David. But people have a hard time recognizing the kingdom in their midst. “Many of Jesus’ miracles and teachings in chapters 11-12 show a lack of recognition of the kingdom. For example, Matthew 11 opens with John the Baptist sending messengers to Jesus to confirm that he really is the Messiah, the King of Israel (Mt 11:2). Locked up by King Herod and suffering in a dark dungeon, even John was beginning to wonder if Jesus had really brought the kingdom” (Bergsma, New Testament Basics for Catholics, 44). There are prophetic signs that indicate that the kingdom of salvation has arrived: the physically and spiritually blind see, the physically and spiritually lame walk, physical and spiritual leprosy is cured, and the physically and spiritually deaf hear. In Matthew 12, the Pharisees show how hard of heart they are and how they, despite the signs Jesus performs, refuse to accept the kingdom and believe his message. “They cannot recognize the signs of the kingdom or the power of God’s Spirit” (Bergsma, New Testament Basics for Catholics, 45). Only the humble of heart truly welcome the hidden kingdom into their lives.
2. The Kingdom is like a Treasure and a Merchant: The seed of the kingdom is scattered throughout the world and sometimes finds good soil. The small seed must die to become a large shrub. The yeast of the kingdom works in the dough in an unseen way but has a transforming effect within society. In today’s first parable, the kingdom is compared to treasure buried and hidden in a field. There aren’t signs pointing to it in the field. A person has to dig to find it and recognize its value. In today’s second parable, the kingdom is compared to a merchant who finds the pearl of the kingdom among many other jewels and valuable things. Only the pearl of the kingdom is worth selling everything for. “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The parables teach that the grace of Christ in the Church works in the world in a hidden way, has a transforming effect in the world, and is worth more than any earthly treasure.
3. The Radiant Face of Moses: In the First Reading, we learn about the radiant face of Moses. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord. We can hear an echo of this in the priest’s blessing of the people: “The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:25). Moses had to wear a veil to cover his face when he was speaking to the people. Paul interprets the veil that Moses wore as a sign that the glory of the Sinai covenant is destined to fade away (2 Corinthians 3:7-13). The Gospel of Matthew refers back to the radiant face of Moses when it describes the face of Jesus radiating with light on the mount of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 170). One day, in heaven, we will behold the face of God and share in God’s glorious light.
 

Jul 29, 2025 Lễ kính các Thánh Martha, Maria and Lazarus

Jul 29, 2025 Lễ kính các Thánh Martha, Maria and Lazarus
Hôm nay Giáo Hội mừng lễ kính nhớ các Thánh Martha, Maria and Lazarus. Năm 2021, Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô đã thay thế Lễ Thánh Martha bằng lễ kính nhớ này để tôn vinh cả ba chị em: Martha, Mary và Lazarus. Khi bình luận về lý do của lễ kính nhớ mới này, Bộ Phụng tự đã phát biểu: “Martha đã rộng lượng tiếp đón Chúa, Mary chăm chú lắng nghe lời Người, và Lazarus nhanh chóng ra khỏi mộ theo lệnh của Đấng đã làm nhục sự chết.” Hơn nữa, ba chị em này đã làm chứng cho tất cả chúng ta về Tin Mừng. Họ là tấm gương cho chúng ta về cách trở thành Kitô hữu trong sự bất toàn của mình. Họ đã làm điều này bằng cách chào đón Chúa Giêsu vào nhà, bằng cách chăm chú lắng nghe Người, và bằng cách tin rằng Người là Sự Phục Sinh và Sự Sống.
Ba chị em này, mỗi người đều có cá tính riêng và yêu mến Chúa Giêsu theo cách riêng của họ. Mặc dù không có nhiều thông tin về những tương tác cá nhân của Lazarus với Chúa Giêsu, nhưng chúng ta có một số hiểu biết hữu ích về cả Martha và Mary. Trong một câu chuyện trong Tin Mừng, Martha phàn nàn với Chúa Giêsu rằng em gái của bà đã để bà lo việc nấu nướng. Chúa Giêsu đã nhẹ nhàng sửa sai bà. Ngược lại, Maria đã làm chứng về lời cầu nguyện sâu sắc và tình yêu dành cho Chúa Giêsu bằng cách ngồi dưới chân Người lắng nghe lời Người dạy bảo. Tuy nhiên, trong câu chuyện về việc Chúa Giêsu làm cho ông Lazarus sống lại từ cõi chết, có sự đảo ngược vai trò. Martha là người chạy ra gặp Chúa Giêsu trước và bày tỏ đức tin sâu sắc của mình vào Người. Còn Maria, nghe tin Chúa Giêsu sắp đến và dường như vẫn ở nhà vì bà đang buồn khóc vidf cái chết của em trai.
Có lẽ cách hữu ích nhất để suy ngẫm về hai chị em này là nhìn nhận hai điều. Thứ nhất, giờ đây họ là những thánh nhân trên Thiên Đàng, đang hưởng phúc lành và vinh quang vĩnh cửu. Thứ hai, trên trần gian, họ là những người có đức tin và tình yêu thương, nhưng chúng ta cũng được thấy là họ cũng chưa được hoàn hảo. Do đó, lời chứng của họ dành cho chúng ta nên bao gồm cả hai khía cạnh. Chúng ta hy vọng được chia sẻ vinh quang mà họ đang chia sẻ, và chúng ta tin rằng điều này sẽ xảy ra nếu chúng ta cũng làm bạn với Chúa và sẵn sàng chào đón Ngài vào nhà mình, cho dù chúng ta có thể vẫn chưa được hoàn hảo.
Hôm nay, hãy suy ngẫm về gia đình thánh thiện nhưng chưa hoàn hảo này. Những khiếm khuyết và yếu đuối hiển nhiên của ba chị em này sẽ niềm khích lệ cho chúng ta biết tiếp tục thực hành đức tin ngay cả khi cuộc sống của chúng ta cũng chưa được hoàn hảo. Có nhiều lý do khiến đôi khi chúng ta cảm thấy nản lòng, nghi ngờ hoặc bỏ cuộc vì thế chùg ta phải biết bắt chức các vị là phải biết kiên trì và đặt lòng tin vào Thánh ý Chúa.
Nhìn vào Giáo hội, chúng ta sẽ có thể thấy mọi thứ hầu như vẫn chưa được hoàn hảo. Có lẽ chúng ta đang phải đấu tranh trong gia đình. Có lẽ chuáng ta đang vật lộn với một vấn đề tình cảm. Có lẽ có một tội lỗi nào đó mà chúng ta dường như không thể vượt qua. Có lẽ chúng ta đang vật lộn với một căn bệnh thể xác và tự hỏi tại sao Chúa lại để điều đó xảy ra. Nếu chúng ta đồng cảm với bất kỳ điều nào trong số này, hoặc bất kỳ hình thức bất toàn nào khác, thì hãy lấy cảm hứng từ gia đình Martha, Mary và Lazarô này. Hãy mời Chúa Giê-su vào ngôi nhà trong trái tim của chúng ta, mái ấm gia đình của chúng ta và mọi nơi chúng ta đến. Ngài sẽ đến, nhẹ nhàng sửa dạy chúng ta khi cần, và ban cho chúng ta món quà sự sống mới, nâng chúng ta lên để tránhg khỏi tội lỗi và những yếu đuối của mình.
Lạy Chúa, Chúa đã làm bạn với gia đình bình dị này gồm Martha, Mary và Lazarô. Chúa đã đến thăm nhà họ, đón nhận lòng hiếu khách của họ, nhẹ nhàng sửa dạy họ khi cần và cuối cùng đưa họ đến cuộc sống mới vinh quang vĩnh cửu. Xin cho chúng con cũng được chào đón Chúa vào ngôi nhà tâm hồn của chúng con, trong gia đình của chúng con và vào mọi khía cạnh của cuộc sống của chúng con. Xin hãy đến với chúng con và đưa chúng con đến sự mới mẻ của cuộc sống ân sủng.
 
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, July 29
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” John 11:19–22
Today’s memorial is relatively new within our Church. In the year 2021, Pope Francis replaced the Memorial of Saint Martha with this memorial in honor of all three siblings: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In commenting on the reason for this new memorial, the Congregation for Divine Worship stated: “Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words, and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.” Furthermore, these three siblings gave an evangelical witness to us all. They model for us how to be Christians within our imperfections. They did this by welcoming Jesus into their home, by listening to Him attentively, and by believing that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
These three siblings each had their own unique personality and loved Jesus in their own way. Though not much is said about Lazarus’ personal interactions with Jesus, we do have some helpful insights into both Martha and Mary. In one Gospel story, Martha complained to Jesus that her sister left her to do all the cooking. Jesus gently corrected her. Mary, on the other hand, gave a witness of deep prayer and love of Jesus by sitting at His feet listening to Him. However, in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, there is a reversal of roles. Martha is the one who runs out to meet Jesus and expresses her deep faith in Him. Mary, on the other hand, heard that Jesus was coming and appeared to stay at home because she was upset.
Perhaps the most helpful way to ponder these siblings is to acknowledge two things. First, they are now saints in Heaven enjoying eternal beatitude and glory. Second, on earth they were people of faith and love, but they were also very clearly imperfect. Therefore, the witness they give to us should be twofold. We hope to share in the glory in which they now share, and we trust this will happen if we also befriend our Lord and welcome Him into our homes, imperfect though we may be.
Reflect, today, upon this holy but imperfect family. The imperfections and manifest weaknesses of these three siblings should encourage us to press on in our practice of the faith when things are not perfect in our lives either. There are many reasons why we might get discouraged or feel like doubting or giving up at times. Perhaps things are not perfect within the Church—or at the particular church you attend. Perhaps you are struggling with loving someone in your family. Perhaps you are struggling with an emotional issue. Perhaps there is some sin you seem to be incapable of overcoming. Perhaps you struggle with a physical ailment and wonder why God permitted it to happen. If you are able to relate to any of these, or any other forms of imperfection, then take inspiration from this family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Invite Jesus into the home of your heart, your family home and everywhere you go. He will come, gently correct you when needed, and give you the gift of new life, raising you up from your sins and weaknesses.
Lord, You befriended this ordinary family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. You visited their home, received their hospitality, gently corrected them when needed and eventually raised them to the new life of eternal glory. May I also welcome You into the home of my soul, within my family and into every aspect of my life. Please come to me and raise me to the newness of the life of grace. Jesus, I trust in You
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, July 29
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. John 11:19–20
The Gospel for today’s Memorial begins with grief. Grief brings the community together and prepares us for the divine drama to unfold. As Jesus approaches the house, He is met with sorrow, yet He is ready to transform it into a house of hope and joy. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were siblings and close friends of Jesus. Jesus and His disciples visited their home on multiple occasions and received their generous hospitality. Though little is known about Lazarus’ personality, the characteristics of Martha and Mary are more clearly revealed through their interactions with our Lord. 
Martha is often portrayed as active, practical, and hospitable. She speaks directly and openly, even in her grief, professing her faith in Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God.” Her words and actions show a heart of deep faith, even when she does not yet understand the full mystery unfolding before her. Mary, on the other hand, is more contemplative and reserved. She is the one who sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words while Martha served. In this Gospel scene, she remains at home, likely immersed in silent sorrow. Yet later, when she encounters Jesus, she too will express deep faith and devotion—falling at His feet in tears.
Together, these sisters reveal different dimensions of discipleship: the active and the contemplative, the spoken and the silent, the service of love and the adoration of the heart. Each responded to Jesus in her own way, and both were deeply loved by Him. Likewise, our Lord welcomes our personalities, griefs, and strengths. Whether we are more like Martha or Mary, Jesus invites us to draw near to Him and to trust that He is “the Resurrection and the Life.”
Though little is known about Lazarus, we do know that he was greatly loved by Jesus. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, He was deeply moved: “And Jesus wept” (John 11:35). This is the shortest verse in Scripture, yet one of the most profound. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was a prefiguration of Jesus’ own Resurrection and a powerful sign of His divine authority over death. Lazarus became a living witness to Christ’s power, and his very presence later stirred such amazement that the chief priests plotted to kill him (cf. John 12:10–11). In this way, Lazarus stands as a silent but radiant sign of hope: one who passed through the darkness of death and was called forth by the voice of the Son of God. His story reminds us that even in our tombs of suffering, despair, or sin, Jesus comes to call us forth to new life.
These siblings also reveal the humanity of Christ. He shared a friendship with them, spent time with them, listened to them, ate, received their love, and affected their lives. In these siblings we are given a glimpse of Jesus’ tender love for us—personal, relational, and deeply human. Their home was a place where Jesus found rest and companionship amid His public ministry. Their story reminds us that our Lord desires not only our worship but also our friendship. He wishes to dwell in the home of our hearts, to share in our joys and sorrows, and to walk with us through every moment of life. In their closeness to Jesus, these three saints show us that holiness is not distant or abstract, but discovered in the context of daily life, hospitality, and sincere faith.
Reflect today on the tender love Jesus had for this saintly family. See yourself and your own earthly family in them. Know that Jesus desires to dwell in your home, to relate with you personally, and to make your home a sanctuary of His abiding presence. Welcome Him in. Like Martha, serve Him with generosity. Like Mary, sit at His feet in loving adoration. And like Lazarus, allow Him to lift your spirit, restore your soul, and call you forth from whatever binds you. Jesus does all of this joyfully—moved with deep compassion, affection, and love for you.
My Lord and divine Friend, just as Your Sacred Heart was moved with compassion and holy sorrow at the death of Your friend Lazarus and at the grief of his sisters, so too is Your Heart moved with love for me—even when I fail. Strengthen me, dear Lord, by Your abiding presence in the sanctuary of my heart. May my life be a home You visit often and a place of faith, love, and friendship. Jesus, I trust in You.
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus Jul 29, 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I long for the day when I will be raised to eternal life. In the meantime, I will listen to your Word each day, conform my life to that of your Son, and serve others generously. I will pour out my life without reserve, knowing that this life is short and eternal life with you awaits.
Encountering the Word of God
Encountering the Word of God
1. Lazarus of Bethany: The gospels do not tell us when the friendship between Lazarus and Jesus began or how it came about. Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, lived in Bethany, a small village two miles east of Jerusalem (John 11:18). This house was likely where Jesus stayed when he came to Jerusalem on pilgrimage three times a year. Jesus spent his nights in Bethany in the days before his Passion (Mark 11:11; 14:3). The friendship between Lazarus and Jesus probably developed before the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry or even during the first year of his public ministry. The name Lazarus is derived from the Hebrew name “Eleazar,” and means “God has helped.” The Gospel of John mentions Lazarus as “loved by Jesus” (John 11:3, 5, 36) as a friend (John 11:11). None of Lazarus’ words are recorded in the gospels. He comes across as a quiet friend who was happy to be with Jesus and spend time with him. He never complained about not being one of the twelve apostles. He didn’t aspire to a position of leadership or greatness in the Kingdom. He never tried to take advantage of his friendship with Jesus. In fact, he learned that being a true friend of Jesus meant suffering persecution: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me” (Matthew 5:11). After being restored to life by Jesus, the religious authorities sought to kill Lazarus, the friend of Jesus (John 12:10). Lazarus’ greatest joy was the fact that people came to believe in Jesus because of him (John 12:11).
2. Martha of Bethany: Another friend of Jesus was not the quiet, silent type. Martha, unlike her brother, was very outspoken, direct, and didn’t mince words. When her sister wasn’t helping her around the house to serve their guests, she pointed it out to Jesus in front of everyone. When Jesus didn’t come immediately to cure her brother, she let Jesus know it: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus commanded that the tomb be opened, Martha pointed out that there would be a stench. The contrast between the quiet personality of Lazarus and the stormy one of Martha can be a consolation for us. Both personalities can enter into friendship with Jesus. Jesus relates to each in different ways. With Martha, he appreciates her boldness in her requests and even how she doesn’t care what other people think. In every encounter between Martha and Jesus, Jesus provides calm and addresses her concerns. When Martha complained about Mary, Jesus pointed out something good Mary was doing and how it is necessary to serve without becoming over-anxious and judgmental. When Martha complained about him not being there to cure her brother, Jesus invited her to have faith in his power to raise us to new life. When Martha complained about the smell from the tomb, Jesus invited her to elevate her thoughts to the glory of God above.
2. Martha of Bethany: Another friend of Jesus was not the quiet, silent type. Martha, unlike her brother, was very outspoken, direct, and didn’t mince words. When her sister wasn’t helping her around the house to serve their guests, she pointed it out to Jesus in front of everyone. When Jesus didn’t come immediately to cure her brother, she let Jesus know it: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus commanded that the tomb be opened, Martha pointed out that there would be a stench. The contrast between the quiet personality of Lazarus and the stormy one of Martha can be a consolation for us. Both personalities can enter into friendship with Jesus. Jesus relates to each in different ways. With Martha, he appreciates her boldness in her requests and even how she doesn’t care what other people think. In every encounter between Martha and Jesus, Jesus provides calm and addresses her concerns. When Martha complained about Mary, Jesus pointed out something good Mary was doing and how it is necessary to serve without becoming over-anxious and judgmental. When Martha complained about him not being there to cure her brother, Jesus invited her to have faith in his power to raise us to new life. When Martha complained about the smell from the tomb, Jesus invited her to elevate her thoughts to the glory of God above.
3. Mary of Bethany: The third friend of Jesus, Mary of Bethany, exemplifies yet another personality. Like Lazarus, she loves to listen to Jesus’ words and is totally absorbed by being in his presence. She spends an entire year’s salary on pure nard to anoint the feet of Jesus (John 12:1-8). Her passion for Jesus is tender and personal. She is contemplative and attuned to the mystery of Jesus. She is not drawn to so much to service as to presence, listening, and spiritual attentiveness. When her brother Lazarus died, she remained at home but rushed out when her sister Martha told her that Jesus was asking for her. Mary met Jesus with tears, and her emotional openness moved Jesus deeply. Her heart was sensitive to loss, but also confident in Jesus. Lazarus is the silent recipient of grace and a symbol of love and resurrection. He doesn’t exemplify an assertive personality like Martha or an emotional one like Mary. His identity is shaped by his friendship with Jesus and by being raised to life. He is a witness to Jesus’ power and love. Martha is more practical, duty-bound, assertive, and oriented to action and service. She finds calm, peace, and strength in her relationship with her Lord and confesses him as Messiah and Son of God. Mary is passionate, contemplative, emotionally expressive, and drawn more to Jesus’ person than his mission. Together, the three siblings and friends of Jesus represent complementary ways of relating to Jesus: loving him through devotion (Mary), through service (Martha), and through welcoming and being (Lazarus).


Wednesday 17^th Ordinary Time 2026- Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I long for the day when I will be raised to eternal life. In the meantime, I will listen to your Word each day, conform my life to that of your Son, and serve others generously. I will pour out my life without reserve, knowing that this life is short and eternal life with you awaits.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Lazarus of Bethany: The gospels do not tell us when the friendship between Lazarus and Jesus began or how it came about. Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, lived in Bethany, a small village two miles east of Jerusalem (John 11:18). This house was likely where Jesus stayed when he came to Jerusalem on pilgrimage three times a year. Jesus spent his nights in Bethany in the days before his Passion (Mark 11:11; 14:3). The friendship between Lazarus and Jesus probably developed before the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry or even during the first year of his public ministry. The name Lazarus is derived from the Hebrew name “Eleazar,” and means “God has helped.” The Gospel of John mentions Lazarus as “loved by Jesus” (John 11:3, 5, 36) and as a friend (John 11:11). None of Lazarus’ words are recorded in the gospels. He comes across as a quiet friend who was happy to be with Jesus and spend time with him. He never complained about not being one of the twelve apostles. He didn’t aspire to a position of leadership or greatness in the Kingdom. He never tried to take advantage of his friendship with Jesus. In fact, he learned that being a true friend of Jesus meant suffering persecution: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me” (Matthew 5:11). After being restored to life by Jesus, the religious authorities sought to kill Lazarus, the friend of Jesus (John 12:10). Lazarus’ greatest joy was the fact that people came to believe in Jesus because of him (John 12:11).
2. Martha of Bethany: Another friend of Jesus was not the quiet, silent type. Martha, unlike her brother, was very outspoken, direct, and didn’t mince words. When her sister wasn’t helping her around the house to serve their guests, she pointed it out to Jesus in front of everyone. When Jesus didn’t come immediately to cure her brother, she let Jesus know it: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus commanded that the tomb be opened, Martha pointed out that there would be a stench. The contrast between the quiet personality of Lazarus and the stormy one of Martha can be a consolation for us. Both personalities can enter into friendship with Jesus. Jesus relates to each in different ways. With Martha, he appreciates her boldness in her requests and even how she doesn’t care what other people think. In every encounter between Martha and Jesus, Jesus provides calm and addresses her concerns. When Martha complained about Mary, Jesus pointed out something good Mary was doing and how it is necessary to serve without becoming over-anxious and judgmental. When Martha complained about him not being there to cure her brother, Jesus invited her to have faith in his power to raise us to new life. When Martha complained about the smell from the tomb, Jesus invited her to elevate her thoughts to the glory of God above.
3. Mary of Bethany: The third friend of Jesus, Mary of Bethany, exemplifies yet another personality. Like Lazarus, she loves to listen to Jesus’ words and is totally absorbed by being in his presence. She spends an entire year’s salary on pure nard to anoint the feet of Jesus (John 12:1-8). Her passion for Jesus is tender and personal. She is contemplative and attuned to the mystery of Jesus. She is not drawn so much to service as to presence, listening, and spiritual attentiveness. When her brother Lazarus died, she remained at home but rushed out when her sister Martha told her that Jesus was asking for her. Mary met Jesus with tears, and her emotional openness moved Jesus deeply. Her heart was sensitive to loss, but also confident in Jesus. Lazarus is the silent recipient of grace and a symbol of love and resurrection. He doesn’t exemplify an assertive personality like Martha or an emotional one like Mary. His identity is shaped by his friendship with Jesus and by being raised to life. He is a witness to Jesus’ power and love. Martha is more practical, duty-bound, assertive, and oriented to action and service. She finds calm, peace, and strength in her relationship with her Lord and confesses him as Messiah and Son of God. Mary is passionate, contemplative, emotionally expressive, and drawn more to Jesus’ person than his mission. Together, the three siblings and friends of Jesus represent complementary ways of relating to Jesus: loving him through devotion (Mary), through service (Martha), and through welcoming and being (Lazarus).

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Ba Tuần thứ 17 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Ba Tuần thứ 17 Thường Niên
Trong thế giới của chúng ta, có những người tốt và xấu, tất cả khác nhau, nhưng cùng sống với nhau. Qua những lời của Thánh YNhã thành Loyola viết trong những bài tập Linh Thao của ông, "những người sống trên mặt đất, với sự đa dạng tuyệt vời trong những trang phục và theo cách diễn xuất.  Một số trắng, một số đen, một số được an lạc và một số sống trong chiến tranh. Một số thì đau khổ, khóc lóc, một số vui cười, hạnh phúc. Một số thì khoẻ mạnh, một số thì bệnh tật; một số được sinh ra với thế giới và một số phải chết, v. v. ". Và Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi nhìn thấy thế giới này, "Ngài nhìn xuống toàn bộ bề mặt của trái đất, và nầy, tất cả các quốc gia đang sống trong sự mù lòa, tội lỗi, đang đi xuống và đang hướng tới hoả địa ngục."
      Và Thánh Ynhã đã viết: “Bởi vì sự đa dạng của thế giới đang đi vào sự bối rối này mà Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi trong cõi đời đời đã quyết định sai Con một của Ngài là Ngôi Hai xuống trần gian để làm người như chúng ta và để cứu rỗi con người chúng ta. Vì vậy, khi thời gian viên mãn đã đến, Thiên Chúa đã sai sứ thần Gabriel đến Đức Maria của chúng ta. "
            Ngôi Hai nhập thể của Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi đến và đem Tin Mừng về Nước Thiên Chúa, Ngài tuyển lựa và mời gọi những người theo Chúa, Ngài đã hiến dâng sự sống của mình trên thập tự giá và Ngài sống lại từ cõi chết, Ngài đã để lại Giáo Hội của Ngài để tiếp tục công trình cứu độ của Ngài, "Hãy đi khắp cả thiên hạ rao giảng tin mừng cho mọi loài thụ tạo. Ai tin cùng chịu thanh tẩy thì sẽ được cứu, còn ai không tin thì sẽ bị luận tội "(Mc 16: 15- 16)
 
 Reflection Tuesday 17^th Ordinary Time:
     Jesus speaks of the ungraspable Kingdom of God in parables. In the context of his audience, the parable of the weeds is readily understandable. In the fields where good seed is sown, weeds from whatever source grow with the plants from the good seed. Before the harvest or at the harvest, the bad weeds are separated and eventually disposed of or burned; the fruit of the good seed is harvested.
     In our world, good and bad people, all different, live together. In the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises, "those on the face of the earth, in such great diversity in dress and manner of acting. Some are white, some black' some at peace and some at war; some weeping, some laughing; some well, some sick; some coming into the world and some dying, etc." And the Holy Trinity sees this world, "They look down upon the whole surface of the earth, and behold all nations in great blindness, going down and descending into hell."
     And St. Ignatius writes that it is into this varied and confused world that the Trinity decrees to send the Second Person to save it: "They decree in Their eternity that the Second Person should become man to save the human race. So when the fullness of time had come, They send the Angel Gabriel to our Lady."
     The incarnate Second Person of the Blessed Trinity comes to bring the Good News about the Kingdom of God, chooses and invites followers, gives his life on the cross and rises from the dead, leaving his Church to continue his saving work, "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one ho refuses to believe will be condemned." (Mk 16: 16)
 
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Matthew 13:36
Today’s Gospel begins with a subtle yet significant detail: “Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.” This transition from the public to the private reflects a recurring pattern in the Gospels: Our Lord teaches the crowds in parables, veiling the mysteries of the Kingdom, while reserving their fuller explanation for the disciples in the quiet intimacy of the house. In this context, the house becomes a symbol of the Church—the inner sanctuary where Christ reveals His secrets to those who follow Him not only outwardly, but with humble faith and spiritual hunger.
Though the disciples—likely the Twelve Apostles—were uniquely privileged to share this moment with Jesus, in which He explained the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat in precise detail, this sacred setting is not closed to us. Each of us is invited into this “house” through the life of the Church. Though the Apostles were weak and sinful like all of us, they were nevertheless chosen to be the first bishops—visible shepherds who would continue Christ’s mission after His Ascension. Through their fidelity, the Word of God went forth to the ends of the earth, a proclamation that continues today through their successors.
While each of the baptized is called to proclaim the Gospel in accord with his or her vocation and mission, the bishops—and their co-workers, the priests—uniquely form the spiritual household through which Christ continues to speak with clarity. Through their preaching, governance, and sacramental ministry, the hidden mysteries of Christ’s teaching are continually made known. This is not due to their personal merit, but because of the sacred office entrusted to them by Christ through Apostolic Succession. They became the foundation of the Church—the spiritual House of God—in which Jesus continues to minister.
Place yourself in this Gospel scene. You, too, are called to draw near to Christ, to enter the house with Him, and to seek understanding with the heart of a disciple. In the Church—this household of faith—the Master still teaches, still explains, still reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom to those who desire to listen.
As you prayerfully see yourself in this scene, unite it with your experience of your parish church and other sacred places where God has spoken to you, nourished you, and transformed you. When the Gospel changes us, the Sacraments nourish us, and the Church guides us, it is always Christ who is teaching, feeding, and leading. We must, therefore, learn to see beyond the minister or the building, recognizing Christ’s presence, speaking to us and sanctifying us through His Church.
Though the Church—the visible presence of the Kingdom of God on earth—is the privileged place where we encounter Christ, each of us, in our own unique way, is also called to be this “house” for others. Because God dwells within us, His Kingdom is present within our souls. Thus, this Gospel scene is not only about entering the house—it is also an invitation to become that house: a dwelling place where others may encounter Christ, hear His Word, receive His mercy, and be drawn into His love through the witness of our charity.
Reflect today on this house. First, see the Church as the house in which Christ speaks to you most clearly. Give thanks for the many ways our Lord has spoken to you and fed you in this sacred House of God. Reflect also on your own soul as a dwelling place of God. Believe that Christ desires to use you to bring others into His presence, dwelling within your soul. Give thanks for this gift, and pray that you may be both a faithful disciple within the house and a radiant house of grace for others to enter and meet Christ our Lord.
Most intimate Lord, You desire to reveal to me—and to all Your children—the deep and profound mysteries of Your Kingdom of grace. Draw me to Yourself, to Your House of Grace and Mercy, which resides within Your holy Church. Teach me, sanctify me, and form me according to Your holy will. As You make Your dwelling within me, make my soul a place where others may encounter You, hear Your Word, and receive Your grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Reflection Tuesday 17^th Ordinary Time 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know all things and are the Lord of history. You know how the world is a mixture of good and evil, of light and darkness, of saints and sinners. Bring me to a good end and help me overcome sin in my life so that I may truly be a child of your Kingdom.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus’ Explanation of the Parable: When Jesus began to speak in parables in the Gospel of Matthew, this marked a change in his teaching method. Jesus met with opposition from the religious leaders and authorities (Matthew 12:1-50) and started to form his twelve Apostles as the new leaders of the new Israel. Jesus adapted his teaching to this new reality. His parables hid the mysteries of the Kingdom from the learned and the prideful (represented by the scribes and Pharisees) and revealed them to the humble and childlike (represented by his disciples). Jesus often spoke in parables in public to the crowds that followed him and then later explained the meaning of the parables in private to his disciples. We see this in today’s Gospel. After the crowds have been dismissed, the disciples approached Jesus and asked him to explain the parable of the wheat and weeds in the field.
2. The Final Separation of Good and Evil: Jesus explained that he, as the Son of Man, was the Sower of wheat, of good seed. The devil, the Evil One, was his enemy who sowed weeds. The children of the kingdom of Heaven are the good seed sown by Jesus. The children of the Evil One are the weeds sown by the devil. Jesus is revealing that good and evil people, saints and sinners, will coexist side by side in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus reveals that only at the end of the age – the end of time – will bad weeds (the unrighteous) and good wheat (the righteous) be definitively separated. Jesus speaks about sending out messengers and angels into the world at harvest time to collect the weeds and throw them into the fire. “The parable shows that even though the kingdom is dawning on the world, wicked and the faithful will coexist with it until the final judgment” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 181). While the wicked will be punished in the furnace of fire, the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Those who rise to eternal life will shine because they share in the light of Jesus’ glory. The image evokes Daniel 12:3, which foresees the day when the wise will be delivered from God’s judgment and shine forever like the stars.
3. In Peter’s House: Jesus explained the meaning of his parable in Peter’s house, which is an image of the Church. Like the disciples in today’s Gospel, we also hear the explanation of the parable in the Church. What are some lessons we can draw from this parable? First of all, we need to learn the lesson of patience. Wickedness will exist in the world and even in the kingdom of Heaven as it grows throughout history. The parable encourages us to work to eradicate wickedness from our own lives and overcome injustices in our society. Second, there is a lesson of hope. The children of God the Father will be vindicated at the final judgment. Am I working patiently and persistently to eradicate sin, evil, and wickedness from my own life and from the community around me?
 
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”  Matthew 13:43
This passage concludes Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Weeds in the Field. Recall that in this parable there were good seeds sown in a field. The Sower is the Son of Man, Jesus, and the seed He sows are the children of the Kingdom, which includes all those who are in a state of grace. The field is the whole world. Thus, Jesus is saying that He has sent His followers, each one of us, into the world to build His Kingdom. But the evil one also sows his “children,” which refers to all of those who live evil lives that are contrary to the will of God. The passage above refers to the reward that the children of the Kingdom receive, whereas the passage just prior to this points out that at the end of the age, the children of the evil one will be condemned and sent “into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
The end result of being the children of the Kingdom is quite hopeful. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” This promise from our Lord should be pondered, believed and become the driving force of our hope in life.
Hope is an essential virtue that we often do not speak of enough. The gift of hope is not simply wishful thinking, such as when one hopes they win the lotto. The theological virtue of hope is a gift from God that is based on truth. The truth that it is based on is the promise of eternal life in Heaven if we accept all that God speaks to us and if we fulfill His glorious will in our lives.
By analogy, say that you have a large mortgage on your home. And say that the bank was doing a promotion in which they were going to pay off the mortgage for one lucky family. And that family was yours. They contacted you and let you know that all you need to do is fill out an application for this grant and that it would then be given to you. What would you do? Of course you would go and fill out the application. The bank is trustworthy, and you are confident that if you do what they ask, a small task of filling out the application, then they will follow through with the promise they made of paying off your mortgage. In a sense, there is hope established within you once you learn of this offer; and that hope, which is based on a true promise, is what drives you to do the small task of filling out the application.
So it is with God. The “mortgage” that He promises to pay is the debt of all our sin. And the requirement to receive this promise is fidelity to all He commands of us for our good. The problem is that we often do not fully understand the reward we are promised. That is: to “shine like the sun” in the Kingdom of our Father in Heaven. Having your mortgage paid off by the bank is something concrete and clear and very desirable. But the reward of shining like the sun in the Kingdom is of infinitely greater value. Do you believe that?
The best way to strengthen the virtue of theological hope in our lives is to become more and more certain of the truthful promise of our Lord. We need to understand Heaven and the infinite value we receive by obtaining it. If we truly understood what Jesus was promising us, we would become so intensely driven to do all that He commands us to do that this would become the single focus of our life. The hope would become a strength so strong that we would become consumed with doing anything and everything necessary to obtain such a reward.
Reflect, today, upon the depth of hope you have in your life. How driven are you by the promises made by our Lord? How clearly do you understand those promises? If you struggle with hope, then spend more time on the end reward that is promised to you by Jesus. Believe what He says and make that end goal the central focus of your life.
My glorious King, You invite all people to share in the glories of Heaven. You promise us that if we are faithful, we will shine like the sun for all eternity. Help me to understand this glorious gift so that it becomes the single object of my hope and the drive of all that I do in life. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday 17^th Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know all things and are the Lord of history. You know how the world is a mixture of good and evil, of light and darkness, of saints and sinners. Bring me to a good end and help me overcome sin in my life so that I may truly be a child of your Kingdom.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus’ Explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds: When Jesus begins to speak in parables in the Gospel of Matthew, this marks a change in his teaching method. Jesus has met with opposition from the religious leaders (Matthew 12:1-50) and started to form his twelve Apostles as the new leaders of the new Israel. Jesus adapts his teaching to this new reality. Parables hide the mysteries of the Kingdom from the learned and the prideful (the scribes and Pharisees) and reveal the mysteries to the humble and childlike (his disciples). Jesus often speaks in parables to the crowds that follow him and then later explains the meaning of the parables in private to his disciples. We see this in today’s Gospel. After the crowds have been dismissed, the disciples approach Jesus and ask him to explain the parable of the wheat and weeds in the field. He explains that he, the Son of Man, is the sower of wheat, of good seed. The devil, the Evil One, is his enemy who sows weeds. The children of the Kingdom of Heaven are the good seed sown by Jesus. The children of the Evil One are the weeds sown by the devil. Jesus is revealing that good and evil people, saints and sinners, will coexist side by side in the kingdom of heaven.
2. The Final Separation of Good and Evil: In Peter’s house, which is an image of the Church, Jesus explains the meaning of his parable. Jesus reveals that only at the end of the age will bad weeds (the unrighteous) and good wheat (the righteous) be separated. Jesus speaks about sending out messengers and angels into the world at harvest time to collect the weeds and throw them into the fire. “The parable shows that even though the kingdom is dawning on the world, wicked and the faithful will coexist with it until the final judgment” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 181). While the wicked will be punished in the furnace of fire, the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Those who rise to eternal life will shine because they share in the light of Jesus’ glory. The image evokes Daniel 12:3, which foresees the day when the wise will be delivered from God’s judgment and shine forever like the stars. What are some lessons we can draw from this parable? First of all, we need to learn the lesson of patience. Wickedness will exist in the world and even in the kingdom of Heaven as it grows throughout history. We need to work to eradicate wickedness from our own lives and overcome injustices in our society. Second, there is a lesson of hope. The children of God the Father will be vindicated at the final judgment. Am I working patiently and persistently to eradicate sin, evil, and wickedness from my own life and from the community around me?
3. Why Have You Struck Us Down? In the First Reading, Jeremiah is encouraged by God to weep for Jerusalem, which is called the “virgin daughter.” Jerusalem is suffering because Judah’s spiritual leaders, tasked with religious instruction, have failed to impart true knowledge of God to the people (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, 43). Jeremiah responds to God by asking if the Lord has rejected Judah and why he has struck her down. “Jeremiah, still unwilling to abandon Judah to conquest and exile, prays again for clemency. This time he confesses the sins of multiple generations (14:20), begs the Lord to uphold his covenant with Israel (14:21), and acknowledges the inability of idols to bring rain (14:22)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, 43). The people of Judah are oppressed by Babylon and by the persistent drought. Jerusalem, the Daughter of Zion, needs to learn that the God of Israel and Judah – not Baal, the Canaanite storm god – controls the weather and the rain. The Lord permits his people to experience deportation and drought in an effort to bring them back to covenant fidelity. Has God permitted me to experience what it is like to be far away from him? Did this experience draw me back to God?
 
Reflection:
Today, through the parable of the weeds and the wheat, the Church urges us to ponder over the coexistence of good and evil. Good and evil within our heart; good and evil we may spot on others, good and evil we can see in the world, all around us. “Explain to us the parable” (Mt 13:36), his disciples ask Jesus. And, today, we can mean to be more careful with our personal prayer, our everyday dealings with God. —Lord, we can ask him, explain to me why I do not progress enough in my interior life. Explain to me how can I be more faithful to you, how can I look for you in my work, or through these circumstances I do not understand or I do not want. How can I be a qualified apostle? A prayer is just this, to ask God for “explanations”. How is my prayer? Is it sincere?, is it constant?, is it trusting?
Jesus Christ invites us to keep our eyes fixed on Heaven, our eternal home. Quite often, haste can drive us crazy, but we seldom stop to think that there will come a day —, «the man who strives to live must die; whereas the man who does not strive to avoid sin has to live eternally» (St. Julian of Toledo).
We shall reap what we have sown. We have to fight to give today the 100%. So when we are called into God's presence we might be able to go with our hands full: of acts of faith, hope and love. Which result in minor things and events that, when lived on an everyday basis, make us better Christians, saints and human.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 17 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 17 Thường Niên

Hôm nay, bài Tin Mừng cho chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu dậy cho các môn đệ. Như thói quen, Ngài dạy các ông trong hình thức các dụ ngôn, Ngài dùng hình ảnh đơn giản hàng ngày để giải thích những mầu nhiệm và bí ẩn to lớn của Nước Trời. Bằng cách này mà tất cả mọi người từ những người thông minh nhất đến những người đơn sơ thấp kém nhất cũng có thể hiểu được ý nghĩa Lời của Chúa.

"Nước Trời giống như hạt cải" (Mt 13:31) hạt cải là những hạt hết sức là nhỏ bé nó to gần như là hạt cát mịn, nhưng nếu chúng ta trồng nó xuống đất, bun xới, chăm sóc tốt mỗi ngày ... kết quả, nó sẽ trở thành một cây lớn lớn. “Nước thiên đàng giống như men mà một người phụ nữ trộn lẫn với ba đấu bột (...)” (Mt 13:33). Nấm men thì vô hình, nhưng nếu nó không được trộn và ủ trong bột làm bánh mì thì bột không nổi và bánh mì sẽ cứng khô. Đó là những cách cần thiết cho cuộc sống Kitô hữu của chúng ta. Một cuộc sống trong ân sủng: cho dù không thấy được sự bộc lộ ở bên ngoài; cũng không có một âm thanh làm vang dội cho người khác nghe, nhưng ... nếu chúng ta cho phép những ân sủng của Chúa đến và ở trong trái tim của chúng ta, thì ân sủng của Thiên Chúa sẽ là phân bón nuôi dưỡng hạt giống và biến đổi con người tội lỗi như chúng ta trở thành như các thánh của Chúa.

Chúng ta nhận được ân sủng của Thiên Chúa qua đức tin, qua lời cầu nguyện, qua các bí tích, qua tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Nhưng ân sủng cho cuộc sống này phải là trên tất cả những ân sủng mà chúng ta đã hy vọng và phải chờ mong, nhưng chúng ta phải mong muốn trong sự khiêm tốn. Những hồng ân của Thiên Chúa mà những người khôn ngoan trên thế giới này không biết đánh giá cao, không biết kính trọng nhưng mà Chúa là Thiên Chúa của chúng ta muốn truyền ban cho những ai biết khiêm tốn, hèn hạ và biết chấp nhận thánh ý Chúa.
Đấy là một điều thật tuyệt vời nếu khi Ngài đi tìm kiếm chúng ta, những người biết tự nhận ra chính bản thân mình là những người tội lỗi yếu đuối, nhưng biết tin tưởng vào sự tốt lành của Thiên Chúa. Bằng cách này, hạt cải nơi chúng ta sẽ phát triển thành cây lớn, các men của Lời Chúa sẽ đem lại cho chúng ta những hoa trái của sự sống đời đời bởi vì như thánh Augustinô có nói: “Trái tim càng biết khiêm tốn trong sự thấp hèn, thì nó sẽ càng được nâng lên để được hoàn thiện” (Saint Augustine).

 
Reflection Monday 17^th Ordinary Time:
Today, the Gospel shows us Jesus preaching to his disciples. He does so, as is His custom, in the form of parables, using simple everyday images to explain the great hidden mysteries of His Kingdom. In this way he could be understood by everyone from the most highly educated to the simplest of individuals.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed” (Mt 13:31) The mustard seed is so tiny it is almost invisible, but if we take good care of it and water it properly... it ends up becoming a large tree. «The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman took and buried in three measures of flour (...)» (Mt 13:33). The yeast is invisible, but if it weren't present the dough would not rise. Such is the way for life lived as a Christian, the life of grace: you don't see it externally; it doesn't make a sound, but… if one lets it introduce itself in one's heart, divine grace nourishes the seed and converts people from sinners to saints.

We get this divine grace through faith, through prayer, through the sacraments, through love. But this life of grace is, above all, a gift that we must wait and hope for, that we must desire with humility. A gift which the wise and learned of this world do not know how to appreciate, but that Our Lord God wants to transmit to the humble and uncomplicated. It would be great if, when He looks for us, he finds us, not in the group of the proud, but amongst the humble, the ones who recognize themselves as weak sinners, but very grateful for, and trusting in, the goodness of the Lord. This way the mustard seed will grow into the large tree, the yeast of the Word of God will bring about for us the fruit of eternal life because «the more the heart is lowered in humility, the higher it is raised to perfection» (Saint Augustine).

 

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” Matthew 13:31–32

Today’s Gospel presents two brief yet profoundly rich parables—the mustard seed and the leaven—each revealing distinct dimensions of the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven. Together, they draw our attention to the Kingdom’s humble beginnings and hidden power, which unfold silently yet irresistibly in the world and within the human soul.

Each parable possesses layers of meaning, and the Church Fathers deeply explored these levels. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, the seed is frequently interpreted as Christ Himself. As “the smallest of all the seeds,” the mustard seed illustrates the hiddenness and apparent insignificance of Christ’s earthly life, from a worldly point of view. He entered the world in obscurity, born in a cave in Bethlehem, fleeing into exile in Egypt, and growing up in the humble village of Nazareth. His divinity—the Eternal Word through whom all things were made—was veiled beneath the lowliness of His humanity.

Even as He hung upon the Cross, His divine majesty was hidden from the eyes of the world. Yet from this seed of self-emptying love—this total descent into poverty and death—sprang forth the triumph of the Resurrection, shattering the bonds of sin and death. In His risen glory, Christ has become the “largest of plants,” and, as the parable says, “the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” This image is often understood as a symbol of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, in which the peoples of the earth find shelter, nourishment, and eternal hope.

The mustard seed also represents Christ planted within each soul. When He is sown in the fertile ground of our hearts—through faith, prayer, and the Sacraments—He takes root and grows, transforming our lives from within. Though His presence may begin in us imperceptibly, it has the power to expand beyond all measure, bearing fruit not only in our lives but in the lives of all those we encounter. Ultimately, this growth finds its consummation in the New Heavens and the New Earth, where the Kingdom of God will be fully revealed.

The second parable—the leaven—expresses a similar truth in another form. The leaven is often interpreted as Christ or His grace, working silently and effectively. Mixed into three measures of flour, it gradually transforms the entire batch—symbolizing the hidden work of grace within the soul. Here, Christ is not only among us, but within us, sanctifying every part of our being from the inside out.

Today’s Gospel concludes with a beautiful citation from “the prophet,” taken from Psalm 78:2: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35). On the surface, the parables appear simple, but they conceal divine truths from those who approach with indifference or pride. Yet for those who receive them in faith and prayerfully ponder them, the Holy Spirit opens the inner meaning. What was hidden from the beginning of creation is now disclosed—not to the wise and learned of this world, but to the humble of heart. In this way, the parables serve as a school of divine wisdom, inviting the soul to move beyond mere appearances into the depths of God’s eternal plan.

Reflect today on the hidden ways in which Christ is at work in your life. Are you attentive to His quiet growth within you? Do you nourish the seed of His presence through prayer and the Sacraments? Trust that, even in small beginnings, God is building His Kingdom—in you, through you, and for His greater glory.

Most glorious King, You desire that Your Kingdom be born within our lives through the grace poured out by Your Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Come to me, Lord, and plant the seed of grace deep within my soul. Let it take root and grow, transforming me according to Your perfect will. Through me, expand Your Kingdom on earth, until the day we behold the fullness of Your eternal Kingdom in glory. Jesus, I trust in You

 

Reflection Monday 17^th Ordinary Time 2026

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for the seed of your kingdom that has been sown in my heart and my family. I hope and pray that I am truly transformed by your divine grace so that I may extend your Kingdom throughout my community.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Fulfillment of Psalm 78: Matthew points out that Jesus teaches in parables and, in this way, fulfills a prophecy from Psalm 78:2 that reads: “I will open my mouth in a parable, unfold the puzzling events of the past.” The first way that Jesus fulfills Psalm 78 is by teaching the crowds the hidden mysteries of God’s plan of salvation in parable form. Just as a little mustard seed is planted and develops into a large shrub and invasively grows in a field, and just as a little yeast transforms a batch of dough, so also the Kingdom of heaven will start small and grow to international proportions and transform the nations of the world, represented by the birds of the sky, the field, and the bread dough. As the teacher of the mysteries of salvation, Jesus does not just recall the history but reveals its ultimate meaning. “What has been hidden up until Jesus are ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven’ (13:11), God’s plans to establish his reign. Jesus has told four parables to convey what God’s reign is like (13:3-9, 24-33). Jesus’ parables may be puzzling to those who are not receptive (13:13-15), but his parable-telling is a fulfillment of Scripture and part of his mission to make God known (11:25-27). The mysteries of God cannot be captured in simple definitions but must be announced in the elusive and evocative speech of parables” (Martin, Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life, 280).

2. Bread from Heaven and the New Exodus: By invoking a line from the beginning of Psalm 78, Matthew is calling to mind the entire psalm. Psalm 78 is a lengthy meditation on biblical history from the Exodus of Israel to the election of King David. In verses 23-24, Psalm 78 narrates how God “opened the doors of heaven,” and rained manna upon the people for food. And in verses 52-69, the Psalm highlights how the Lord led out his people like sheep from Egypt, brought them to his holy mountain, and drove out the nations before Israel. In response, Israel tested the Lord, rebelled against the Lord God, and did not observe his decrees. By invoking Psalm 78, Matthew is warning his readers, who hear Jesus’ words, not to be like the rebellious Israelites in the desert. In the next chapter, Matthew 14, Jesus will provide the crowds with an abundance of bread from heaven. How will the people respond? Like rebellious, forgetful, and defiant Israel (Psalm 78:8-11)? Or will they welcome the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven like good soil, bear abundant fruit, and collaborate in the transformation of the world?

3. The Merciful Shepherd-King: Psalm 78 contrasts the unfaithfulness of Israel with the faithfulness of God. The merciful compassion of God is fully revealed in Christ. Jesus doesn’t just retell Israel’s history but enters into it and redeems it from within, bringing God’s merciful love to all people. Psalm 78 ends with the election of David: “He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds. From tending ewes God brought him, to shepherd Jacob, his people, Israel, his heritage. He shepherded them with a pure heart; with skilled hands he guided them” (Psalm 78:70-72). Jesus is the royal Son of David. He is the Son of God. He is the Good Shepherd. David led the twelve tribes of Israel as their king and prepared everything for his son, Solomon, to build the Temple on Mount Zion. In a greater way, Jesus will gather the old Israel, scattered among the nations, into the New Israel. He accomplishes this through laying down his life for his sheep and by sending out his apostles to the ends of the earth to preach the Good News of salvation and extend the Kingdom of heaven.  

 

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” Matthew 13:33;

Yeast is powerful. Though it often accounts for only about 1% of a loaf of bread, it causes that loaf to more than double in size. Of course, it also has the amazing effect of turning the dough soft and flexible as it rises. Without yeast, the dough would remain stiff and much smaller in size. The dough would not become the bread it was meant to be.

The Church Fathers offer many interpretations of this short, one-sentence parable. Some say that the three measures of flour represent the spirit, soul and body into which the Gospel is inserted. Others say the three measures of flour represent either three different kinds of persons or three levels of fruitfulness in our lives. The yeast is understood by some as the message of the Gospel in the Scriptures and by others as charity that must permeate our lives and the world as a whole. Of course, the parables of Jesus, as well as every teaching contained within the Scriptures, offer us many levels of understanding and meaning that are all correct and consistent with each other. One of the most important questions to ponder is this: What does God want to say to you through this parable?

If you consider yourself to be the three measures of flour, and the yeast to be God, His holy Word and His gentle but clear Voice speaking to you, in what concrete ways do you see your life rising as a direct result? How do you see yourself becoming that which you are intended to be as a result of God entering your life? And do you see the effect as one that is truly transforming and even exponential?

Sometimes the Word of God has little to no effect on our lives. That, of course, is not the fault of the Word of God; rather, it’s because we do not allow God to do His transforming work. For yeast to work, the dough has to sit still for a while. So in our lives, for God to do His work, we must allow Him to gently and powerfully work. This process requires that we internalize all that God speaks to us. Then His actions must prayerfully be permitted to work within us, and we must allow the change to be slow and certain in accord with His divine plan.

Sometimes we can also become impatient with the workings of God. Again, the yeast takes time to work. If we are impatient with God’s grace, then it may be like taking the dough and kneading it over and over before it even has a chance to work. But if we are prayerfully patient, allowing God to do His work in our lives according to His will and in His time, then little by little we will experience the transformation that He initiates.

Reflect, today, upon this short but powerful parable. See yourself as that dough and see God and His action in your life as the yeast. As you sit with that image in a prayerful way, let God reveal how He wants to work within you and how He wants to transform you. Pray for patience. Trust that if you receive His transforming Word into your soul, then He will do what He wants to do. And trust that if this happens, you will indeed become the person God wants you to become.

My transforming Lord, You desire to enter deeply into my life and to permeate all that I am. You desire to change me, little by little, making me into the person You want me to become. Please help me to be attentive to all that You desire to do in me and to patiently await the transformation that You have already begun. Jesus, I trust in You.

 
Monday 17^th Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for the seed of your kingdom that has been sown in my heart and my family. I hope and pray that I am truly transformed by your divine grace so that I may extend your Kingdom throughout my community.

Encountering the Word of God

Fulfillment of Psalm 78: Jesus teaches in parables and, in this way, fulfills a prophecy from Psalm 78:2. “St. Matthew sees everything in the Old Testament as prophetic in some way; Jesus fulfills the law, the prophets, and the figures and stories. So it’s natural for him to see the Psalms as prophetic, as did the early Christians. David, author of most of the Psalms, was the original Christ, so it stood to reason that his Psalms would ultimately point to his ultimate descendant, the end-time Christ” (Huizenga, Behold the Christ, 260). The first way, then, that Jesus fulfills Psalm 78 is by teaching the mysteries of God’s plan of salvation in the form of parables. Just as a little mustard seed develops into a large shrub and invasively grows in a field, and just as a little yeast transforms a batch of dough, so also the Kingdom of heaven will start small and grow to international proportions and transform the nations of the world, represented by the birds of the sky, the field, and the bread dough. As the teacher of the mysteries of salvation, Jesus does not just recall the history but reveals its ultimate meaning.

Bread from Heaven and the New Exodus By invoking a line from the beginning of the Psalm, Jesus is calling to mind the entire psalm. Psalm 78 is a lengthy meditation on biblical history from the Exodus of Israel from Egypt to the election of King David. In verses 23-24, Psalm 78 narrates how God “opened the doors of heaven,” and rained manna upon the people for food. And in verses 52-69, the Psalm highlights how the Lord led out his people like sheep from Egypt, brought them to his holy mountain, and drove out the nations before Israel. In response, Israel tested the Lord and rebelled against God and did not observe his decrees. By invoking Psalm 78, Jesus is warning the people who hear his words not to be like the rebellious Israelites in the desert. In the next chapter, Matthew 14, Jesus will provide them with an abundance of bread from heaven. How will the people respond? Like rebellious, forgetful, and defiant Israel (Psalm 78:8-11)? Or will they welcome the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven like good soil, bear abundant fruit, and collaborate in the transformation of the world?

The Merciful Shepherd-King: Psalm 78 contrasts the infidelity of Israel with the faithfulness of God. The compassion of God is fully revealed in Christ. Jesus doesn’t just retell Israel’s history but enters into it and redeems it from within, bringing God’s merciful love to all people. Psalm 78 ends with the election of David: “He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds. From tending ewes God brought him, to shepherd Jacob, his people, Israel, his heritage. He shepherded them with a pure heart; with skilled hands he guided them” (Psalm 78:70-72). Jesus is the Son of God and the Good Shepherd. David led the twelve tribes of Israel as their king and prepared everything for his son, Solomon, to build the Temple on Mount Zion. In a greater way, Jesus will gather Israel scattered among the nations into the New Israel. He accomplishes this through laying down his life for his sheep and sending out his apostles to the ends of the earth to preach the Good News of salvation and extend the Kingdom of heaven.