Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư tuần 23 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư tuần 23 Thường Niên

Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu nhiều lần đã gọi là "ơn phúc” (lành) cho các môn đệ của Ngài.  "Tám Mối Phúc Thật" là những lời hứa hẹn cho những Việc làm tốt, trong cùng một lúc đấy cũng là những lời hướng dẫn đạo đức. Mỗi "ơn phúc", được mô tả, có thể nói, các điều kiện thực tế của các môn đệ của Chúa Kitô: họ đều những người nghèo khó, những người đang đói khát, những người đang khóc than, vì họ bị ghét bỏ, bị bách hại ... Những mối phúc thật là những "tiêu chuẩn" thực tế cho ta sống, và cũng là những lởi chỉ dẫn cho chúng ta về thần học luân lý.
            Mặc dù phải đối đầu với biết thử thách, đe dọa, nhưng Chúa Giêsu đã dùng những sự khốn khó và thử thách để đem các môn đệ đến với hy vọng trong cuộc sống mới. Tám Mối Phúc Thật Chúa dậy các môn đệ hôm nay sẽ trở thành những lời hứa cho hạnh phúc đời sau khi con người chúng ta biết sống trong ánh sáng đến từ Chúa Cha. Đối với các môn đệ, hay chúng ta thì  "Tám Mối Phúc Thật" đúng là một nghịch lý: dựa trên các tiêu chuẩn của thế giới mà chúng ta đang sống trong xã hội naỳ cùng với sự đảo lộn khi chúng ta nhìn mọi thứ nơi những nấc thang giá trị của Thiên Chúa.  "Tám Mối Phúc Thật" là những lời hứa rực rỡ với những hình ảnh mới của thế giới và của người được Chúa Giêsu tấn tôn, và Ngài "chuyển đổi các giá trị" thực tại.
            Khi chúng con "chiêm ngắm" những Ân Sủng qua Chúa, Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con biết sống với tiêu chuẩn mới, Xin cho chúng con bắt đầu "cảm nhận được và thấy"  được một tương lai sáng sủa hơn trong nước Chúa mà biết sẵn sàng chấp nhận với niềm vui trong những sự hoạn nạn và thử thách mà Chúa đã và đang gởi tới cho chúng con.
 
Reflection Wednesday 23^rd Ordinary Times
Today, Jesus repeatedly calls "blessed" to his disciples. The "Beatitudes" are words of promise that work at the same time as moral guidance. Each "beatitude" describes, so to speak, the realistic condition of the disciples of Christ: they are poor, they are hungry, they cry, they are hated, persecuted... The beatitudes are like practical "qualifications", but also like theological-moral indications.
            Despite the threatening situation in which Jesus considers his disciples, this situation becomes a promise when regarded in the light coming from the Father. For the disciple, the "Beatitudes" are a paradox: the standards of the world are turned upside down when you just look at things from God’s scale of values. The "Beatitudes" are promises resplendent with the new image of the world and of the man inaugurated by Jesus, His "transformation of values.”. When I "look" through you, O Lord, then, I live with new standards, I begin to "feel" something of what is yet to come (Heaven) and joy enters in my tribulation.
 
Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time 2026
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Luke 6:6–8
Even on the surface, the thinking and actions of the Pharisees are absurd. They had become blinded by their jealousy for power and envy of Jesus. This is clearly evident in the fact that they were hoping Jesus would perform a miraculous healing on the Sabbath—not because they desired a man to be healed or longed to see divine authority at work, but because they had decided that miracles were considered “work” and, therefore, a violation of the Sabbath law of rest. The absurdity of their reasoning is shocking.
Even an atheist who witnessed a miraculous healing would find it difficult to explain away or ignore. Only the Creator, who established the laws of nature, is capable of bending those laws at will. What makes the Pharisees such a pitiful group of men is not that they disbelieved Jesus’ miracles, but that they believed and intentionally rejected the meaning of those miracles. Miracles were, in part, signs of Jesus’ divine identity. The Pharisees clearly witnessed the sign with their own eyes, but what they saw was not able to purge their self-centeredness. Rather than worship Jesus, they rejected Him and began to plan His destruction.
Imagine being there in the synagogue, witnessing the miraculous healing of this man’s hand. Being a local synagogue, the people present most likely had known the man for years, and his withered hand would have been undeniable—as would the cure. Consider also, as you watch the miracle, the reaction of the Pharisees. Rather than rejoicing in the goodness of God or falling to their knees in awe and gratitude, they seethe with anger. Their hearts are so hardened by pride and selfishness that even the undeniable power of God does not move them. Instead of seeing this act as a manifestation of divine love and mercy, they see it as a threat to their authority. And rather than allowing the miracle to open their hearts to faith, they begin to plot against Jesus.
In each of our lives, the absurdity of the Pharisees’ irrational hate could easily arise. At times, others might treat us or our loved ones with a disdain that is so irrational, we sit back in confusion, declaring that such actions make no sense—because they don’t. This irrational thinking can also tempt each of us when we allow the sins of jealousy and envy to fester in our souls. Those sins lead to irrational and, at times, absurd thinking.
Though the Pharisees are anything but inspiring, their witness can inspire us in another way—shocking us into an awareness of just how destructive pride and envy can be. The Pharisees’ bad example becomes a warning and a call to self-examination. When we see grace at work in others, our hearts must be filled with gratitude, not tainted by jealousy or envy.
Reflect today on the irrationality and spiritual blindness that can arise from self-centeredness, jealousy, and envy. Consider the Pharisees—not to condemn them, but to recognize how easily the same temptations can take root in our own hearts. When God blesses others, are you able to rejoice? When someone else is praised, succeeds, or receives grace, does your heart rise in gratitude or fall into resentment? Be honest. Pray for the grace to be humble, so that you never fall into the trap of rejecting what is good simply because it did not come through you. Let the Pharisees’ behavior serve not only as a warning, but as a call to sincere self-reflection, repentance, and faith.
My divine Lord, Your power is undeniable, and Your identity certain. When You act in this world, Your grace and goodness become manifest for all to see. Give me the grace I need always to rejoice in the good You do, especially when it is done in and through others. Free me from the jealousy that resents Your blessings in my neighbor and from the envy that blinds me to Your presence outside of myself. May I humbly love You in every way You come to me, whether through Your Word, Your Sacraments, or the holiness of those around me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have set before me the way of life and the way of death. Yet the path that leads to death often appears attractive, while the path that leads to life can seem difficult and demanding. The riches, pleasures, honors, and comforts of this passing world tug at my heart and promise a happiness they cannot give. Give me the wisdom to recognize the true path to blessing. Teach me to follow your Son, even when following him leads through poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution, trusting that the Cross is the way to the Kingdom and that those who share in your Son’s sufferings will also share in his glory.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Old Covenant Blessings and Curses: One of the great themes running throughout Scripture is that of the covenant. God establishes a covenant relationship with his people and calls them to faithful obedience. Fidelity to the covenant brings blessing, while infidelity brings its corresponding curse. This pattern is especially clear in the covenant established with Israel through Moses. At the beginning of Genesis, God blesses Adam and Eve and entrusts them with the governance of creation (see Genesis 1:28). Their obedience to God is therefore connected with their flourishing and their participation in his work. Their disobedience, however, brings the curse of death: “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die” (Genesis 2:16–17). The covenant established with Israel makes this pattern explicit. Moses tells the Israelites, “If you obey the voice of the Lord, your God, and carefully observe all his commandments which I enjoin on you today, the Lord, your God, will raise you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overwhelm you, when you obey the voice of the Lord, your God” (Deuteronomy 28:1–2). These blessings include abundance, prosperity, victory over enemies, and the Lord’s favor. But Moses then warns Israel of the consequences of infidelity: “But if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, your God, and carefully observe all his commandments and statutes which I enjoin on you today, all these curses will come upon you and overwhelm you” (Deuteronomy 28:15). The covenant curses include famine, poverty, defeat, illness, oppression, and finally exile from the Promised Land. Under the Old Covenant, therefore, material prosperity and earthly flourishing often signified God’s covenant blessing, while poverty, hunger, defeat, and exile were seen as consequences of covenant infidelity. Yet the prophets already began preparing Israel for a deeper understanding of God’s blessing. In Jesus and the New Covenant, that deeper meaning is finally revealed.
2. Four New Covenant Blessings: Jesus establishes the New Covenant through his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. And just as the Old Covenant had its blessings and curses, the New Covenant has its promises of blessing and warnings of woe. But here something astonishing occurs: Jesus transforms the meaning of covenant blessing. Luke presents four blessings: “Blessed are you who are poor,” “Blessed are you who are now hungry,” “Blessed are you who are now weeping,” and “Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you and insult you” (Luke 6:20–22). These are precisely the kinds of circumstances that, under the Old Covenant, could be associated with deprivation or the experience of covenant curse. Jesus does not simply reverse the Old Covenant by declaring suffering good in itself. Rather, he reveals that in the New Covenant, these very circumstances can become a path to divine blessing when they are endured in faith and united to him. Why is that? Because the Christian’s blessedness no longer consists principally in possessing earthly goods. It consists in possessing Christ and belonging to his Kingdom. Jesus himself is the pattern. He was poor and humble. He experienced hunger in the desert. He wept over Jerusalem and at the tomb of Lazarus. He was rejected, hated, insulted, and finally crucified despite his innocence. Yet none of these things prevented him from being the beloved Son of the Father. Indeed, through his poverty, suffering, and death, he accomplished our redemption. The New Covenant therefore transforms the apparent curses of this life into possible pathways to blessing. Poverty can become a path to dependence upon God. Hunger can become a path to hunger for righteousness and the Bread of Life. Weeping can become a path to repentance, compassion, and the consolation of God. Persecution can become a path to deeper union with Christ. The Christian does not seek suffering for its own sake. Rather, when suffering comes, he can receive it as Christ received the Cross, trusting that “your reward will be great in heaven” (Luke 6:23). The apparent curse becomes the path to the blessing of the Kingdom.
3. Four New Covenant Warnings: Jesus then gives four corresponding warnings: “But woe to you who are rich,” “Woe to you who are filled now,” “Woe to you who laugh now,” and “Woe to you when all speak well of you” (Luke 6:24–26). These warnings do not mean that wealth, food, laughter, or a good reputation are evil in themselves. Rather, Jesus warns us about the danger of allowing these good things to become our ultimate consolation. The irony is striking. Under the Old Covenant, prosperity, abundance, and honor could be signs of divine blessing. In the New Covenant, however, these same blessings can become spiritually dangerous if they cause us to forget God and place our hope in this passing world. Jesus says to the rich, “You have received your consolation.” The problem is not simply possessing wealth but being satisfied with an earthly consolation that leaves no room for the greater consolation of God. Likewise, those who are filled may have no hunger for the Bread of Life; those who laugh may become so absorbed in superficial pleasures that they never learn to mourn over sin; and those who are praised by everyone may become so dependent upon human approval that they no longer seek the approval of God. Jesus is therefore not simply replacing one list of blessings and curses with another. He is fulfilling and transforming the covenant. The Old Covenant pointed toward earthly signs of blessing; the New Covenant reveals that the true blessing is communion with God through Christ.
 
Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.” Luke 6:24–26
Is it dangerous to be rich, to be filled, to laugh, and to have all speak well of you? According to Jesus, it appears so. Why would Jesus warn against these things? And before that, why would He pronounce it blessed to be poor, hungry, weeping and insulted? Essentially, Jesus was condemning four common sins—greed, gluttony, intemperance, and vainglory—and promoting their opposite virtues.
Poverty, in and of itself, is not sufficient for holiness. But in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus declares it blessed to be poor, literally. This goes further than Matthew’s Gospel which says it is blessed to be “poor in spirit.” To be poor in spirit is to be spiritually detached from the material things of this world so that you can be fully open to the riches of God. One common tendency among those with material wealth is to rationalize that even though they have many things, they are detached from them. Hopefully that is the case. However, in Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly says, “Blessed are you who are poor” and “woe to you who are rich.” In this teaching, we discover a second blessing not found in Matthew’s version. In addition to spiritual detachment (poverty of spirit) being identified as a blessing, literal poverty is proclaimed as the easier way to achieve this spiritual detachment. Material wealth, though not a sin in and of itself, brings with it many temptations toward attachment, self-reliance, and self-indulgence. Thus, spiritually speaking, it is easier to be detached when one is poor, rather than when one is rich. This is a hard truth for both the poor and the rich to accept. The poor often want to be rich, thinking that if they were, they would share their wealth with others and remain detached. The rich often enjoy being rich and believe that they are more spiritually detached than they actually are.
Being “hungry” is also identified as a blessed state, whereas being “filled” is a dangerous state. When you are literally hungry, either from fasting or from lack of an abundance of food, it is easier to turn your hunger and thirst toward God so as to be filled by Him and to more easily trust in His providence. An abundance of food, especially fine food, tempts you with a gluttonous satisfaction that makes it difficult to hunger and thirst for God and His holy will in a complete way. Therefore, if you refrain from indulgence and experience hunger, you will be blessed to be free from gluttony and even the temptation toward it.
“Laughing” and “weeping” in this case are not referring to joy and despair. Rather, they are referring to those who are always seeking fun and an indulgent life. Many people live for fun, entertainment, and momentary pleasures. Weeping refers to those who have discovered that the fleeting pleasures of the world can never satisfy. Constant entertainment, therefore, brings with it a real temptation, whereas the loss of that form of fleeting pleasure helps eliminate that temptation.
Finally, Jesus declares it blessed to be hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced as evil on account of Him rather than being spoken well of by all. In this case, Jesus is referring to the praise that comes from things that mean nothing from an eternal perspective. When all speak well of us, praising qualities and accomplishments that are not true Christian virtues, we will be tempted to rely upon that praise for our satisfaction. But this form of satisfaction is nothing other than vainglory and never truly satisfies in the end. However, when one sees and praises the virtues of God within us, God is praised first and foremost, and we are blessed to share in God’s glory.
Reflect, today, upon whether you prefer to be rich, to indulge in the best of foods, to be constantly entertained and to be the envy of others, or whether you see the temptations this type of life brings. Reflect also upon the concrete spiritual blessings that come to those who are literally poor, hungry, temperate and humble. This is a very demanding teaching from Jesus. If it doesn’t sit well with you, then know that it is a sign that you still have various attachments in life. Reflect, especially, upon the beatitude that is most difficult to embrace, and make that beatitude the source of reflection and prayer. Doing so with honesty and openness will result in you being among those who are truly blessed in the eyes of God.
My blessed Lord, You were poor, hungry, temperate and humble to the perfect degree. For these reasons, You were filled with perfect virtue and were satisfied to the greatest degree. Please open my eyes to the deceptions of this world so that I can live with You a life of true holiness, experiencing the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You!
 
Wednesday 23^rd Ordinary Times 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I see before me the path that leads to life and the path that leads to death. For some reason, the path to death beguiles me and tugs at my heart. I feel the allure of the riches and glory of this passing world. Help me to overcome these temptations and set out on the path to eternal life and communion with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Covenant Blessings and Curses: One of the running themes in the Bible is that of the covenant. The Bible opens with the covenant of creation. The word for wearing a covenant in Hebrew is related to the number seven. And so, on the seventh day of creation, God is seen as establishing a covenant with Adam and Eve. If they are faithful to the covenant and govern creation properly, they will be blessed: “God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). If Adam and Eve are unfaithful to the covenant and choose for themselves what is good and evil, then they will trigger the curse of the covenant, death (Genesis 2:17). Another covenant, that of Deuteronomy, is very clear that there are blessings – prosperity, victory, divine favor – for faithfulness and curses – poverty, illness, defeat, famine, despair, exile – for unfaithfulness.
2. Four Blessings and Four Woes: Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection, establishes the New Covenant. And, like the covenants of old, it contains blessings and curses. The Gospel of Luke parallels the blessings and the curses. Blessings, in the New Covenant, belong to the poor, those who hunger, those who weep, and those who are hated and persecuted on account of Jesus, the Son of Man. Ultimately, this means sharing in the life of Jesus, who was poor and humble, who knew hunger and wept over Jerusalem, and who was persecuted despite being innocent. By sharing in Jesus’ passion and death, we will also share in his resurrection, glorification, and beatitude. In the New Covenant, there are also warnings of woe about the path that leads to eternal death. Those who are rich, those who are filled, those who laugh, and those who are spoken well of are all given a warning. Riches tend to lead us to earthly consolation, but not heavenly reward. Over-indulging and satisfying ourselves with earthly food can lead to spiritual hunger. Superficial living and laughter can lead to grieving and weeping in the next life. Being spoken well of can lead to a false security in our eternal destiny.
3. Put to Death what is Earthly: Paul’s Letter to the Colossians echoes this teaching of Jesus. We need to put to death the parts of us that are earthly. Paul lists eleven such earthly parts: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, fury, malice, slander, obscene language, and lying. These are vices that bring about God's judgment. Paul invites us to take off the “old self” and its practices, and put on the “new self,” which is identified with renewal in the image of God the Creator. We have been created in the image of God and recreated in Christ. Having been raised with Christ, we need to seek what is above. If we do this, we will share in Christ’s glory. We do not need to be afraid or think that this ideal is too lofty. For the Father and the Son have sent us the Holy Spirit and his gifts to empower us to live as Christians in this passing world. 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần 23 TN

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần 23 TN Luke 6:12-19,
Trong bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta thấy rất nhiều người Do thái kéo đến để nghe lời giảng dạy của Chúa Giêsu và để được chữa lành tất cả các tật bệnh về thể xác cũng như  bệnh tinh thần. Thế giới của chúng ta hôm nay thực sự là rất cần một vị cứu tinh như Chúa Giêsu. Trong xã hội hôm nay, chúng ta thấy rất nhiều những người ham thích danh vọng, hưởng thụ, tham lam, hận thù, vv và họ không bao giờ hài lòng với những gì mình có. Họ chẳng bao ngại cho dù họ có phải làm nô lệ cho ma quỷ và xác thịt, miễn sao họ thoả mãn được cái tham vọng hay dục vọng của họ. Một cách sâu sắc hơn, họ đang tìm kiếm sự giải phóng và họ biết có ai đó đang thực sự quan tâm đến họ. Đó là cách mà người Do Thái trong phúc âm đã cảm thấy và họ đều vây quanh Chúa Giêsu.
 Họ nghỉ là Chúa Giêsu thực sự có thể giải quyết những vấn đề nghiêm trọng của con người. Như chúng ta thấy các chính trị gia có thể sẽ làm cho vấn đề trở nên tồi tệ hơn, trừ khi họ thực sự là người Kitô hữu. Những nhà tâm lý học chỉ có thể chữa trị bệnh tâm ký cho người bệnh, nhưng cũng chỉ có giới hạn, trừ khi họ dẫn đưa bệnh nhân của họ đến với Đấng Chữa Lành là Thiên Chúa. Con người thường hay tìm đến các loại người để giải quyết vấn đề của họ chỉ đến với Thiên Chúa mỗi khi họ đang tuyệt vọng. Nhưng Chúa Giêsu phải là lựa chọn đầu tiên của chúng ta, đặc biệt là nếu vấn đề là tình cảm, tinh thần hoặc tâm lý. Ngài là người thầy thuốc tốt và là người bạn thân tốt nhất, và luôn hướng dẫn và giúp đỡ của tất cả chúng ta.
 
Reflection
In the gospel, we see how so many people came to listen to Jesus' words and to be healed of their physical and spiritual ailments. Our world is truly in need of a savior. We see people consumed by greed, hatred, anger, lust, etc. and they are not happy being enslaved by the devil. Deep down they are looking for a liberator and they know when someone truly cares for them. That is how the Jews in the gospel must have felt so they all crowded aroun
d Jesus. It is only Jesus who can truly solve the serious problems of man. Politicians, unless they are truly Christians, will make matters worse. Psychologists can only do so much unless they lead their patients to the Divine Healer. People often turn to all kinds of problem solvers and as a last recourse, ask God's help when they are desperate. But Jesus should be our first option, especially if the problem is emotional, spiritual or psychological. He is the best teacher, guide, friend and helper of us all.
 
Tuesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. Luke 6:17–19
The Gospel of Luke presents us with what is traditionally known as the “Sermon on the Plain.” Almost everything Luke includes in this sermon is also found in Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount.” Matthew, however, adds some teachings not found in Luke. Matthew’s sermon has three chapters while Luke’s has only one.
In this, the introduction to this “Sermon on the Plain,” from which we will be reading all week, Luke points out that large numbers of people came from far and wide to listen to Jesus. This crowd included many Jews but also included many people from the pagan territory of Tyre and Sidon. And what was it that drew so many of them? They came to “hear” Jesus preach and “to be healed.” They wanted to hear the words of Jesus since He spoke with great authority and in a way that was changing lives. And they were especially amazed by the healing power that Jesus manifested. The last line of the passage above gives great emphasis to this desire for healing. “Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”
It’s interesting that Jesus performed so many powerful miracles as He went about His public ministry. This was especially the case as He began His ministry. He became a sort of instant celebrity to many and was the talk of the many surrounding towns. But it’s also interesting to note that, as time went on, Jesus gave more emphasis to His teaching than He did to the miracles.
What is it that draws you to our Lord? Perhaps if there were numerous manifest miracles performed today by God, many people would be amazed. But physical miracles are not the greatest work of our Lord and, therefore, should not be the primary focus of our relationship with Him. The primary reason we should be drawn to our Lord is because His holy Word sinks in deeply, changes us and draws us into communion with Him. This is clearly seen by the fact that now that the Gospel message has been deeply established and the Church formed, physical miracles are rare. They do happen, but not in the same way that they did as Jesus first established His public ministry.
Reflect, today, upon the primary reason you find yourself drawn to our Lord. Seek out His living Word, spoken within the depths of your heart. The most important miracle that takes place today is that of interior transformation. When a person hears God speak, responds to that Word, and allows Him to change their life, this is among the most important miracles of grace that we could ever encounter. And this is the central reason we should be drawn to Him, seek Him out and follow Him wherever He leads.
My miraculous Lord, please draw me to Yourself, teaching in the wilderness of my interior life of silence and solitude. Help me to seek You out so that I can hear Your Word, spoken to me to give me new life. May I always listen to You so that Your holy Word will transform me more fully, making me into the new creation You desire me to be. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday 23^rd Ordinary Times 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know me and know the very depths of my heart and being. You know who I am and who I am called to be. Grant me true self-knowledge. Allow me to see myself as you see me.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Call of the Twelve and the Restoration of Israel: Jesus called his disciples after a night in prayer. This was a momentous decision that symbolically reconstituted the twelve tribes of Israel. Many of the prophets envisioned that the twelve tribes and the Kingdom of David would be restored, but it was less clear how this would happen. Calling twelve disciples to be apostles was an important stage in the restoration process. A disciple is a student; an apostle is someone who is sent out. The Apostles will spend time with Jesus and learn from him. Over the course of three years, he will teach them about the mysteries of the Kingdom, the fulfillment of the Old Law, and how to govern the Church, the seed and beginning of the Kingdom, in a spirit of humility. After his resurrection and ascension, the Apostles would be sent out to the ends of the earth to gather not only the lost tribes of Israel into the Kingdom, but also the Gentiles from the nations. 
2. He Healed Them All: In the Gospel, Luke is also building up to Jesus’s “Sermon on the Plain.” Luke points out that there were people from Judea and Jerusalem, and also from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. He does this to indicate the universality of Jesus’ message. The ministry of Jesus and the Apostles will begin primarily with Israel, but will then go out to all the world. Even Paul, in his ministry, would follow this same path when he would go to a city for the first time. If there were a synagogue in the city, he would preach there first. And when people began accepting or rejecting his message, he would then turn to the Gentiles. The Christian life is not reducible to a doctrine, philosophy, or moral code. In the Gospel, people were not only taught by Jesus, but also healed. Christianity is a personal and communal encounter with the living Christ. The Church, the Body of Christ, not only teaches, but also heals and sanctifies, especially through the power of the Sacraments.
3. Sharing in Christ’s Life: Paul, in his Letter to the Colossians, also speaks about how they were taught, not an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, but were taught to walk with Jesus, be rooted in him, built upon him, and established in the faith. In Christ, the fullness of divinity abides, and we share, through our Baptism, in that divinity. Baptism is our spiritual circumcision, where the stubbornness of our hearts was cut away and the stain of original sin was washed away. Through our Baptism, we were buried with Christ and also raised with Christ. This sacrament gave us new life, forgave our sins, and removed the curses of the Old Covenant. Paul speaks about this when he writes how the bond against us, with its legal claims, has been obliterated. Jesus removed it from our midst and nailed it to the cross.
 
Tuesday 23^rd Ordinary Times 2024 Scripture: Luke 6:20-26
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know me and know the very depths of my heart and being. You know who I am and who I am called to be. Grant me true self-knowledge. Allow me to see myself as you see me.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Hearts of Each of the Apostles: Jesus’ decision in the Gospel to appoint the Twelve Apostles was a prayer event – it was the fruit of his communion with his heavenly Father. Jesus knew each one of his disciples. He knew their faults and failings, their gifts, and their talents. He saw their hearts and was not fooled by outward appearances. Simon Peter would be the Rock who remained firm in the faith, who repented and strengthened his brethren, and who fed and tended the flock of the Church. Andrew, the first-called, would become a fisher of men and call men and women to follow Christ. James and John, the “sons of thunder,” would learn the way of God’s merciful love. Philip would lead men and women along the path that leads to the Father. Nathanael Bartholomew, the one without guile, would teach the way of child-like simplicity, the condition for entry into the Kingdom. Matthew would teach how to leave everything and sell everything to obtain the Kingdom, the pearl of great price. Thomas would lead others on the path to Jerusalem and teach them how to find refuge in the wounds of the risen Christ. James would teach the principles of right conduct and the vanity of faith without love. Simon would be consumed by zeal for Christ, the new temple. Jude appeals to Christians to wait prayerfully and patiently for the Lord and to not give into doubt or let themselves be deceived by false prophets. Finally, Jesus knew that Judas would betray him and hand him over to the temple authorities. He knew how Judas struggled with sin and would despair when faced with the gravity of his sin.
2. Learning from Jesus: Jesus called the Apostles to be with him throughout his public ministry and learn from him. He would teach them how to pray, and how to enter into communion with the Father. They would be his disciples and the sign of the restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were called to humble service, but this service would lead to deep friendship with him. Just as Jesus washed their feet, they would be called to wash the feet of the communities they served.
3. The Vocation of an Apostle: The Apostles would be granted authority to govern the Church. They would be guided by the Holy Spirit so that they could bring the Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations. They would be filled with the Holy Spirit so that they could work for the sanctity of the Church, baptizing, confirming through the laying on of hands, celebrating the Eucharist, forgiving sins, healing the sick, ordaining others for ministry, and bringing men and women into the covenant bond of marriage. The Apostles will lead men and women to inherit the Kingdom of God and do so by combating sin in their lives. Saint Paul today puts Christians on guard about injustice. If we are truly brothers and sisters in the Lord, then we should seek to be reconciled with one another. The condition for entry into the Kingdom is observing the commandments. We have been washed clean through the waters of Baptism. We have been justified by the grace of Christ and are brought to sanctity by the Holy Spirit.

Sept 8- Lễ Sinh Nhật Đức Trinh Nữ Maria

Sept 8- Lễ Sinh Nhật Đức Trinh Nữ Maria
Hôm nay, chúng ta mừng một trong những ngày sinh nhật quan trọng nhất trong lịch sử thế giới! Chắc chắn, ngày sinh nhật duy nhất quan trọng hơn chính là ngày sinh nhật của Chúa Giêsu. Nhưng hôm nay, chúng ta tôn vinh Mẹ của Người, và cũng là Mẹ của chúng ta.
Đức Trinh Nữ Maria đã được sinh ra trong thế giới này mà không mang vết nhơ của tội nguyên tổ. Mẹ được gìn giữ khỏi bản chất con người sa ngã nhờ ân huệ Vô Nhiễm Nguyên Tội. Vì vậy, Mẹ là người đầu tiên được sinh ra trong sự hoàn hảo của bản chất con người sau khi sa ngã, và Mẹ tiếp tục trải nghiệm ân sủng này trong suốt cuộc đời, đáp lại Thiên Chúa bằng ý chí tự do của mình trong từng bước đường của cuộc đời của mẹ.
Tất cả chúng ta đều thích mừng sinh nhật của mình. Trẻ em đặc biệt yêu thích ngày này, nhưng hầu hết mọi người đều mong chờ ngày đặc biệt đó mỗi năm khi gia đình và bạn bè tôn vinh và chúc mừng chúng theo một cách đặc biệt. Vì lý do đó, chúng ta có thể chắc chắn rằng ngay cả Đức Mẹ Maria cũng yêu thích ngày sinh nhật của mình khi còn ở trần gian và tiếp tục tận hưởng ngày kỷ niệm đặc biệt này trên Thiên Đàng. Tất nhiên, Mẹ không tận hưởng ngày sinh nhật của mình vì Mẹ muốn được nuông chiều hay được quan tâm đặc biệt. Có lẽ hơn bất kỳ ai khác ngoài Chúa Giếsu, Mẹ đã vui mừng trong ngày sinh nhật của mình vì lòng biết ơn sâu sắc mà Mẹ dành cho Thiên Chúa về tất cả những gì Ngài đã làm trong cuộc đời Mẹ.
Hôm mnay chúng ta hãy thử suy ngẫm về trái tim và tâm hồn của Đức Mẹ Maria từ góc nhìn của Mẹ. Mẹ hẳn đã được kết hợp mật thiết với mỗi Ngôi trong Ba Ngôi Chí Thánh trong suốt cuộc đời. Mẹ hẳn đã biết đến Thiên Chúa, sống trong tâm hồn mình, và sẽ kinh ngạc trước những gì Thiên Chúa đã làm cho Mẹ. Mẹ hẳn đã suy ngẫm về những ân sủng này với lòng khiêm tôn sâu thẳm và lòng biết ơn đặc biệt. Mẹ hẳn đã nhìn thấy tâm hồn và sứ mệnh của mình từ góc nhìn của Thiên Chúa, nhận thức sâu sắc về tất cả những gì Ngài đã làm cho Mẹ.
Khi chúng ta tôn vinh ngày sinh của Đức Mẹ Maria, đây cũng là cơ hội quan trọng để mỗi người chúng ta suy ngẫm về những hồng ân vô giá mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho mỗi người chúng ta. Không, chúng ta không được Vô Nhiễm Nguyên Tội như Đức Mẹ Maria. Bởi vì mỗi người chúng ta đều sinh ra trong tội tổ tông và đã phạm tội suốt cuộc đời. Nhưng những hồng ân được ban cho mỗi người chúng ta là vô cùng chân thật. Chúng ta chỉ cần nỗ lực để có đôi mắt nhìn thấy những hồng ân này. Ví dụ, Bí tích Rửa Tội ban cho linh hồn chúng ta có được một sự biến đổi vĩnh cửu. Mặc dù tội lỗi đôi khi có thể che mờ sự biến đổi đó, nhưng sự biến đổi đó là vĩnh cửu. Linh hồn chúng ta được biến đổi. Chúng ta được đổi mới. Ân sủng được đổ tràn vào trái tim chúng ta, và chúng ta trở thành con cái Thiên Chúa. Và đối với những linh hồn có thể cảm nhận được vô số cách khác mà Thiên Chúa ban tặng ân sủng, lòng biết ơn là phản ứng phù hợp duy nhất.
Hôm nay, hãy suy ngẫm về lễ kỷ niệm vinh quang mừng sinh nhật của Đức Trinh Nữ Maria, Mẹ Thiên Chúa. Hãy bắt đầu bằng cách cố gắng vui mừng trong cuộc đời của Mẹ qua đôi mắt của Mẹ. Hãy thử tưởng tượng những gì Mẹ đã thấy khi Mẹ nhìn vào tâm hồn đầy ân sủng của chính mình. Từ đó, hãy cố gắng vui mừng trong tâm hồn của chúng ta nữa. Hãy biết ơn tất cả những gì Chúa đã làm cho Mẹ. Hãy cố gắng để có đôi mắt nhìn thấy vô vàn ân sủng này và cho phép chính mình cũng hân hoan trong những hồng ân của Chúa cùng với Đức Mẹ Maria.
Hôm nay, chúng con hân hoan trước món quà tuyệt vời mà Chúa đã ban cho Mẹ qua sự vô nhiễm nguyên tội và sự ra đời của Mẹ trên thế gian này. Chúng con cầu xin Chúa cho chúng con được tôn vinh Mẹ một cách xứng đáng trong ngày hôm nay và đặc biệt là được hiểu rõ hơn vẻ đẹp của tâm hồn đầy ân sủng của Mẹ. Xin Chúa cầu nguyện cho chúng con để chúng con cũng được hân hoan trước vô vàn ân sủng mà Thiên Chúa nhân từ đã ban cho chúng con. Chúng con yêu Mẹ, Mẹ yêu dấu. Lạy Chúa Giêsu, qua trái tim Đức Trinh Nữ Maria, chúng con tín thác vào Chúa!
 
Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20–21
Today we celebrate one of the most consequential birthdays in the history of the world! Certainly, the only birthday more important is that of our divine Lord Himself. But today we honor His mother, and our mother, too. The Blessed Virgin Mary was born into our world without the stain of original sin. She was preserved from experiencing fallen human nature through the gift of her Immaculate Conception. Thus, she was the first to be born in the perfection of human nature after the fall, and she continued to experience this grace throughout her life, responding to God with her free will every step of the way.
All of us enjoy celebrating our birthdays. Children especially love it, but most everyone looks forward to that special day each year when family and friends honor them and celebrate them in a special way. For that reason, we can be assured that even our Blessed Mother loved her birthday while here on earth and continues to enjoy this special celebration in Heaven. Of course, she did not enjoy her birthday because she wanted to be pampered or given special attention. She, perhaps more than anyone other than her divine Son, rejoiced on her birthday because of the deep spiritual gratitude she had to God for all that He did in her life.
Try to ponder the heart and soul of our Blessed Mother from her perspective. She would have been intimately united to each person of the Most Holy Trinity throughout her life. She would have known God, living in her soul, and would have been in awe of what God had done to her. She would have pondered these graces with deep humility and exceptional gratitude. She would have seen her soul and mission from the perspective of God, keenly aware of all that He had done for her.
As we honor the birthday of our Blessed Mother, it’s also an important opportunity for each of us to ponder the incredible blessings that God has bestowed upon each one of us. No, we are not Immaculate as Mother Mary was. We were each born into original sin and have sinned throughout our lives. But the blessings of grace, given to each one of us, is exceptionally real. We only need to work to have the eyes to see these graces. Baptism, for example, bestows upon the soul an eternal transformation. Though our sin may cloud that transformation at times, the transformation is eternal. Our souls are changed. We are made new. Grace is poured into our hearts, and we become children of God. And for the soul who is able to perceive the countless other ways that God bestows blessings, gratitude is the only appropriate response.
Reflect, today, upon the glorious celebration of the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Begin by trying to rejoice in her life through her eyes. Try to imagine what she saw as she looked into her own graced soul. From there, try to rejoice, also, in your soul. Be grateful for all that God has done for you. Work to have eyes that see these countless graces and allow yourself to rejoice in God’s blessings with our Blessed Mother. 
My dearest Mother, happy birthday! Today I rejoice in the incredible gift that God gave to you in your Immaculate Conception and birth into our world. I pray that I may honor you in a fitting way this day and to especially understand more clearly the beauty of your graced soul. Pray for me that I may also rejoice in the countless graces bestowed upon me by our merciful God. I love you, dear Mother. Precious Jesus, through the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I trust in You!
 
Sept 8- 2026 Tuesday, The Nativity of The Virgin Mary
Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.” Matthew 18:15
When someone sins against us, especially in a grievous way, anger and condemnation can quickly arise as strong temptations. Our natural sense of justice often takes over, and we may find ourselves rationalizing a response rooted in judgment rather than compassion. In today’s Gospel, however, Jesus offers the much better path—to seek reconciliation, not division. The ultimate goal is to win the sinner back to God and restore the bond of communion.
Sin touches every human relationship, with the sole exception of the one shared between Jesus and His Blessed Mother. Their mutual and perfect charity rendered sin and division entirely absent from their union. What a sublime and singular gift they shared!
But we are not perfect. Even the most loving and holy relationships are affected by human weakness, and sin inevitably creeps in. We sin against others, and others sin against us. Sometimes the sin is deliberate and deeply wounding. Other times, it stems from weakness or the absence of fully formed virtue. Regardless of its source, every sin inflicts harm and weakens the communion we are called to share and deeply desire.
In today’s Gospel, while Jesus appears to be addressing serious sin that severs a person from sanctifying grace—mortal sin—the same principles apply to all offenses, even venial sins and spiritual imperfections. The Christian response to sin must always be grounded in mercy. Whether we are correcting or being corrected, the goal must always be to heal, to restore, and to deepen our unity in Christ.
To begin applying these spiritual principles, call to mind those toward whom you may harbor resentment. Start with your family, since familial bonds—due to their natural closeness—are especially vulnerable to sin. Resentment born of sin is often present in close relationships. While some wounds may have caused deep fractures, even the most loving bonds can suffer subtle injuries. Prayerfully examine these relationships in your life. If the wounds are deep and hostilities strong, the path forward is usually clear: Seek to win over your brother, sister, parent, or spouse. And if you are the one who has caused the wound, then humbly acknowledge your sin without excuses. This is always the better path. Always.
To aid this process, it is helpful to recognize a hidden dynamic: Holding onto resentment or anger can bring a certain emotional satisfaction. Though it may seem surprising, this is often the case. Anger energizes the emotions and creates a charged feeling that, while disordered, can feel gratifying—like a drug that fuels addiction.
The first step is to recognize this disordered emotional pattern for what it is. The next step is to realize that a healed and reconciled relationship offers a deeper and more lasting fulfillment that is far superior to the fleeting satisfaction of resentment or hostility. Winning over another—or being won over by one we have wronged is profoundly rewarding. It transcends emotion and enters the realm of grace, producing true peace and spiritual joy.
Reflect today on the first step of reconciliation outlined by Jesus in the Gospel: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Take sin seriously. Acknowledge its presence in your relationships, especially the close ones. See yourself both as one who is sinned against and as one who sins. Identify the offenses that diminish love. Confront those sins with courage and humility. Reject the false comfort of resentment, and seek instead the true consolation that comes from unity and charity. This is the path that leads to a share in the holy love between Jesus and His Blessed Mother—a love they desire us to know and live.
Lord of perfect mercy, Your Sacred Heart burns with a deep desire to win us back to Yourself fully reconciled and united in love. I repent of my sins before You, and I pray that Your love, living within me, may become a wellspring of mercy for others. I forgive all who have sinned against me, and I repent of the sins I have inflicted upon others. Restore every relationship in my life, Lord, and endow them with the same pure and holy love You shared with Your Blessed Mother. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
The Nativity of The Virgin Mary 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I read through the genealogy of your Son, I contemplate how you providentially guide the course of human history. You know all things and each human being personally. You know me and my place in the history of salvation. Enlighten my mind to see your divine plan and conform ever more closely to your holy will.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Mary’s Immaculate Conception: Nine months ago, on December 8, we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. We celebrated how God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin. Just as the old Eve was created without the stain of sin and with divine grace, so also Mary, the new Eve, was conceived without the stain of sin and was filled with divine grace. One option for the First Reading, from Romans 8, speaks about divine foreknowledge and predestination. God’s knowledge and plan are eternal. In his eternity, God simultaneously knows the past, the present, and the future. When God created Adam and Eve, he already knew that they would sin. He also knew, in his eternity, that human beings would need to be redeemed if they were to attain eternal life. God foreknew Mary and predestined that she would be preserved from the first moment of her conception from the stain of original sin. She would be the Mother of our Redeemer and was given this singular grace to be conceived without sin.
2. Mary’s Nativity: Today, we celebrate the Feast of Mary’s birth (nativity). God foreknew when and where Mary was going to be born and who her parents would be. God foreknew everything that Mary would do in her life and how she would, with his help, persevere in his grace and never be stained by sin. Her birth was a joyful occasion. Tradition holds that Joachim and Anne, her parents, were elderly when Mary was born. Mary was their only child, and so, when Joseph married her, Joseph became their son-in-law and heir. The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about Mary’s early life, but tradition holds that she was presented to the Temple at a young age and dedicated to service to God. The Church commemorates this event each year on November 21. 
3. Mary’s Assumption: Human life is characterized by three births. We are most familiar with the day of our natural birth, our birthday. Perhaps we are less familiar with the day of our spiritual birth, the day of our baptism. But there is a third birth, the day we die and pass from earthly life to the next life. For many saints, the day of their passing is celebrated as their “birthday.” When Mary’s earthly life came to an end, she was assumed body and soul into heaven. Just as her soul was unstained by sin, so also her body did not know corruption. In heaven, Mary now intercedes for us, her children, as the Queen Mother of heaven and earth.
 
The Nativity of The Virgin Mary
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I read through the genealogy of your Son, I am contemplating how you guide the course of human history. You know all things and each human being personally. You know me and my place in the history of salvation. Enlighten my mind to see your divine plan and conform ever more closely to your holy will.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Mary’s Immaculate Conception: Nine months ago, on December 8, we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. We celebrated how God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin. Just as the old Eve was created without the stain of sin and with divine grace, so also Mary, the new Eve, was conceived without the stain of sin and was filled with divine grace. One option for the First Reading, from Romans 8, speaks about divine foreknowledge and predestination. God’s knowledge and plan are eternal. In his eternity, God simultaneously knows the past, the present, and the future. When God created Adam and Eve, he already knew that they would sin. He also knew, in his eternity, that human beings would need to be redeemed if they were to attain eternal life. God foreknew Mary and predestined that she would be preserved from the first moment of her conception from the stain of original sin. She would be the Mother of our Redeemer and was given this singular grace to be conceived without sin.
2. Mary’s Nativity: Today, we celebrate the Feast of Mary’s birth (nativity). God foreknew when and where Mary was going to be born and who her parents would be. God foreknew everything that Mary would do in her life and how she would, with his help, persevere in his grace and never be stained by sin. Her birth was a joyful occasion. Tradition holds that Joachim and Anne, her parents, were elderly when Mary was born. Mary was their only child, and so, when Joseph married her, Joseph became their son-in-law and heir. The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about Mary’s early life, but tradition holds that she was presented to the Temple at a young age and dedicated to service to God. The Church commemorates this event each year on November 21. 
3. Mary’s Assumption: Human life is characterized by three births. We are most familiar with the day of our natural birth, our birthday. Perhaps we are less familiar with the day of our spiritual birth, the day of our baptism. But there is a third birth, the day we die and pass from earthly life to the next life. For many saints, the day of their passing is celebrated as their “birthday.” When Mary’s earthly life came to an end, she was assumed body and soul into heaven. Just as her soul was unstained by sin, so also her body did not know corruption. In heaven, Mary now intercedes for us, her children, as the Queen Mother of heaven and earth.