Suy
Niệm bài Tin Mừng thứ Bẩy Tuần 21 Thường Niên
“Loài người không có gì để khoe khoang với Thiên Chúa.”
Thật đúng, với thời đại maf chúng ta sống hiện nay và lịch sử gần đây của thế
giới. Chiến tranh, hận thù, thảm sát, áp bức, bất công, đói nghèo mà chúng ta
có thể giải quyết nhưng không làm được… một danh sách dài vô tận. Tất nhiên,
đây không phải là điều Thánh Phaolô nói đến trong lá thư gửi cho các Kitô hữu ở
Côrintô. Nhưng có lẽ đây là lời nhắc nhở kịp thời về con người thật của chúng
ta, những người dễ dàng tự hào về bản thân và những thành tựu của mình, dù là
thành tựu cá nhân hay thành tựu y học, khoa học, công nghệ, v.v. Trong thời đại
“khai sáng” của chúng ta, một số người thậm chí còn khoe khoang rằng họ không “cần”
đến Thiên Chúa nữa,.
Khoe khoang là cho rằng chúng ta có
một số đức tính, lòng tốt hoặc khả năng của riêng mình, khiến chúng ta có quyền
coi thường người khác, so sánh họ với chính mình một cách không thuận lợi.
Nhưng sự thật là chúng ta không có bất cứ thứ gì là của riêng mình. Sự thật này về chúng ta chính là sự khiêm nhường của người
Kitô hữu, sự thừa nhận thực tại của chính mình.
Những gì chúng ta có hay
sử hữu và gọi là “của
tôi” thật ra luôn
là những món quà của Chúa ban cho. Và điều đó đặc biệt đúng với đức tin của chúng ta,
với việc chúng ta là một Ki tô hữu. Chỉ có sự lựa chọn của Chúa mới khiến chúng ta trở
nên như vậy, không phải bất kỳ đức tính, tài năng hay khả năng nào mà chúng ta
có thể nói là “của tôi”.
Tuy nhiên, trong Chúa Kitô và thông
qua Ngài, chúng ta có thể tự hào và khoe khoang về những gì Chúa đã làm trong chúng
ta và cho chúng ta. Không phải lòng kiêu hãnh hay sự khoe khoang tạo ra sự so
sánh hay phán đoán, mà là lòng kiêu hãnh, chân thật và khiêm nhường biết ơn.
Lạy Chúa, Chúa là sự khôn ngoan,
sức mạnh, lòng tốt và sự thánh khiết của chúng ta. Chỉ một mình Chúa được vinh
quang.
Saturday 21st Sunday in
Ordinary Time
“The human race has nothing to boast about to God.” How true that is of
our present age and the world's recent history. Wars, hatreds, massacres,
oppressions, injustices, hunger and poverty that we could relieve but don’t …
an endless list. This is not, of course, what St Paul was talking about in his
letter to the Christians of Corinth. But maybe it's a timely reminder of who we
really are, we who so easily become proud of ourselves and our achievements, be
they personal or the achievements of medicine, science, technology and so on.
Some people even boast about not “needing” God any, more, in our “enlightened”
age.
To boast at all is to presume we have some virtue or
goodness or ability of our own that gives us a right to look down on others,
compare them unfavourably with ourselves. But the truth is that we don’t have
anything of our own. This truth about me is Christian humility, a recognition
of my reality.
What we call “mine” is always a gift of God. And
that’s especially true of my faith, of my being a Christian. It’s purely God’s
choice that’s made me so, not any virtue, talent or ability I could say
is “mine”.
Yet, in Christ and through Him I can be proud and
boast of what God has done in me, and for me. It’s not pride or boastfulness
that makes comparisons or judgements, but one that is graceful, truthful, and
humbly grateful. Lord God, You are
my wisdom, my power, my goodness, my holiness. To You alone be glory.
Saturday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
“The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the
additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made
five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great
responsibilities.’” Matthew 25:20–21
Oftentimes, when we are presented with a story of success versus
tragedy, our attention goes to the tragedy first. The parable we are given
today, the Parable of the Talents, presents us with three persons. Two of the
people display stories of great success. One, however, offers a story that is
more tragic. The tragic story ends by the master telling the servant who buried
his money that he is a “wicked, lazy servant!” But both of the success stories
end with the master saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you
were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” Let’s
focus upon these success stories.
Both of the servants who were successful doubled the master’s
money. Even from a secular point of view, that is very impressive. If you were
investing money with a financial advisor and shortly after investing you were
told that your money had doubled, you’d be quite pleased. Such a rate of return
is rare. This is the first message we should take from this parable. Doubling
the gifts and graces God gives us is very doable. The reason for this is not
primarily because of us; rather, it’s because of God. By their very nature,
God’s gifts to us are meant to grow. By its very nature, grace flows in
superabundance; and, when we cooperate with God’s grace, then it grows in an
exponential way.
When you consider your own life, what gifts has God given to you
that He wants you to use for His glory? Are there gifts buried away that remain
stagnant or, even worse, are used for purposes that are contrary to the divine
plan for your life? Some of the more obvious gifts you were given within your
very nature are your intellect and will. Additionally, you may be
extra-talented in one way or another. These are all gifts given on a natural
level. In addition to these, God often bestows supernatural gifts in abundance
when we begin to use what we have for His glory and for the salvation of
others. For example, if you work to share the truths of our faith with others,
God will begin to deepen your supernatural gifts of Counsel, Wisdom, Knowledge
and Understanding so that you will be able to speak about God and His will. All
seven of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are among the clearest examples of
supernatural gifts given by God as follows: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. The prayer that concludes this
reflection comes from a traditional novena to the Holy Spirit and not only asks
for these gifts but also gives a short description of them for a better
understanding.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that what God has given to you, both
on a natural and supernatural level, must be devoted to the service of God and
others. Do you do this? Do you try to use every talent, every gift, every part
of who you are for God’s glory and the eternal good of others? If you don’t,
then those gifts dwindle away. If you do, you will see those gifts of God’s
grace grow in manifold ways. Strive to understand the gifts you have received
and firmly resolve to use them for God’s glory and the salvation of souls. If
you do, you will also hear our Lord say to you one day, “Well done, my good and
faithful servant.”
Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may
despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things
that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the
light of Your divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may choose the surest
way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may
bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles
that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know
myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; the Spirit of Piety, that
I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear of the
Lord, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in
any way to displease Him. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday 21st Ordinary Time 2024
Saturday 21st Sunday in
Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come to you again in prayer. Even though I cannot
see you, I know through faith that you are present in my life. I hope in your
promise to be with me. I love you, and I know you love me. Accept this prayer
as a token of my love.
Petition: Teach
me, Lord, to take all that you have given me and make it produce fruit for your
kingdom.
1. God’s Gifts: The Gospel tells us clearly that God distributes his
gifts among us as he wills and entrusts each of us with a mission. He gives us
what we need to produce fruits for his kingdom and expects us to use those
gifts responsibly and diligently. No two people are exactly alike, and God
treats each one individually as a unique person made in his image. We need to
live before God and respond to him sincerely by using the talents he has given
us to the maximum. Are we making the best use of all God has given us, or have
we neglected some things and taken others for granted? Might we be committing a
sin of omission with regard to some of our talents?
2. Life as a Mission: The servants who invest their talents and make a return
on them have understood the purpose of their lives and the time they have at
their disposal. These servants were generous with everything their master had
given them, making it bear fruit, and they received from him the reward of
greater intimacy and more responsibility. Each of us is also given a limited
amount of time to use our various gifts to give glory to God and help save
other souls. We, too, should work every day to hear those words: “Well done,
good and faithful servant.”
3. The Useless Servant: How often we are paralyzed by fear or false prudence into
doing nothing, into trying to preserve ourselves! Sometimes, we don’t take
God’s gifts seriously or think we have been given very little, and we use that
as a rationalization for making no effort or producing little for God. We blame
circumstances or others, but the fact is we are neglecting to produce the
fruits God wants. The master didn’t expect a return of five talents from the
servant to whom he gave only one. He would have been happy with a return of one
more, but the lazy servant closed in on his egoism, self-love, and laziness. We
must resolve to use our God-given talents wisely to net him a significant
return.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, give me the grace and love to work for your kingdom
with all the talents that you have given me. Let me return them all to you with
real fruits for your kingdom.
Resolution: I
will make a plan for evangelizing other souls and look for fruits of holiness
in others.
Suy
Niệm bài Tin Mừng thứ Bẩy Tuần 21 Thường Niên.
Câu
chuyện ngụ ngôn hôm nay nói về sự liên quan đến việc sử dụng những tài năng mà
Thiên Chúa bạn cho chúng ta để chúng ta dùng hầu đem lợi ích đến với tất cả mọi
người.
Câu chuyện dụ ngôn cũng có thể được áp dụng để nâng cao khả năng tình
yêu thương của chúng ta. Thiên Chúa đã cho chúng ta có khả năng bẩm sinh để yêu
thương những người khác như: cha mẹ yêu thương con cái, tình bạn được tạo ra một
cách tự phát, tình yêu lãng mạn có thể nở dễ dàng. Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm
nay, Thánh Phao-lô cũng như Chúa Giêsu qua câu chuyen dụ ngôn đã đều khuyên
chúng ta là hãy yêu thương nhau nhiều hơn! Điều này có thể có nghĩa là yêu
thương cả những người không dễ thương, không thể thưởng và tìm cách vươn tới những
người đang đau khổ, đang cần sự giúp đỡ. Chúng ta có sẵn sàng liều lĩnh hơn để
tha thứ và yêu thương đến những kẻ thù của chúng ta, và cần phải biết đầu tư
nhiều hơn để gặt hải được nhiều hơn trong tình yêu thương?
REFLECTION
The parable of the talents is usually
associated with using our God-given talents for the good of all. The parable
can also be applied to improving our capacity to love. God has given us an
innate capacity to love others: parents love their children, friendships are
made spontaneously, and romantic love can bloom effortlessly. Both Paul and the
parable urge us to love more! This more can mean loving the unlovable and
reaching out to those who are in need. Are we ready to risk more, invest more
and reap more love?
Meditation:
What can
economics and productivity teach us about the kingdom of heaven? Jesus' story
about a businessman who leaves town and entrusts his money with his workers
made perfect sense to his audience. Wealthy merchants and businessmen often had
to travel abroad and leave the business to others to handle while they were
gone. Why did Jesus tell this story and what can it teach us? Most importantly
it tells us something about how God deals with us, his disciples and servants.
The parable speaks first of the Master's trust in his servants. While he goes
away he leaves them with his money to use as they think best. While there were
no strings attached, this was obviously a test to see if the Master's workers
would be industrious and reliable in their use of the money entrusted to them.
The master rewards those who are industrious and faithful and he punishes those
who sit by idly and who do nothing with his money. The essence of the parable
seems to lie in the servants' conception of responsibility. Each servant entrusted
with the master's money was faithful up to a certain point. The servant who
buried the master's money was irresponsible. One can bury seeds in the ground
and expect them to become productive because they obey natural laws. Coins,
however, do not obey natural laws. They obey economic laws and become
productive in circulation. The master expected his servants to be productive in
the use of his money.
What do coins and
the law of economics have to do with the kingdom of God? The Lord entrusts the
subjects of his kingdom with gifts and graces and he gives his subjects the
freedom to use them as they think best. With each gift and talent, God gives
sufficient the means (grace and wisdom) for using them in a fitting way. As the
parable of the talents shows, God abhors indifference and an attitude that says
it's not worth trying. God honors those who use their talents and gifts for
doing good. Those who are faithful with even a little are entrusted with more!
But those who neglect or squander what God has entrusted to them will lose what
they have. There is an important lesson here for us. No one can stand still for
long in the Christian life. We either get more or we lose what we have. We
either advance towards God or we slip back. Do you seek to serve God with the
gifts, talents, and graces he has given to you?
"Lord Jesus,
be the ruler of my heart and thoughts, be the king of my home and
relationships, and be the master of my work and service. Help me to make good
use of the gifts, talents, time, and resources you give me for your glory and
your kingdom."
Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ thánh Gian Tẩy Giả chịu Tử Đạo 29/8
Mark 6:17-29 -
Hôm nay chúng ta mừng ngày lễ tử đạo của người anh họ
của Chúa Giêsu. Đó là thánh Gioan Tẩy Giả. Gioan là người được Thiên Chúa trao
cho nhiệm vụ là đi trước Chúa Giêsu để mở đường. chuẩn bị cho con đường cứu
chuộc nhân loại của Chúa Kitô. Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta thấy ông là một người
chính trực và thánh thiện. Bởi vì ông đã phát biểu lời chống lại những điều xấu
xa, tội lỗi, khuyên bảo con người mau biết ăn năn thống hối vì Thiê n Chúa sẽ
đến để cứu rỗi nhân loại. Chính ông đã đưa lời phản đối việc hôn nhân loạn luân
của Vua Herođê và người chị dâu của ông, Vì thế ông bị bắt giam, chịu đau khổ,
và cuối cùng bị chém đầu. Ông đã chết một cái chết dã man, khủng khiếp theo
lệnh của nhà vua trong lức say sưai trác tác và lời hứa với một bé gái..
Như Thánh Gioan Tẩy Giả,
chúng ta hãy chuẩn bị con đường cho Chúa. Chúng ta hãy làm sạch, hãy quét dọn,
rửa sạch, từ bỏ con đường tội lỗi, những điều ác đang thấm nhập ngay bên trong
tâm hồn của chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy đâng cho Chúa tất cả những gì chúng ta có để
chúng ta chỉ biết làm công việc của Thiên Chúa muốn chúng ta làm mà không sợ
hãi, lo âu vì Thiên Chúa hiện diện nơi chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy trông nhỉn vào
Chúa trong bất cứ lúc nào hoàn cảnh nào với lòng trông cậy để chúng ta có can
đảm và sức mạnh. Chúa rất gần cận với chúng ta. Ngài ở trong chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy hành động dũng cảm, không sơ suất, cũng
không do dự, giống như một tôi tớ trung thành, như một người lính trong quân
đội của Thiên Chúa chúng ta, mà không biết lừa đảo, tự nguyện, không lý luận,
không biện minh, với sự vâng lời yêu thương, biết giúp đỡ tận tâm, bắng tâm hồn
và trái tim của chúng ta cho Thiên Chúa của chúng ta . Chúng ta hãy làm những
gì mà Thiên Chúa muốn nơi chúng ta và hãy để những phần còn lại trong bàn tay
thương yêu của Ngài lo.
Lạy Chúa, thân xác của chúng con, tâm trí của chúng
con, ý riêng của chúng con, tự do của chúng con, tất cả những gì chúng con đang
có và tất cả sở hữu của chúng con là của Chúa. Tất cả thuộc về Chúa. Xin hãy để
chúng con được biết sử dụng chúng để chuẩn bị và trang bị cho con đường đẫn
chúng con tới với Chúa.
REFLECTION
Today let us celebrate with tender, loving devotion the feast of the
martyrdom of the cousin of Our Lord – John the Baptist. John was the forerunner
of Jesus. He was the one tasked by God to prepare the way of the Lord. The
gospel says that he was a just and holy man. Because he had to speak against
evil in high places, against the King, he was imprisoned, suffered, and finally
beheaded. He died a horrible death on orders from the king
Like St. John the Baptist, let us prepare the way of the Lord. Let us clear,
sweep, wash, denounce, evil starting from our hearts. Let us give all to do
God's work without fear for God is with us. At all times, let us look at Our
Lord for courage and strength. He is very near us. He is in us. Let us act
courageously, without negligence, nor hesitation; like a faithful servant, like
a soldier in the army of our God, without guile, willingly, not reasoning, not
justifying; with loving obedience, giving hands, heart, head to our God. Let us
do what God requires of us and leave the rest in His Hands.
Take and receive, O Lord, my body, my mind, my will,
my liberty. All things I have and own are yours. They belong to you. Let me use
them to prepare a way for you.
Aug
29- the Passion of Saint John the Baptist 2026
Memorial
of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, August 29
Herod
was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of
Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to
Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias
harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do
so. Mark 6:17–19
Today’s memorial recalls one of the most appalling
acts of murder the world has ever known, surpassed only by the crucifixion of
the Son of God. Saint John the Baptist stands as a towering figure in Salvation
History. Though God raised up many prophets from the time of Israel’s founding,
none was greater than John, as our Lord Himself declared, “Among those born of
women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
John was miraculously conceived by elderly
parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, after long years of barrenness. The Archangel
Gabriel foretold his birth, identifying him as the one who would go before the
Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). According to
ancient Christian tradition, John was sanctified in his mother’s womb at the
moment of the Visitation. When the Blessed Virgin Mary, newly pregnant with the
Son of God, greeted her kinswoman Elizabeth, “the infant leaped in her womb,”
and Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41).
From the desert, John preached repentance, preparing
hearts for the coming of the Messiah. But his boldness went beyond gentle
invitations to conversion. He confronted the most powerful of his time,
publicly rebuking Herod Antipas for his unlawful union with Herodias, his
brother’s wife. This courageous act of prophetic truth-telling cost John his
freedom and, ultimately, his life.
Herodias’ vengeful hatred reveals the darkened heart
of one who obstinately persists in grave sin when confronted by truth. She
could not bear John’s righteous rebuke. Herod, by contrast, was conflicted. He
feared John, recognizing him as a holy and righteous man, and was even drawn to
his preaching. But Herod lacked the moral courage to follow the truth. Enslaved
by lust, pride, and concern for human opinion, he chose instead to silence the
prophet through a cowardly act of murder at a banquet steeped in vanity and
sensuality.
Why would God permit the greatest of the prophets to
suffer such a horrific death at the hands of evil? Because John’s ultimate
witness was not in his words or baptism alone, but in his martyrdom. His death
became his greatest sermon, proclaiming through blood that the Messiah he
heralded would also be slain by the wicked. Though John’s disciples grieved his
death—and Jesus Himself withdrew in sorrow when He heard the news—today the
Church rejoices in the heroic witness of this great saint.
The
Church honors John as a prophet and a martyr. He is the only saint whose birth
and martyrdom are both celebrated liturgically. His death prefigures the
Passion of Christ. He was arrested, imprisoned, and executed not for any crime,
but for fidelity to God’s law. John’s severed head was then displayed on a
platter and stands as a chilling symbol of the world’s rejection of God’s
truth.
Are you willing to risk your comfort, your reputation,
or even your life to uphold the truth? Saint John’s witness continues to speak
powerfully in every age. The full Gospel must always be proclaimed with clarity
and courage. Martyrdom is not only a mark of past saints, it is the ongoing
call of every faithful disciple. Whether through blood or through a daily dying
to self, the world needs prophetic witnesses today.
Reflect today on your own willingness to imitate Saint
John’s bold fidelity. How far are you willing to go to proclaim the Gospel to
those who need it most? No sacrifice is too great, no cost too high when it
comes to responding to Christ’s call. Give everything for the Truth, and your
witness will bear eternal fruit.
My sorrowful Lord, Your Heart was grieved at the death
of Saint John the Baptist, yet it also rejoiced in his unwavering fidelity to
the truth he proclaimed with boldness and love. Fill me, too, with the spirit
and power of Elijah, that I may carry on the proclamation of salvation in the
way You have called me, even to the shedding of my blood, if You so will.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Aug
29- the Passion of Saint John the Baptist 2026
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, the mystery of innocent
suffering is too great for me to fathom. I do not always understand why you
permit those who love you to suffer, but I trust that no suffering offered in
love is ever wasted. Through the Passion of your Son, you have transformed
suffering and death into the path to eternal life. Give me the grace to remain
faithful when I am tested, and do not allow suffering to weaken my love for
you. Purify my heart through every trial and unite me more deeply to Christ.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
Death Brings Life: Today we celebrate the
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. Mark places the account of
John’s suffering and death as a flashback within the story of the disciples’
missionary activity. This is intentional. Mark wants us to understand that the
mighty works performed by the disciples are the fruit of fearless faithfulness:
they proclaim the Gospel, suffer for the sake of Jesus’ name, and remain
willing to give their lives for him. All of this is exemplified by John the
Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. Mark tells the story of John’s passion and
death because he wants us to recognize a profound Christian mystery: death can
bring life. John’s death does not end his prophetic mission. After Jesus' death
and resurrection, the disciples will continue to proclaim the Gospel, perform
healings, and advance the Kingdom of God throughout the world. Herod himself
makes an ironic connection between John and Jesus. When he hears about the
mighty works Jesus is performing, he says, “John, whom I beheaded, has been
raised” (Mark 6:16). Herod is wrong in one sense, but profoundly right in
another. John has been “raised” after a fashion in Jesus, for Jesus continues
the prophetic mission that John began, while bringing it to its fulfillment.
Jesus then entrusts that mission to his disciples and, through them, to his
Church. John’s death therefore becomes fruitful because his life and death
point beyond themselves to Christ. His blood is not the end of his witness. It
becomes part of the proclamation that ultimately leads to the victory of Christ
over sin and death.
2.
Parallel Passions: Mark deliberately
parallels the passion of John the Baptist with the Passion of Jesus. The
similarities are striking. Herod is a weak-willed ruler who does not really
want to execute John, but nevertheless gives in to pressure and orders his
death. Later, Pilate will likewise recognize Jesus’ innocence and yet surrender
him to crucifixion. Both deaths occur in the context of a banquet. At Herod's
feast, John’s head is brought in on a platter as the horrifying climax of the
celebration. At the Last Supper, Jesus gives his disciples something entirely
different: his own Body and Blood as the sacrificial meal of the New Covenant.
John’s death anticipates the death of Jesus, which is truly life-giving for the
world. There are other parallels. Both John and Jesus are condemned because
they faithfully proclaim the truth. Both suffer humiliating deaths. Both appear
powerless before earthly rulers. And both receive dignified burials from
faithful disciples: John’s disciples take his body and lay it in a tomb (Mark
6:29), just as Joseph of Arimathea will take Jesus’ body and lay it in a tomb
(Mark 15:46).
John’s
passion therefore prepares us to understand Jesus’ Passion. John is the
forerunner not only in preaching but also in suffering. He walks the path that
Jesus himself will walk. Yet the comparison also reveals the uniqueness of
Christ. John’s death points toward the death of Jesus, while Jesus’ death
accomplishes what John’s death could only foreshadow: the sacrifice of the Lamb
of God who takes away the sins of the world.
3.
Faithful to the Truth: At the heart of
John’s passion is his courageous fidelity to the truth. John had confronted
Herod because Herod had unlawfully taken Herodias, his brother’s wife. John did
not soften his message because Herod was powerful, nor did he remain silent because
speaking the truth might cost him his life. He simply declared: “It is not
lawful for you to have your brother's wife” (Mark 6:18). John's courage exposes
the weakness of Herod. Herod fears John, recognizes that he is a righteous and
holy man, and even likes to listen to him. Yet Herod cannot bring himself to
act upon the truth he hears. He is caught between his fascination with God’s
prophet and his desire to preserve his reputation before his guests. In the
end, his fear of losing face becomes stronger than his fear of offending God.
John, by contrast, has nothing to protect except his fidelity to God. He is
willing to lose everything rather than compromise the truth. This is why the
Church remembers John not simply as someone who died, but as a martyr and
witness. His martyrdom reminds us that Christian discipleship sometimes
requires us to speak the truth even when doing so is costly. We may not be
called to shed our blood, but we are all called to die to the fear of human
opinion, the desire for approval, and the temptation to remain silent when
faithfulness requires us to speak. John’s life also teaches us that fidelity to
truth must be joined to love. He did not condemn Herod out of hatred. As the
prophetic forerunner of Christ, he called Herod to repentance. His courage was
an expression of love for God and for the sinner whom he challenged. The
mystery of John’s suffering therefore becomes a summons to us. We may not
understand every reason God permits suffering, but we can know what he asks of
us within it: remain faithful, speak the truth in love, and unite our suffering
to the Passion of Christ. The death of the faithful Christian is never the
final word. In Christ, death itself becomes a passage to life.
Memorial
of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, August 29
Herod
was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of
Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to
Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias
harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do
so. Mark 6:17–19
The suffering and death of Saint John the Baptist
greatly parallels the suffering and death of Jesus. They were cousins. John was
one of the first to acknowledge the divine presence of our Lord when he leaped
for joy in the womb of his mother during the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
John lived a holy and simple life, embracing His mission to prepare the way for
the Lord. He was the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Of him,
Jesus said that there was no one born of woman who was greater than John. For
these reasons, we should not be the least bit surprised that John’s suffering
and death parallelled and prefigured the death of the Savior of the World.
Herod was fearful of John, believing him to be a holy
man of God. He imprisoned him with a certain regret, knowing that he was
innocent. Similarly, before Pilate condemned Jesus to death, he found Him not
guilty of any crime. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but allowed fear to direct
his choice to condemn our Lord.
John
was ultimately killed because of the hatred and plotting of Herodias, the
unlawful wife of Herod. It was Herodias’ anger that became a weapon, forcing
Herod to put John to death. Similarly, it was the jealousy and anger of the
religious leaders at that time that instigated and drove the death of Jesus.
Pilate, like Herod, was at first unwilling to condemn our Lord. But the
relentless hatred of the scribes and Pharisees compelled Pilate to condemn
Jesus, just as it was Herodias’ hatred that compelled Herod to kill John.
After John’s death, some of his disciples came to
carry his body away for burial. This was permitted by Herod, perhaps because of
his feelings of guilt. So also with our Lord, Pilate permitted some disciples
and the holy women to carry Jesus’ dead body to the tomb for burial.
In the end, the good fruit of Jesus’ death infinitely
overshadowed the crime that was committed against Him. So also with John. We
can be certain that, as a martyr, the blood he shed as a witness to Christ bore
spiritual fruit that surpassed all he had done in his public ministry.
Each of us is called to imitate our Lord and,
therefore, should also take inspiration from Saint John the Baptist. They both
were innocent but suffered greatly. They both spoke the truth, despite the
hatred of some. They both gave their lives, in accord with the Father’s plan.
Jesus was John’s Savior; John was but a precursor and servant of our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the invitation God has given to
you to imitate the life of John the Baptist by uniting yourself to his Lord.
The first form of imitation will take place when you commit yourself to the
proclamation of the truth in accord with your mission. What mission has God
given to you? How is He calling you to proclaim the Gospel with courage,
strength, determination and fidelity to the end? Reflect, also, upon the
injustice inflicted first upon John and then upon our Lord. As you do, try to
look at any injustice you have received in life in the light of John’s and
Jesus’ lives. They did not run away from injustice. They embraced it as a
sacrifice and offered it to the Father in Heaven. Jesus’ Sacrifice brought
forth the Salvation of the World; John’s was but a sharing in that glorious
offering. Make your offering with them, and do not hesitate to do so with deep
love and trust in the Father’s plan.
Most glorious Lord, You invited Saint John the Baptist
to prepare the way for Your coming and Your death. He gave his life as a
martyr, and this sacrifice bore an abundance of good fruit. Please give me the
grace to walk in his footsteps by faithfully fulfilling my mission in life with
courage and strength. May I never waver in the face of injustice so that I can
embrace it and make it my spiritual offering to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Aug 29- the Passion of Saint John the
Baptist
Herod
was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of
Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to
Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias
harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do
so. Mark 6:17–19
The
suffering and death of Saint John the Baptist greatly parallels the suffering
and death of Jesus. They were cousins. John was one of the first to acknowledge
the divine presence of our Lord when he leaped for joy in the womb of his
mother during the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. John lived a holy and simple
life, embracing His mission to prepare the way for the Lord. He was the last
and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Of him, Jesus said that there was
no one born of woman who was greater than John. For these reasons, we should
not be the least bit surprised that John’s suffering and death parallelled and
prefigured the death of the Savior of the World.
Herod was fearful of John, believing him to be a holy
man of God. He imprisoned him with a certain regret, knowing that he was
innocent. Similarly, before Pilate condemned Jesus to death, he found Him not
guilty of any crime. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but allowed fear to direct
his choice to condemn our Lord.
John was ultimately killed because of the hatred and plotting of Herodias, the
unlawful wife of Herod. It was Herodias’ anger that became a weapon, forcing
Herod to put John to death. Similarly, it was the jealousy and anger of the
religious leaders at that time that instigated and drove the death of Jesus.
Pilate, like Herod, was at first unwilling to condemn our Lord. But the
relentless hatred of the scribes and Pharisees compelled Pilate to condemn
Jesus, just as it was Herodias’ hatred that compelled Herod to kill John.
After John’s death, some of his disciples came to
carry his body away for burial. This was permitted by Herod, perhaps because of
his feelings of guilt. So also with our Lord, Pilate permitted some disciples
and the holy women to carry Jesus’ dead body to the tomb for burial.
In the end, the good fruit of Jesus’ death infinitely
overshadowed the crime that was committed against Him. So also with John. We
can be certain that, as a martyr, the blood he shed as a witness to Christ bore
spiritual fruit that surpassed all he had done in his public ministry.
Each of us is called to imitate our Lord and,
therefore, should also take inspiration from Saint John the Baptist. They both
were innocent but suffered greatly. They both spoke the truth, despite the
hatred of some. They both gave their lives, in accord with the Father’s plan.
Jesus was John’s Savior; John was but a precursor and servant of our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the invitation God has given to
you to imitate the life of John the Baptist by uniting yourself to his Lord.
The first form of imitation will take place when you commit yourself to the
proclamation of the truth in accord with your mission. What mission has God
given to you? How is He calling you to proclaim the Gospel with courage,
strength, determination and fidelity to the end? Reflect, also, upon the
injustice inflicted first upon John and then upon our Lord. As you do, try to
look at any injustice you have received in life in the light of John’s and
Jesus’ lives. They did not run away from injustice. They embraced it as a
sacrifice and offered it to the Father in Heaven. Jesus’ Sacrifice brought
forth the Salvation of the World; John’s was but a sharing in that glorious
offering. Make your offering with them, and do not hesitate to do so with deep
love and trust in the Father’s plan.
Most glorious Lord, You invited Saint John the Baptist
to prepare the way for Your coming and Your death. He gave his life as a
martyr, and this sacrifice bore an abundance of good fruit. Please give me the
grace to walk in his footsteps by faithfully fulfilling my mission in life with
courage and strength. May I never waver in the face of injustice so that I can
embrace it and make it my spiritual offering to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Aug 29- the Passion of Saint John the
Baptist
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist
arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother
Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you
to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted
to kill him but was unable to do so. Mark 6:17–19
The suffering and death of Saint John the Baptist greatly
parallels the suffering and death of Jesus. They were cousins. John was one of
the first to acknowledge the divine presence of our Lord when he leaped for joy
in the womb of his mother during the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. John
lived a holy and simple life, embracing His mission to prepare the way for the
Lord. He was the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Of him, Jesus
said that there was no one born of woman who was greater than John. For these
reasons, we should not be the least bit surprised that John’s suffering and
death parallelled and prefigured the death of the Savior of the World.
Herod was fearful of John, believing him to be a holy man of God.
He imprisoned him with a certain regret, knowing that he was innocent.
Similarly, before Pilate condemned Jesus to death, he found Him not guilty of
any crime. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but allowed fear to direct his choice
to condemn our Lord.
John was ultimately killed because of the hatred and plotting of
Herodias, the unlawful wife of Herod. It was Herodias’ anger that became a
weapon, forcing Herod to put John to death. Similarly, it was the jealousy and
anger of the religious leaders at that time that instigated and drove the death
of Jesus. Pilate, like Herod, was at first unwilling to condemn our Lord. But
the relentless hatred of the scribes and Pharisees compelled Pilate to condemn
Jesus, just as it was Herodias’ hatred that compelled Herod to kill John.
After John’s death, some of his disciples came to carry his body
away for burial. This was permitted by Herod, perhaps because of his feelings
of guilt. So also with our Lord, Pilate permitted some disciples and the holy
women to carry Jesus’ dead body to the tomb for burial.
In the end, the good fruit of Jesus’ death infinitely overshadowed
the crime that was committed against Him. So also with John. We can be certain
that, as a martyr, the blood he shed as a witness to Christ bore spiritual
fruit that surpassed all he had done in his public ministry.
Each of us is called to imitate our Lord and, therefore, should
also take inspiration from Saint John the Baptist. They both were innocent but
suffered greatly. They both spoke the truth, despite the hatred of some. They
both gave their lives, in accord with the Father’s plan. Jesus was John’s
Savior; John was but a precursor and servant of our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the invitation God has given to you to
imitate the life of John the Baptist by uniting yourself to his Lord. The first
form of imitation will take place when you commit yourself to the proclamation
of the truth in accord with your mission. What mission has God given to you?
How is He calling you to proclaim the Gospel with courage, strength,
determination and fidelity to the end? Reflect, also, upon the injustice
inflicted first upon John and then upon our Lord. As you do, try to look at any
injustice you have received in life in the light of John’s and Jesus’ lives.
They did not run away from injustice. They embraced it as a sacrifice and
offered it to the Father in Heaven. Jesus’ Sacrifice brought forth the
Salvation of the World; John’s was but a sharing in that glorious offering.
Make your offering with them, and do not hesitate to do so with deep love and
trust in the Father’s plan.
Most glorious Lord, You invited Saint John the Baptist to prepare
the way for Your coming and Your death. He gave his life as a martyr, and this
sacrifice bore an abundance of good fruit. Please give me the grace to walk in
his footsteps by faithfully fulfilling my mission in life with courage and
strength. May I never waver in the face of injustice so that I can embrace it
and make it my spiritual offering to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Suy Niêm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu tuần 21 TN - Matthew 25:1-13
Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay mời gọi chúng ta
phải có lòng trung thành Thiên Chúa và phải biết chú tâm trong cuộc sống
hàng ngày của chúng ta. Năm
cô trinh nữ khôn ngoan trước khi ra đi, họ đã chuẩn bị và sẵn sàng những thứ cần thiết cho những sự bất
ngờ và họ đã nhận được phần thưởng
của mình. Ngược lại, Năm trinh nữ khờ dại đã không biết chuẩn bị trước tất
cả những cơ hội sẽ đến với họ, họ ỷ y với hy vọng rằng
người khác sẽ giúp mình và họ đã thất vọng bỏ lỡ cơ hội đã đến
với họ.
Thiên Chúa đã có những kế hoạch riêng cho mỗi người chúng ta trong
cuộc sống. Chúng ta được mời gọi để sử dụng những hồng ân
mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta
để hoàn thành những nghĩa vụ đặc biệt của chúng ta trong
cuộc sống của riêng. Mỗi ân sũng
là một món quà là vô cùng quý giá, và
mỗi khoản khắc trong cuộc sống của chúng
ta cũng rất là quý giá. Chúng ta
không thể nào biết được khi nào chàng
rể sẽ đến và sẽ gọi cho chúng ta.
Có
lẽ hôm nay chúng ta hãy tự đặt một vài câu hỏi cho chính mình. Nếu Thiên Chúa gọi tôi
tại thời điểm này, tôi đã sẵn sàng chưa? Những gì trong cuộc sống mà tôi muốn
làm, nếu tôi chỉ
còn có một thời gian ngắn để sống? Ai là những người trong cuộc
đời của tôi, mà tôi muốn gặp? Trong khi chúng ta
suy nghĩ và tìm những câu trả lời cho những
câu hỏi này, chúng ta có thể cảm thấy sự cần thiết phải thực hiện những ước muốn của chúng ta đang phát sinh ngay trong trái tim của
chúng ta hôm nay..
Các
trinh nữ khờ
dại thiếu "dầu" cho những
công trình tốt. Họ
thất bại trong việc thực hiện kế hoạch
của Thiên Chúa ngay trong cuộc sống hiện tại. Họ đã bỏ lỡ cơ hội và dịp may hiếm có của họ. Nếu chúng ta sống mỗi ngày như các trinh nữ khôn
ngoan, luôn biết chuẩn bị tâm hồn và sẵ sàng thực hiện
những gì mà Thiên Chúa đang mời gọi chúng ta làm, chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ phải hối tiếc.
Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện và xin
Chúa ban cho cho chúng ta những ân sủng của Ngài để chúng ta biết sống mỗi ngày theo ý mà Thiên Chúa muốn
chúng ta sống.
Comment Friday 21st
Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel
reading calls us to faithfulness and attentiveness in our daily lives. The five
wise virgins set out on their journey well prepared and ready for the unexpected.
They received their reward. In contrast, the foolish left it all to chance in
the hope that someone else would provide when the need arose. They were
disappointed and missed the opportunity of seeing the Bridegroom when He
arrived. God has a plan for each of us in life. We are called to use he gifts
God has given to us to fulfill our particular mission in life. Each gift is
precious and each moment of life is precious. We don’t know when the Bridegroom
will call us.
Perhaps today is a good day to put a
few questions to ourselves. If God called me at this moment am I ready? What
are the things in life I would like to do if I only had a short time left? Who
are the people in my life I would like to see? What is most important in my
life right now? As we reflect on these questions we may feel the need to carry
out the desires that arise in our hearts today.
The foolish virgins lacked the “oil”
of good works. They failed to carry out God’s plan for them in life. They
missed their opportunity. If we live each day like the wise virgins, doing what
we feel God is calling us to do we will have no regret. Let us pray for the grace to live each
day in the way God would want us to live it.
Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went
out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The
foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise
brought flasks of oil with their lamps.” Matthew 25:1–4
Today’s Gospel comes from Jesus’ final
discourses with His disciples. It was the week of Passover. Jesus had already
concluded His public preaching in the Temple and was now offering some final
words to His closest companions. Though He was fully aware of the suffering He
was about to endure, His disciples did not yet understand what was to come.
Therefore, we should recognize in these final teachings the urgency of Jesus’
message—an urgent appeal received by the Twelve but not yet fully grasped.
The final discourses all center around
the theme of vigilance, judgment, and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus, knowing that His Passion was near, sought to prepare His disciples for
the trials to come—not only the immediate trial of His crucifixion, but also
the long vigil of the Church as she awaits His glorious return. In this parable
of the ten virgins, Christ emphasizes the need for constant spiritual
preparedness. The wise virgins symbolize those who live in a state of grace,
are nourished by prayer, perform acts of charity, and remain faithful to God’s
will. The oil in their flasks represents both good deeds and the inner life of
the soul—alive through faith and love, and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
The foolish virgins represent those
who give the appearance of belonging to the Bridegroom but fail to cultivate
the interior life. They are unprepared for the delay, which signifies the
mystery and hiddenness of God’s providential will and the unpredictability of
the moment of our particular and final judgment. The final discourses,
therefore, call us to an active and discerning faith that does not grow lax or
presume upon last-minute conversion. Christ urges His disciples to “stay
awake,” not in fear, but in hopeful readiness, living each day as if the
Bridegroom might arrive at any hour.
Though this exhortation carries
eschatological tones—pointing to our particular death and Jesus’ return in
glory—it also refers to the countless ways God comes to us by grace, night and
day, as we journey through this life. Attentiveness to those graced moments is,
in many ways, the most important form of vigilance, because it prepares us to
stand confidently before God when this life is over.
For that reason, hear Jesus’
concluding words in today’s Gospel as an exhortation to diligently await every
graced moment of your day: “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day
nor the hour.” God’s grace can come to us at any time and in any circumstance.
We might be shopping, doing chores, eating a meal, or working, and—if our souls
are attuned to His coming—we may sense an immediate and clear spiritual
prompting by which God inspires us to act or refrain. The good news is that
when God communicates His will, He offers more than instruction; He also
imparts the providential grace we need to respond at once. Responding to Him is
more than a choice we make; it is a cooperation with His grace, by which we act
more fully as members of His Body, the Church.
Reflect today on the oil in your own
flask. Are you spiritually prepared not only for the coming of the bridegroom
at the end of your life or the end of time, but also for the daily, hidden
comings of His grace? Seek to live each moment in a state of spiritual
readiness, with your heart alert and open. When the Bridegroom comes—whether at
the end of days or in the everyday quiet whispers of grace—blessed will you be
to rise, lamp in hand, and enter the wedding feast with Him. Responding in this
life gives us an immediate foretaste of the joy and peace we will experience in
the Eternal Wedding Feast of the Lamb in Heaven.
My Lord and Eternal Bridegroom, You
invite me, day and night, to enter the wedding feast of grace with You. Help
me, I pray, to remain vigilant, to stay awake, and to always discern Your voice
when You call. May I be ever ready, with the oil of charity and grace fueling
the light of Your joy and peace—now and forever. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, the image of your
Son as the Bridegroom reveals the depth of your faithful love for me and for
your Church. Though I am often unfaithful to you, you never cease to love me
and invite me into the eternal wedding feast. Fill my heart with the oil of
your grace and charity. Keep the lamp of faith burning within me so that I may
be watchful and ready to welcome your Son whenever he comes. May I persevere in
love until the day when I enter the eternal wedding feast of heaven.
Encountering
the Word of God
1. Wise
and Ready for the Bridegroom: Jesus
presents himself throughout the Gospel as the Bridegroom, and the Church is his
bride. The image speaks of the profound covenantal love that Christ has for his
people. Like a bridegroom who goes away to prepare a place for his bride, Jesus
has ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us. He will return, and when he
does, we must be ready to welcome him. In today’s parable, ten virgins await
the bridegroom. Five are wise, and five are foolish. All ten have lamps, and
all ten become drowsy when the bridegroom is delayed. The difference between
them is that the wise virgins have brought an additional supply of oil, while
the foolish have not. The bridegroom’s delay is significant. Jesus does not
tell us when he will return. The Christian life is lived in this period of
waiting between Christ’s Ascension and his Second Coming. The apparent delay
tests our perseverance. It is relatively easy to be enthusiastic about the
faith for a short time. The challenge is to remain faithful when the bridegroom
seems to be taking a long time. At midnight, the cry goes out: “Behold, the
bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” The wise virgins are ready. Their lamps are
burning, and they enter the wedding feast with the bridegroom. The foolish
virgins, however, discover that they are unprepared. They leave to purchase
oil, and while they are away, the bridegroom arrives. The door is shut, and
they are left outside. The parable concludes with Jesus' warning: “Therefore,
stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Christ will come. The
question is whether we will be ready to meet him.
2. The
Oil of Love: The most important
difference between the wise and foolish virgins is the oil. Both groups have
lamps. Both await the bridegroom. Both become sleepy. But only the wise have
enough oil to persevere through the bridegroom’s delay. The oil can be
understood spiritually as representing the interior life of grace and charity
that enables us to persevere in faith. Christian discipleship is not merely an
outward profession. It requires an interior relationship with God that must be
continually nourished. We cannot simply borrow another person’s faith when
Christ comes. The wise virgins cannot give their oil to the foolish because
each person must personally respond to God’s grace and cultivate a life of
faith and love.
This helps explain the bridegroom’s startling words to
the foolish virgins: “I do not know you.” The tragedy is not simply that they
have run out of oil. They have failed to prepare for a relationship with the
bridegroom. They were near the wedding feast, they possessed lamps, and they
expected to enter – but they were not truly ready to meet him. The Christian
life therefore requires more than external religious observance. We can possess
the lamp of faith while failing to nourish the interior life of grace. We can
participate in the life of the Church while allowing our love for God to grow
cold. We can know about Christ without allowing ourselves to be transformed by
Christ. The oil reminds us that love must be cultivated. Prayer, the
sacraments, Scripture, acts of charity, repentance, and perseverance keep the
flame of divine life burning within us. The Holy Spirit, poured into our
hearts, enables us to love God and neighbor with a supernatural love. We do not
know when the Bridegroom will come. Therefore, we must not wait until the last
moment to begin preparing. The time to fill our lamps is now.
3.
Wisdom and Watchfulness: Matthew
connects wisdom with watchfulness, perseverance, and readiness for the coming
of Christ. The wise person recognizes that this present life is ordered toward
eternity and therefore lives according to the light of that eternal destiny.
Ultimately, wisdom is knowledge of God and the ability to judge all things in
his light. Human wisdom recognizes that God created the world and
providentially governs it. Revealed wisdom goes further: it tells us that God
is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the Father sent his only Son to redeem us
from sin and conquer death; that through Christ we have become adopted children
of God; and that, in the Holy Spirit, we are called to share in the eternal
life of the Trinity. This wisdom changes the way we live. If Christ is truly
the Bridegroom who is coming, then our earthly lives are a time of preparation
for the eternal wedding feast. We should therefore live differently from those
who believe that this world is all there is. We pray, love, sacrifice, forgive,
serve, and persevere because we are preparing to meet someone we love. The
foolish virgins were not foolish because they lacked intelligence. They were
foolish because they failed to act according to the reality before them. They
knew the bridegroom was coming, but they did not prepare adequately for his
arrival. Christian wisdom means allowing what we know about God and our eternal
destiny to shape what we do today. Watchfulness is wisdom put into practice. We
keep our lamps burning by remaining faithful in love while we wait for Christ.
Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will
be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.” Matthew 25:1–2
The “ten virgins” in this parable refer to the bridesmaids who
were following Jewish tradition by going to the home of the bride to await the
coming of the groom for a wedding. This parable is one of a few parables Jesus
told that emphasizes the importance of being vigilant in our Christian walk. As
the parable goes on, we are told that the groom was delayed and that the
bridesmaids fell asleep. Upon waking, the foolish ones had no more oil for
their lamps and had to leave to get some more. When they returned, they
discovered that the groom had already arrived and that the door was locked.
They then knocked and said, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” But the reply
came to them, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” And they missed out on
the wedding celebration.
Traditionally, the “oil” has been understood as a reference to
charity. The message is simple. As we prepare to meet our Lord in Heaven, it is
not enough to make the claim that we are Christians. We must also produce the
good fruit of charity by our actions. Faith must result in charity, otherwise
it is not true faith at all.
This parable should be taken seriously. We should use it as a
regular source of examination of our lives in regard to the charity we have…or
do not have. When you look at your life, can you point to regular acts of
charity that flow from your love of God and are bestowed upon others? Charity
is not based on your preferences in life. It’s not based on what you feel like
doing. Charity is always selfless and sacrificial. It always looks toward the
good of the other. How much charity is alive in your life? Jesus clearly told
this parable because He was aware of many who professed a faith in God but did
not live the love of God. It’s very easy to live our lives day in and day out,
doing what we do because of our personal likes or dislikes. However, it is very
difficult to foster true charity within our souls and to regularly choose to
love others because it is good for them.
We must work to foster charity, first, in our thoughts. Critical
and condemning thoughts must be eliminated, and we must strive to see others as
God sees them. Charity must also direct our words. Our words must be
encouraging of others, kind, supportive and merciful. Our actions become
charitable when we become generous with our time, go out of our way to serve
and are diligent in the ways we express our love of others.
Reflect, today, upon the high calling you have been given to live
an active and manifest life of charity. Spend time reflecting upon what charity
truly is. Have you allowed yourself to become guided by a more secular and
selfish form of “love?” Do you act more out of selfish preferences than out of
self-giving and sacrifice? Do you truly build people up and witness the love of
God to them? Try to answer these questions seriously. This parable spoken from
our Lord is much more than a story. It is truth. And the truth is that some
will arrive at the day of judgment without the necessary “oil” for their lamps.
Take our Lord seriously and examine your life of charity. Where you are
lacking, become fervent in your mission to change. In the end, you will be eternally
grateful you did.
My loving Lord, You showed us all that true love is selfless and
sacrificial. You came to this world to serve and to give Your sacred life for
us all. May I open my life more fully to Your love so that Your love may also
affect and direct every relationship I have. Fill me with the gift of charity,
dear Lord, so that I will be fully prepared for the day of my particular
judgment. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 21st Ordinary Time
It is very difficult for us to understand this parable. Why are ten
virgins waiting outside for the bridegroom? Why do they need lamps? Even
scholars are not sure. What is definite is that these virgins are not the
brides. Our best guess is that they are more like bridesmaid; they are waiting
to process the bridegroom into his feast.
Let us forget about
the foolish virgins and consider two details about the wise virgins. First,
they have flasks of oil with them. What do these flasks signify? We do not
know. They are something extra, something beyond, but what they are is
uncertain. After all the virgins fell asleep, they need what is in the flask.
Perhaps it is prayer or study. The wise virgins had a stronger foundation of
prayer and studying the Scriptures and the Catechism, so they were able to be
ready when the time came.
The oil in the flask
could also be a symbol of the Holy Spirit; oil often is used to symbolize the
Holy Spirit. Then we would say that the light of faith burned out in those who
were relying only on themselves for faith. The Holy Spirit is the only fuel for
our faith that is sure to be there when we need it.
The second detail
could be called holy selfishness. The wise virgins do not let the foolish
virgins share what is in the flasks. There are many people in this world who
would like to keep you from doing what you need to do to be ready for Christ,
people who will complain that you are praying or studying or going to Mass when
they need you for their own purposes. Do not let them prevent you from being
prepared. Be selfish!
We do have human relationships which
demand our time and effort. Failing to live up to them is not a holy thing. A
mother who did not care for her children but spent all her time in prayer as if
she were a nun would not be practicing true devotion. Nevertheless, our
relationship with God comes first. We must not allow the world or anyone in the
world to demand that we stop praying and studying, to demand that we give up
whatever is in the flask that allows us to keep the fire burning. We must be
selfish because we will not be able to do any good if we do not first seek God
Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Năm Tuần 21 Thường Niên
Qua bài Tin Mừng
hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu muốn nhắc nhở chúng ta là hãy luôn "Tỉnh thức! Vì anh
em không biết ngày nào chúng ta sẽ phải ra trình diện trước mặt Chúa”. Điều này
giúp cho chúng ta biết tập trung hơn vào cuộc sống hiện tại của chúng ta hơn là
là việc chuẩn bị cho sự chết. Chúng ta nên cảnh giác đề phòng vì chúng ta không
thể biết được khi nào chúng ta có thể gặp Chúa trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của
chúng ta, và phải chuẩn mọi lúc để chúng ta được gọi là “Người đầy tớ trung tín
và cán thận trọng". Hãy chuyển hướng và sự chú ý của chúng ta đến cách mà
chúng ta đối xử với những người khác.
Nếu chúng ta tỉnh táo, đề cao cảnh giác chúng ta có thể nhận thấy Chúa, chúng
ta sẽ nhận ra Chúa Giêsu trong những người đau khổ, những người đang thiếu thốn
và sẽ hành động khác hơn nếu chúng ta không nhạy cảm với họ và nhu cầu cần thiết
của họ. Nếu chúng ta không biết được khi nào chúng ta sẽ gặp Chúa, thì chúng ta
nên đối xử với tất cả mọi người mà chúng ta gặp như là chúng ta đang gặp Chúa.
Nếu chúng ta là những người quản lý trung thành và khôn ngoan, thì chúng ta sẽ
đón nhận được những ân sủng của Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta một cách quảng đại
và chúng ta cũng “sẽ phân phối chia sẻ những ân sủng ấy vào thời điểm thích hợp"
để các thành viên khác trong gia đình của chúng ta nhận ra rằng gia đình của
chúng ta là gia đình rộng lớn hơn vì bao gồm tất cả những người khác chứ không
phải chỉ có sự hạn chế trong gia đình ruột thịt của chúng ta.
Chúng ta không biết ngày nào, giờ nào chúng ta sẽ phải ra đi và đến trước mặt
Chúa (có thể là hôm nay hay, trong đêm nay….). Vì thế chúng ta cần phải tỉnh thức,
và khôn ngoan trong việc giúp đỡ những người nghèo khổ, những người thiếu thốn
đang cần sự giúp đỡ.
Lạy
Chúa là Thiên Chúa của chúng con, Xin cho Chúa Giêsu làm cho con đường
của chúng con đi tới Chúa là một con đường thẳng tắp, không gồ nghề quanh co.!
Thursday
21st Week in Ordinary Time
“Stay awake! For
you do not know on which day you will encounter the Lord.” This helps us
concentrate more on living than on being prepared to die. Being alert to when
we might encounter the Lord in our daily life, and being prepared to be
“faithful and prudent servants” turns our attention to the way we interact with
and treat others. If we are awake
to all the possible ways we can see the Lord, we will recognize Jesus in those
who suffer, and will act differently than if we are insensitive to them and
their needs. If we do not know when we will encounter the Lord, then we should
react to everyone we meet as if we were meeting the Lord. If we are faithful
and prudent stewards, then we will be generous with the gifts God has given us
and will distribute them “at the proper time” to the other members of our
household realizing that our household is the broader family of other people
and not our limited biological family.
We do not
know when we see the Lord. Let us be prepared for the many ways we can
encounter God and stay awake in helping the poor and needy. God our Father may our Lord Jesus make our
path to You a straight one!
Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time 2026
“Who,
then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of
his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is
that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you,
he will put him in charge of all his property.” Matthew 24:46–47
In the verse that follows, Jesus contrasts the “faithful and
prudent servant” with a “wicked servant.” The wicked servant is the one who
says in his heart, “My master is long delayed.” Believing this, he acts
sinfully. Convinced that his master’s return is far off, the wicked servant
lowers his guard, mistreats others, indulges in excess, and neglects his
responsibilities. Why? Because he foolishly concludes that such a way of living
is more desirable than a life of fidelity. This deceptive reasoning is rooted
in a lie and ultimately leads to misery and destruction.
Most people do not choose sin because they desire misery. Rather,
they sin because they fail to grasp the surpassing worth and eternal reward of
holiness. They mistakenly believe—often without full awareness—that sin will
bring greater satisfaction. On a superficial and momentary level, that may seem
to be the case. It is easier to indulge the flesh, lash out in anger, or ignore
one’s duties than it is to practice virtue, self-restraint, and discipline.
But is that which is easier necessarily better? More pointedly, is
the path of least resistance ever the road to deep and lasting fulfillment? The
Gospel offers a clear answer: no.
The
faithful and prudent servant, who labors with diligence even during the
master’s absence, is the one to whom the master will entrust everything. The
reward of fidelity far exceeds the fleeting comforts of sin. What appears
easier often leads to ruin, while the more demanding path of virtue leads to
glory.
This truth is easy to affirm intellectually but much harder to
live out daily. To live faithfully, diligently, and prudently requires
perseverance and sacrifice. But it is always worth it—both in the present
moment and in eternity. Consider the present moment: Though sin may tempt us
with immediate pleasure, the peace that flows from doing God’s will is far
greater than any passing pleasure that sin offers. Those who embrace a life of
virtue become increasingly aware of God’s abiding presence and the dignity it
confers. This spiritual joy far surpasses the shallow consolations of sin.
As time moves forward, the contrast becomes even more striking.
The one who chooses faithfulness day after day becomes like a flourishing vine,
bearing fruit in abundance. As virtue matures, temptation loses its grip, and
the soul becomes deeply rooted in truth. On the other hand, those who live for
momentary indulgence discover that even sinful pleasures lose their appeal. The
soul, unsatisfied, becomes restless—seeking ever more desperate forms of
gratification.
Hence, holiness offers far greater fulfillment than sin. While
this may be easy to affirm in theory, it is often difficult to live out in
practice. That is why it is essential to begin with firm conviction by
acknowledging that the life of virtue, though demanding, brings rewards that
far surpass the fleeting comforts of sin. We must let this truth take root in
our minds, speak it with confidence, choose it with intention, and allow it to
shape our actions gradually and faithfully. Spiritual maturity does not unfold
overnight; it grows steadily, like a fruitful vine that is nourished by one
faithful choice at a time.
Reflect today on how this truth challenges any habits or
temptations that lead you down the easier path of self-indulgence. Consider
where compromise may have crept into your daily life, and resolve instead to be
the faithful and prudent servant, living with integrity, even when no one is
watching. This is the way of holiness and the path to peace, authentic joy, and
eternal glory in the presence of your Master.
My Lord and Master, the holiness to which I am called, demands
vigilance, fidelity, and prudence, day and night. You continuously come to me,
offering the grace I need to live according to Your will. May I be like the
faithful and prudent servant, always ready to give an account of my life, and
may I find joy and true satisfaction in daily obedience to You. Jesus, I trust
in You.
Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, strengthen me to
remain watchful and vigilant as I await the return of your Son. Guide me to
carry out faithfully the mission and responsibilities you have entrusted to me.
Do not allow me to become complacent, distracted, or lazy in my Christian life.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit, so that I may use my time and gifts to do
something beautiful and noble for your Son and his Bride, the Church. May I be
found faithful when he comes.
Encountering
the Word of God
1. Stay
Awake: In today’s Gospel, we begin
to read from Jesus’ fifth major discourse in Matthew, commonly called the
“Eschatological Discourse,” because it focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem,
the end of the world, and the return (Parousia) of the Son
of Man. Jesus delivers this discourse on the Mount of Olives in response to his
disciples’ questions about the signs of his coming and the end of the age.
Jesus warns that false messiahs and prophets will arise and deceive many
(Matthew 24:4-26). There will be tribulations, wars, famines, earthquakes, and
persecutions (Matthew 24:6-14). The Temple itself will be desecrated (Matthew
24:15-22). Yet Jesus does not give his disciples a timetable by which they can
calculate his glorious return. Instead, he tells them that no one knows the day
or the hour except the Father. The uncertainty of Christ’s return is precisely
what makes vigilance necessary. We cannot postpone our conversion or our
fidelity until some future moment when we think the Lord’s coming is near. The
Christian disciple must live every day as though Christ could come at any
moment.
To “stay
awake” does not mean living in anxiety or constantly looking for signs of the
end. It means remaining spiritually attentive, faithful to our vocation, and
ready to meet the Lord. While we await the Parousia, we have work
to do. Christ has entrusted each of us with a mission in the Church and in the
world, and we are called to carry it out faithfully until he comes.
2. The
Lord will Come: Jesus illustrates
this vigilance with the parable of the faithful and wicked servants. He
describes a master who entrusts his household to a servant and then goes away.
The faithful servant does not allow the master’s absence to change his
behavior. He continues to fulfill his responsibilities, providing for the
household at the proper time. The wicked servant, however, reasons, “My master
is delayed” (Matthew 24:48). He mistakes the master’s apparent absence for
permission to do whatever he wants. He abuses his authority, mistreats his
fellow servants, and indulges himself. His fundamental error is not simply
wicked behavior. It is the presumption that because the master has not yet
returned, there will be no accounting for his actions. The parable has particular
significance for those entrusted with authority in the Church. The Apostles and
their successors are called to shepherd God’s people, not to exploit them.
Authority in the Kingdom of God is a responsibility of service. Those entrusted
with the care of others will be held accountable for how they have exercised
that responsibility. Yet the parable applies to every disciple. Each of us has
received something from the Lord – time, abilities, relationships,
responsibilities, and opportunities to serve. Christ’s apparent delay is not an
excuse for complacency. It is an opportunity for faithful service. When the
Lord returns, there will be a final accounting. The question will not simply be
whether we accomplished great things, but whether we were faithful with what he
entrusted to us.
3.
Faithful Until He Comes: The
parable teaches us that Christian vigilance is not passive waiting. We do not
prepare for Christ’s return by withdrawing from the responsibilities of
ordinary life. We prepare by being faithful within them. The faithful servant
is found doing what his master commanded when the master returns. His readiness
is demonstrated through his actions. In the same way, we prepare for the coming
of Christ by loving our families, serving our neighbors, fulfilling our
responsibilities, praying, working honestly, caring for those entrusted to us,
and using our gifts for the good of others. This gives an eschatological
meaning to our ordinary lives. The work we do today may seem small and
insignificant, but it is precisely within these ordinary responsibilities that
we demonstrate our fidelity to Christ. Every act of love, every sacrifice,
every prayer, every work of mercy, and every effort to fulfill our vocation
faithfully can become an act of preparation for the Kingdom. The Christian does
not need to know when Christ will return. We need only to know how we want him
to find us when he comes. We want him to find us awake, faithful, serving,
praying, loving, and doing the work he has given us to do. The Lord may seem to
delay, but his delay is mercy. It gives us time to become holy and to help
build his Kingdom. Therefore, rather than asking when Christ will come, we
should ask ourselves: What does Christ want me to be doing when he comes?
Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
“Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when
the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be
broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not
expect, the Son of Man will come.” Matthew 24:42–44
Our Lord contrasts the call to stay awake with those who are
asleep. Clearly, by stating “Stay awake!” so emphatically, Jesus is also
telling us that it is easy to fall asleep, spiritually speaking. So are you
more often awake and attentive to His presence? Or are you most often asleep
and therefore unaware of His presence?
First of all, this exhortation must be understood as a reference
to our passing from this life. And though most who are younger do not expect to
pass suddenly and unprepared, we know that this does happen. It could happen to
any one of us at any time, unexpectedly and without warning. Therefore, we must
see this passionate exhortation from Jesus to be a clear warning to always be
ready to meet Him in our particular judgment upon our passing from this life.
With that said, this passage is also an invitation to become increasingly
aware of the countless ways in which Jesus speaks to us each and every day. The
goal of the Christian life must be to be continually at prayer. This does not
mean that we are necessarily “saying” prayers all day every day. Rather, it
means that we form a spiritual habit of becoming continually attentive to the
promptings of grace given to us throughout our lives. God wants to lead us
always. He wants to inspire us with His grace every day all day. He wants us to
have one eye on the things that occupy our day and the other eye upon Him,
allowing Him to gently lead us through everything.
Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that God is only
concerned about the big decisions of life. But the truth is that God is most
clearly found in the details of life, even the smallest ones: a short exchange
of words with a family member, a smile at a co-worker, a kind gesture to a
stranger, and a random prayer offered for an anonymous person in need of that
prayer. All of these are but a few examples of the many ways that God wants to
commune with us every day throughout the day. And this can only happen if we
are continually awake and attentive to His gentle promptings of grace.
How is this accomplished? How do we become attentive to God as He
speaks to us and guides us every moment of every day? It is done by forming a
spiritual habit of ongoing prayer. We begin by setting aside time for prayer
every day, time in which all we do is pray. We set aside all distractions and
begin by offering prayers, meditating upon scripture, attending the Mass,
speaking from our hearts, etc. But from there, this special time of prayer, set
aside exclusively for God, must begin to have an effect upon us throughout the
day. And when we get distracted by the things of the world, we stop again,
focus exclusively on God, and invite Him to be with us yet again. And then this
is done again, and again, and again. Prayer must become a consuming habit by which
God becomes present to everything we do. When this happens, we become
spiritually “awake” to Him always.
Reflect, today, upon this clear and concise exhortation from our
Lord. “Stay awake!” Let those words resonate within you. Hear them as a call to
form this holy habit of prayer throughout the day. If you do so, God will
slowly take over your life and lead you each and every day into His holy will.
And through you, God will be able to extend His love and mercy to many who are
in your life and beyond.
My demanding Lord, You desire me to live my day, every day, in
such a way that I am continually attentive to You. Please help me to form a
holy habit of listening to You and responding to all that You say to me always.
My life is Yours, dear Lord. Lead me continually by Your gentle Hand of grace.
Jesus, I trust in You.
