Suy Niêm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu tuần 21 TN

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:
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
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 21^st 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: Lord, make me long for and strive to enter the kingdom of heaven.
1. A Severe Oil Shortage: The Gospel invites us to have oil for our lamps, that is, to be always ready for the coming of the Lord. He appears in moments and ways we do not expect and at all times throughout our day. The foolish virgins failed to anticipate when and how the Lord would come to them, and they were unprepared. So often, we get caught up in a thousand affairs and worries, and we can miss what is essential. We miss the presence of Christ in the people around us in the circumstances in which we live. Sometimes, Christ comes to us through some sacrifice or suffering, but we do not recognize him in it and reject it. We need to strengthen our faith and see how the Lord may appear in our lives.
2. The Door Closes: Over and over in the New Testament, Jesus makes evident that there is a real possibility some people, due to their own choices, may not be saved. The most terrible thing that could happen to anyone would be hearing those words from the Lord who created us and died to save us: “I do not know you.” The Lord takes our freedom to choose very seriously. He never forces our will. He never imposes himself on us. Rather he invites us to make a free response of love and obedience to him and the way of life he taught us. We must choose to remain steadfast in the way of Christian life. God cannot save us without our cooperation.
3. Stay Awake: Saint Augustine said, “Beware of the grace of God that passes and does not return.” We need to perceive God’s presence in the little things of each day and never let the opportunity to love and serve him pass by. Our faith must be ready and watching for him. If we take him for granted or presume that we are already saved, we can miss our chance to be with him.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, thank you for teaching us so clearly about the seriousness of our choices. It would be terrible to opt for death instead of eternal life with you! I want to choose you and your ways, but I am weak. Make me watch and always wait, ready to see you in all things and do your will.
Resolution: I will actively look for signs of Christ in others today.
 
Friday of the Twenty-First Week in 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

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
“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.
 
 
Thursday 21^st Ordinary Time: 2023
Opening Prayer: My Lord, I stand before you as someone with many needs. You remind me today that you are happy to help me with my struggles. Strengthen my trust so that I can allow you to lighten my burden. 
Encountering Christ:
1. The Big Picture: This is certainly one of those Gospels that keeps me on my toes. Even though I wish I wouldn't need constant reminders, real experience shows that spiritual and moral life needs renewal daily, even sometimes hourly. Today, Jesus urges us to consider the big picture as a way of motivation and renewal: “Remember where all this is going, live with one eye focused on the eternal things, stay attuned to the Holy Spirit who will grant you a supernatural lookout on things.”
2. The Orientation of the Heart: When Jesus steps into our lives and shakes us, gently but decisively, it's as if to say, “Remember your dreams, remember your heart's deepest desires, remember what I have done for you.” He never grows tired of reorienting us, as we frequently get sidetracked. Simple distractions can hinder our spiritual journey more subtly than can the “direct” sins, which is why the orientation of our heart can be a good point to examine in our conscience frequently.
3. Jesus Will Come: Jesus will come, and before long, we will stand before him. May it be a moment of passionate joy! He will speak, and all our doubts will be whisked away. The one encounter that surpasses all the others, for which we prepare during this life, will come! 
Conversing with Christ: My Lord, Thy Kingdom Come! I really can't wait to be with you. You have given us so many ways in the Church to encounter you while awaiting the ultimate encounter. Renew my faith in the Sacraments, and renew my faith that you are present in Scripture and in my neighbors. Above all, Lord, grant me the grace of being a “faithful and prudent servant.”
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will remember and renew my desire to live in you, with you, and for you.
 
Thursday 21^st Ordinary Time: 2021
Opening Prayer: Lord, I come with a tired heart. Revive my spirits during this time of prayer. Give me a renewed energy and desire to encounter you through your word and voice. How I long for you! Holy Spirit, grant me the grace to be renewed in heart, mind, and spirit. Speak to me; your servant is listening. 
Encountering Christ:
·         Overcoming Tiredness: It’s not easy to stay awake when we are tired or bored or have been waiting for a long time. This can happen in our spiritual lives too. Our initial commitment to live a life with Christ can begin to dim when other things take the place of the time we would give to him in prayer. But Jesus tells us not to get complacent. He is continually trying to speak to us, so he invites us to be vigilant so that our hearts stay open to encounter him. 
·         Faithful and Prudent Servants: What does it mean to be faithful and prudent servants? In this parable, they are the ones who treated their fellow servants with respect, stayed awake to defend the home from attack, and fed others at the right time and place. In our own lives, authentic Christian living means respecting, loving, and treating others as the Master treats us. It means giving to others generously. It entails protecting our own mind, heart, and body from the attacks of the enemy of our soul. It requires welcoming the Lord whenever he chooses to reveal himself in the circumstances of our life. 
·         Blessed Is the Servant: When the Master returned, he found the faithful servant where he was supposed to be, doing what he had been tasked to do. When we are living in accord with our vocation, we will also be found doing what we should be doing. We live as authentic Christians when we obey God’s will. When we strive to know the heart and mind of the Master, God can enter into our lives and find his home within.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you know how hard it is for me to stay awake. You know the distractions of my heart and how easily I let other interests and interruptions into your home, my heart. Today I choose to seek your desires, your will so that you may find me there. I know you are constantly reaching out to me in love. Give me an open heart to see you and hear you. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take time to reassess my commitments to ensure I am being faithful to the duties of my vocation. 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 21 TN

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 21 TN Mathêu -23:27-32

            Thật dịp tốt để chúng ta thấy chính bản thân của chúng ta trong hình ảnh người Biệt Phái trong bài Phúc Âm hôm nay. Điều nguy hiểm nhất là khi chúng ta nghĩ rằng những lời quở mắng của Chúa Giêsu chỉ dành cho những người bà con hàng xóm láng giềng của chúng ta mà không phải cho chính chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta hôm nay trong Tin Mừng. Ngài cảnh báo chúng ta rằng chúng ta đưa ra những luật pháp và luân lý đạo đức để làm tăng thêm gánh nặng cho người khác trong khi chúng ta được miễn trừ hay tự tha thứ cho mình vì tội lỗi và hành vi tội lỗi mà chúng ta đã mắc phạm. Chúng ta dễ dàng dùng miệng lưỡi để giải thích với những cách trình bày hợp lý và chúng ta vặn vẹo, lúng túng biện minh cho tội lỗi của chúng ta, trong khi đó chúng ta thích chỉ trích, lên án, phán xét và tất cả những người khác dưới ánh sáng mặt trời, cho dù họ bất cứ là ai, là bạn bè hay là các đối thủ cạnh tranh của chúng ta, hay họ là những người bà con hàng xóm và những người thân của chúng ta. Ví thế, đối với điều này mà Chúa gọi chúng ta là những người mù.
            Chúng ta bị mù bởi vì chúng ta không nhìn thấy tội lỗi của chúng ta. Chúng ta cần phải rửa sạch bên trong cái chén trước khi chúng ta có thể rữa sạch cái chén bên ngoài. Và vì cái chén đó có chứa đầy tất cả các lỗi lầm, tội lỗi bên trong đó mà chúng ta đã mắc phạm mỗi ngày trong cuộc sống thường nhật của chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu đã uống từ cái chén này, đã uống cạn tội lội lỗi, tính hư nết xấu, những tham vọng của chúng ta. Ngài rửa sạch bên trong cái chén đó và đã tha thứ tất cả các tội lỗi của chúng ta. Và vì vậy chúng ta phải vượt qua chính mình để ân sủng của Thiên Chúa giúp chúnga biết tha thứ cho những người xúc phạm đến chúng ta.
 
REFLECTION
It is good to see ourselves inside this Gospel as Pharisees. The greatest danger is to think that these words are meant for our neighbor and not for us. Jesus is speaking to us today in the Gospel. He is warning us that we put on laws and morals that weigh and burden others while we excuse ourselves for the sins and offenses we commit. We are easy to explain with rational logic and we squirm out of sin by justifying it, while we criticize, condemn, and judge everyone under the sun, whether they be from the government, our competitors, or our
neighbors and relatives. For this the Lord calls us BLIND.
We are blind because we fail to see our own sins. We need to clean the inside of our cup before we can clean the outside of our cup. And the cup contains all our sins and misdeeds that we commit every single day. The Lord has drunk from this cup and has forgiven our sins, and so must we transcend ourselves to God's grace and forgive those who offend us.
 
Wednesday 21^st Ordinary Time 2023
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.”  Matthew 23:27–28
This would not have been an easy thing for the scribes and Pharisees to hear. It is a hard truth, spoken by our Lord, partly in an attempt to shake them free of their sin. And even though they may not have enjoyed hearing this clear condemnation spoken, since it came from the Savior of the World, we can be sure that these are words of the deepest love and were spoken so that these men would repent and change their ways.
Perhaps each of us, at times, feels like criticizing another. Most often, when we feel this way, it stems from our own personal sin of anger. Perhaps we were hurt by another and that hurt results in a desire for a form of vengeance that comes from anger. But this was not the case with Jesus.
First, these words were spoken by Jesus to his disciples and to the crowds of people, not only to the scribes and Pharisees. So in many ways Jesus spoke this for the good of those who were suffering under the misguided leadership of these religious leaders. But Jesus knew that these leaders would also hear His words, so He spoke those words to them. But unlike us, He did it out of perfect virtue so as to care for their souls.
At times, each one of us needs to hear Jesus rebuke us in love. If any of the scribes and Pharisees were open at that time, then Jesus’ words would have first stung them to the heart but then had the powerful effect of challenging them to change. They needed this and so do we. When we become stuck in our sins, especially if obstinacy sets in, then we need to allow Jesus to challenge us firmly. Such a challenge can be rattling, but that rattling is sometimes necessary. Emotion and passion can lead to sin, but it can also lead to repentance and conversion. The passion with which Jesus spoke became an instrument by which their own passions made them sit up and take notice. The result was that they either became more steeped in their sin or they repented. And though most became even more steeped in sin, which ultimately resulted in their persecution and death of Jesus, we can hope that there were some who did repent, such as Nicodemus.
Reflect, today, upon the strength of Jesus’ words to these religious leaders. Though they were supposed to be both “religious” and “leaders,” they were neither. They needed Jesus’ strength, courage and firmness. They needed to be confronted directly and receive the hard and clear truth about their sin. Reflect upon what it is in your own life that Jesus wants to say to you. Is there an area of your life in which our Lord needs to address you with passion, strength, clarity and firmness? Most likely there is. Perhaps not in an area of serious sin like it was with these scribes and Pharisees, but if we are open, Jesus wants to powerfully go after every sin within us. Open yourself to Him and allow Him to help rid you of the sins with which you struggle the most. And be grateful for this grace when He does.
My passionate Lord, You hate sin but love the sinner. You perfectly desire to rid me of all sin and all attachment to sin. Please open my mind and heart to hear Your rebukes of Love so that I may respond to Your invitation to repent with all my heart. I love You dear Lord. Free me from sin so that I may love You more. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday 21^st Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: My Lord, help me to listen with an open heart and root out any Pharisaical tendencies I see there. 
Encountering Christ:
1. Woe to You: Jesus told the Pharisees that, while they appeared beautiful on the outside, they were full of filth inside. He looked directly into their souls, as he does into ours. Power, beauty, and honor can corrupt. If we’re beautiful on the outside, praise him. If we’re in leadership positions, like the Pharisees were, depend on him. If we’re being honored, it’s because Jesus allowed it. Only by relying solely on Jesus and not on our own gifts and strengths will we avoid condemnation like the Pharisees. May Jesus never say to us, “Woe to you.”
2. The Moment Is Now: Jesus pointed out how absurd it was for those who wanted to kill him to claim that they wouldn't have killed the prophets. “Thus you bear witness against yourselves,” he remarked. Such hypocrisy must be absent from my life. If I want to be a hero, a Christian leader, a saint tomorrow, this desire is authentic in as much as I act accordingly today. If I want to live a lifetime with Jesus, my desire shows how dedicated I am to him today. If I want to become the best version of myself, now is a good time to start.
3. Good Deeds/Wrong Reasons: Jesus acknowledged in his condemnation of the Pharisees that they had done good deeds. They built and adorned tombs for the prophets. Yet, they did these things to appear righteous. Do I seek approval, affirmation, and admiration from other people, especially those closest to me? Am I tempted to talk about myself and my accomplishments? Have I compromised my principles to fit in and be accepted? Our Lord knows our weaknesses and extends his loving arms in forgiveness. The Pharisees rejected Jesus’s invitations. Let’s repent of our vanities and fall into his embrace.
Conversing with Christ: My Lord Jesus Christ, often I yearn for clarity. My heart longs for a safe harbor, a home. I beg you, put into my heart the confidence that you will guide me. I hope in you, for you are my eternal home, my safe harbor, my guarantee for future happiness. Teach me to live from this trust today, so that I can embrace fully one day what I hope for now.
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will put into action a good intention, something which I have been wanting to do for a long time but haven't done yet.
 
Wednesday 21^st Ordinary Time2021
Encountering Christ:
“You Hypocrites”: Jesus mentions the word “hypocrite” seven times in this chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. He is deeply concerned that we will not find ourselves living a life of hypocrisy. Jesus is not scandalized by sin and imperfection, but he does speak clearly about the scourge of hypocrisy. Why? He knows how much a divided life can hurt and destroy us, and he doesn’t want to see us hurting ourselves and others in this way. He created us to be beautiful, not only on the outside but on the inside too. He wants to restore our inner unity.
Living an Authentic Life: The opposite of hypocrisy is authenticity, sincerity, honesty, and integrity—living a life that flows from inner truths and convictions. Jesus longs for us to be authentic and true to ourselves. He wants leaders in our families, in our communities, and in the church to be men and women of integrity who are deeply rooted in their relationship with him and make wise choices based on their faith. This doesn’t mean he asks us to be perfect and sinless. But it does demand making time with him a priority, so we can receive the grace to live as he did. He wants us to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory,” as St. Paul preaches to the Thessalonians. 
Are We Allowing Grace to Transform Us?: Jesus wants authentic friends. To be a Christian means to seek a relationship with God. We are invited to allow God’s grace to penetrate our hearts and minds so that we are transformed into him. To be Christian means to be his. We will always feel the tug of our fallen nature to give in to hypocrisy and insincerity, but it is in those times that Jesus wants us to call out to him and rely on his grace through the power of prayer and the sacraments. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord, I want to be a true friend, but you know how hard it is for me to make wise choices and decisions. Please make your presence felt throughout my day, in the times I set aside for prayer, and in the encounters I have with others in my family, school, or work. How much I need your grace! Yet, I need your friendship even more. Come with me now as I leave this time of prayer to begin my day. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will think of your eyes upon me. 
 
Thứ Tư Tuần 21 TN Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Mathêu 23:27-32

Thường tình, thật là dễ dàng cho chúng ta bị sa lầy bởi những thứ không quan trọng trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta và lo lắng về chuyện tầm phào. Các mối quan hệ giữa chúng ta với Thiên Chúa trong đời sống Kitô hữu của chúng ta rất rõ ràng.  Như Chúa Giêsu, chúng ta phải là những người của chân lý, của sự thật, những người của yêu thương và lòng bác ái, những người biết thông cảm và biết tha thứ.
            Trong cuộc sống,  chúng ta đã dành rất nhiều thời giờ để lo lắng về cách ăn diện và dung mạo của chúng ta trước mọi người, chúng ta lo lắng về những gì mà người khác sẽ nghĩ gì về mình.  Nhưng thực ra, những gì thực sự quan trọng nơi chúng ta là "chính bên trong (nọi tâm) con người thật của chúng ta", và sự liên hệ giữa chúng ta với Thiên Chúa và với mọi người như thế nào!. Chúng ta có thể lạc đi trong những chi tiết nhỏ bên ngoài của xã hội vật chất mà chúng ta quên đi mất những câu hỏi quan trọng nhất của sự công bằng, của sự công chính, của thái độ đúng đắn và của lòng bác ái nơi chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu nói: "Rửa sạch cái chén bên trong trước và bên ngoài nó sẽ tự sạch lấy". Ý của Chúa Giêsu muốn nói với chúng ta là, trước hết, lẽ tất nhiên tâm hồn của chúng ta phải tốt lành trong lối sống lành mạnh,  luôn biết sống đúng với chân lý của Tin Mừng theo tôn chỉ của ngưới Kitô Hữu, sau đó chúng ta mới hướng tới cuộc sống bên ngoài như cách sống và những  hành động của chúng ta, những cách cư xử hay liên hệ với người chung quanh của chúng ta cũng phải chứng tỏ mình thực sự là người Kitô hữu. Chúng ta phải biết làm chủ những suy nghĩ bên trong của chúng ta vì đó chính là nguồn gốc và cơ sở cho những hành vi, nếu không chúng ta trở thành những kẻ đạo đức giả và cũng không có tốt hơn so với các kinh sư và người Pharisêu. Trung thực với bản thân là không những chỉ tốt cho sức khỏe tâm thần mà nó cũng là Kitô hữu tốt trong mọi ý nghĩa.
 
REFLECTION
It is so easy for us to get bogged down by unimportant things in our daily lives and to worry about trivialities. Often it is very obvious in our relations with God and in our Christian living. While all the time what really matters is if, like Jesus, we are people of truth, people of love and compassion, people of understanding and forgiveness.
Again we spend so much time being anxious about how we appear before people, what people think about us. When what really matters is the "real me" inside and how we relate to God and to people. We can get so lost in little details that we forget to ask the most important questions of fairness, justice, decency and charity. Jesus says: "Clean the inside of the cup first and the outside will take care of itself". Jesus means, of course, that if our interior dispositions are good, wholesome, truly Christian and Gospel oriented, then our exterior, our lives, our actions, our contacts with our fellowmen will also be truly Christian. There is little good in being exteriorly correct, polite, and civil, unless our interior thoughts are the origin and basis for these acts. Otherwise we become hypocrites and are no better than the Scribes and Pharisees. Honesty with self is not only good mental health. It is also Christian in every sense of the word.

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Aug 29- the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

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.
 
Tuesday 21^st Ordinary Time 2023-  the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in your wondrous shining glory, although this is hidden from my eyes. I hope in the peace and everlasting joy of the world to come, for this world is a valley of tears. I love you, even though I am not always able to discern the love in your intentions when you permit me to suffer. You are my God and my all.
Petition: Lord, let me never fear the consequences of speaking the truth.
1. Speaking Truth to Power: Although Herod was a cruel tyrant, John the Baptist did not hesitate to condemn his adulterous conduct and denounce his sin publicly. The Holy Spirit moved John to give witness and teach the people that no one can legitimately violate God’s commandments, not even a king. John did not fear the consequences of his actions because he knew that if he were faithful, God would be at his side and never let him down, even if he had to suffer because of the truth. We, too, must give courageous witness to our family, friends, and society. When we do, God will be with us, and we will have nothing to fear.
2. It Was Something That You Said: Mark tells us that Herod, although he resented what John said in accusing him of adultery, nonetheless “like[d] to listen to him,” and he was “much perplexed.” In his moral weakness, he persisted in his sin, yet the prophet's cries to repent did reach his conscience. Herod was confused. Something was stirring in his conscience; the Holy Spirit was moving inside him to bring him to repent his sin. God never abandons the sinner but gives him the grace to turn back to him. We should never lose hope for one who seems lost and wandering in sin. We should always continue to speak the truth with love and pray for a full conversion. God can change the hearts of even the worst of sinners. He has forgiven us so much, and he can forgive others as well.
3. A Conversion Cut Short: The Gospel tells how Herod, in an imprudent promise to Herodias’ daughter, found himself compromised and, for fear of losing face, had to order the beheading of John the Baptist. Here, his moral weakness overcame the first stirrings of the grace of conversion. He closed his heart to God’s action due to his lust and vanity and committed the terrible crime of murdering an innocent man. Oh, how sin can darken the conscience and extinguish God’s grace in the heart of a person given over only to satisfy their passions.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I want to be faithful to your teachings and frank with those I love who need to hear your word. I know that it takes prudence, courage, and steadfastness. Help me to be true to you. Give me the grace of a good conscience always to speak the truth with rectitude and love for your law.
Resolution: I will pray for the grace to witness to the truth, “in season and out of season,” no matter what the consequences.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuẩn 21 TN

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần 21th Thường Niên
Bài Tin Mừng Hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu tiếp tục các cuộc tấn công về “sự khốn nạn” của những người Biệt Phái và kinh sư.  Trong bài đọc hôm nay Chúa Giêsu đã giúp hiểu được hai điểm. Trước tiên, Ngài cáo buộc những biệt phái hay Pharisêu vì cái sự tỉ mỉ về các quy luật nhỏ nhen trong khi đó lại lơ là đi những vấn đề khác quan trọng hơn nhiều, chẳng hạn như đừng nên phán xét người khác, mà nên có lòng từ bi, bác ái và nhân hậu và biết trung thành với Thiên Chúa. Họ hay lấy chuyện nhỏ, xé lớn ra (tỏ vẻ hoảng sợ với những con “lăng quăn” trong nước uống của họ, nhưng họ lại "nuốt cả nguyên con lạc đà", có nghĩa là, họ bỏ qua những điều thực sự rát là quan trọng: như thương yêu loại, anh chị em của chung quanh, thực hiện sự tha thứ và chăm lo giúp đỡ những người nghèo khổ và thiếu thốn.
Trong phần thứ hai, Ngài chỉ trích họ vì họ chỉ tập trung vào những thứ bên ngoài, vật chất, về hình ảnh dung mạo của mình, họ muốn ngừoi khác ca tụng, vinh danh và được ngưỡng mộ đối vì sự hiểu biệt rộng rãi của họ và việc giữ luật của họ. Nhưng họ lại là chính những ngôi mộ được quét vôi trắng, có cái vẻ đẹp ở bên ngoài, nhưng bên trong đầy những giòi bọ, hôi hám, vì sự lạm quyền, gian lận và tham ô. Thật là một sự không có sự tương đồng giữa những gìthể hiện ở bên ngoài và những gì họ có thực sự đang ở trong tâm hồn của họ.
Bao nhiêu người trong chúng ta đã liêm chính hoàn thiện, do đó, những gì mà người khác nhìn thấy nơi chúng ta họ cũng cứ tưởng đó là những gì mà thực sự đang có ở ngay bên trong tâm hồn của chúng ta?.
Lạy chúa Giêsu, xin giúp cho chúng con biết sống hoàn thiện, liêm chính, biết tha thứ, không cố chấp, biết thương yêu và nhường lẫn nhau, để cho lời nới và việc làm của chúng con nên được đi đôi với nhau, nhờ đó mà chúng con có thể được sống hoà bình và hoà mình với anh chị em chúng con của chúng con.  
 
Tue 26th Aug 2014  21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus continues his attacks on the Pharisees and Scribes. We should really see this as a criticism of the legalistic mind. Not all the Pharisees and Scribes were hypocrites and we can find their like in our own Christian communities and it is likely that Matthew is thinking of Christian Pharisees rather than those who criticized Jesus. In today’s reading Jesus makes two points. First, he accuses Pharisees of being scrupulous about the tiniest regulations while being neglectful of much more important issues such as judgement, compassion and faithfulness to God’s will.
They strain out tiny insects (which were regarded as ‘unclean’) from their drinking water but then “swallow the camel”, that is, ignore the really important things like loving all our brothers and sisters, practicing forgiveness and taking care of the poor and needy.
In the second part, he criticizes them for focusing only on the externals, on their image, what people could see so that they could be admired for their observance of the Law. But they are like whitewashed tombs, lovely on the outside but inside are full of strench and corruption. There is no real similarity between what appears on the outside and what they really are inside.  How many of us have perfect integrity, so that what people see is also what really is going on inside us?
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuẩn 21 TN-Matthew 23:23-26
“đừng xét đoán theo bề ngoài nữa, nhưng hãy xét đoán cho công minh"."(John 7:24) Người Kitô hữu chúng ta thường hay bị buộc tội là "xét đoán" mỗi khi chúng ta lên tiếng phản đối và chống lại những hoạt động đầy tội lỗi.. Tuy nhiên, đó không phải là ý nghĩa của câu Kinh Thánh trên đã nói , "Đừng xét đoán." có một loại phán xét công chính trong sư công minh, chính trực mà chúng ta phải có nghĩa vụ, phải thực hiện, với sự nhận định cẩn thận trong sự sáng suốt.  Chúa Giêsu truyền dạy cho chúng ta phải thực hiện và đem Lời của Ngài đến với thế gian;. nói lên sự thật, để ngăn chặn con đường tội lỗi. Xin Chúa cho chúng ta có thể có can đảm làm theo lệnh truyền của Ngài, nhờ vào ân sũng và sự khôn ngoan mà Chúa Thánh Thần truyền đạt đến cho chúng ta. .
 
Meditation:
“Stop judging by mere appearance, and make a right judgment." (John 7:24) Christians are often accused of "judging" whenever they speak out against a sinful activity. However, that is not the meaning of the Scripture verses that state, "Do not judge." There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise—with careful discernment. Jesus commanded us to carry His Word into the world; to speak the truth; to stop sinful ways. May we courageously follow His command, through the grace and wisdom imparted within us by the Holy Spirit.
 
Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
“Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” Matthew 23:24–26
Imagine if someone were to offer to wash the dishes after dinner and all they did was to wash the outside of the cups and bowls but left the inside untouched and then placed them back in the cupboard. The next time you would go to use them, you would find them looking good until you took them down and saw the dried liquid and food inside. This is the image that Jesus uses to describe the Pharisees. They only cared about the external appearance and ignored the more important interior of the soul.
Jesus also used the contrasting images of straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel. This was a reference to the laws in Leviticus that forbade the Israelites from eating “swarming creatures,” such as gnats and other bugs, (Leviticus 11:41–45) as well as the meat of camels (Leviticus 11:4). Saying that the Pharisees “strain out the gnat and swallow the camel” was a figure of speech by which Jesus accused the Pharisees of distorting the smallest details of the law while ignoring the most important ones. For example, the Pharisees required everyone to strain all liquid before drinking it, just in case a gnat accidentally was present in that liquid, but they cared little about true justice when it came to killing the Son of God. For these reasons, the Pharisees had become “blind guides” and “hypocrites,” incapable of leading people to holiness.
The bottom line is that Jesus is telling us that we must truly become holy, not just appear so. God sees the heart and judges the heart. The only other person who can see your heart is you. Therefore, we must also hear this condemnation of the Pharisees so that we will understand the importance of looking into our own souls first and foremost. From there, from the holiness within, our exterior will also radiate the holiness of God.
One of the documents of Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, beautifully speaks to us about the conscience: “Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths” (#16). This “secret core and sanctuary” within us is what Jesus is most concerned about. Very often we are tempted to be far more concerned about how we look to others than how we truly are inside. For example, the person who lives a sinful double life may go to great lengths to look holy to others, doing all they can to hide their sin from others. On the contrary, someone might be living a very holy life but be falsely accused by another publicly, causing much pain. In the former case, as long as the person is not found out, they appear at peace. In the latter case, even though the person is living a good and holy life, if they are falsely accused, they may be tempted to despair as their public image is shattered.
What others think and say about us is ultimately out of our control to a lesser or greater degree. What is within our control is that which is within us. Our interior life, that secret core, that sanctuary within where we meet God, must become the focus of our energies. Exteriorly, it ought not matter that others praise us or criticize us. What matters is that which is true, and only you and God can look into your heart to see that truth. The Pharisees failed to understand this essential truth. They put all their energy into their public image, neglecting that which was most important, making them incapable of leading others to God.
Reflect, today, upon your soul. How often do you look inside yourself? Are you able to be honest with yourself, acknowledging your sin and being grateful for your virtue? Or are you among those who are more concerned with how you look to others? Turn your eyes to the secret sanctuary within because it is there, in that secret core, that you will meet God, grow in holiness and then radiate that true holiness within our world. When that happens, God will also be able to use you to be a true guide to holiness for others.
Lord of true holiness, You desire to cleanse my soul, and You invite me to meet You there within. Please give me the grace I need to care more about my holiness within than the external perceptions and judgments of others. May I become holy, dear Lord, and learn to become an instrument of that holiness for others. Jesus, I trust in You.

Suy Niệm thứ Hai tuần thứ 21 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm thứ Hai tuần thứ 21 Thường Niên.
"Khốn thay cho các ngươi, Ký lục và Biệt phái giả hình, vì các ngươi khóa Nước Trời chận người ta lại! Các ngươi sẽ chẳng vào đã rồi, mà những kẻ muốn vào, các ngươi cũng chẳng để cho vào!”(Mt 23:13)
Hôm nay Chúa Giêsu tố cáo những người Pha-ri-si này đã đóng cửa thiên đàng trước mặt mọi người. Đó là một lời cáo buộc đáng kinh ngạc. Nhưng họ đã làm điều đó như thế nào? Vì như chúng ta thấy Luật mà họ đưa ra đã làm cho một số người phải chịu gánh nặng với những quy định nghiêm ngặt của. Một số người đã bỏ lỡ tấm lòng yêu thương gắn liền với luật pháp Môi-sen. Những người khác cố gắng lôi kéo mọi người rời xa Chúa Giêsu bằng sự giảng dạy của họ. Nhưng chúng ta hãy thử nhìn vấn đề này theo cách khác. Rốt cuộc, nếu chúng ta có thể đóng và khóa chật cánh cửa, thì chúng ta cũng có lý do và cũng có thể mở cánh cửa đó và còm rộng ra nữa! Đó là sự thật tuyệt vời đã được nồng kín trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay. Chúng ta thực sự có thể mở cánh cửa thiên đường cho người khác!
            Theo Kinh thánh, cánh cửa này chính là Chúa Giêsu! Ngài là “cửa” và “con đường” (Gioan 10:9; 14:6). Ngài là chiếc thang lên thiên đàng (1:51). Nhưng làm thế nào chúng ta, những con người nhỏ bé, có thể mở được cánh cửa đặc biệt như vậy? Thưa chúng ta có thể làm được bằng cách mở rộng tấm lòng, trái tim mình ra! Bằng cách đó, mọi người có thể đến gặp Chúa Giêsu, Đấng sống trong chúng ta, và tìm ra con đường riêng cho chính mình để có được mối quan hệ với Chúa. Cũng như có nhiều cách để đóng một cánh cửa, cũng có nhiều cách để mở cách cửa lòng của chúng ta. Chúng ta có thể mở tâm hồn của chúng ta qua những hành động tử tế và yêu thương. Chúng ta có thể cố gắng khuyến khích ai đó. Một trái tim nhân hậu, tha thứ có thể làm được điều đó. Hoặc chúng ta có thể tìm kiếm cơ hội để chia sẻ về sự khác biệt mà Chúa Giêsu đã tạo ra trong cuộc đời của chúng ta.
            Chúa Giêsu đã nói rằng những người Pha-ri-siêu này đã đi quá xa; thậm chí đã vượt qua biển cả, băng núi, vợt đồi để tìm người khác và dạy cho họ sống theo đường lối của họ (Mt 23:15). Trong khi họ không bằng lòng với kết quả cuối cùng mà họ thu hoạch được, thì cách họ nỗ lực hết sức để thu phục mọi người thật đáng chú ý. Cách họ họ thâu hoạch được thành quả! Tương tự như vậy, nếu chúng ta muốn đưa người khác đến cửa thiên đàng, chúng ta cũng phải hết sức nỗ lực kết nối mối quan hệ với họ. Những cuộc trò chuyện thân thiện qua điện thoại, những bữa trưa bình thường và những thứ tương tự có thể mang đến những cơ hội mới để gặp gỡ. Tất nhiên, chúng ta không thể theo đuổi tất cả mọi người. Nhưng chúng ta có thể theo đuổi một số người chúng ta để ý tới. Thậm chí chúng ta có thể bắt đầu với danh sách ba cái tên. Với một số lời cầu nguyện, một số kế hoạch và một số sự tiếp cận, chúng cũng có thể có được đặc quyền giữ cửa thiên đàng mở khi một người bạn của chúng ta đã được bước vào! “Lạy Chúa, xin Chúa chir cho chúng biết biết ai mà Chú đang nhờ con mở cửa thiên đàng cho họ.?”
 
Wau- Meditation: Matthew 23:13-22- 21st Week in Ordinary Time
“You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance.” (Matthew 23:13)
            Jesus accused these Pharisees of shutting the door of heaven in people’s faces. That’s a startling allegation. But how did they do it? Some burdened people with stringent rules. Some missed the heart of love embedded in the laws Law of Moses. Others tried to steer people away from Jesus by their teaching. But let’s try to look at this from the other way around. After all, if you can close and lock a door, it stands to reason that you can also unlatch one and throw it wide! That’s the awesome truth tucked away in today’s Gospel. We can actually open the door of heaven for other people!
            According to the Scriptures, this door is a person: Jesus! He is the “gate” and the “way” (John 10:9; 14:6). He is the ladder to heaven (1:51). But how can we, small humans that we are, open such a special door? By opening ourselves up! That way, people can come to see Jesus, who lives in us, and find their own way to a relationship with him.
            Just as there are several ways to close a door, there’s more than one way to open it. We can open it through acts of kindness and love. We can try to encourage someone. A forgiving, compassionate heart can do it. Or we can look for opportunities to share about the difference that Jesus has made in our lives.
            Jesus said that these Pharisees went to great lengths—even traversing sea and land—to find other people and train them in their ways (Matthew 23:15). While he frowned on the end result, the way they went the extra mile to win people over was remarkable. It worked! Similarly, if we want to usher people through heaven’s door, we too will have to go out of our way to build relationships with them. Friendly phone conversations, casual lunches, and the like can provide new opportunities to open up. Of course, we can’t pursue everyone. But we can pursue a few. You could even start with a list of three names. With some prayer, some planning, and some reaching out, you may even get the privilege of holding heaven’s door open as a friend walks through!
            “Lord, is there someone for whom you’re asking me to hold open heaven’s door?”
 
Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time 2023
 
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.” Matthew 23:13
Today begins Jesus’ “Woe to you…” condemnations of the scribes and Pharisees. He issues seven subsequent condemnations. The one quoted above is His first. At the time, Jesus’ condemnations of these religious leaders fell mostly on deaf ears. They were obstinate and would not listen to what Jesus had to say. But it’s useful to note that these condemnations appear to actually be spoken about the scribes and Pharisees to the disciples and the crowds to whom Jesus was speaking.
Though there are many lessons we can learn from our Lord, let’s consider the first thing He says. He condemns hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is essentially saying one thing and doing another. It’s a disconnect between what we say and what we do. Hypocrisy can also come in the form of trying to present oneself as if one has every virtue under Heaven but in reality cares little for the clear doctrine and moral precepts given us by God. In the scripture passage, the scribes and Pharisees claimed to be leading people to salvation, but they were condemning the very source of salvation. On one hand, some of what they taught was true, but they failed to teach with the virtue that comes from God. On the other hand, some of what they taught was flat-out erroneous, because they were more concerned about their public persona than they were about the truth. Essentially, they were hypocrites, because their words and actions were neither united in the truth nor lived through the virtues given by God.
These two opposing tendencies seem to be a source of much division within our Church today. On the extreme “right,” we have those who preach doctrine but fail to exercise the necessary virtue so as to be effective instruments of those truths. And on the extreme “left” are those who act as if so-called virtue is all that matters. They deemphasize the clear and unambiguous moral and doctrinal truths that were given to us by our Lord, so that others will praise them for appearing kind, accepting and compassionate toward all. The problem is that one cannot exclude truth from virtue or virtue from truth. Compassion is not compassionate if it lacks truth, and the truth is not true if it is not presented with the virtues by which our Lord wants them brought forth. And though the scribes and Pharisees appear to be more focused upon their interpretations of various truths to the exclusion of virtue, their struggle with hypocrisy is just as real for those on both extremes today.
Reflect, today, upon the importance of embracing each and every moral and doctrinal precept given by our Lord. We must embrace everything He says with every fiber of our being. Reflect, also, upon how you express these teachings of Jesus to others. Do you strive to present the full Gospel with the greatest virtue? The deeper the truth, the more necessary is the virtue with which it is presented. And the more virtue you have, the better instrument of the full truth you will be. Strive to overcome every form of hypocrisy within your life by working toward true holiness. Holiness is wholeness. The Truth united to virtue. Only then will you escape from the condemnation of our Lord, but you will also thrive as a pure instrument of His saving grace.
My saving Lord, You desired deeply that the religious leaders of the time be powerful instruments of Your saving Gospel by presenting all truth in pure love. Please free me from every error so that Your holy Word will be alive in me and will be sent forth to others through the manifestation of the many virtues You wish to bestow. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time 2023
Encountering Christ:
“Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees”: Jesus's words were directed to a very specific audience—those who were called to be leaders of the Jewish faith. He called them hypocrites, which means they seemed to have the virtues, moral, and religious beliefs of someone who witnesses to God, yet their private lives were in direct opposition to what they publicly professed. None of us wish to live our lives this way, especially those in leadership within our families and communities, and in the church. So Christ invites us to look deeply into our hearts to see what might cloud our view or create a divide between our public and private lives. 
Do I Lock Myself Out of the Kingdom?: For anyone striving to love God and bring others to him, these are challenging words from Jesus. They move us to look into our hearts and see if we are truly seeking the kingdom of heaven and allowing others to experience that kingdom through us. The kingdom Christ preaches is one of love, mercy, goodness, and truth. It is a kingdom where we are free and confident in the grace and love that he pours into us. Do we inadvertently lock that kingdom away? We can ask ourselves: Do I know the King in his goodness, truth, and beauty? Do I take time to enter the kingdom through the humble gateway of prayer, so that I can truly point others toward the kingdom and allow them to see Christ through the way I love and treat others? 
Am I Leading Others to Christ?: Jesus accused the Jewish leaders of going to great lengths to bring their flock to conversion, only to lead them away instead. That could happen in our own lives. It is hard to bring people to experience the kingdom if our own hearts and minds are far from living in the goodness, truth, and beauty of God’s love. Only when we spend time with the King and allow his person and goodness to penetrate our hearts, is our witness compelling. Many times serving others, we get so busy that we begin to neglect to spend time with the One who loves us and unites us to himself. Yet prayer is always the true source of “success” in our lives. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord, help me to search my heart in your loving presence. I know that if you want to show me an area in my life that is blocking my way to you, you will give me the clarity and grace to reopen that path to your kingdom. You long to live with me, and be a part of every area of my life. Your friendship calls me higher. I want to experience your friendship more, so that I can truly bring others to you. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take a brief moment to reflect on how I prioritize my relationship with you in my life. 
 
Meditation:
When God knocks on your door are you ready to answer and receive him (Revelations 3:20)? God offers each of us an open door to his kingdom, but we can shut ourselves out if  we reject his offer. What is the door to the kingdom of heaven? When Jacob fled from his brother Essau, who wanted to kill him for stealing his birthright (Genesis 27:41), Jacob sought refuge in the wilderness. There God pursued him and gave him a vision that both changed his life and the life of his people. As Jacob slept on a star-lit hillside God showed him a great ladder or stairway that extended from earth to heaven. This stairway was filled with a multitude of angels ascending and descending before the throne of God. God opened heaven to Jacob, not only to give him a place of refuge and peace, but to offer him the blessing of dwelling in intimate friendship with the living God. God spoke to Jacob and renewed the promises which he had made to his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac, and now to Jacob and his posterity. God promised not only to bless and protect Jacob, but to make him and his descendants a blessing to all the nations as well. When Jacob awoke he exclaimed:  "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven" (Genesis 28:17). God opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God.
            Jesus proclaimed to his disciples that he would fulfill the dream of Jacob in his very own person: "You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:51). Jesus proclaimed that he is the door (John 10:8-9) and the way (John 14:6) that makes it possible for us to access heaven and God's very throne. But Jesus woefully warned the religious leaders and successors of  Jacob that they were shutting the door of God's kingdom not only on themselves but on others as well.  The word woe expresses sorrowful pity and concern as well as grief and extreme sadness.
            Why did Jesus lament and issue such a stern rebuke? Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because they failed to listen to God's word and they misled the people they were supposed to teach and lead in the ways of God. Jesus gave a series of examples to show how misguided they were. In their zeal to win converts, they required unnecessary and burdensome rules which obscured the more important matters of religion, such as love of God and love of neighbor. They were leading people to Pharisaism rather than to God. Jesus also chastised them for their evasion of binding oaths and solemn promises.  Oaths made to God were considered binding, but the Pharisees found clever ways to evade the obligation of their oaths when convenience got in the way. They forgot that God hears every word we utter and he sees the intention of the heart even before we speak or act. The scribes and Pharisees preferred their idea of religion to God's idea. They failed as religious leaders to teach others the way of God's kingdom because they failed to listen and to understand the intention of God's word. Through their own pride and prejudice they blindly shut the door of their own hearts and minds to God's understanding of his kingdom.
            How can we shut the door of God's kingdom in our lives? By closing our ears to Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelations 17:14; 19:16), who speaks words of life and love, truth and freedom, hope and pardon. The Lord Jesus wants to dwell with us and to bring us into his kingdom. He opens the way for each of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in all who seek him and who do his will. Do you pray as Jesus taught, "May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10)?
            "Lord Jesus, your word is life for me. May I never shut the door to your heavenly kingdom through my stubborn pride or disbelief. Help me to listen to your voice and to conform my life more fully to your word."