Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần I Thường
Niên. Mark 1:29-39
Trong cuộc sống trên đời này, con người không ai có thể tránh được tất cả những bệnh tật, đau khổ và những khó khăn trong cuộc đời. Vì thế chúng ta cần đến với Chúa, nhưng ma quỷ luôn ở bên cạnh và luôn muốn có sự ảnh hưởng trong cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta, nên chúng ta cũng cần phải biết khiêm tốn đến Chúa xin Chúa ban ơn giải thoát cho chúng ta tránh khỏi được những sự dữ. Tuy nhiên, trước khi chúng ta biết những gì chúng ta muốn, Chúa đã biết và sẵn sàng giúp ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta cần. Ngài chắc chắn sẽ nắm chắc lấy bàn tay run rẩy của chúng ta để cho những cơn sốt, những đau bệnh và sự dữ có thể trục xuất ra khỏi con người của chúng ta. Chúa vẫn vẫn còn đang tiếp tục sứ mệnh cứu chuộc của Ngài. Nhưng điều này chỉ có thể xảy ra nếu chúng ta sẵn lòng để Thiên Chúa chiếm ngự cuộc sống của chúng ta. Và điều này chỉ có thể ảnh hưởng đến chúng ta nếu chúng ta bằng lòng cho phép Ngài ôm giữ chúng ta, và để Ngài quan tâm đến cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta.
REFLECTION
As daunting illness enters into our reality, we imploringly pray for healing. When there are evil forces out there that seem to be affecting our balance, we humbly ask for deliverance. However, even before we know what we want, Jesus is already willing to give us what we need. He firmly grasps our trembling hands so that the fever may leave us. He places his gentle palms over us, and the tormenting voices are silenced. The mission continues even up to this very day. But this can happen only once we let him into our lives. This can affect us only if we allow him to hold us, to deeply care for us.
In the Gospels, we read about how he helped so many people in distress. When they felt that they were on their last legs, they threw themselves at his feet begging for help which he willingly offered. However, if we just let these miracles remain as words on pages, we can never truly experience his love being etched in our hearts. But salvation from sickness and conquest of demons in our midst becomes possible only with his touch of love and compassion. And this can unfold in the most subtle of ways – through the gentle and reassuring embrace of a trusted friend, from the inspiring conversation with an acquaintance, through the prayers sent over the internet — these are all humble manifestations of the continuing presence of Christ in our midst. Let us beg for the grace of awareness so that we may recognize his love in the most unexpected of places and in the many surprising moments he creates.
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Mark 1:32–34
Today we read that Jesus once again “drove out many demons…” The passage then adds, “…not permitting them to speak because they knew him.”
Why would Jesus not permit these demons to speak? Many of the early Church fathers explain that even though the demons had an understanding that Jesus was the promised Messiah, they did not understand fully what that meant and how He would accomplish His ultimate victory. Therefore, Jesus did not want them to speak only half-truths about Him, as the evil one often does, thus misleading the people. So Jesus always forbade these demons from speaking about Him publicly.
It’s important to understand that all of the demonic spirits failed to understand the full truth that it would be Jesus’ death that ultimately destroys death itself and sets all people free. For that reason, we see that these diabolical forces continually conspired against Jesus and tried to attack Him throughout His life.
They stirred up Herod when Jesus was a baby, which forced Him into exile in Egypt. Satan himself tempted Jesus just prior to the beginning of His public ministry so as to try to dissuade Jesus from His mission. There were many diabolical forces who continually attacked Jesus throughout His public ministry, especially through the ongoing hostility of the religious leaders at the time. And it can be presumed that these demons may have initially thought they won the battle when they accomplished their goal of having Jesus crucified.
The truth, however, is that Jesus’ wisdom continually confounded these demons and ultimately transformed their evil act of having Him crucified into an ultimate victory over sin and death itself by rising from the dead. Satan and his demons are real, but compared to the truth and wisdom of God, these diabolical forces reveal their complete foolishness and weakness. Just like Jesus, we need to rebuke these tempters in our lives and command that they be silent. Too often we allow their half truths to mislead us and confuse us.
Reflect, today, upon the importance of confidently rebuking the evil one and the many lies he tempts us to believe. Rebuke him with the truth and authority of Christ and pay no attention to what he says.
My precious and all-powerful Lord, I turn to You and You alone as the source of all Truth and the fullness of Truth. May I listen to Your voice alone and reject the many deceptions of the evil one and his demons. In Your precious name, Jesus, I rebuke satan and all evil spirits, their lies and their temptations. I send these spirits to the foot of Your Cross, dear Lord, and open my mind and heart only to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2024
1. Eli’s Unfamiliarity with God: There was a prophecy made by an unnamed prophet that announced the fall of the priestly line and house of Eli and, as a sign of this, declared that Eli’s wicked sons, Hophni and Phineas, would die on the same day (1 Samuel 2:27-36). The First Reading tells us that Eli can barely see and has given the task of watching over the golden lampstand in the sanctuary of Shiloh to the young Samuel. When the Lord first calls Samuel, Eli is at first unable to recognize what is happening. Eli has grown so unfamiliar with the things of God that he thought that Hannah was drunk when she was in fact praying and was slow to understand that Samuel heard the voice of the Lord in the sanctuary.
2. Your Servant is Listening: Samuel presents himself as a servant before the Lord and invites God to speak to him. God confirms the message of the unnamed prophet that Eli’s priestly line will end and that he will raise up a faithful priest. The initial fulfillment of this oracle is the faithful priest Zadok (1 Kings 1:32-40). And Zadok’s line will continue for close to a thousand years. The ultimate fulfillment of this oracle is Jesus, who is called the faithful and merciful high priest (Hebrews 2:17) who ministers on our behalf forever.
Conversing with Christ: Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. I patiently wait for you to answer my cry. I trust in you completely. To do your will, O Lord, is my delight. Your Spirit is in my heart to guide me and lead me on the path of justice and love. I praise you today and look forward to praising you for all eternity in the assembly of heaven.
Resolution: Our readings today remind us of the importance of daily prayer. Samuel dwells in the sanctuary and is able to hear the gentle voice of God calling him to an important mission. Jesus rises early in the morning to pray in solitude away from the noise of the crowds and the bustle of the village. We can ask ourselves: Where is my quiet place where I can hear God’s word? What is the principal mission God has given me? What is God calling me to do today concretely to be an agent of his merciful love?
Opening
Prayer: Lord, sometimes I struggle to hear your voice in a world
full of noise and distraction. Help me today to quiet my heart and encounter
you and your Word.
1. Eli’s Unfamiliarity with God: There was a prophecy made by an unnamed prophet that announced the fall of the priestly line and house of Eli and, as a sign of this, declared that Eli’s wicked sons, Hophni and Phineas, would die on the same day (1 Samuel 2:27-36). The First Reading tells us that Eli can barely see and has given the task of watching over the golden lampstand in the sanctuary of Shiloh to the young Samuel. When the Lord first calls Samuel, Eli is at first unable to recognize what is happening. Eli has grown so unfamiliar with the things of God that he thought that Hannah was drunk when she was in fact praying and was slow to understand that Samuel heard the voice of the Lord in the sanctuary.
2. Your Servant is Listening: Samuel presents himself as a servant before the Lord and invites God to speak to him. God confirms the message of the unnamed prophet that Eli’s priestly line will end and that he will raise up a faithful priest. The initial fulfillment of this oracle is the faithful priest Zadok (1 Kings 1:32-40). And Zadok’s line will continue for close to a thousand years. The ultimate fulfillment of this oracle is Jesus, who is called the faithful and merciful high priest (Hebrews 2:17) who ministers on our behalf forever.
Conversing with Christ: Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. I patiently wait for you to answer my cry. I trust in you completely. To do your will, O Lord, is my delight. Your Spirit is in my heart to guide me and lead me on the path of justice and love. I praise you today and look forward to praising you for all eternity in the assembly of heaven.
Resolution: Our readings today remind us of the importance of daily prayer. Samuel dwells in the sanctuary and is able to hear the gentle voice of God calling him to an important mission. Jesus rises early in the morning to pray in solitude away from the noise of the crowds and the bustle of the village. We can ask ourselves: Where is my quiet place where I can hear God’s word? What is the principal mission God has given me? What is God calling me to do today concretely to be an agent of his merciful love?
Wednesday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2022
Compassionate Healer: Jesus left the synagogue where he had just astounded the congregation with his divine knowledge of Scripture and his power over a demon. When he entered the house of Simon and Andrew, he probably did so as a man who would have liked a hot meal and a rest! However, when he heard that Simon’s mother-in-law was ill, he immediately healed her of her illness. No matter how weary he was, Jesus always drew strength from his Father to minister to the people. His innate compassion and love for everyone he encountered shone throughout the Gospel of Mark. Simon’s mother-in-law was changed fundamentally by her healing experience of Christ. Not only was her illness gone, she felt a compelling desire to wait upon Jesus. She exemplifies the response we should all have when we personally encounter Christ in prayer, in the sacraments, and in others.
Trong cuộc sống trên đời này, con người không ai có thể tránh được tất cả những bệnh tật, đau khổ và những khó khăn trong cuộc đời. Vì thế chúng ta cần đến với Chúa, nhưng ma quỷ luôn ở bên cạnh và luôn muốn có sự ảnh hưởng trong cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta, nên chúng ta cũng cần phải biết khiêm tốn đến Chúa xin Chúa ban ơn giải thoát cho chúng ta tránh khỏi được những sự dữ. Tuy nhiên, trước khi chúng ta biết những gì chúng ta muốn, Chúa đã biết và sẵn sàng giúp ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta cần. Ngài chắc chắn sẽ nắm chắc lấy bàn tay run rẩy của chúng ta để cho những cơn sốt, những đau bệnh và sự dữ có thể trục xuất ra khỏi con người của chúng ta. Chúa vẫn vẫn còn đang tiếp tục sứ mệnh cứu chuộc của Ngài. Nhưng điều này chỉ có thể xảy ra nếu chúng ta sẵn lòng để Thiên Chúa chiếm ngự cuộc sống của chúng ta. Và điều này chỉ có thể ảnh hưởng đến chúng ta nếu chúng ta bằng lòng cho phép Ngài ôm giữ chúng ta, và để Ngài quan tâm đến cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta.
As daunting illness enters into our reality, we imploringly pray for healing. When there are evil forces out there that seem to be affecting our balance, we humbly ask for deliverance. However, even before we know what we want, Jesus is already willing to give us what we need. He firmly grasps our trembling hands so that the fever may leave us. He places his gentle palms over us, and the tormenting voices are silenced. The mission continues even up to this very day. But this can happen only once we let him into our lives. This can affect us only if we allow him to hold us, to deeply care for us.
In the Gospels, we read about how he helped so many people in distress. When they felt that they were on their last legs, they threw themselves at his feet begging for help which he willingly offered. However, if we just let these miracles remain as words on pages, we can never truly experience his love being etched in our hearts. But salvation from sickness and conquest of demons in our midst becomes possible only with his touch of love and compassion. And this can unfold in the most subtle of ways – through the gentle and reassuring embrace of a trusted friend, from the inspiring conversation with an acquaintance, through the prayers sent over the internet — these are all humble manifestations of the continuing presence of Christ in our midst. Let us beg for the grace of awareness so that we may recognize his love in the most unexpected of places and in the many surprising moments he creates.
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Mark 1:32–34
Today we read that Jesus once again “drove out many demons…” The passage then adds, “…not permitting them to speak because they knew him.”
Why would Jesus not permit these demons to speak? Many of the early Church fathers explain that even though the demons had an understanding that Jesus was the promised Messiah, they did not understand fully what that meant and how He would accomplish His ultimate victory. Therefore, Jesus did not want them to speak only half-truths about Him, as the evil one often does, thus misleading the people. So Jesus always forbade these demons from speaking about Him publicly.
It’s important to understand that all of the demonic spirits failed to understand the full truth that it would be Jesus’ death that ultimately destroys death itself and sets all people free. For that reason, we see that these diabolical forces continually conspired against Jesus and tried to attack Him throughout His life.
They stirred up Herod when Jesus was a baby, which forced Him into exile in Egypt. Satan himself tempted Jesus just prior to the beginning of His public ministry so as to try to dissuade Jesus from His mission. There were many diabolical forces who continually attacked Jesus throughout His public ministry, especially through the ongoing hostility of the religious leaders at the time. And it can be presumed that these demons may have initially thought they won the battle when they accomplished their goal of having Jesus crucified.
The truth, however, is that Jesus’ wisdom continually confounded these demons and ultimately transformed their evil act of having Him crucified into an ultimate victory over sin and death itself by rising from the dead. Satan and his demons are real, but compared to the truth and wisdom of God, these diabolical forces reveal their complete foolishness and weakness. Just like Jesus, we need to rebuke these tempters in our lives and command that they be silent. Too often we allow their half truths to mislead us and confuse us.
Reflect, today, upon the importance of confidently rebuking the evil one and the many lies he tempts us to believe. Rebuke him with the truth and authority of Christ and pay no attention to what he says.
My precious and all-powerful Lord, I turn to You and You alone as the source of all Truth and the fullness of Truth. May I listen to Your voice alone and reject the many deceptions of the evil one and his demons. In Your precious name, Jesus, I rebuke satan and all evil spirits, their lies and their temptations. I send these spirits to the foot of Your Cross, dear Lord, and open my mind and heart only to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. Eli’s Unfamiliarity with God: There was a prophecy made by an unnamed prophet that announced the fall of the priestly line and house of Eli and, as a sign of this, declared that Eli’s wicked sons, Hophni and Phineas, would die on the same day (1 Samuel 2:27-36). The First Reading tells us that Eli can barely see and has given the task of watching over the golden lampstand in the sanctuary of Shiloh to the young Samuel. When the Lord first calls Samuel, Eli is at first unable to recognize what is happening. Eli has grown so unfamiliar with the things of God that he thought that Hannah was drunk when she was in fact praying and was slow to understand that Samuel heard the voice of the Lord in the sanctuary.
2. Your Servant is Listening: Samuel presents himself as a servant before the Lord and invites God to speak to him. God confirms the message of the unnamed prophet that Eli’s priestly line will end and that he will raise up a faithful priest. The initial fulfillment of this oracle is the faithful priest Zadok (1 Kings 1:32-40). And Zadok’s line will continue for close to a thousand years. The ultimate fulfillment of this oracle is Jesus, who is called the faithful and merciful high priest (Hebrews 2:17) who ministers on our behalf forever.
Conversing with Christ: Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. I patiently wait for you to answer my cry. I trust in you completely. To do your will, O Lord, is my delight. Your Spirit is in my heart to guide me and lead me on the path of justice and love. I praise you today and look forward to praising you for all eternity in the assembly of heaven.
Resolution: Our readings today remind us of the importance of daily prayer. Samuel dwells in the sanctuary and is able to hear the gentle voice of God calling him to an important mission. Jesus rises early in the morning to pray in solitude away from the noise of the crowds and the bustle of the village. We can ask ourselves: Where is my quiet place where I can hear God’s word? What is the principal mission God has given me? What is God calling me to do today concretely to be an agent of his merciful love?
1. Eli’s Unfamiliarity with God: There was a prophecy made by an unnamed prophet that announced the fall of the priestly line and house of Eli and, as a sign of this, declared that Eli’s wicked sons, Hophni and Phineas, would die on the same day (1 Samuel 2:27-36). The First Reading tells us that Eli can barely see and has given the task of watching over the golden lampstand in the sanctuary of Shiloh to the young Samuel. When the Lord first calls Samuel, Eli is at first unable to recognize what is happening. Eli has grown so unfamiliar with the things of God that he thought that Hannah was drunk when she was in fact praying and was slow to understand that Samuel heard the voice of the Lord in the sanctuary.
2. Your Servant is Listening: Samuel presents himself as a servant before the Lord and invites God to speak to him. God confirms the message of the unnamed prophet that Eli’s priestly line will end and that he will raise up a faithful priest. The initial fulfillment of this oracle is the faithful priest Zadok (1 Kings 1:32-40). And Zadok’s line will continue for close to a thousand years. The ultimate fulfillment of this oracle is Jesus, who is called the faithful and merciful high priest (Hebrews 2:17) who ministers on our behalf forever.
Conversing with Christ: Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. I patiently wait for you to answer my cry. I trust in you completely. To do your will, O Lord, is my delight. Your Spirit is in my heart to guide me and lead me on the path of justice and love. I praise you today and look forward to praising you for all eternity in the assembly of heaven.
Resolution: Our readings today remind us of the importance of daily prayer. Samuel dwells in the sanctuary and is able to hear the gentle voice of God calling him to an important mission. Jesus rises early in the morning to pray in solitude away from the noise of the crowds and the bustle of the village. We can ask ourselves: Where is my quiet place where I can hear God’s word? What is the principal mission God has given me? What is God calling me to do today concretely to be an agent of his merciful love?
Compassionate Healer: Jesus left the synagogue where he had just astounded the congregation with his divine knowledge of Scripture and his power over a demon. When he entered the house of Simon and Andrew, he probably did so as a man who would have liked a hot meal and a rest! However, when he heard that Simon’s mother-in-law was ill, he immediately healed her of her illness. No matter how weary he was, Jesus always drew strength from his Father to minister to the people. His innate compassion and love for everyone he encountered shone throughout the Gospel of Mark. Simon’s mother-in-law was changed fundamentally by her healing experience of Christ. Not only was her illness gone, she felt a compelling desire to wait upon Jesus. She exemplifies the response we should all have when we personally encounter Christ in prayer, in the sacraments, and in others.
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