Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 6 Thưòng Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 6 Thưòng Niên (Mark 8:11-13 )
Chúng ta thường cầu nguyện xin với Thiên Chúa cho chúng ta những nhu cầu khác nhau của chúng nhưng đôi lúc lại có những thái độ bực tức, chán nản và thất vọng nếu như chúng ta đã không được Chúa ban cho những điều như ý. Đôi khi chúng ta cũng có cảm tuởng như là cuộc sống của chúng ta bị hỗn độn, chán chường và rồi xa rời Thiên Chúa.  Có lẽ là đó là một phần của vấn đề của chúng ta khi chúng ta có những sự ngờ vực và khi tâm hồn của chúng ta bị xáo trộnvì sự thờ ơ, chúng ta có thể nghĩ rằng cuộc sống của chúng ta đầy những bão tố, gập ghềnh , và khó có sự kiểm soát được. Những sự nghi ngờ sẽ tự khép cửa tâm hồn và lòng  trí của chúng ta, ngăn chặn sức mạnh và năng lực của Thiên Chúa. .
            Nhu cầu đòi hỏi các bằng chứng hoặc dấu hiệu của Thiên Chúa là một hình thức nghi ngờ. Khi người Do thái đòi hỏi chúa Giêsu cho họ thấy những dấu chỉ hay những dấu lạ của Thiên Chúa,  Chúa  Giêsu đã từ chối, Trong thực tế, Ngài nói rằng sẽ không có bất cứ mốt dấu hiệu nào sẽ được đưa ra cho thế hệ đó. Người Do Thái thời đó đã được thấy và chứng kiến những phép lạ của Ngài và nghe những lời rao giảng của Ngài , thì cũng đã quá đủ cho họ rồi.  Người ta thường nói rằng là đối với những người tín hữu có đức tin thực sự, họ không có dấu hiệu hoặc bằng chứng nào là cần thiết, nhưng đối với kẻ nghi ngờ hoặc không tin, thì  không có dấu hiệu nào hoặc bằng chứng nào thực sự có thể làm cho họ tin. Đức tin ít có ảnh hưởng đến những tín điều hay giáo lý. Nhưng đó là sự tin tưởng tuyệt đối vào sức mạnh , tình yêu và lòng nhân từ của Thiên Chúa và sẵn sàng tiến hành qua cuộc sống mà không làm tê liệt vì sợ hãi. Nếu chúng ta làm được điều đó, chúng ta sẽ nhận được những dấu hiệu đủ loại, bằng chứng là những điều tuyệt vời mà Thiên Chúa đã làm cho chúng ta và những thay đổi đã xảy ra trong tâm hồn, trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con có lòng tin sâu sắc để xua tan tất cả những  nghi ngờ trong lòng chúng con.
 
Monday 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
People often pray to God for various needs and are frustrated and disappointed if it appears that their prayers have not been granted. Sometimes it seems that our lives are chaotic and far removed from God. : maybe we are part of the problem. When we have doubts and when our hearts are divided and lukewarm, we can expect that our lives will be bumpy and out of control. Our doubt closes the doors of our heart and mind, blocking out the energy of God. When we ask God for something while filled with doubt, we have signalled that we really don’t think God can or will grant our request. Faith is spiritual power.
            The demand for proof or a sign from God is another form of doubt. When people demanded a sign from Jesus he refused in fact, he said that no sign at all would be given to that generation. They had seen his miracles and heard his teachings that should have been enough. It has been said that for the real believer, no sign or proof is necessary, but for the doubter or unbeliever no sign or proof is really possible. Faith has little to do with creeds or doctrines. It is absolute trust in God's loving and gracious power and a willingness to proceed through life without paralyzing fear. If we do that, we will be given a sign of sorts the evidence of the wonderful thins God has done for us and the changes that have come about in our own hearts.
Lord, may deep faith drive away my doubt. 
 
Monday 6^th wee of Ordinary Time 2024
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  Mark 8:11–12
Jesus had performed many miracles. He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and fed thousands with only a few fish and loaves of bread. But even after all of that, the Pharisees came to argue with Jesus and demanded a sign from Heaven.
The response of Jesus is quite unique. “He sighed from the depth of his spirit…” This sigh was an expression of His holy sorrow over the hardness of hearts of the Pharisees. If they had the eyes of faith, they would have no need for yet another miracle. And if Jesus would have performed a “sign from heaven” for them, even that would not have helped them. And so Jesus does the only thing He can—He sighed.
At times, this type of reaction is the only good one. We may all face situations in life where others confront us with harshness and stubbornness. When this happens, we will be tempted to argue with them, condemn them, try to convince them we are right, and the like. But sometimes one of the holiest reactions we can have to the hardness of the heart of another is to experience a deep and holy sorrow. We must also “sigh” from the depths of our spirits.
When one is hard of heart, rational talking and arguing will prove to be of little avail. Hardness of heart is also what we traditionally call the “sin against the Holy Spirit.” It’s a sin of obstinacy and stubbornness. In that case, there is little or no openness to the truth. When you experience this in the life of another, silence and a sorrowful heart are often the best reaction. Their hearts need to be softened and your deep sorrow, shared with compassion, may be one of the only responses that can help make a difference.
Reflect, today, upon any person in your life with whom you regularly argue, especially regarding matters of faith. Examine your approach and consider changing how you relate to them. Dismiss their irrational arguments and let them see your heart in the same way that Jesus allowed His divine heart to shine forth in a holy sigh. Pray for them, have hope, and allow your sorrow to help melt the most stubborn of hearts.
My compassionate Jesus, Your heart was filled with the deepest compassion for the Pharisees. That compassion led You to express a holy sorrow over their stubbornness. Give me Your same heart, dear Lord, and help me to grieve not only over the sins of others, but also over my own sins, especially when I am stubborn of heart. Melt my heart, dear Lord, and help me to also be an instrument of Your holy sorrow to those in need of this grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Monday 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you on this day seeking to know you, serve you, and love you. Strengthen my faith and open my eyes to see the many ways you reveal yourself to me. 
Encountering Christ:
Arguing with God: The Pharisees had spent their entire lives studying the word of God in the Old Testament, yet they failed to recognize Jesus when he was right there in front of them. This is one of many accounts where a group of Pharisees approached Jesus to argue with him, test him, and trip him up. We know they were threatened by his popularity and perhaps they were blinded by their own hubris and sense of self-importance. How ironic that they were demanding a sign from Heaven to test God himself. Of course, we can fall into the same temptation–seeking signs–especially during a time of emotional upheaval when our trust has been shaken. But Our Lord has compassion on us when we ask with sincerity, trying to understand our circumstances and deepen our faith. He also invites us to proclaim, “Thy will be done,” whether or not he sends us the sign we seek.
The Depth of His Spirit: How weary Jesus seemed in this Gospel passage. We can imagine him frustrated and saddened by their hardheadedness. He saw each Pharisee as a beloved child, created in the image and likeness of God, and blessed with the knowledge, wisdom, and tradition of the Jewish faith. Yet, despite their many spiritual advantages, they petulantly argued with him and demanded he proves himself over and over again. Here he had just miraculously cured the deaf and blind (Mark 7:31-37), and yet they were demanding another sign. In our life, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a sign, but our own sign-seeking must always be grounded in faith and humility—full of hope, and never presumption or despair. 
He Left Them: We are assured in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” However, Jesus, fully divine, was also fully human. He never stopped loving the men who badgered him, but he did become frustrated. Why did he leave them? Presumably, he realized that they were not truly seeking a sign—they were only looking to make him appear weak and foolish. Jesus left and went to another shore. This is a lesson for us! Jesus will never stop loving us, but he will not force us to accept him or to build a relationship with him. He is a gentleman. We must invite him into our lives and hearts, and give him our love and attention in prayer.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, open my heart. Help my moments of unbelief. May I live today and every day focused on loving you more deeply and serving you according to your will. I do not want to presume your blessing, nor fall into despair having lost all hope in you. Only by your grace can I come to you grounded in humility, ready to accept your will.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pray the prayer from Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!” every time I feel overwhelmed or fearful.
 
Reflection: Mon 17th Feb 2014 - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
People often pray to God for various needs and are frustrated and disappointed if it appears that their prayers have not been granted. Sometimes it seems that our lives are chaotic and far removed from God. James has some hard words for us: maybe we are part of the problem.
            When we have doubts and when our hearts are divided and lukewarm, we can expect that our lives will be bumpy and out of control. Our doubt closes the doors of our heart and mind, blocking out the energy of God. When we ask God for something while filled with doubt, we have signalled that we really don’t think God can or will grant our request. Faith is spiritual power.
            The demand for proof or a sign from God is another form of doubt. When people demanded a sign from Jesus he refused — in fact, he said that no sign at all would be given to that generation. They had seen his miracles and heard his teachings — that should have been enough. It has been said that for the real believer, no sign or proof is necessary, but for the doubter or unbeliever no sign or proof is really possible. Faith has little to do with creeds or doctrines. It is absolute trust in God's loving and gracious power and a willingness to proceed through life without paralyzing fear. If we do that, we will be given a sign of sorts — the evidence of the wonderful things God has done for us and the changes that have come about in our own hearts.  Lord, may deep faith drive away my doubt. 
 
Reflection: Mon 17th Feb 2014 - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In exasperation, Jesus lamented how the Pharisees remained blind to the things Jesus has said and done. It only shows that they look but do not see, listen but do not hear. No matter what kind of sign you give, this kind of faith will never see the truth. This kind of people merely look OUT to God and wait for him to make things happen. They fail to look INTO themselves and see how God has equipped and called them to be His instruments.
     Today, we too suffer from this same lack of faith. We fail to see the hand of the Lord in the ordinary. We fail to listen to the voice within us, the voice of God who dwells within us. If only we could teach ourselves to listen clearly as the Lord within us speaks to us! Hearing him would be the daily miracle that all of us now long for, the only sign we would ever need. 
We need not look for God in the extraordinary, in dancing suns and days of darkness. His footsteps are all about us.  We have only to open our eyes and see.