Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư tuần thứ 4 Thường Niên
Con người chúng ta luôn
nhận biết sự liên hệ giữa
nhân và quả: nếu không có nguyên nhân thì chắ sẽ không bao có hậu quả. Mặc
dù thế nhưng đôi lúc chúng ta không thể hiểu được nguyên nhân. Kinh thánh được
viết qua nhiều thời đại, khi con người vẫn còn cái nhìn về thế giới với
những giải thích về khoa học rất đơn giản khi giải về nguyên nhân của
những dữ kiện.đã xảy ra trong thế giới
Nói một cách khách quan thì vấn đề hành chính trong việc kiểm tra dân số chỉ rất đơn giản không phải là việc làm nên tội. Tuy nhiên, khi Joab báo cáo số người nam "thích ứng để phục vụ trong quân đội", thì vua David dường như đã nhận ra rằng việc tìm biết được sức mạnh của quân đội là một việc làm tự cao và coi thường việc đặt hết sự tin tưởng của mình vào Thiên Chúa và vì vậy ông ăn năn, hối hận về những iệc làm của mình . Ông ta cần nên phải nghĩ đến những hậu quả của những việc làm của mình.
Trong việc Vua David chọn lực một trong ba sự lựa chọn, Bài đọc nà đã dạy cho tắt cả chúng ta biết là Thiên Chúa là người luôn biết xót thương và đối xử với chúng ta một cách tử tế hơn là những người đồng loại của chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa Cha ở trên trời, xin ban cho chúng con những ân sủng của sự khôn ngoan để giúp chúng con luôn luôn biết nghĩ đến hậu quả của những việc làm và những hành động của chúng con trước chúng con bắt đầu hành động.
Nói một cách khách quan thì vấn đề hành chính trong việc kiểm tra dân số chỉ rất đơn giản không phải là việc làm nên tội. Tuy nhiên, khi Joab báo cáo số người nam "thích ứng để phục vụ trong quân đội", thì vua David dường như đã nhận ra rằng việc tìm biết được sức mạnh của quân đội là một việc làm tự cao và coi thường việc đặt hết sự tin tưởng của mình vào Thiên Chúa và vì vậy ông ăn năn, hối hận về những iệc làm của mình . Ông ta cần nên phải nghĩ đến những hậu quả của những việc làm của mình.
Trong việc Vua David chọn lực một trong ba sự lựa chọn, Bài đọc nà đã dạy cho tắt cả chúng ta biết là Thiên Chúa là người luôn biết xót thương và đối xử với chúng ta một cách tử tế hơn là những người đồng loại của chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa Cha ở trên trời, xin ban cho chúng con những ân sủng của sự khôn ngoan để giúp chúng con luôn luôn biết nghĩ đến hậu quả của những việc làm và những hành động của chúng con trước chúng con bắt đầu hành động.
Wednesday 4th Ordinary Time
We human beings have always realized that there is a relationship between cause and effect: there is no effect without a cause, even though the cause may not be totally intelligible to us. The Bible was composed during ages when human beings still had a very pre-scientific view of the world and produced rather simplistic explanations of the cause of events. Taking the story of David’s census too literally will make God seem cruel in punishing the people merely because of David’s census. To understand a story like this we must get beyond the details to the teaching. Objectively speaking a mere administrative matter like holding a census would not be a grave sin. However, when Joab reported the number of men “fit for military service”, David seems to have realized that knowing the strength of his army was a matter of pride and a failure to put all his trust in God and so he immediately regretted his action. He should have thought of the consequences of his action.
In having David choose between three options, the writer wishes mostly to teach that God is most merciful and deals with us in a kindlier way than our fellow human beings do.
Father in Heaven, grant us the grace of prudence that we will always think of the consequences of our actions before we act.
Wednesday 4th Ordinary
Time 2024
After traveling throughout the countryside performing miracles, teaching the crowds and gaining many followers, Jesus returned to Nazareth where He grew up. Perhaps His disciples were excited to return with Jesus to His native place, thinking that His own townspeople would be overjoyed to see Jesus again because of the many stories of His miracles and authoritative teaching. But the disciples were soon to have quite a surprise.
After arriving in Nazareth, Jesus entered the Synagogue to teach, and He taught with an authority and wisdom that confounded the locals. They said among themselves, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him?” They were confused because they knew Jesus. He was the local carpenter who worked for years with His father who was a carpenter. He was Mary’s son, and they knew His other relatives by name.
The primary difficulty Jesus’ townspeople had was their familiarity with Jesus. They knew Him. They knew where He lived. They knew Him as He grew up. They knew His family. They knew all about Him. Therefore, they wondered how Jesus could be anything special. How could He now teach with authority? How could He now do miracles? Thus, the townspeople were astonished, and they allowed that astonishment to turn into doubt, judgment and criticism.
The same temptation is something we all deal with more than we may realize. It is often easier to admire a stranger from afar than one whom we know well. When we hear of someone for the first time who is doing something admirable, it’s easy to join in that admiration. But when we hear good news about someone we know well, we can easily be tempted to jealousy or envy and to be skeptical and even critical. But the truth is that every saint has a family. And every family potentially has brothers and sisters, cousins and other relatives through whom God will do great things. This should not surprise us—it should inspire us! And we should rejoice when those close to us and with whom we are familiar are used powerfully by our good God.
Reflect, today, upon those whom you are familiar with in life, especially your own family. Examine whether or not you struggle with an ability to see beyond the surface and accept that God dwells within everyone. We must constantly seek to discover the presence of God all around us, especially in the lives of those whom we know very well.
My ever-present Lord, thank You for the countless ways in which You are present in the lives of those all around me. Give me the grace to see You and to love You in the lives of those closest to me. As I discover Your glorious presence in their lives, fill me with deep gratitude and help me to acknowledge Your love that comes forth from their lives. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 4th Ordinary
Time 2024
1. The Sin of David’s Military Census: David wanted to know how strong his military was and asked Joab to take a military census. The Bible tells us that God was testing David and permitted Satan to tempt David (1 Chronicles 21:1). The census was sinful because it showed that David was placing his trust in military strength rather than in God. David’s sin of counting his soldiers has many parallels with his sin with Bathsheba. For example, David uses Joab in both to carry out his command. In both, many innocent people are killed. In both, David expresses his penance by prostrating himself on the ground. In both, David repents and simply says: “I have sinned.” The pestilence triggered by David’s military census killed 70,000 men. The punishment fits the crime. David foolishly trusted in military might and the number of his soldiers. The pestilence reminded David how weak human beings are compared to the awesome power of God.
2. David and the Petition for Divine Mercy. When David sees the angel approaching Jerusalem, he recognizes that he, as the shepherd, has sinned and that the people, like sheep, should be spared. He was willing to offer himself on behalf of the people. Ultimately, David showed that he was a man who trusted in God’s mercy. He planned to offer sacrifice on the site designated by God. The threshing floor that David bought would one day become the site of the Temple of Solomon, where millions of lambs would be offered in sacrifice and where one day, outside the walls of Jerusalem, Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be sacrificed for our sins.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you brought the members of your earthly family into the family of the Church. I too am a member of that family. You have done wondrous things for me. I pledge to heed your Word and fulfill the Father’s will today.
Resolution: We are challenged daily to place our trust in God rather than earthly things. Each day we have an opportunity to renew our faith in God, grow in our faith, and entrust our cares to the Lord. We can be confident that God directs all human history and exercises his providential care over his creation. Despite my shortcomings, sins, and failures, God continues to offer me his merciful love. Where do I need to grow in my trust in God today?
Wednesday 4th
Week in Ordinary Time
King David decided to hold a census — a counting — of his people. What was so unusual? Don’t most countries today do the same? But it made God angry, and God delivered a stern rebuke and harsh punishment. Numbering the people was usually done in order to squeeze more taxes from them or to grab them for military service. David’s act was an indication that he didn't entirely trust God to be generous enough with him. Greed and a lust for control over others had taken hold of him.
We too fail in similar but not so spectacular ways. When we try to impose our will on others or on situations, often it is a sign that we are fearful and do not really trust God to give us what we need. What are the ways in which we ‘count the people’ or try to squeeze others for our own benefit? Sometimes it is difficult to be respected by family, friends, and those with whom we have grown up. They know us too well; they know our quirks and weaknesses and have seen us at our worst as well as our best. Those who do not know us so well can have a very different and much more positive view of us.
The people of Jesus’ hometown could not get past outward appearances and past memories of Jesus. They remained deaf to his message and blind to his deeds. Even he was not able to do much in the face of so much unbelief. Perhaps we do the same thing — we label people and do not look beyond the outward aspects of their personality. Lord, help me to see others in a new light.
REFLECTION
David was a shepherd boy chosen by God to be his servant. A servant appointed as a king over his people. He was the anointed shepherd king to lead God's people. David the king forgot his role due to pride. He forgot that he is a servant of God. He forgot that he is a shepherd of God. Even though he acknowledged his sin, he allowed the people to suffer. Only when he saw the mercy of God, did he realize who he really was – a shepherd appointed to protect the people rather than sacrifice them for his sins. How many of us are leaders?
Do we realize we are appointed by God to be shepherds? As leaders, how have we treated others? Did we sacrifice others for our mistakes?
David failed to realize that he was chosen by God to lead his people. In Nazareth, the people failed to realize that Jesus was chosen by God to lead them. Jesus `could work no miracle there' because of their `lack of faith'. Today, God has chosen priests to be our spiritual shepherds. They are anointed by God and appointed by the Church. Why do these priests not work many miracles in our midst? Is it our lack of faith in God's selection? Aren't our priests ministering to us in the person of Jesus? Do we recognize Jesus in them or do we see what we want to see their past background?
We human beings have always realized that there is a relationship between cause and effect: there is no effect without a cause, even though the cause may not be totally intelligible to us. The Bible was composed during ages when human beings still had a very pre-scientific view of the world and produced rather simplistic explanations of the cause of events. Taking the story of David’s census too literally will make God seem cruel in punishing the people merely because of David’s census. To understand a story like this we must get beyond the details to the teaching. Objectively speaking a mere administrative matter like holding a census would not be a grave sin. However, when Joab reported the number of men “fit for military service”, David seems to have realized that knowing the strength of his army was a matter of pride and a failure to put all his trust in God and so he immediately regretted his action. He should have thought of the consequences of his action.
In having David choose between three options, the writer wishes mostly to teach that God is most merciful and deals with us in a kindlier way than our fellow human beings do.
Father in Heaven, grant us the grace of prudence that we will always think of the consequences of our actions before we act.
After traveling throughout the countryside performing miracles, teaching the crowds and gaining many followers, Jesus returned to Nazareth where He grew up. Perhaps His disciples were excited to return with Jesus to His native place, thinking that His own townspeople would be overjoyed to see Jesus again because of the many stories of His miracles and authoritative teaching. But the disciples were soon to have quite a surprise.
After arriving in Nazareth, Jesus entered the Synagogue to teach, and He taught with an authority and wisdom that confounded the locals. They said among themselves, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him?” They were confused because they knew Jesus. He was the local carpenter who worked for years with His father who was a carpenter. He was Mary’s son, and they knew His other relatives by name.
The primary difficulty Jesus’ townspeople had was their familiarity with Jesus. They knew Him. They knew where He lived. They knew Him as He grew up. They knew His family. They knew all about Him. Therefore, they wondered how Jesus could be anything special. How could He now teach with authority? How could He now do miracles? Thus, the townspeople were astonished, and they allowed that astonishment to turn into doubt, judgment and criticism.
The same temptation is something we all deal with more than we may realize. It is often easier to admire a stranger from afar than one whom we know well. When we hear of someone for the first time who is doing something admirable, it’s easy to join in that admiration. But when we hear good news about someone we know well, we can easily be tempted to jealousy or envy and to be skeptical and even critical. But the truth is that every saint has a family. And every family potentially has brothers and sisters, cousins and other relatives through whom God will do great things. This should not surprise us—it should inspire us! And we should rejoice when those close to us and with whom we are familiar are used powerfully by our good God.
Reflect, today, upon those whom you are familiar with in life, especially your own family. Examine whether or not you struggle with an ability to see beyond the surface and accept that God dwells within everyone. We must constantly seek to discover the presence of God all around us, especially in the lives of those whom we know very well.
My ever-present Lord, thank You for the countless ways in which You are present in the lives of those all around me. Give me the grace to see You and to love You in the lives of those closest to me. As I discover Your glorious presence in their lives, fill me with deep gratitude and help me to acknowledge Your love that comes forth from their lives. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. The Sin of David’s Military Census: David wanted to know how strong his military was and asked Joab to take a military census. The Bible tells us that God was testing David and permitted Satan to tempt David (1 Chronicles 21:1). The census was sinful because it showed that David was placing his trust in military strength rather than in God. David’s sin of counting his soldiers has many parallels with his sin with Bathsheba. For example, David uses Joab in both to carry out his command. In both, many innocent people are killed. In both, David expresses his penance by prostrating himself on the ground. In both, David repents and simply says: “I have sinned.” The pestilence triggered by David’s military census killed 70,000 men. The punishment fits the crime. David foolishly trusted in military might and the number of his soldiers. The pestilence reminded David how weak human beings are compared to the awesome power of God.
2. David and the Petition for Divine Mercy. When David sees the angel approaching Jerusalem, he recognizes that he, as the shepherd, has sinned and that the people, like sheep, should be spared. He was willing to offer himself on behalf of the people. Ultimately, David showed that he was a man who trusted in God’s mercy. He planned to offer sacrifice on the site designated by God. The threshing floor that David bought would one day become the site of the Temple of Solomon, where millions of lambs would be offered in sacrifice and where one day, outside the walls of Jerusalem, Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be sacrificed for our sins.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you brought the members of your earthly family into the family of the Church. I too am a member of that family. You have done wondrous things for me. I pledge to heed your Word and fulfill the Father’s will today.
Resolution: We are challenged daily to place our trust in God rather than earthly things. Each day we have an opportunity to renew our faith in God, grow in our faith, and entrust our cares to the Lord. We can be confident that God directs all human history and exercises his providential care over his creation. Despite my shortcomings, sins, and failures, God continues to offer me his merciful love. Where do I need to grow in my trust in God today?
King David decided to hold a census — a counting — of his people. What was so unusual? Don’t most countries today do the same? But it made God angry, and God delivered a stern rebuke and harsh punishment. Numbering the people was usually done in order to squeeze more taxes from them or to grab them for military service. David’s act was an indication that he didn't entirely trust God to be generous enough with him. Greed and a lust for control over others had taken hold of him.
We too fail in similar but not so spectacular ways. When we try to impose our will on others or on situations, often it is a sign that we are fearful and do not really trust God to give us what we need. What are the ways in which we ‘count the people’ or try to squeeze others for our own benefit? Sometimes it is difficult to be respected by family, friends, and those with whom we have grown up. They know us too well; they know our quirks and weaknesses and have seen us at our worst as well as our best. Those who do not know us so well can have a very different and much more positive view of us.
The people of Jesus’ hometown could not get past outward appearances and past memories of Jesus. They remained deaf to his message and blind to his deeds. Even he was not able to do much in the face of so much unbelief. Perhaps we do the same thing — we label people and do not look beyond the outward aspects of their personality. Lord, help me to see others in a new light.
David was a shepherd boy chosen by God to be his servant. A servant appointed as a king over his people. He was the anointed shepherd king to lead God's people. David the king forgot his role due to pride. He forgot that he is a servant of God. He forgot that he is a shepherd of God. Even though he acknowledged his sin, he allowed the people to suffer. Only when he saw the mercy of God, did he realize who he really was – a shepherd appointed to protect the people rather than sacrifice them for his sins. How many of us are leaders?
Do we realize we are appointed by God to be shepherds? As leaders, how have we treated others? Did we sacrifice others for our mistakes?
David failed to realize that he was chosen by God to lead his people. In Nazareth, the people failed to realize that Jesus was chosen by God to lead them. Jesus `could work no miracle there' because of their `lack of faith'. Today, God has chosen priests to be our spiritual shepherds. They are anointed by God and appointed by the Church. Why do these priests not work many miracles in our midst? Is it our lack of faith in God's selection? Aren't our priests ministering to us in the person of Jesus? Do we recognize Jesus in them or do we see what we want to see their past background?
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