Trong bài tin mừng
hôm nay, chúng ta thấy các môn đệ đã tranh cãi với nhau về việc ai trong số họ
là người đứng đầu, là thủ lãnh…. Có phải đây là chuyện bình thường như cơm bửa
mà chúng ta đã thấy xãy ra hằng ngày ngay tại cơ quan làm việc, nhất là trong
các cơ quan chính trị, nhưng cũng thấy thường xuyên ngay trong công đồng giáo
xứ của chúng ta, các các tổ chức hội đoàn….? Con người chúng ta ai cũng có cái
tự cao, tự đai, ai cũng muốn cạnh tranh với nhau và muốn có chức vụ ở trên
người khác, mặc dù chính mình chẳng có một tý khả năng lãnh đạo nào cả. Đây
là một trong những yếu điểm của con người vì thế mà họ đã dẫn đến sự cãi
vã, chia rẽ, hận thù, ghen ghét, vv và còn đẻ ra nhiều thứ tội khác. Tuy
nhiên, hôm nay Chúa Giêsu đã dậy chúng ta rằng: nếu chúng ta muốn làm kẻ trên
ngưới khác muốn đưng đầu, muốn làm thủ lãnh, trước hết chúng ta phải phải làm
đầy tớ mọi người. Chắc không ai trong chúng ta muốn trở thành một người
đầy tớ? chắc chắn sẽ có nhiều người sẽ nói không! Nhưng đó CHÍNH là
con đường dẫn chúng ta đến với sự vĩ đại, Cái chìa khóa để giúp chúng ta vượt
qua cách sống “impossible” (nghĩa là không bao gìờ có thể) này là chúng ta phải
biết YÊU và có TÌNH YÊU THƯƠNG. Nếu chúng ta yêu một ai đó, chúng ta sẽ sẵn
sàng chấp nhận và sẵn sàng để phục vụ người mình yêu. Vì vậy, nếu chúng ta yêu
thương Chúa, yêu thương mọi người, thì chúng ta cũng có thể khiêm tốn trước mặt
họ. Để phục vụ những người đó thì cũng không có gì là khó khăn nếu chúng ta có
Chúa Thánh Thần của Chúa Kitô, Người mà đã là một ví dụ một người đầy tớ thật hoàn
hảo và cũng là một nhà người lãnh đạo tuyệt với. Vì thế Chúng ta hãy nên bắt
chước Chúa Giêsu biết mở rộng tấm lòng của chúng ta để chúng ta biết yêu thương
người khác và biết nhận ra rằng một khi chúng ta làm như vậy, là chúng ta đã
yêu chính Chúa Giêsu vậy.
Reflection:
In our adolescence and adulthood, we may have engaged in a wild and sinful lifestyle in varying degrees. Young people want to enjoy drinking, partying, sexual pleasures, etc. and sometimes commit many grave sins. Many of us realize our errors and reform our lives eventually, as we grow older and wiser. We understand that these sinful acts lead to death, while doing good to one's neighbor brings us happiness.
In the First Reading, St. James says that acts of love can atone for our many sins. Since we know we are sinful, we should not only concentrate on what things we should not do, but instead focus on doing good deeds and charitable acts towards people we know or live with and even people we do not personally know. Rest assured that every day God will give us opportunities to do acts of love towards God and neighbor.
In the gospel, the apostles were arguing about who among them was the greatest. Isn't this a common occurrence in the workplace, in politics, in our homes and even in church organizations? People are always competing with one another and outperforming one another. This is a human weakness which leads to quarrels, divisiveness, hatred, jealousy, etc. But Jesus told them that in order to be great, one must be the servant of all. Does anyone want to be a servant? Many will say no. But that is the path to greatness, says the Lord. The key to this seemingly impossible way of doing has to be LOVE. If we love someone, we are more than willing to serve him. So if we love people, we can be humble in front of them. To serve others is not hard if we have the Spirit of Christ who is the perfect example of a servant-leader. We should enlarge our hearts to love others and realize that when we do so, we are loving Jesus himself.
Tuesday 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Why would Jesus wish that no one know that He and His disciples were traveling through Galilee at that time? It appears the reason was that Jesus was intently focused upon teaching His disciples about His coming passion, death and resurrection. Today’s Gospel presents us with three moments in which Jesus taught His disciples privately, directly and clearly: first, while they were journeying; second, when they arrived in Capernaum and entered a house; and third, when Jesus called a child over. Though the content of what Jesus taught His disciples is significant, it is also helpful to first reflect upon the simple fact that Jesus spent time alone with the disciples teaching them.
In many ways, our Lord does the same with us. Jesus is constantly calling us to various forms of solitude with Him so that we can listen to all that He wants to teach us. This is difficult for many today. So many people are constantly bombarded with the various noises of the world, are constantly distracted by momentary and passing experiences, and find it difficult to go off with our Lord alone so that He can teach them the most important lessons of life.
As you consider your weekly activities, how much time do you devote to being alone with our Lord? How much time do you spend in prayer, in the reading of Scripture and in silent meditation away from other distractions? For many, this is a challenge.
It is also useful to consider the content of what Jesus taught His disciples in private. He spoke to them about His coming passion, death and resurrection. This was the central purpose of His life and was clearly something that Jesus wanted to communicate to His disciples. Notice also that Jesus spoke very directly and without any figure of speech as He explained this. Contrast that with the many parables He told to the crowds. It appears that when Jesus was able to be alone with those who had dedicated their lives to following Him in faith, Jesus was able to speak His saving message more clearly and directly.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that our Lord wants to draw you into silence and solitude from time to time. He wants to spend time with you alone. This is especially the case for those who have chosen to fully devote their lives to Him and His mission. If that is you, then seek out these moments of solitude in which our Lord can speak more clearly and directly to you so that your faith will deepen and your understanding and knowledge will grow by leaps and bounds.
Lord, You have so much to say, so much to teach and so much to reveal. As I choose to follow You and devote my entire life to You, I pray that You will continuously draw me into greater silence and solitude so that I can receive from You the deep, clear and direct messages that I need to hear, understand and believe. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024
Reflection:
In our adolescence and adulthood, we may have engaged in a wild and sinful lifestyle in varying degrees. Young people want to enjoy drinking, partying, sexual pleasures, etc. and sometimes commit many grave sins. Many of us realize our errors and reform our lives eventually, as we grow older and wiser. We understand that these sinful acts lead to death, while doing good to one's neighbor brings us happiness.
In the First Reading, St. James says that acts of love can atone for our many sins. Since we know we are sinful, we should not only concentrate on what things we should not do, but instead focus on doing good deeds and charitable acts towards people we know or live with and even people we do not personally know. Rest assured that every day God will give us opportunities to do acts of love towards God and neighbor.
In the gospel, the apostles were arguing about who among them was the greatest. Isn't this a common occurrence in the workplace, in politics, in our homes and even in church organizations? People are always competing with one another and outperforming one another. This is a human weakness which leads to quarrels, divisiveness, hatred, jealousy, etc. But Jesus told them that in order to be great, one must be the servant of all. Does anyone want to be a servant? Many will say no. But that is the path to greatness, says the Lord. The key to this seemingly impossible way of doing has to be LOVE. If we love someone, we are more than willing to serve him. So if we love people, we can be humble in front of them. To serve others is not hard if we have the Spirit of Christ who is the perfect example of a servant-leader. We should enlarge our hearts to love others and realize that when we do so, we are loving Jesus himself.
Tuesday 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Why would Jesus wish that no one know that He and His disciples were traveling through Galilee at that time? It appears the reason was that Jesus was intently focused upon teaching His disciples about His coming passion, death and resurrection. Today’s Gospel presents us with three moments in which Jesus taught His disciples privately, directly and clearly: first, while they were journeying; second, when they arrived in Capernaum and entered a house; and third, when Jesus called a child over. Though the content of what Jesus taught His disciples is significant, it is also helpful to first reflect upon the simple fact that Jesus spent time alone with the disciples teaching them.
In many ways, our Lord does the same with us. Jesus is constantly calling us to various forms of solitude with Him so that we can listen to all that He wants to teach us. This is difficult for many today. So many people are constantly bombarded with the various noises of the world, are constantly distracted by momentary and passing experiences, and find it difficult to go off with our Lord alone so that He can teach them the most important lessons of life.
As you consider your weekly activities, how much time do you devote to being alone with our Lord? How much time do you spend in prayer, in the reading of Scripture and in silent meditation away from other distractions? For many, this is a challenge.
It is also useful to consider the content of what Jesus taught His disciples in private. He spoke to them about His coming passion, death and resurrection. This was the central purpose of His life and was clearly something that Jesus wanted to communicate to His disciples. Notice also that Jesus spoke very directly and without any figure of speech as He explained this. Contrast that with the many parables He told to the crowds. It appears that when Jesus was able to be alone with those who had dedicated their lives to following Him in faith, Jesus was able to speak His saving message more clearly and directly.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that our Lord wants to draw you into silence and solitude from time to time. He wants to spend time with you alone. This is especially the case for those who have chosen to fully devote their lives to Him and His mission. If that is you, then seek out these moments of solitude in which our Lord can speak more clearly and directly to you so that your faith will deepen and your understanding and knowledge will grow by leaps and bounds.
Lord, You have so much to say, so much to teach and so much to reveal. As I choose to follow You and devote my entire life to You, I pray that You will continuously draw me into greater silence and solitude so that I can receive from You the deep, clear and direct messages that I need to hear, understand and believe. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024
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