Suy Niệm Tin Mừng
thứ Tư thuần thứ 10 Thường NIên
Trong khi các đoạn Tin Mửng hôm qua (Mt.5: 13-16) Chúa Giêsu mô tả nhiệm vụ và bổn phận của các môn đệ, Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chúng ta nghe Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta về sứ vụ của Chúa Giêsu liên quan đến các điều luật của Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của Ngài đến với Thế gian không phải là để tiêu diệt hoặc bãi bỏ lề luật của các tiên tri, nhưng Ngài đến để thực thi và làm những Luật này được nên trọn vẹn.
Chúa Giêsu có ý Khi Ngài nói Ngài đến để thực thi luật của Chúa?
Chúa Giêsu đã đến để tỏ lộ cho chúng ta thấy rõ được ý nghĩa thực sự của Cựu Ước và do đó Ngài đã đến để hoàn thành. Nhưng thực thi theo Thánh Mathêu có nghĩa là phải triệt để và bén nhậy với những nhu cầu luật pháp , để phù hợp với việc loan báoTin Mừng Nước Thiên Chúa. Bằng cách này, mà Chúa Giêsu đã mời gọi tất cả mọi người phải nhận ra là tinh thần của luật pháp và không việc thực thi luật phái ckhông chỉ đơn thuần là việc thực thi những điểu được viết thành luật. Điều này cũng được khẳng định cho chúng ta thấy trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay (v. 6) trong đó nói và nhấn mạnh rằng là thật sự không phải là chữ viết của giao ước mới là vấn đề, nhưng là thần khí.
Nhửng ”chữ viết”' ở đây đồng nghĩa với pháp luật như một tiêu chuẩn bề ngoài mà đật trước tất cả mọi người, bởi vì con người là bộ phận hay phạm phạm hay phá luật pháp, một tội phạm bị kết án và bị kết án tử hình. Mặt khác, Thần khí (Chúa Thánh Thần) là Đấng ban sự sống là "Thần khí” của Thiên Chúa hằng sống, người mà đã đến để hoàn tất những ứng nghiệm lời hứa trong giao ước mới. Thần khí viết các lề luật tương tư như thế ngay trên bia đá trong tâm hồn của chúng ta " (v. 3). Đấy là Chúa Giêsu, bộ luật mới của chúng ta. Vì thế, chúng ta là, là những các môn đệ của Chúa Kitô, chúng ta phải biết tuân theo, vâng lời luật của Chúa mỗi ngày bằng cách là biết sống và làm theo ý muốn của Thiên Chúa, và sống theo cách của Chúa trong sự công bình, chínhtrực.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp và ban chúng con có được ân sũng của Chúa ban mỗi ngày, để chúng con biết tuân giữ luật pháp của Thần Khí củă Chúa là luật biết yêu thương người.
Tìm kiếm ý muốn củă Thiên Chúa trong tất cả mọi việc con làm, Và Ngài sẽ chỉ cho con lối mà con sẽ di.. đi hãy nhận ra Người trong mọi nẻo đường con đi và Người sẽ san phẳng các lối con theo.
Reflection
SG
While the preceding passage (Mt.5:13-16) describes he mission to the disciples, today’s gospel talks about the mission of Jesus in relation to the law. His mission is not to destroy or abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfil them. What does Jesus mean by fulfillment of the law?
Jesus came to reveal the true meaning of the OT and thus bring it to fulfillment. But fulfillment, Matthew means radicalizing and sharpening the demands of the law in accordance with the proclamation of the Kingdom. By this he was inviting the people to realize the spirit of the law and not mere observance of the letter of the law. This is reiterated in the first reading (v. 6) wherein stated that it is not the letter of the new covenant that matters but the spirit.
The ‘letter’ here is synonymous with the law as an external standard before which all people, because they are law breakers, stood guilty and condemned to death. On the other hand, the spirit who gives life is the ‘spirit of the living God’s, who, in fulfillment of the promise of the new covenant, writes that the same law inwardly on tablets of human hearts’ (v. 3). This is Jesus — our new law. So, as disciples of Christ, we respond daily to the law by doing God’s will with righteousness and as a way of life.
“Lord, grant us the grace to observe the spirit of the law of love.”
Wednesday 10th Week in
Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” Matthew 5:17–18
The law and the prophets, as found in the Old Testament, consists of three types. First, there are the moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments, that are primarily based on the natural law of God. By “natural law,” we mean that our human reason can understand their truthfulness, such as with “Thou shall not kill, steal, etc.” Second, there were many liturgical precepts that were laid down and practiced as a preparation for and prefiguration of their ultimate liturgical fulfillment. The fulfillment is now found in the sacramental life of the Church. Third, there were various legal precepts that gave specific directions on daily living. These laws include instructions on food, relations with others, how to treat foreigners, cleansings, purifications of utensils, tithing, and much more.
In our Gospel today, Jesus essentially says two things. First, regarding the legal and liturgical precepts, He says that He came to “fulfill” them. Thus, Christians are no longer bound by these Old Testament legal and liturgical laws, in that we are now called to a much higher fulfillment of them all. But as for the moral laws, especially those found in the Ten Commandments, not a single precept taught is abolished. Instead, these Commandments are deepened, and the call to moral perfection is now much clearer. It is for this reason that Jesus goes on to say, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
It’s important to understand that those who lived before the time of Christ were not held to the same standard as we are today. That’s because they did not enjoy the gift of grace that was won by the Cross and is bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Today, we have so much more and, for that reason, are called to a much greater life of holiness. For example, we no longer celebrate the Passover as a mere remembrance of what God did by setting the Israelites free from slavery to the Egyptians. Today, we celebrate the New Passover through our participation in the Holy Eucharist, and our “remembrance” goes beyond the simple recalling of a memory of old. Our remembrance is one that enables us to actually participate in the saving sacrifice of Christ. We share in the actual event and are partakers of the grace won on the Cross each time we celebrate the Holy Mass. And as for the moral laws of the Old Testament, they become the bottom line of morality. The upper limit is now much higher. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We are to lay down our lives for others and take up our crosses daily to follow Jesus. We are called to the perfection of sacrificial love, and that is only possible by our sharing in the very life, death and resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the very high calling you have been given by our Lord. It’s not enough to simply do the bare minimum in our worship and moral life. Doing so may permit you to be “least in the Kingdom of heaven,” but God wants you to share in His greatness. He calls you to be among the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Do you understand your high calling? Do you have the perfection of holiness as your goal? Commit yourself to the full participation in the New Law of Christ and you will be eternally grateful that you did.
My most glorious Lord, You came to bring our lives to the fullness of grace and holiness. You call us to the heights of Heaven. Help me to see my high calling, dear Lord, and to work diligently to embrace all that You now command by Your New Law of grace and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 10th Week in
Ordinary Time 2024
1. Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal: In the First Reading, we hear about some events in the northern Kingdom of Israel. The wicked King Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel and fell into idolatry. In Samaria, he built an altar for the Canaanite god of storms and fertility, Baal, and the fertility goddess, Asherah (1 Kings 16:32-33). In response to the idolatry of King Ahaz and his wife Jezebel, the Lord, the God of Israel, called Elijah to be his prophet and told him of the drought and famine that would afflict the land of Israel. Elijah confronted King Ahaz and asked that all Israel be gathered at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah. On the mountain, Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal to a contest to prove that the Lord is God. This challenge recalls the confrontation between Moses and the Egyptian magicians in the Book of Exodus and the confrontation between the Lord God and the Dagon in the Book of Samuel. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal throughout the day as they were unable to call down fire from heaven upon the sacrifice they prepared. In the afternoon, Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord with twelve stones, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. To show the power of the Lord God, Elijah doused the sacrifice with water and filled the trench around the altar with water. In contrast to the complicated prayer and frenzied actions of the prophets of Baal, Elijah’s prayer to God is very simple. Elijah unites his prayer to the time of the afternoon offering in the Temple in Jerusalem. He recalls God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By doing this, Elijah’s prayer recognizes that the Lord God acts in history and cares for his people, who have entered into a covenant with him. Second, Elijah says that he has served the Lord faithfully and done everything according to his word. In this case, he did exactly as the Lord commanded during the famine and now confronts the King about the false prophets of Baal. Lastly, Elijah asks God to answer his prayer so that the people of Israel may know him as the true God and may turn their hearts back to him. He is not seeking his own glory, but only that of the Lord God. God answers his prayer and heavenly fire consumes the sacrifice and licks up the water. Before this great sign and manifestation of divine power, the people cry out: “The Lord is God; the Lord is God.”
Meditation:
Great are those who teach and obey the commandments
Why do people tend to view the "law of God" negatively rather than positively? Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
For the people of Israel the "law" could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch or Torah, which explain the commandments and ordinances of God for his people. The "law" also referred to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people. The Jews in Jesus' time also used it as a description of the oral or scribal law. Needless to say, the scribes added many more things to the law than God intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law because it placed burdens on people which God had not intended.
The essence of God's law
Jesus made it very clear that the essence of God's law - his commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled. God's law is true and righteous because it flows from his love, goodness, and holiness. It is a law of grace, love, and freedom for us. That is why God commands us to love him above all else and to follow in the way of his Son, the Lord Jesus who taught us how to love by laying down our lives for one another.
Reverence and respect
Jesus taught reverence for God’s law - reverence for God himself, reverence for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful desires master and enslave us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments teach us the way of love - love of God and love of neighbor. What is impossible to humans is possible to God who gives generously of his gifts and the Holy Spirit to those who put their faith in him. God gives us the grace, help, and strength to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think and judge as he judges, and to act as he acts with mercy, loving-kindness, and goodness. The Lord loves righteousness and hates wickedness. As his followers we must love his commandments and hate every form of sin and wrong-doing. Do you seek to understand the intention of his law and to grow in wisdom of his ways?
Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them the gift of the Holy Spirit who writes God's law of love and truth on our hearts. The Spirit teaches us God's truth and gives us wisdom and understanding of God's ways. The Spirit helps us in our weakness, strengthens us in temptation, and transforms us, day by day, into the likeness of Christ himself. There is great blessing and reward for those who obey God's commandments and who help others, especially the younger generations, to love, respect, and obey the Lord.
"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts, minds, and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words, and deeds may be be in accord with your Father’s law and wisdom. And thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."
Trong khi các đoạn Tin Mửng hôm qua (Mt.5: 13-16) Chúa Giêsu mô tả nhiệm vụ và bổn phận của các môn đệ, Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chúng ta nghe Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta về sứ vụ của Chúa Giêsu liên quan đến các điều luật của Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của Ngài đến với Thế gian không phải là để tiêu diệt hoặc bãi bỏ lề luật của các tiên tri, nhưng Ngài đến để thực thi và làm những Luật này được nên trọn vẹn.
Chúa Giêsu có ý Khi Ngài nói Ngài đến để thực thi luật của Chúa?
Chúa Giêsu đã đến để tỏ lộ cho chúng ta thấy rõ được ý nghĩa thực sự của Cựu Ước và do đó Ngài đã đến để hoàn thành. Nhưng thực thi theo Thánh Mathêu có nghĩa là phải triệt để và bén nhậy với những nhu cầu luật pháp , để phù hợp với việc loan báoTin Mừng Nước Thiên Chúa. Bằng cách này, mà Chúa Giêsu đã mời gọi tất cả mọi người phải nhận ra là tinh thần của luật pháp và không việc thực thi luật phái ckhông chỉ đơn thuần là việc thực thi những điểu được viết thành luật. Điều này cũng được khẳng định cho chúng ta thấy trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay (v. 6) trong đó nói và nhấn mạnh rằng là thật sự không phải là chữ viết của giao ước mới là vấn đề, nhưng là thần khí.
Nhửng ”chữ viết”' ở đây đồng nghĩa với pháp luật như một tiêu chuẩn bề ngoài mà đật trước tất cả mọi người, bởi vì con người là bộ phận hay phạm phạm hay phá luật pháp, một tội phạm bị kết án và bị kết án tử hình. Mặt khác, Thần khí (Chúa Thánh Thần) là Đấng ban sự sống là "Thần khí” của Thiên Chúa hằng sống, người mà đã đến để hoàn tất những ứng nghiệm lời hứa trong giao ước mới. Thần khí viết các lề luật tương tư như thế ngay trên bia đá trong tâm hồn của chúng ta " (v. 3). Đấy là Chúa Giêsu, bộ luật mới của chúng ta. Vì thế, chúng ta là, là những các môn đệ của Chúa Kitô, chúng ta phải biết tuân theo, vâng lời luật của Chúa mỗi ngày bằng cách là biết sống và làm theo ý muốn của Thiên Chúa, và sống theo cách của Chúa trong sự công bình, chínhtrực.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp và ban chúng con có được ân sũng của Chúa ban mỗi ngày, để chúng con biết tuân giữ luật pháp của Thần Khí củă Chúa là luật biết yêu thương người.
Tìm kiếm ý muốn củă Thiên Chúa trong tất cả mọi việc con làm, Và Ngài sẽ chỉ cho con lối mà con sẽ di.. đi hãy nhận ra Người trong mọi nẻo đường con đi và Người sẽ san phẳng các lối con theo.
While the preceding passage (Mt.5:13-16) describes he mission to the disciples, today’s gospel talks about the mission of Jesus in relation to the law. His mission is not to destroy or abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfil them. What does Jesus mean by fulfillment of the law?
Jesus came to reveal the true meaning of the OT and thus bring it to fulfillment. But fulfillment, Matthew means radicalizing and sharpening the demands of the law in accordance with the proclamation of the Kingdom. By this he was inviting the people to realize the spirit of the law and not mere observance of the letter of the law. This is reiterated in the first reading (v. 6) wherein stated that it is not the letter of the new covenant that matters but the spirit.
The ‘letter’ here is synonymous with the law as an external standard before which all people, because they are law breakers, stood guilty and condemned to death. On the other hand, the spirit who gives life is the ‘spirit of the living God’s, who, in fulfillment of the promise of the new covenant, writes that the same law inwardly on tablets of human hearts’ (v. 3). This is Jesus — our new law. So, as disciples of Christ, we respond daily to the law by doing God’s will with righteousness and as a way of life.
“Lord, grant us the grace to observe the spirit of the law of love.”
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” Matthew 5:17–18
The law and the prophets, as found in the Old Testament, consists of three types. First, there are the moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments, that are primarily based on the natural law of God. By “natural law,” we mean that our human reason can understand their truthfulness, such as with “Thou shall not kill, steal, etc.” Second, there were many liturgical precepts that were laid down and practiced as a preparation for and prefiguration of their ultimate liturgical fulfillment. The fulfillment is now found in the sacramental life of the Church. Third, there were various legal precepts that gave specific directions on daily living. These laws include instructions on food, relations with others, how to treat foreigners, cleansings, purifications of utensils, tithing, and much more.
In our Gospel today, Jesus essentially says two things. First, regarding the legal and liturgical precepts, He says that He came to “fulfill” them. Thus, Christians are no longer bound by these Old Testament legal and liturgical laws, in that we are now called to a much higher fulfillment of them all. But as for the moral laws, especially those found in the Ten Commandments, not a single precept taught is abolished. Instead, these Commandments are deepened, and the call to moral perfection is now much clearer. It is for this reason that Jesus goes on to say, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
It’s important to understand that those who lived before the time of Christ were not held to the same standard as we are today. That’s because they did not enjoy the gift of grace that was won by the Cross and is bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Today, we have so much more and, for that reason, are called to a much greater life of holiness. For example, we no longer celebrate the Passover as a mere remembrance of what God did by setting the Israelites free from slavery to the Egyptians. Today, we celebrate the New Passover through our participation in the Holy Eucharist, and our “remembrance” goes beyond the simple recalling of a memory of old. Our remembrance is one that enables us to actually participate in the saving sacrifice of Christ. We share in the actual event and are partakers of the grace won on the Cross each time we celebrate the Holy Mass. And as for the moral laws of the Old Testament, they become the bottom line of morality. The upper limit is now much higher. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We are to lay down our lives for others and take up our crosses daily to follow Jesus. We are called to the perfection of sacrificial love, and that is only possible by our sharing in the very life, death and resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the very high calling you have been given by our Lord. It’s not enough to simply do the bare minimum in our worship and moral life. Doing so may permit you to be “least in the Kingdom of heaven,” but God wants you to share in His greatness. He calls you to be among the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Do you understand your high calling? Do you have the perfection of holiness as your goal? Commit yourself to the full participation in the New Law of Christ and you will be eternally grateful that you did.
My most glorious Lord, You came to bring our lives to the fullness of grace and holiness. You call us to the heights of Heaven. Help me to see my high calling, dear Lord, and to work diligently to embrace all that You now command by Your New Law of grace and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal: In the First Reading, we hear about some events in the northern Kingdom of Israel. The wicked King Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel and fell into idolatry. In Samaria, he built an altar for the Canaanite god of storms and fertility, Baal, and the fertility goddess, Asherah (1 Kings 16:32-33). In response to the idolatry of King Ahaz and his wife Jezebel, the Lord, the God of Israel, called Elijah to be his prophet and told him of the drought and famine that would afflict the land of Israel. Elijah confronted King Ahaz and asked that all Israel be gathered at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah. On the mountain, Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal to a contest to prove that the Lord is God. This challenge recalls the confrontation between Moses and the Egyptian magicians in the Book of Exodus and the confrontation between the Lord God and the Dagon in the Book of Samuel. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal throughout the day as they were unable to call down fire from heaven upon the sacrifice they prepared. In the afternoon, Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord with twelve stones, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. To show the power of the Lord God, Elijah doused the sacrifice with water and filled the trench around the altar with water. In contrast to the complicated prayer and frenzied actions of the prophets of Baal, Elijah’s prayer to God is very simple. Elijah unites his prayer to the time of the afternoon offering in the Temple in Jerusalem. He recalls God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By doing this, Elijah’s prayer recognizes that the Lord God acts in history and cares for his people, who have entered into a covenant with him. Second, Elijah says that he has served the Lord faithfully and done everything according to his word. In this case, he did exactly as the Lord commanded during the famine and now confronts the King about the false prophets of Baal. Lastly, Elijah asks God to answer his prayer so that the people of Israel may know him as the true God and may turn their hearts back to him. He is not seeking his own glory, but only that of the Lord God. God answers his prayer and heavenly fire consumes the sacrifice and licks up the water. Before this great sign and manifestation of divine power, the people cry out: “The Lord is God; the Lord is God.”
Why do people tend to view the "law of God" negatively rather than positively? Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
For the people of Israel the "law" could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch or Torah, which explain the commandments and ordinances of God for his people. The "law" also referred to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people. The Jews in Jesus' time also used it as a description of the oral or scribal law. Needless to say, the scribes added many more things to the law than God intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law because it placed burdens on people which God had not intended.
The essence of God's law
Jesus made it very clear that the essence of God's law - his commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled. God's law is true and righteous because it flows from his love, goodness, and holiness. It is a law of grace, love, and freedom for us. That is why God commands us to love him above all else and to follow in the way of his Son, the Lord Jesus who taught us how to love by laying down our lives for one another.
Reverence and respect
Jesus taught reverence for God’s law - reverence for God himself, reverence for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful desires master and enslave us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments teach us the way of love - love of God and love of neighbor. What is impossible to humans is possible to God who gives generously of his gifts and the Holy Spirit to those who put their faith in him. God gives us the grace, help, and strength to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think and judge as he judges, and to act as he acts with mercy, loving-kindness, and goodness. The Lord loves righteousness and hates wickedness. As his followers we must love his commandments and hate every form of sin and wrong-doing. Do you seek to understand the intention of his law and to grow in wisdom of his ways?
Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them the gift of the Holy Spirit who writes God's law of love and truth on our hearts. The Spirit teaches us God's truth and gives us wisdom and understanding of God's ways. The Spirit helps us in our weakness, strengthens us in temptation, and transforms us, day by day, into the likeness of Christ himself. There is great blessing and reward for those who obey God's commandments and who help others, especially the younger generations, to love, respect, and obey the Lord.
"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts, minds, and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words, and deeds may be be in accord with your Father’s law and wisdom. And thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."
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