Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư, tuần 13 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư, tuần 13 Thường Niên
Do sự phát triển nhanh chóng và tiên tiến của khoa học ngày nay, hầu hết con người húng ta hình như không còn tin rằng có ma quỷ vẫn hằng hiện diện xung quanh chúng ta và đang cố gắng để cám dỗ chúng ta hoặc gây ảnh hưởng đến những quyết định hàng ngày  trong cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta. Tuy nhiên, trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta biết  ma quỷ  hiện hữu và chúng luôn tìm cách xâm nhập vào tâm hồn và ngay cả thân xác của chúng ta để hãm hãi chúng ta. Ma quỷ luôn cố gắng tìm cách để tách biệt chúng ta ra khỏi Thiên Chúa bằng cách cám dỗ và làm cho chúng ta mù quáng không nhìn nhận thấy sự thật, và ngăn cản chúng ta làm những gì đẹp lòng Thiên Chúa.
                                                                                                                                      Làm thế nào ma quỷ hay sự ác có thể thành công trong việc đạt được mục tiêu của chúng?  Ma quỷ sẽ tìm cách và làm bất cứ điều gì khiến mọi người chúng ta phải tách rời xa Thiên Chúa, ví dụ như cách chúng làm cho chúng ta tin rằng chúng ta là bậc thầy của chính mình, bằng cách tập trung và đạt sự chú tâm của chúng ta vào các giá trị bên ngoài.
                                                                                                                                      Một khi chúng ta đang sống trong đường lối của tình yêu, chân lý  và sự thật, Nhưng rồi chúng ta lại để cho bóng tối, hoang vu, tham vọng và những lời nói dối len lỏi vào trong tâm hồn của chúng ta vả chúng sẽ nắm lấy cơ hội đễ chia rẽ chúng ta và Thiên Chúa. Tuy nhiên, chúng ta không thể tuyệt vọng ngay cả những khi chúng ta đang ở trong một tình huống như vậy, bởi vì Thiên Chúa sẽ ban cho chúng ta những ân sủng và cứu chúng ta như Chúa Giêsu đã giải thoát người bị quỷ ám như trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay. Điều duy nhất là chúng ta cần phải làm là đặt niềm tin của chúng ta trong Chúa và trong tình yêu vô biên của Ngài, hãy tin tưởng và chắc chắn rằng Ngài sẽ không bao giờ bỏ rơi chúng ta.
 Lạy Chúa, xin giải thoát chúng con thoát khỏi mọi sự dữ của những điều gian ác, và sự cám dỗ của ma quỷ.
 
Wednesday 13th Week in Ordinary Time 2014
Due to the rapid and advanced development of science today, people hardly believe that the evil spirit is still around us trying to mislead us or influence our daily decisions and lives. Nonetheless, why does the Bible, which is called the book of love and truth, bother to tell us about the evil spirit? Because the evil spirit is trying to separate us from God, blind us from seeing the truth, stop us from doing what pleases God.
                                                                                                                                      How could evil succeed in achieving its goal? It would do anything that leads people away from God, for example by making one believe that he is the master of oneself, by directing one’s attention and focus on external values.
                                                                                                                                      Once we are away from love and truth, then darkness, desolation, and lies will take hold of us. However, we are not hopeless even if we are in such a situation, because God will empower us with grace and rescue us as Jesus liberated the man in today's gospel. The only thing we need to do is to put our trust in him and his infinite love, confident that he will never abandon us.  Lord, liberate us from the siege of evil.
 
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. Matthew 8:33–34
Why would “the whole town” beg Jesus to leave their district as a result of Jesus delivering two of their fellow townsmen from demons? This event took place on the northeast edge of the Sea of Galilee near a town of the Gadarenes who were not of Jewish background, which accounts for the fact that there was such a large herd of swine (the Jewish people did not eat pork). Two of the Gadarenes were possessed by demons, and Scripture reports that “They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.” And when Jesus delivers them from this awful plight, instead of rejoicing in gratitude, the townspeople begged Jesus to leave.
Saint Jerome says that it is possible that the people were actually acting in humility, in that they did not consider themselves worthy to be in the presence of someone as great as Jesus. Like Saint Peter who fell at the feet of Jesus and cried out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8), these townspeople may have been in such awe at what Jesus did for them that they did not see themselves as being worthy of His presence. However, other Church Fathers point out that it is more likely that these townspeople signify those who are stuck in their life of sin and do not want to come face-to-face with the Gospel or with the Person of Jesus. They prefer to close their ears to the truth and to remain in their life of ignorance and sin.
It’s also helpful to reflect upon the relationship between the townspeople and these two demoniacs. Ideally, when the townspeople saw these two men completely freed of the demons who tormented them, they would have rejoiced in a way similar to the way the father of the Prodigal Son rejoiced when his son returned to him. Sadly, in this case, there seems to be a tremendous lack of excitement by their fellow townsmen over the freedom these two demoniacs experienced. This shows a clear lack of love for these two men within the town. Perhaps many of the townspeople took a twisted form of pleasure in their mockery of these two men over the years, and they enjoyed telling stories about how crazy they were. Now, they were faced with these two men who were completely changed, and they may have found it difficult to speak well of them because of their pride.
This negative example set by these townspeople gives us an opportunity to reflect upon how we think about and treat those who have changed their ways and have turned from evil to good. Perhaps you have a family member who has sincerely tried to change. Or perhaps someone at work, a neighbor or some other acquaintance has gone from a life of sin to a life seeking virtue. The real question to ponder is whether you rejoice over the goodness of others, over their ongoing conversion and pursuit of holiness, or whether you struggle with truly expressing joy as you see people you know change for the good. It’s often very easy to criticize but much more difficult to rejoice in the holy transformation of another.
Reflect, today, upon those in your life, those close to you and those with whom you are mere acquaintances, who have been set free by our Lord in some way and have moved from a life of sin toward a life of virtue. How do you react to them? Are you able to sincerely rejoice in the goodness of others? Or do you find yourself struggling with jealousy, anger, envy and the like? As you do see the goodness of God at work in others, try to put on the mentality suggested by Saint Jerome above. Allow yourself to be in awe of God’s action in their lives. As you do, humble yourself before the transforming power of God, admitting that you are not worthy to witness His transforming power but rejoice in gratitude nonetheless.
My all-powerful Lord, You overcame the power of the evil one and cast demons from these two men who suffered through this oppression for many years. Give me the eyes I need to see You at work in our world and to joyfully bear witness to Your transforming action in the lives of others. May I always humble myself before Your saving actions and learn to express true gratitude for all that You do. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: 
My Jesus, I so often find myself divided, giving more importance to things of this world than to the salvation of others or even the good of my own soul. Open my eyes and heart to love holiness and the salvation of souls as much as you do.
Encountering Christ:
Sin Torments: “Two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.” Here were two people, tormented and in bondage, courtesy of the devil. Their condition was serious, if not fatal, but isn’t this our reality anytime we allow sin into our life? When a soul drifts from God it grows distant, cold to God, and can even become aggressive out of fear or hatred. In their exchange with Jesus, the souls in this passage did all of the talking out of extreme agitation. Jesus simply looked at them unafraid and in control. Jesus is always loving, patient, and attentive to our pleadings, and showers his mercy upon us when we desire to be freed from the bondage of sin.
Jesus Spoke: “Go then!” Jesus hadn’t spoken a word until now but the demoniacs knew he would expel them at some point because perfect good always prevails over evil. Jesus didn’t want them to be slaves to sin, nor does he want this for us. Jesus wants us to be free to truly follow him and love what is good, true, and beautiful as he created it. It’s our responsibility to surrender to God, confess, and make reparation whenever we realize we’ve given into sin. 
They Banished Jesus: “They begged him to leave their district.” People sometimes don’t want the good of others, especially if it requires sacrificing their own comfort or security. The people in this district weren’t happy for the demoniacs who had been cured. Rather they were afraid and concerned with the revenue they lost when Jesus cast the devils into their swine. We should beware of growing tepid in our faith and distant from Jesus lest we lose a sense of the seriousness of sin and its consequences. Conversion of a sinner is the ultimate good and always a cause for celebration.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to never grow accustomed to sin in my life but to seek you with a sincere heart so that no taint of sin may mark my soul. Make me a more passionate lover of the salvation of souls so that I may call people to freedom from sin by your grace.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will be open to talking to someone about the gift of salvation in Christ.