Suy Niệm tin mừng Lễ Thánh Phaolô trở lại.
Sự biến cải của Thánh Phaolô và những hậu quả của sự cải biến này là
một trong số những sự kiện quan trọng nhất ảnh hưởng đến lịch sử của Giáo Hội
thời sơ khai. Trong sách Công vụ Tông Đồ, Thánh Luca đã cẩn thận không để
những câu chuyện của Thánh Phao-lô lấn át những câu chuyện nói đến uy
quyền của thánh Phêrô và những công việc của cạ́c thánh tông đồ.
Chúng tôi cũng phải nên bắt chước như vậy. Bất kể những tranh chấp nảy sinh trong Giáo hội thời sơ khai giữa Thánh Phaolô và các Tông Đồ mà Chúa Giêsu đã chọn trong cuộc sống trần thế của Ngài (Mk 3,14), chúng ta không có một lý do gì để làm một sự lựa chọn giữa Thánh Phêrô và Phaolô. Chính thánh Phao-lô đã lên án những thái độ như vậy trong thư gởi tín hứu Corintô (1Cor 10-16). Cả hai đều là nhân vật chủ chốt trong công trình cứu độ của Thiên Chúa.
Sự trung thành của chúng ta đối với Chúa Jêsus trong Giáo hội mà Ngài đã thành lập trên nền đá tảng đó là Pherô, một Giáo hội, mặc dù có nhiều khuyết điểm nhưng luôn luôn có sự chăm sóc của Thiên Chúa Cha trên Trời, được các thánh và những người thầy thật vĩ đại phục vụ và chăm nom. Thái độ chia rẽ mà Thánh Phaolô lên án thường có thể nảy sinh giữa chúng ta. Chúng ta đừng bao giờ làm bất cứ điều gì gây ra sự chia rẽ trong cộng đoàn Giáo Hội.
Lạy Chúa, khi chúng ta cử hành sự mừng lễ Phao-lô trở lại, xin ban cho chúng ta được có những ân sủng để luôn luôn nhớ rằng chúng ta được kêu gọi đổi mới liên tục, trung tín, kiên trì và khoan dung trong Giáo Hội của chúng ta.
January 25: Conversion of St Paul the Apostle
The conversion of Saint Paul and its consequences were in many ways the most significant cluster of events affecting the early history of the Church. In his Acts of the Apostles, St Luke is careful not to let Paul’s story completely override his account of Peter's authority and apostolic work.
So too for us. Whatever disputes arose in the early Church between Paul and the Apostles whom Jesus chose during his earthly life “to be with him” (Mk 3:14), we have no reason whatsoever to choose between Peter and Paul. Paul himself condemns such attitudes (1Cor 10-16). Both are key figures in God’s work of salvation. Our loyalty is to Jesus in the Church which he founded on Peter, a Church which, in spite of many weaknesses, has always, in God’s providential care, been served by great saints and teachers. The divisive attitude which St Paul condemns can often arise amongst us. Let us never on any account be guilty of causing divisions in the church community.
Lord, as we celebrate the conversion of Paul, grant us the grace always to remember that we are called to constant conversion, fidelity and perseverance and tolerance in Your Church.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle, January 25
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17
Saint Paul (who in Hebrew was known as Saul of Tarsus) was a devout Jewish Pharisee who vigorously defended the law. After Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, the newfound Christian faith began to grow rapidly. As a result, Saul of Tarsus vigorously tried to end this new religion which he perceived as erroneous. He traveled about looking for followers of Jesus to arrest and imprison. Saul even gave his consent to the stoning of the deacon, Saint Stephen, the first martyr. However, on one of his journeys, Saul had a vision of the risen Christ Who spoke to him gently, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). It was in that encounter that Saul was left blinded for three days.
Though there are many fascinating aspects to the story of Saint Paul and his conversion, it is also inspiring to reflect upon the way in which God first converted him. Jesus was not harsh with Saul. He was not condemning. Instead, he saw the goodness and vigor of Saul and knew that he would respond if he were given the opportunity. Though Jesus used the powerful action of striking him blind, He did so because He saw so much potential for good within Saul.
This same truth applies to our lives. Each one of us has incredible potential for good, and God does see this. God is aware of all that He can do with us and is seeking to draw us into His mission of sharing the Gospel with those in need. The question to ponder is whether or not you have responded to the ways that God has spoken to you and invited you to serve Him with your life. Saul’s encounter with Jesus was powerful and transforming not only because he was blinded by this vision—it was powerful and transforming, first and foremost, because Saul wanted to serve God but was trying to do so in an erroneous way. And once that error was corrected, Saul responded in an immediate and complete way. As a result, Saul became one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the Church.
Reflect, today, upon the desire in the heart of Jesus to invite you into His mission. Though you may be unaware of the many ways God can use you, Jesus is fully aware. He sees all of your gifts and knows who He wants to draw to Himself through you. Say “Yes” to Him this day and do so with every fiber of your soul. Doing so will allow God to do great things through you.
Lord, I do love You and desire to be used by You in the way that You choose. Help me to convert my heart more fully to You so that I can be led by Your gentle and powerful hand. I accept whatever mission You give to me and pray that my life will give You true glory and further Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Satursday 2nd in Ordinary Time - Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul,
Apostle
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the figure of Paul and his conversion today, help me to understand his message more fully and imitate his sanctity more perfectly. Paul knew what Jesus willed for him and embraced this. I embrace your will today too. Make me a vessel of your mercy and Good News.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Purpose of the Acts of the Apostles: One of the reasons why Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles was to tell the history of the early Church. The work that Jesus began to do, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, is continued through his disciples, and this continued work is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The two towering figures in Acts are Peter and Paul. In Acts, Luke draws parallels between the life of Jesus and the lives of Peter and Paul. One reason for this was that Paul’s preaching and teaching was so controversial. Paul was inviting people to put off the yoke of the Law of Moses and embrace faith in Jesus as the one true path to salvation. There were rival missionaries who tried to discredit Paul and undermine his authority to preach this gospel. Propaganda from these missionaries had damaging effects on some of the Churches Paul established. And since Paul was not one of the original Twelve Apostles, Luke sought to show how Paul’s life and ministry paralleled that of Peter, and how Peter’s life paralleled that of Jesus (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1932).
2. Three Accounts of Paul’s Conversion: Luke could have narrated Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus once, but he chose to include three separate accounts to stress that Paul was not a missionary maverick, but a chosen messenger sent by Jesus (Acts 9:1-19; 22:3-16; 26:2-18). At first, Paul’s life had no place for Christ. He zealously persecuted the followers of Jesus and approved of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. But while heading to Damascus to round up Christians there, Paul was confronted by the Lord Jesus in a vision. “The vision blinded Paul physically, but his mind and spirit were enlightened: Jesus, whom he had opposed, revealed himself to Paul as the risen Lord of the universe, exalted at the right hand of God. Paul was soon baptized and regained his sight, and things would never be the same again” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1985).
3. The Gospel and Theology of Paul: Paul’s gospel is the message of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord over both heaven and earth as the promised Messiah from the line of David. Paul knew that Jesus was not just one more king from David’s line. He is God’s eternal Son, whom God sent into the world to enable both Jews and Gentiles to become his adopted children. Both Jew and Gentile, however, were under the reign of sin and needed to be saved. The good news that Paul announces is that God has revealed his plan to restore the world to communion and life with him. At the center of this plan is the Incarnation of God’s Son. Through his human nature, the Son of God has united God and mankind in himself. He is the obedient Adam, who remained sinless and who humbled himself before the divine plan even unto death. Jesus’ death is the ultimate act and demonstration of God’s love. The death of Christ, which expiates and atones for our sin, is the basis of the reconciliation between the Father and sinful humanity. God’s gift and grace of salvation and justification is received by us through faith and baptism. The old sign of circumcision, which brought people into God’s covenant family, was brought to fulfillment in the Sacrament of Baptism. The old Law of Moses is fulfilled in faith that works itself out in love. All who are united to Christ are reconciled to God and connected to one another as members of a single body. As members of Jesus’ body, we are by grace what Jesus is by nature, sons of God and heirs of the world to come (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1988-1989).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your servant Paul gave his entire life to spread the message of the New Covenant. Help me to do the same and spread the message of the Gospel in my family and my community.
Chúng tôi cũng phải nên bắt chước như vậy. Bất kể những tranh chấp nảy sinh trong Giáo hội thời sơ khai giữa Thánh Phaolô và các Tông Đồ mà Chúa Giêsu đã chọn trong cuộc sống trần thế của Ngài (Mk 3,14), chúng ta không có một lý do gì để làm một sự lựa chọn giữa Thánh Phêrô và Phaolô. Chính thánh Phao-lô đã lên án những thái độ như vậy trong thư gởi tín hứu Corintô (1Cor 10-16). Cả hai đều là nhân vật chủ chốt trong công trình cứu độ của Thiên Chúa.
Sự trung thành của chúng ta đối với Chúa Jêsus trong Giáo hội mà Ngài đã thành lập trên nền đá tảng đó là Pherô, một Giáo hội, mặc dù có nhiều khuyết điểm nhưng luôn luôn có sự chăm sóc của Thiên Chúa Cha trên Trời, được các thánh và những người thầy thật vĩ đại phục vụ và chăm nom. Thái độ chia rẽ mà Thánh Phaolô lên án thường có thể nảy sinh giữa chúng ta. Chúng ta đừng bao giờ làm bất cứ điều gì gây ra sự chia rẽ trong cộng đoàn Giáo Hội.
Lạy Chúa, khi chúng ta cử hành sự mừng lễ Phao-lô trở lại, xin ban cho chúng ta được có những ân sủng để luôn luôn nhớ rằng chúng ta được kêu gọi đổi mới liên tục, trung tín, kiên trì và khoan dung trong Giáo Hội của chúng ta.
January 25: Conversion of St Paul the Apostle
The conversion of Saint Paul and its consequences were in many ways the most significant cluster of events affecting the early history of the Church. In his Acts of the Apostles, St Luke is careful not to let Paul’s story completely override his account of Peter's authority and apostolic work.
So too for us. Whatever disputes arose in the early Church between Paul and the Apostles whom Jesus chose during his earthly life “to be with him” (Mk 3:14), we have no reason whatsoever to choose between Peter and Paul. Paul himself condemns such attitudes (1Cor 10-16). Both are key figures in God’s work of salvation. Our loyalty is to Jesus in the Church which he founded on Peter, a Church which, in spite of many weaknesses, has always, in God’s providential care, been served by great saints and teachers. The divisive attitude which St Paul condemns can often arise amongst us. Let us never on any account be guilty of causing divisions in the church community.
Lord, as we celebrate the conversion of Paul, grant us the grace always to remember that we are called to constant conversion, fidelity and perseverance and tolerance in Your Church.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle, January 25
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17
Saint Paul (who in Hebrew was known as Saul of Tarsus) was a devout Jewish Pharisee who vigorously defended the law. After Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, the newfound Christian faith began to grow rapidly. As a result, Saul of Tarsus vigorously tried to end this new religion which he perceived as erroneous. He traveled about looking for followers of Jesus to arrest and imprison. Saul even gave his consent to the stoning of the deacon, Saint Stephen, the first martyr. However, on one of his journeys, Saul had a vision of the risen Christ Who spoke to him gently, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). It was in that encounter that Saul was left blinded for three days.
Though there are many fascinating aspects to the story of Saint Paul and his conversion, it is also inspiring to reflect upon the way in which God first converted him. Jesus was not harsh with Saul. He was not condemning. Instead, he saw the goodness and vigor of Saul and knew that he would respond if he were given the opportunity. Though Jesus used the powerful action of striking him blind, He did so because He saw so much potential for good within Saul.
This same truth applies to our lives. Each one of us has incredible potential for good, and God does see this. God is aware of all that He can do with us and is seeking to draw us into His mission of sharing the Gospel with those in need. The question to ponder is whether or not you have responded to the ways that God has spoken to you and invited you to serve Him with your life. Saul’s encounter with Jesus was powerful and transforming not only because he was blinded by this vision—it was powerful and transforming, first and foremost, because Saul wanted to serve God but was trying to do so in an erroneous way. And once that error was corrected, Saul responded in an immediate and complete way. As a result, Saul became one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the Church.
Reflect, today, upon the desire in the heart of Jesus to invite you into His mission. Though you may be unaware of the many ways God can use you, Jesus is fully aware. He sees all of your gifts and knows who He wants to draw to Himself through you. Say “Yes” to Him this day and do so with every fiber of your soul. Doing so will allow God to do great things through you.
Lord, I do love You and desire to be used by You in the way that You choose. Help me to convert my heart more fully to You so that I can be led by Your gentle and powerful hand. I accept whatever mission You give to me and pray that my life will give You true glory and further Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the figure of Paul and his conversion today, help me to understand his message more fully and imitate his sanctity more perfectly. Paul knew what Jesus willed for him and embraced this. I embrace your will today too. Make me a vessel of your mercy and Good News.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Purpose of the Acts of the Apostles: One of the reasons why Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles was to tell the history of the early Church. The work that Jesus began to do, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, is continued through his disciples, and this continued work is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The two towering figures in Acts are Peter and Paul. In Acts, Luke draws parallels between the life of Jesus and the lives of Peter and Paul. One reason for this was that Paul’s preaching and teaching was so controversial. Paul was inviting people to put off the yoke of the Law of Moses and embrace faith in Jesus as the one true path to salvation. There were rival missionaries who tried to discredit Paul and undermine his authority to preach this gospel. Propaganda from these missionaries had damaging effects on some of the Churches Paul established. And since Paul was not one of the original Twelve Apostles, Luke sought to show how Paul’s life and ministry paralleled that of Peter, and how Peter’s life paralleled that of Jesus (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1932).
2. Three Accounts of Paul’s Conversion: Luke could have narrated Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus once, but he chose to include three separate accounts to stress that Paul was not a missionary maverick, but a chosen messenger sent by Jesus (Acts 9:1-19; 22:3-16; 26:2-18). At first, Paul’s life had no place for Christ. He zealously persecuted the followers of Jesus and approved of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. But while heading to Damascus to round up Christians there, Paul was confronted by the Lord Jesus in a vision. “The vision blinded Paul physically, but his mind and spirit were enlightened: Jesus, whom he had opposed, revealed himself to Paul as the risen Lord of the universe, exalted at the right hand of God. Paul was soon baptized and regained his sight, and things would never be the same again” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1985).
3. The Gospel and Theology of Paul: Paul’s gospel is the message of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord over both heaven and earth as the promised Messiah from the line of David. Paul knew that Jesus was not just one more king from David’s line. He is God’s eternal Son, whom God sent into the world to enable both Jews and Gentiles to become his adopted children. Both Jew and Gentile, however, were under the reign of sin and needed to be saved. The good news that Paul announces is that God has revealed his plan to restore the world to communion and life with him. At the center of this plan is the Incarnation of God’s Son. Through his human nature, the Son of God has united God and mankind in himself. He is the obedient Adam, who remained sinless and who humbled himself before the divine plan even unto death. Jesus’ death is the ultimate act and demonstration of God’s love. The death of Christ, which expiates and atones for our sin, is the basis of the reconciliation between the Father and sinful humanity. God’s gift and grace of salvation and justification is received by us through faith and baptism. The old sign of circumcision, which brought people into God’s covenant family, was brought to fulfillment in the Sacrament of Baptism. The old Law of Moses is fulfilled in faith that works itself out in love. All who are united to Christ are reconciled to God and connected to one another as members of a single body. As members of Jesus’ body, we are by grace what Jesus is by nature, sons of God and heirs of the world to come (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1988-1989).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your servant Paul gave his entire life to spread the message of the New Covenant. Help me to do the same and spread the message of the Gospel in my family and my community.
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