Bài Tin Mừng hôm
nay cho chúng ta thấy một người bị quỉ
ám sống trong
những ngôi mộ rất hung dữ có có sức mạnh vô thường chân tay có thể bẻ gẫy cã những xích xiềng. Thánh
Phaolô cũng có nói về người bị quỷ ám với nghĩa khác. Đó là
người bị hoàn toàn cai trị
bởi những ham muốn của cải riêng mình
về thể chất và ý tưởng, những người chỉ biết và thích sống một cuộc sống
gợi cảm, "họ đầy bất
chính, xấu xa, tham lam, độc ác đủ thứ; nào là ganh tị, giết người, cãi cọ, mưu
mô, thâm hiểm; nào là nói hành nói xấu, vu oan giá họa. Họ thù ghét Thiên Chúa,
ngạo ngược, kiêu căng, khoác lác, giỏi làm điều ác, không vâng lời cha mẹ," (Rom. 1: 29-30).
Chúa Kitô cho chúng
ta biết rằng người bị quỷ ám chính là bản tính tự nhiên trong tâm hồn của chúng ta nếu chúng ta "Vì
từ bên trong lòng người mà phát xuất ra những ý định xấu như: tà dâm, trộm cắp,
giết người, ngoại tình, tham lam, độc ác, xảo trá, trác táng, ganh tỵ, phỉ
báng, kiêu ngạo, ngông cuồng.
Tất cả những điều xấu xa đó, đều từ bên trong xuất ra, và làm cho con người ra
ô uế." (Mc 7: 21-23).
Đây là tình huống đáng thương
của sự
yếu đuối con người chúng ta và cũng vì tình yêu bao la
của Thiên Chúa đối với chúng ta mà Ngài đã sai Con Một của Ngài, là Chúa Giêsu Kitô đến để cứu chúng ta và cho chúng ta
có khả năng mới để biến đổi cuộc sống của chúng tôi. Chúng ta có thể được mặc với Chúa Thánh Thần và những ý thức hệ của
chúng ta được
hướng về Thiên Chúa và tha nhân.
REFLECTION
Monday 4th Week in Ordinary Time
The gospel presents a demoniac who
lived in the tomb and could not be shackled.
St. Paul said to us that the demonic is the person who is ruled
entirely by his own physical desires and ideas, who only lives sensual lives, as the letter to the Roman said that "men
steeped in all sorts of depravity, rottenness, greed and malice, and addicted
to envy, murder, wrangling, treachery and spite, without love, pity and
honor" (Rom. 1: 29-30). Jesus himself tells us that this is
the situation within our heart "evil intentions emerge: fornication,
theft, murder, adultery, avarice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride,
folly. This is what makes man unclean" (Mk 7: 21-23). This is our pitiable
situation that is why out of immense love of God for us, He sent His only Son,
Christ to save us and give us the new possibility to transform our lives. We
can be clothed with the Holy Spirit and our senses directed towards God and our
neighbor.
Monday 4th Week in Ordinary 2024
“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean
spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He
replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” Mark 5:7–9
To most people, such an encounter would be terrifying. This man
whose words are recorded above was possessed by a multitude of demons. He lived
on the hillsides among various caves by the sea, and no one wanted to go near
him. He was a violent man, crying out day and night, and all the townspeople
were fearful of him. But when this man saw Jesus at a distance, something
amazing happened. Instead of Jesus being terrified of the man, the multitude of
demons possessing the man became terrified of Jesus. Jesus then commanded the
many demons to leave the man and enter a herd of about two thousand swine
instead. The swine immediately ran down the hill into the sea and drowned. The
possessed man returned to normal, becoming clothed and in his right mind. All
who saw him were amazed.
Clearly, this brief summary of the story does not adequately
explain the terror, trauma, confusion, suffering, etc., that this man endured
during the years of his diabolical possession. And it does not adequately
explain the grave suffering of this man’s family and friends, as well as the
disorder caused to the local townspeople as a result of his possession. Thus,
to better understand this story, it is useful to contrast the before-and-after
experience of all involved. It was very difficult for everyone to comprehend
how this man could go from being possessed and out of his mind to calm and
rational. For that reason, Jesus told the man to “Go home to your family and
announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Imagine the
mix of joy, confusion and disbelief that his family would have
experienced.
If Jesus could transform the life of this man who was completely
possessed by a Legion of demons, then no one is ever without hope. Too often,
especially within our families and among old friends, there are those whom we
have written off as irredeemable. There are those who have gone so far astray
that they seem hopeless. But one thing this story tells us is that hope is
never lost for anyone—not even those completely possessed by a multitude of
demons.
Reflect, today, upon anyone in your life whom you have written
off. Perhaps they have hurt you over and over. Or perhaps they have chosen a
life of grave sin. Look at that person in the light of this Gospel and know
that there is always hope. Be open to God acting through you in a profound and
powerful way so that even the most seemingly irredeemable person you know will
be given hope through you.
My most powerful Lord, I offer to You, this day, the person whom I
call to mind who is most in need of Your redeeming grace. May I never lose hope
in Your ability to transform their life, to forgive their sins and to bring
them back to You. Use me, dear Lord, to be an instrument of Your mercy, so that
they will come to know You and experience the freedom You so deeply desire that
they receive. Jesus, I trust in You.
Monday 4th Week in Ordinary 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God,
you are all-powerful and know all things. You sent your Son into the world,
knowing that he would conquer evil and open the way to salvation. You sent your
Spirit into the world, knowing that he would sanctify the hearts of believers
and bring all things to their consummation and good end.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Divine Authority over
Demons: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus has begun to establish his twelve
apostles as the new spiritual leaders for the Kingdom of God and the new family
of God. He is demonstrating his divine authority to his apostles and will soon
confer a share in this same authority upon them (Mark 6:7-13). On Saturday, we
heard how Jesus calmed the storm on the sea. Today, we read about Jesus’
authority over demons in Gentile territory. “Just as the stilling of the storm
showed his power over the forces of destruction in nature, so the exorcism of
the demoniac shows his power over the forces of destruction within the human
person” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 98). The demon tried to gain
control over Jesus by invoking his name and title, “Jesus, Son of the Most High
God.” But Jesus demands the demon’s name, “Legion,” and easily exorcises the
demon or demons from the possessed man. Down through the ages, exorcists have
continued this practice of asking the demon’s name and driving out the demon
from the possessed in the name of Jesus.
2. Go Home to your Family: The
demons asked to be allowed to enter the pigs grazing on the hillside in Gentile
territory. When the demons left the man and entered the swine, they were unable
to control their new hosts and met a watery demise. In fact, the treacherous
waters of the sea, in the Old Testament, often symbolized the abode of evil.
The man who was possessed allegorically represents the Gentile nations saved by
Christ. “As pagans, they once lived apart from God amid the tombs of dead
works, while their sins were performed in service to demons. Through Christ,
the pagans are at last cleansed and freed from Satan’s domination” (Ignatius
Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1796). The man, through his
encounter with the merciful Christ, is brought from old life among the dead to
new life among his family. The same happens to us in and through Baptism.
of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph
(Hebrews 11:8-22), and the faith of Moses (Hebrews 11:23-31), the author speaks
about the time of the judges and King David as well as the stories in the Books
of the Maccabees. He mentions those who were victorious and subdued kingdoms:
“Gideon, who triumphed over the Midianites thanks to his obedience and faith on
God (see Judg 7:2,4,7); Barak, who triumphed over the king of Hazor (Judg
4:14-16); Jephthah, conqueror of the Ammonites (Judg 11:29-33); and David, conqueror
of the Philistines (2 Sam 5:17-25)” (Vanhoye, The Letter to the
Hebrews: A New Commentary, 191). The list of the triumphs of faith reaches
its peak not in military victories but in the victories obtained over death
itself by women who voluntarily faced affliction. The author concludes,
however, that these Old Testament heroes of faith did not obtain the promise of
eternal inheritance and life before the victory of Jesus Christ. “It is Christ
who, through his paschal mystery, made entry into the eternal inheritance
possible. He it is who has “inaugurated the way” (Hebrews 10:20). The situation
of Christians is therefore better than the former situation of the believers in
Old Testament times. They were not able to precede the Christians. They had to
wait to be “made perfect” with them through the unique oblation of Christ
(Hebrews 10:14)” (Vanhoye, The Letter to the Hebrews: A New Commentary,
194).
Conversing with Christ: Lord
Jesus, make my faith in you rock solid, unwavering, and strong. May it weather
the storms of life and resist the evil temptations of this world. May it
flourish in good works of justice, charity, and mercy that merit eternal life.
Monday 4th Week in Ordinary 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord, you are able to make all things
clean and new. Purify my heart today so that I may serve you as my king and
Lord. I accept today the trials you send and the temptations you permit. Help
me to be victorious in my battle.
Encountering the Word of God
1. David is Humbled: David’s
inaction and lack of paternal discipline concerning his son, Absalom, opened up
the way for Absalom to lead a rebellion against his father David. When David
heard about the rebellion, he ordered a retreat to the Mount of Olives. As he
approached the town of Bahurim – a town of Benjamin, located northeast of
Jerusalem – he was cursed by Shimei, a member of Saul’s house. Instead of
following the suggestion of Abishai and doing away with Shimei, David chose to
accept this trial and the discipline as coming from the Lord. David
has truly been humbled. While the first part of the Second Book of Samuel is
about David’s triumphs, the chapters that follow his sin with Bathsheba and his
murder of Uriah, present David suffering the effects of his sins. He is a man
humbled in his old age and now experiences forced exile from Jerusalem.
2. Jesus Amid Uncleanliness: In
today’s Gospel, Mark narrates stories about Jesus’ power and authority over
nature, disease, demons, and death. Everything in today’s story speaks about
uncleanliness: Jesus and his disciples are in unclean Gentile territory,
walking among unclean tombs, with unclean animals and a man possessed with an
unclean spirit nearby. All of this uncleanliness does not render Jesus unclean
and Jesus is in full command of the situation. When the unclean spirit tries to
control Jesus by adjuring him in the name of God, this action is futile. When
Jesus begins the exorcism, he extracts the demon’s name. In doing this, Jesus
manifests his power and authority over the demons and casts them into a herd of
swine. This leads to their demise as the swine will rush down the hill into the
Sea of Galilee.
3. True Humility: David
manifests true humility and patient forbearance in the First Reading. Humility
is an important virtue in the Christian life. It can be identified with
“poverty of spirit” and is one of the foundations of the spiritual life. Too
little humility leads to pride, arrogance, and vanity. Too much humility leads
to self-degradation and an improper view of ourselves. True humility concerns
the truth about ourselves as redeemed creatures of God and as Christian
servants of our brothers and sisters.
Conversing with Christ: Lord
Jesus, I love you and I trust in you. You are my shield and my glory. I call
out to you and you answer me. You sustain me and I fear no evil with you at my
side.
Resolution: To be humble,
according to Saint Teresa of Avila, is to walk in truth. What is the truth
about myself? How do I see myself? As I truly am or have a built up a false
view of myself? Do I know my strengths and weaknesses? Do I know how much God
sustains me and cares for me? How can I go in true self-knowledge today?
Monday 4th Week in Ordinary Time (B) : 1st
February 2021
Faith is the most powerful force in the
world. It can ‘move mountains’ and give people incredible courage and
endurance. Without faith, which is closely related to hope, we wither and die
spiritually and psychologically. But faith is not belief in doctrines and
dogmas. One can be correct in theology but totally lacking in real faith. Faith
is absolute trust in the power, fidelity, love, and guidance of God — even when
everything appears otherwise. With God, all things are possible, but our faith
is essential in making things happen.
The worst part of severe illness or
disability is often the loss of human community. The demon-possessed man whom
Jesus encountered lived among the tombs, denied human companionship. Jesus
insisted on the demon’s name, for to know someone’s name was to exercise power
over them. They were many, but that did not stop Jesus — he commanded them to
leave the man.
The man was restored to his normal state
and could rejoin the human community. Loneliness and isolation are the plagues
of our age, but there is much that we can do about it. One of the kindest and
most healing things we can do for someone is to welcome them into community and
companionship.
Lord, help me to reach out to those that
are lonely and isolated.
Monday 4th
Week in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord, please allow me to draw from this
powerful story some inspiration for the day ahead. You are powerful and mighty,
you conquer evil, you love me. Help me to trust in you.
Encountering Christ:
1. God Is Stronger: The humanity of the possessed man had
been conquered by evil, which tortured him “night and day” and roamed the tombs
unrestrained. But that evil prostrated itself before Our Lord and begged. We
can draw great consolation from the image of Legion kneeling and pleading
before the Lord. The Catechism teaches, “The power of Satan is … not infinite.
He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still
a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God’s reign. Although Satan
may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and
although his action may cause grave injuries—of a spiritual nature and,
indirectly, even of a physical nature—to each man and to society, the action is
permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human
and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit
diabolical activity, but “we know that in everything God works for good with
those who love him (Romans 8:28).” (CCC 395.)
2. Jesus Came to Gentiles: The presence of swine indicated that
Jesus had come to gentile territory. He exercised his ministry in the same way
among the Gentiles as he had among the Jews—exorcising devils and restoring
humanity. Not until St. Paul later preached and traveled did the early Church
acknowledge that the Gospel message was for everyone, but here Jesus showed by
his actions that he made no distinction among peoples. He is Lord for all! As
his followers, we are called to see everyone as a brother or sister–Greek, Jew,
American–everyone.
3. These Gentiles Failed: Wherever Jesus went, the individuals he
encountered had to decide: “Is he the Son of God, a prophet, or an imposter?”
The Gentiles from the Gerasenes also had to decide. Was this man who cast
devils into a huge herd of swine who Legion said he was—or not? As these people
approached Jesus, they saw the possessed man fully sane and restored. They
witnessed the swine dead in the sea, yet they did not prostrate themselves
before Jesus. They begged Jesus to leave. They failed to realize that “the
kingdom of heaven” was at hand. Were they blinded by fear or angry at their
financial losses? Either way, they rejected the graces God had in store for
them, and instead chose to banish the Son of God from their midst.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, with hindsight it’s easy to call
the Gentiles from the Gerasenes foolish for rejecting you. They failed to
perceive your power over evil, your compassion for the sinner/possessed, your
benevolence in coming to their territory—and so much more. I am just as blind,
deaf, and dumb every time I choose to sin. Please, Lord, “lead me not into
temptation and deliver me from evil.”
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will say a decade of the
rosary asking for forgiveness for my sins and the sins of the whole world. “For
the sake of your sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world”
(Divine Mercy Chaplet).
Mon 3rd Feb 2014 4th
Week in Ordinary Time
David’s son Absalom rose in rebellion
and David had to flee Jerusalem. Everything had fallen apart; David was a
fugitive. All of this was the aftermath of David's adulterous relationship with
Bathsheba and his murder of her husband. If that were not enough, a man
followed David along the road hurling insults and curses at him.
We
may have had our own world collapse on us - perhaps everything seemed
hopeless but we can follow David’s
example. He put himself totally into God's hands and accepted what came his
way. In the end, David overcome all of his difficulties and returned to the
throne of Israel. The path to success and happiness often passes through the
valleys of struggle, pain, and desolation. Keep courage!
The
man possessed by the legion of demons had lost his place in human society and
community. His sense of self had been snuffed out. He lived in the tombs — the
unclean realm of the dead — shunned by others.
He
was a portrait of loneliness and desperation. Jesus did not shrink from the
impurity of the tombs or the negative energy of the demons. He saw only a man
in need. By naming the demons, he began to exert power over them. When they had
been expelled, the man was restored to human community and dignity. We can do
the same by naming our fears and darkness. It is never too late; no one is ever
too far gone. God will reach out to us in our desperation. Evil is only
overcome by good and by compassion.
Lord, help me
to reach out with compassion to those in need.
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