Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa
Nhật Thứ 13 Thường Niên
Để thực sự trở thành một môn đệ, một tín hữu của Chúa Giêsu có ý nghĩa gì? Bài phúc âm hôm nay cho thấy một số điều kiện đòi hỏi mà chúng ta cần phải có để được Chúa Giêsu mời gọi để làm người đối tác trong sứ mệnh cứu độ của Ngài.
Một điều kiện cần có lòng Tin để có thể hoàn toàn sự tin tưởng vào sự quan phòng của Thiên Chúa. Trong trường hợp một người nói là muốn trở thành môn đệ của Chúa. Chúa Giêsu đã nói với ông ta rằng muốn theo Chúa thỉ từ bỏ tất cả, ngay cả những điều tối thiểu cần thiết cho cuộc sống cững chẳng cần. Như việc kiếm nơi trú ẩn hang ngày cũng chẳng cần thết “ on Người không có chỗ tựai đầu. “
Điều kiện thứ hai thậm chí còn khó khăn hơn khi Chúa Giêsu nói có vẻ thô lỗ với một người có trách nhiệm chon cất người Cha. Phản ứng của Chúa Giêsu với người đàn ông này hầu như khá xúc phạm và không được nhạy cảm. Làm thế nào mà kẻ chết có thể chôn kẻ chết? Tuy nhiên, qua sự suy ngẫm thêm chúng ta bằng cách nào đó có thể thấy được cái lý do tại sao Chúa Giêsu đã nhận xét như vậy. Chúa Giêsu khuyến cáo là những xu hướng của chúng ta là tìm cách để hợp lý hóa và trì hoãn các quyết định của chúng ta như là một cách để biện minh cho hành động của chúng ta. Khi làm như vậy, chúng ta bỏ lỡ thông điệp của Chúa Giêsu, Đấng muốn thể hiện sự khẩn cấp trong việc thực hiện sứ mệnh cứu độ. Điều quan trọng là bây giờ. Có nhiều việc phải làm để công bố Tin Mừng của tình yêu và lòng thương xót của Thiên Chúa. Mặc dù chúng ta tôn trọng người chết, thời gian trần thế của họ là hơn và do đó, những gì trở nên quan trọng và cấp bách là những gì thúc đẩy cuộc sống và sự hiện diện của Chúa Giêsu ở giữa chúng ta.
Cuối cùng, Chúa Giêsu muốn các môn đệ phải tập trung hoàn toàn vào nhiệm vụ. Chúng ta biết rất rõ là chúng ta có thể bị phân tâm rất nhiều trong những mối quan tâm và sự lo lắng trong cuộc sống. Tuy nhiên, khi những gì đang bị đe dọa trong nhiệm vụ liên quan đến sự cứu rỗi của chúng ta và đó chính là Đức Giêsu, Đấng kêu gọi chúng ta, mọi thứ khác chỉ là thứ yếu.
Tất cả những điều kiện đã nói ở trên mô tả những thách thức mà Chúa Giêsu muốn gởi tới cho những ai muốn được theo Ngài. Những điều kiện đó quả thực là quá khó khăn và đòi hỏi chúng ta phải đồng hành với Chúa Giêsu trong sứ vụ của Ngài, nhưng hãy yên tâm phần thưởng dành cho chúng ta rất lớn. Chúng ta đã sẵn sàng để theo Chúa Giêsu Chưa? Ngài đang chờ đợi sự đáp ứng của chúng ta.
REFLECTION’
What does it really mean to become a disciple, a follower of Jesus? The gospel passage suggests a number of requirements when one is called by Jesus to become a partner in his mission of salvation.
The second condition is even more challenging in that Jesus seems to be rude to someone who feels the responsibility to bury his father first. His response to the man is quite insulting and insensitive. How can the dead bury the dead? Yet, it is only through further reflection that we can somehow see the reason why Jesus made such a remark. Jesus challenges our tendency to rationalize and procrastinate our decisions as our way to justify our actions. In doing so, we miss the message of Jesus who wants to show the urgency in fulfilling the mission of salvation. What is important is the now. There is much to be done to proclaim the good news of the love and mercy of God. Though we respect the dead, their earthly time is over and thus, what becomes important and urgent is what promotes life and the presence of Jesus in our midst.
Finally, Jesus wants his followers to be totally focused on the mission. People cannot be faint-hearted or wishy-washy in their commitment as their progress to be totally dedicated to the mission will be lacking and lukewarm. We know very well how we can be distracted with so many concerns and anxieties in life that are legitimate and reasonable. Yet, when what is at stake is the mission regarding our salvation and it is Jesus who calls us, everything else is secondary. There is some truth to one book entitled: "God is first. You are second. I am third."
All the aforementioned describe the challenges of Jesus to anyone who desires to become his follower. It is indeed arduous and demanding to be companions of Jesus in his mission, but rest assured the rewards are great.
Are we ready to follow Jesus? He is only waiting for our response?
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. Luke 9:52–56
The passage above begins the section of Luke’s Gospel commonly referred to as “The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke’s Travel Narrative” (Luke 9:51–19:27). In this first stop on their journey to Jerusalem, the Samaritans refused hospitality to Jesus and the disciples because of the ongoing bitterness between the Jews and the Samaritans. When James and John experienced this hostility, they asked Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Clearly, they took the rejection of the Samaritans personally, and, out of their hurt and anger, they sought revenge.
When Jesus was invited to join in this hostility, He rejected it. Jesus was not saying that the Jews were right in their belief, nor was He saying that the Samaritans were right. Rather, He was simply saying that He would have no part in their ongoing bitterness. Recall, also, in John’s Gospel that the woman at the well was a Samaritan and that Jesus was very compassionate toward her. He ultimately gave her “Living Water” to quench her spiritual thirst—much to her surprise and much to the surprise of the other Samaritans.
One important lesson we can take from Jesus’ treatment of the Samaritans is that bitterness, anger, a desire for revenge and indignation at others is completely contrary to His will. This is especially useful to ponder when we encounter divisions within the Church. It’s certainly a sad fact that there are various factions at times within the Church. And though it might be the case that some of those divisions come about as a result of errors on the part of one group or another, bitterness, attacks, anger and indignation must always be avoided. And when we look at the Church today as a whole, it is clear that many people fall into the same temptation that James and John fell into. There are many who wish to “call down fire from heaven to consume” the other. When that happens, you can be certain that the response from our Lord in Heaven will be the same today as it was when attempted by James and John. Jesus’ response will be to rebuke the angry and critical party. Indignation at others, especially toward those within the Church, is not inspired by God. Therefore, we must flee from such foolishness whenever that temptation comes.
Reflect, today, upon any way that you have been drawn into some conflict with other members of the Church, even if it is only an interior conflict of anger. Have you taken sides and desired to call down fire from Heaven upon them? If so, learn from this lesson taught to these disciples. Leave judgment to God and seek to offer only compassion and charity. Seek the mercy that brings about unity. Though we must never compromise on the Truth so as to bring about a false sense of unity, we must never embrace hostility toward another on account of our wounded pride. Think about anyone or any group of people within the Church that you have indignation toward and pray that you will be given the mind and Heart of our Lord to see them as He sees them.
My loving Lord, You continually sought to reconcile all people to Yourself and to Your Father. You never allowed irrational anger to bring about further division. Please give me the grace I need to imitate Your compassionate Heart so as to be an instrument of the unity You desire. Jesus, I trust in You.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa
Nhật Thứ 13 Thường Niên
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, following you and being your disciple is often challenging and difficult. I am here in this time of prayer, to listen and to learn how to imitate you, to make your will my own, and to put aside all my excuses. Help me to be docile and attentive to what you are asking of me today.
1. Spreading the Message of Love: Here Christ began his journey to Jerusalem where he upended the old law of “an eye for an eye,” and replaced it with self-emptying love. The Jews and Samaritans had been at war for centuries, just as today there are still wars in our country, our world, and even in our own hearts. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” The way of Christ is infinitely gentler and infinitely more difficult. He calls us to look mercifully at the faults of others but to examine carefully our own. Christ knows that people are never converted by violence. We won’t convert others by telling them they are wrong, but by showing them Christ. “Where you don’t find love, sow love…and you will reap abundant love” (St. John of the Cross).
Để thực sự trở thành một môn đệ, một tín hữu của Chúa Giêsu có ý nghĩa gì? Bài phúc âm hôm nay cho thấy một số điều kiện đòi hỏi mà chúng ta cần phải có để được Chúa Giêsu mời gọi để làm người đối tác trong sứ mệnh cứu độ của Ngài.
Một điều kiện cần có lòng Tin để có thể hoàn toàn sự tin tưởng vào sự quan phòng của Thiên Chúa. Trong trường hợp một người nói là muốn trở thành môn đệ của Chúa. Chúa Giêsu đã nói với ông ta rằng muốn theo Chúa thỉ từ bỏ tất cả, ngay cả những điều tối thiểu cần thiết cho cuộc sống cững chẳng cần. Như việc kiếm nơi trú ẩn hang ngày cũng chẳng cần thết “ on Người không có chỗ tựai đầu. “
Điều kiện thứ hai thậm chí còn khó khăn hơn khi Chúa Giêsu nói có vẻ thô lỗ với một người có trách nhiệm chon cất người Cha. Phản ứng của Chúa Giêsu với người đàn ông này hầu như khá xúc phạm và không được nhạy cảm. Làm thế nào mà kẻ chết có thể chôn kẻ chết? Tuy nhiên, qua sự suy ngẫm thêm chúng ta bằng cách nào đó có thể thấy được cái lý do tại sao Chúa Giêsu đã nhận xét như vậy. Chúa Giêsu khuyến cáo là những xu hướng của chúng ta là tìm cách để hợp lý hóa và trì hoãn các quyết định của chúng ta như là một cách để biện minh cho hành động của chúng ta. Khi làm như vậy, chúng ta bỏ lỡ thông điệp của Chúa Giêsu, Đấng muốn thể hiện sự khẩn cấp trong việc thực hiện sứ mệnh cứu độ. Điều quan trọng là bây giờ. Có nhiều việc phải làm để công bố Tin Mừng của tình yêu và lòng thương xót của Thiên Chúa. Mặc dù chúng ta tôn trọng người chết, thời gian trần thế của họ là hơn và do đó, những gì trở nên quan trọng và cấp bách là những gì thúc đẩy cuộc sống và sự hiện diện của Chúa Giêsu ở giữa chúng ta.
Cuối cùng, Chúa Giêsu muốn các môn đệ phải tập trung hoàn toàn vào nhiệm vụ. Chúng ta biết rất rõ là chúng ta có thể bị phân tâm rất nhiều trong những mối quan tâm và sự lo lắng trong cuộc sống. Tuy nhiên, khi những gì đang bị đe dọa trong nhiệm vụ liên quan đến sự cứu rỗi của chúng ta và đó chính là Đức Giêsu, Đấng kêu gọi chúng ta, mọi thứ khác chỉ là thứ yếu.
Tất cả những điều kiện đã nói ở trên mô tả những thách thức mà Chúa Giêsu muốn gởi tới cho những ai muốn được theo Ngài. Những điều kiện đó quả thực là quá khó khăn và đòi hỏi chúng ta phải đồng hành với Chúa Giêsu trong sứ vụ của Ngài, nhưng hãy yên tâm phần thưởng dành cho chúng ta rất lớn. Chúng ta đã sẵn sàng để theo Chúa Giêsu Chưa? Ngài đang chờ đợi sự đáp ứng của chúng ta.
What does it really mean to become a disciple, a follower of Jesus? The gospel passage suggests a number of requirements when one is called by Jesus to become a partner in his mission of salvation.
The second condition is even more challenging in that Jesus seems to be rude to someone who feels the responsibility to bury his father first. His response to the man is quite insulting and insensitive. How can the dead bury the dead? Yet, it is only through further reflection that we can somehow see the reason why Jesus made such a remark. Jesus challenges our tendency to rationalize and procrastinate our decisions as our way to justify our actions. In doing so, we miss the message of Jesus who wants to show the urgency in fulfilling the mission of salvation. What is important is the now. There is much to be done to proclaim the good news of the love and mercy of God. Though we respect the dead, their earthly time is over and thus, what becomes important and urgent is what promotes life and the presence of Jesus in our midst.
Finally, Jesus wants his followers to be totally focused on the mission. People cannot be faint-hearted or wishy-washy in their commitment as their progress to be totally dedicated to the mission will be lacking and lukewarm. We know very well how we can be distracted with so many concerns and anxieties in life that are legitimate and reasonable. Yet, when what is at stake is the mission regarding our salvation and it is Jesus who calls us, everything else is secondary. There is some truth to one book entitled: "God is first. You are second. I am third."
All the aforementioned describe the challenges of Jesus to anyone who desires to become his follower. It is indeed arduous and demanding to be companions of Jesus in his mission, but rest assured the rewards are great.
Are we ready to follow Jesus? He is only waiting for our response?
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. Luke 9:52–56
The passage above begins the section of Luke’s Gospel commonly referred to as “The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke’s Travel Narrative” (Luke 9:51–19:27). In this first stop on their journey to Jerusalem, the Samaritans refused hospitality to Jesus and the disciples because of the ongoing bitterness between the Jews and the Samaritans. When James and John experienced this hostility, they asked Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Clearly, they took the rejection of the Samaritans personally, and, out of their hurt and anger, they sought revenge.
When Jesus was invited to join in this hostility, He rejected it. Jesus was not saying that the Jews were right in their belief, nor was He saying that the Samaritans were right. Rather, He was simply saying that He would have no part in their ongoing bitterness. Recall, also, in John’s Gospel that the woman at the well was a Samaritan and that Jesus was very compassionate toward her. He ultimately gave her “Living Water” to quench her spiritual thirst—much to her surprise and much to the surprise of the other Samaritans.
One important lesson we can take from Jesus’ treatment of the Samaritans is that bitterness, anger, a desire for revenge and indignation at others is completely contrary to His will. This is especially useful to ponder when we encounter divisions within the Church. It’s certainly a sad fact that there are various factions at times within the Church. And though it might be the case that some of those divisions come about as a result of errors on the part of one group or another, bitterness, attacks, anger and indignation must always be avoided. And when we look at the Church today as a whole, it is clear that many people fall into the same temptation that James and John fell into. There are many who wish to “call down fire from heaven to consume” the other. When that happens, you can be certain that the response from our Lord in Heaven will be the same today as it was when attempted by James and John. Jesus’ response will be to rebuke the angry and critical party. Indignation at others, especially toward those within the Church, is not inspired by God. Therefore, we must flee from such foolishness whenever that temptation comes.
Reflect, today, upon any way that you have been drawn into some conflict with other members of the Church, even if it is only an interior conflict of anger. Have you taken sides and desired to call down fire from Heaven upon them? If so, learn from this lesson taught to these disciples. Leave judgment to God and seek to offer only compassion and charity. Seek the mercy that brings about unity. Though we must never compromise on the Truth so as to bring about a false sense of unity, we must never embrace hostility toward another on account of our wounded pride. Think about anyone or any group of people within the Church that you have indignation toward and pray that you will be given the mind and Heart of our Lord to see them as He sees them.
My loving Lord, You continually sought to reconcile all people to Yourself and to Your Father. You never allowed irrational anger to bring about further division. Please give me the grace I need to imitate Your compassionate Heart so as to be an instrument of the unity You desire. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, following you and being your disciple is often challenging and difficult. I am here in this time of prayer, to listen and to learn how to imitate you, to make your will my own, and to put aside all my excuses. Help me to be docile and attentive to what you are asking of me today.
1. Spreading the Message of Love: Here Christ began his journey to Jerusalem where he upended the old law of “an eye for an eye,” and replaced it with self-emptying love. The Jews and Samaritans had been at war for centuries, just as today there are still wars in our country, our world, and even in our own hearts. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” The way of Christ is infinitely gentler and infinitely more difficult. He calls us to look mercifully at the faults of others but to examine carefully our own. Christ knows that people are never converted by violence. We won’t convert others by telling them they are wrong, but by showing them Christ. “Where you don’t find love, sow love…and you will reap abundant love” (St. John of the Cross).
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