Trong cuộc sống trên đời này, con người không ai có thể tránh được tất cả những bệnh tật, đau khổ và những khó khăn trong cuộc đời. Vì thế chúng ta cần đến với Chúa, nhưng ma quỷ luôn ở bên cạnh và luôn muốn có sự ảnh hưởng trong cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta, nên chúng ta cũng cần phải biết khiêm tốn đến Chúa xin Chúa ban ơn giải thoát cho chúng ta tránh khỏi được những sự dữ. Tuy nhiên, trước khi chúng ta biết những gì chúng ta muốn, Chúa đã biết và sẵn sàng giúp ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta cần. Ngài chắc chắn sẽ nắm chắc lấy bàn tay run rẩy của chúng ta để cho những cơn sốt, những đau bệnh và sự dữ có thể trục xuất ra khỏi con người của chúng ta. Chúa vẫn vẫn còn đang tiếp tục sứ mệnh cứu chuộc của Ngài. Nhưng điều này chỉ có thể xảy ra nếu chúng ta sẵn lòng để Thiên Chúa chiếm ngự cuộc sống của chúng ta. Và điều này chỉ có thể ảnh hưởng đến chúng ta nếu chúng ta bằng lòng cho phép Ngài ôm giữ chúng ta, và để Ngài quan tâm đến cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta.
As daunting illness enters into our reality, we imploringly pray for healing. When there are evil forces out there that seem to be affecting our balance, we humbly ask for deliverance. However, even before we know what we want, Jesus is already willing to give us what we need. He firmly grasps our trembling hands so that the fever may leave us. He places his gentle palms over us, and the tormenting voices are silenced. The mission continues even up to this very day. But this can happen only once we let him into our lives. This can affect us only if we allow him to hold us, to deeply care for us.
In the Gospels, we read about how he helped so many people in distress. When they felt that they were on their last legs, they threw themselves at his feet begging for help which he willingly offered. However, if we just let these miracles remain as words on pages, we can never truly experience his love being etched in our hearts. But salvation from sickness and conquest of demons in our midst becomes possible only with his touch of love and compassion. And this can unfold in the most subtle of ways – through the gentle and reassuring embrace of a trusted friend, from the inspiring conversation with an acquaintance, through the prayers sent over the internet — these are all humble manifestations of the continuing presence of Christ in our midst. Let us beg for the grace of awareness so that we may recognize his love in the most unexpected of places and in the many surprising moments he creates.
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. Mark 1:35–39
Jesus’ prayer was unique. He did not pray because He needed God in His life—He was and is God. Yet, in His human nature, He regularly withdrew to be alone and to pray to His Father. Jesus’ prayer teaches us two primary lessons.
First, Jesus’ prayer reveals Who He is. He is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. As a member of the Trinity, Jesus prayed in solitude, not to become closer to the Father, for He and the Father are eternally one in essence; rather, His prayer expressed and revealed that perfect union to us. Unity with and love of the Father are at the center of Who He is.
Though we are not God, we are made for oneness with God. This is not an external invitation but an essential part of who we are and who we must become. In Heaven, our lives will be one ongoing and eternal expression of prayer—a perfect union with God. That union must begin now, and the foundation of its growth is prayer.
By going off alone to pray to the Father, Jesus also models for us the way to the Father. His action is prophetic, calling us to set aside moments each day for nothing other than prayer. While we are called to pray continually throughout the day, this habit is nourished by intentional moments of silence in which we immerse ourselves in God’s presence. In our fallen nature, daily moments of focused prayer are necessary for clearing the distractions of life, overcoming sin, and allowing God’s grace to draw us into deeper union with Him.
Jesus’ prayer invites us to examine our own daily prayer life. How often do you pray each day? How do you pray? Does your prayer change you, transforming you into who God made you to be? Most people easily find time every day for less important things, such as entertainment, idle conversations, and daily work. Though these things have their place, they must never overshadow that which is most important. We must learn to pray and be faithful to prayer every day.
One of the best ways to pray is to participate in the Mass. In the Mass, we most fully share in Christ’s human life, sacrifice, and divine presence. The Mass is the summit of prayer and the foundation of our spiritual life. We receive Him into our lives as we consume His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. To participate in the Mass well, daily moments of prayer are essential. At times, we must silence every other thought and actively offer our praise to God. Meditation on the Word of God is also essential. Taking time to read the Gospel, in particular, and meditating on those passages disposes us to hear God’s voice. His Word counters the many lies and temptations we face during our daily activities, preparing us to live more fully as God’s sons and daughters.
Reflect today on your commitment to daily prayer by following Jesus’ example. Resolve to find a moment of solitude in which you silence your heart and simply dwell in God’s presence. Let this time of prayer become the cornerstone of your day and a foretaste of the union with God in Heaven for which you were created. Prayer is not an option; it is the very path to becoming who we are meant to be—united with God in love, now and for all
My prayerful Lord, Your prayer revealed Your perfect union with the Father and set an example for us to follow. Grant me the wisdom and strength to remain faithful to daily moments of personal prayer—times when I can simply be with You and express my love for You. May these moments transform every part of my day, leading me to greater charity here on earth and preparing me for perfect union with You in eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am always looking for your Son! I know that through him and in your Spirit, I will encounter you. I know that he will heal me in body and spirit and teach me the path that leads to you.
1. Jesus Enters Our House: The image of Jesus entering the house of Peter and Andrew is a powerful one. The same Jesus enters the “house” of our soul and transforms us through his grace. Just as Peter’s mother-in-law was healed and elevated, the grace we receive from Christ has a healing dimension and an elevating dimension to it. There is even a transition dimension to this Gospel scene: Jesus leaves the synagogue – a symbol of the assembly of Israel and the Old Law – and enters into the house of Peter – a symbol of the assembly of the universal Church and the New Law. The Sabbath rest comes to an end in the evening, and after sunset, on the first day of the week, the people assemble at the door of Simon Peter. The true sicknesses and diseases that afflict people are not physical ones. They are spiritual ones. We should not fear those who can harm or kill the body, but only those who can kill the soul.
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Mark 1:32–34
Today we read that Jesus once again “drove out many demons…” The passage then adds, “…not permitting them to speak because they knew him.”
Why would Jesus not permit these demons to speak? Many of the early Church fathers explain that even though the demons had an understanding that Jesus was the promised Messiah, they did not understand fully what that meant and how He would accomplish His ultimate victory. Therefore, Jesus did not want them to speak only half-truths about Him, as the evil one often does, thus misleading the people. So Jesus always forbade these demons from speaking about Him publicly.
It’s important to understand that all of the demonic spirits failed to understand the full truth that it would be Jesus’ death that ultimately destroys death itself and sets all people free. For that reason, we see that these diabolical forces continually conspired against Jesus and tried to attack Him throughout His life.
They stirred up Herod when Jesus was a baby, which forced Him into exile in Egypt. Satan himself tempted Jesus just prior to the beginning of His public ministry so as to try to dissuade Jesus from His mission. There were many diabolical forces who continually attacked Jesus throughout His public ministry, especially through the ongoing hostility of the religious leaders at the time. And it can be presumed that these demons may have initially thought they won the battle when they accomplished their goal of having Jesus crucified.
The truth, however, is that Jesus’ wisdom continually confounded these demons and ultimately transformed their evil act of having Him crucified into an ultimate victory over sin and death itself by rising from the dead. Satan and his demons are real, but compared to the truth and wisdom of God, these diabolical forces reveal their complete foolishness and weakness. Just like Jesus, we need to rebuke these tempters in our lives and command that they be silent. Too often we allow their half truths to mislead us and confuse us.
Reflect, today, upon the importance of confidently rebuking the evil one and the many lies he tempts us to believe. Rebuke him with the truth and authority of Christ and pay no attention to what he says.
My precious and all-powerful Lord, I turn to You and You alone as the source of all Truth and the fullness of Truth. May I listen to Your voice alone and reject the many deceptions of the evil one and his demons. In Your precious name, Jesus, I rebuke satan and all evil spirits, their lies and their temptations. I send these spirits to the foot of Your Cross, dear Lord, and open my mind and heart only to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have experienced the healing touch of your Son in the waters of Baptism and at the throne of mercy in the confessional. I am humbled by how much you love me and care for me.
1. Entering Peter’s House on the New Sabbath: On the Sabbath in Capernaum, Jesus taught in the local synagogue and cast out a demon. And, on entering the house of Simon and Andrew, he healed Simon’s mother-in-law. He then had a meal with his new followers. These four actions anticipate our celebration of the New Sabbath, on Sunday. At mass, we listen to and are taught by the Word of God. At the beginning of mass, we confess our sins and receive forgiveness. At mass, we are spiritually healed. And, at mass, we dine with Jesus and receive the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation. Every mass, we spiritually enter into the house of Simon Peter, a symbol of the Church.
No comments:
Post a Comment