Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Ba tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Ba tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Qua sách Tông Đồ Công Vụ, vì chúng ta đã có thể nghĩ câu chuyện có thể đã được phóng đại vì có bao giờ chúng ta có thể thấy được một cộng đồng rất hoàn hảo và hài hòa? Họ cũng có những vấn đề của họ như bất cứ nhóm người nào như Thánh Phaolô cũng đã chúng ta biết. Nhưng có một điều chắc chắn là: họ biết cách để chia sẻ, Họ biết làm thế nào để đảm bảo rằng không có ai phải thiếu thốn bất cứ thứ gì. Và họ yêu thương nhau, biết cách  hỗ trợ nhau và sống hoà đồng trong sự hiệp nhất. Sự hỗ trợ lẫn nhau, và chia sẻ với nhau, đó là nguồn sức mạnh lớn lao của họ.
            Thiên Chúa có thể sống ở giữa họ và thực hiện  phép lạ nơi họ, vì họ dành chỗ riêng cho Ngài và sẵn sàng đón nhận Ngài vào sống ngay trong trái tim của họ. Sự đoàn kết và chia sẻ của họ chính là sinh lực và sức mạnh. Có lẽ đây là món quà lớn nhất mà chúng ta có thể chia xẻ cho những người khác và thế giới: Sự thể hiện cuộc sống của chúng ta và những gì mà con người chúng ta thực sự đã sống. Nắm bắt thời cơ của sự việc và nói rằng "tôi đã làm" thay vì "chúng ta đã làm" chính là nguồn gốc của nhiều vấn đề trong thế giới của chúng ta. Cái “TÔI” và tự hào chính là nguyên nhân chính gây chia rẽ và thù hận, cũng là đầu mối của mọi tội lỗi và sự dữ.
            Chúng ta không thể lý luận, mua bán, hoặc thao tác con đường của chúng ta đến với Thiên Chúa. Là một con người bình thường chúng ta chỉ có thể đi xa hơn nữa; chúng ta không thể đi tắt. Để bước đi được xa hơn nữa và đến với Thiên Chúa, chúng ta cần phải được tái sinh thêm một lần thứ hai; Đó sự giác ngộ và tái sinh qua Thánh thần..
 
Reflection
We almost wonder if Luke exaggerated a bit. When have you ever seen a community so perfect and harmonious? They had their problems like any group of human beings ;Paul keeps us well informed. But one thing is for sure: they knew how to share. They knew how to ensure that no one was in need. And they knew how to support and love one another and to agree on the important things that they all held dear. It was this unity, mutual support, and sharing that was the source of their great power.
            God was able to dwell in their midst and work miracles because they made room for Him and invited God into their hearts. There is power and strength that comes from unity and sharing. Perhaps this is the greatest gift we can offer others and the world: showing in our own lives what truly human living is. Grasping at things and saying ‘mine’ instead of ‘ours’ is the source of much of our world’s problems.
            We cannot reason, buy, or manipulate our way to God. As ordinary human beings we can only go so far; we always fall short. To go any further, we need a second birth; enlightenment and rebirth through the spirit.
 
Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter 2026
“You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” John 3:10–12
Today’s Gospel continues Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee who came to Jesus at night. Nicodemus began by professing a small amount of faith in Jesus: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him” (John 3:2). Perhaps he expected Jesus to be pleased by this acknowledgment, but Jesus, desiring the complete conversion of Nicodemus’ soul, went deeper.
Their conversation focused on Jesus’ statement, “You must be born from above.” This theme recurs throughout their dialogue, forming the backdrop of today’s Gospel. Jesus gently encouraged Nicodemus to move beyond amazement toward a faith made possible only by openness to the Holy Spirit.
Like Nicodemus, many of us approach God in prayer with an initial or superficial faith. We acknowledge Jesus’ divinity, but this is only the starting point. Once we make that first step, Jesus invites us further, challenging us to delve into divine mysteries with hearts open to grace.
Jesus’ question, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?” signals both a challenge and an invitation. Unlike the harsh rebukes He gave to those who approached with skepticism and disdain, His tone with Nicodemus was firm yet compassionate. Without condemning Nicodemus, Jesus exposed his limited understanding and called him to greater openness to the truth of Jesus’ identity and His divine mission.
This call to deeper understanding must resonate with us. Jesus invites us to look beyond the surface, beyond what our eyes can see, to the divine mysteries He reveals. He alludes to His crucifixion and His messianic identity when He says, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15). This revelation, veiled and profound, speaks of the mystery of salvation—Jesus, both God and man, being lifted up on the Cross, shedding His blood so that all who believe in Him may attain eternal life.
Why does Jesus speak in mysteries? Because the truths He shares can only be fully grasped when we listen to the Holy Spirit within us, guiding and enlightening our souls. Just as the invisible wind can be felt, so too does the Holy Spirit move in our lives, unseen, yet powerful and transformative.
Reflect today on how you might be like Nicodemus. The good news is that this Pharisee, once hesitant and questioning, ultimately grew in faith and is commemorated as a saint in the Roman Martyrology on August 31. Like him, we are called to move beyond the surface and deepen our openness to the Holy Spirit. Where in your life can you seek deeper understanding and greater surrender to God’s mysterious work? Resolve to listen more intently and to be guided by the Spirit so that you might comprehend the divine mysteries and believe with greater conviction.
Lord of all Mysteries, I profess my faith in You. You are my God and my Savior. Only through You—through Your Life, Death, and Resurrection—can I be saved. I profess that I must be born from above by the Spirit so as to share in eternal life. Please strengthen my faith so that I will more fully comprehend and believe all You desire to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, thank you for bringing me into the community of the Church. I am your child. I have so many brothers and sisters in the Church. I will do my best to support them and care for them.Encountering the Word of God
1. Community and Solidarity, Not Communism and Socialism: The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us an example of the communal life of the early Church. What is presented is not the false ideology of communism or socialism, but the true spirit of community and solidarity. Communism forces everyone to contribute according to their ability and to receive according to their need. What the Acts of the Apostles teaches us, by contrast, is solidarity, subsidiarity, the universal destination of all goods, the preferential option for the poor, and the value of life in community. Communism sacrifices an individual’s good and overemphasizes the good of society to the detriment of the individual. As Pope Saint John Paul II taught: “The fundamental error of socialism is anthropological in nature. Socialism considers the individual person simply as an element, a molecule within the social organism, so that the good of the individual is completely subordinated to the functioning of the socio-economic mechanism” (Centesimus annus, 13). The Church, by contrast, sees no opposition between the individual’s good, the good of the family, and the common good of society. It is noteworthy that the Apostles do not force people to sell their property and houses. Each person and each family needed to act prudently and responsibly to determine what they could sell for the benefit of their brothers and sisters in need and what they needed to retain. “Luke describes the believers in Jerusalem as being ‘of one heart and soul’ in their devotion to God (Acts 4:32), echoing the Deuteronomic commandment to love and serve God with all one’s heart and soul” (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 63).
2. Barnabas: Barnabas sold a piece of property and gave the money to the Church. His name means “son of encouragement,” and he will accompany us throughout our reading of the Acts of the Apostles this Easter. He was from the tribe of Levi. He vouched for Saul before the community of Jerusalem (Acts 9:27) and spent a year with Paul in Tarsus, where he was known as a prophet and a teacher (Acts 13:1). He accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey to Cyprus (his native land) and parts of modern-day Turkey. He participated in the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), which decided that the Gentiles who became Christians did not need to observe many temporary elements of the burdensome Old Law. Salvation comes from faith in Jesus and living according to the New Law of Christ. Barnabas, who was not one of the original twelve apostles, joined the Apostles in their mission of bearing witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Today’s reading shows us that Barnabas followed the counsel of Jesus to the young man: “Go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor; then, come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). Because of the generosity of the members of the early Church, there was no needy person among them.
3. Life in the Spirit as the Blessing of the New Covenant: The blessing of the Old Covenant was tied especially to the flourishing of life in the land promised to Abraham. By contrast, the blessing of the New Covenant lies in the heart and soul, and not in the land. “Whereas life in the land was the supreme blessing of the Deuteronomic covenant, that of the New Covenant is life in the Holy Spirit, a life that is geographically universal. The land and the city of Jerusalem stood under an impending judgment and could no longer serve as a source of covenantal blessing. Far from clinging to these ancient symbols of national identity, the disciples in Jerusalem watched and prayed, knowing that the day would soon come when they would have to flee (cf. Luke 21:20-22)” (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, 64).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I truly desire to live according to your Spirit and the New Law of Charity. Help me to discern how I can better care for those in my community. I want to follow your example of spiritual poverty, humility, detachment from material things, and solidarity with the poor.
 
Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter 2025
Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.”  John 3:9–11
As we reflected upon yesterday, Nicodemus is one of the only Pharisees who ultimately converted, became a follower of Jesus, and is today considered a saint. The only other Pharisees who were recorded by name as converts to Christianity were Saint Paul and Gamaliel. Acts 15:5 also indicates that some other Pharisees ultimately converted.
When the many encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees are considered as a whole, it’s clear that there was great resistance among them toward Jesus and His teaching. They were constantly seeking to trap Him and, of course, ultimately were responsible for His death, along with other leading religious leaders from the Sanhedrin. For that reason, it’s easy to understand that there must have been great pressure upon all the Pharisees to reject Jesus. Each one of them would have felt the power of peer pressure to act in accord with the general view of Jesus’ condemnation. This is the context of this passage above in which Nicodemus questions Jesus. This passage continues yesterday’s Gospel conversation in which Jesus says clearly to Nicodemus that the way to Heaven is to be “born from above.” Nicodemus questions how one can “be born again,” and then Jesus issues this apparent criticism of Him quoted above.
It’s helpful to understand that Jesus’ criticism was not a condemnation of Nicodemus. It was not in the tone of His normal “Woe to you…” statements; rather, it was a gentle but very direct challenge to Nicodemus so as to move him from his questions to faith. And that’s the key. Nicodemus did not come to Jesus to trap and condemn Him like the other Pharisees did. Nicodemus came because he was confused. And most likely, he was confused because he felt great peer pressure from his fellow Pharisees to condemn Jesus.
Understanding this context should help us understand not only the goodness and courage of Nicodemus but also the loving boldness of Jesus. Jesus knew that Nicodemus was open. He knew that Nicodemus could be won over. But Jesus also knew that Nicodemus needed to be challenged in a direct and firm way. He needed a bit of a “holy push” so as to enter into the gift of faith. Of course, Jesus’ challenge ultimately won Nicodemus over.
Reflect, today, upon any way in which you, too, need a “holy push” from our Lord. What form of worldly pressure do you experience in life? Do friends, neighbors, family members or co-workers impose upon you in some way a peer pressure that is contrary to the life of true holiness? If so, ponder the ultimate courage of Nicodemus, Saint Paul and Gamaliel. Let their witness inspire you and allow our Lord to challenge you where you need it the most so that you, too, will receive the “holy push” that you need to be a more faithful follower of Jesus.
My Lord of all strength, You are unwavering in Your determination to challenge me in the area that I need it the most. Help me to receive Your gentle rebukes of love when I am weak so that I will have the courage and strength I need to be a faithful follower of You. Give me clarity and understanding, dear Lord, and help me to overcome the misleading pressures of the world. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Reflection Tuesday 2^nd week of Easter
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have been spiritually reborn through the waters of Baptism as your adopted child. I have been regenerated and recreated in the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. I desire to be a faithful child who seeks to please you in all that I do.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Riddle of Wind and Spirit: Throughout the Gospel of John, we encounter Jesus’ riddles and irony. His seemingly simple words have multiple levels of meaning and deep references to the Scriptures. In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus speaks about spiritual rebirth through water. Nicodemus mistakenly thought he was speaking about a physical rebirth and didn’t grasp the depth of Jesus’ teaching. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus introduces a new riddle about the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for spirit, “ruah,” also meant “wind” and “breath.” Jesus points Nicodemus to the opening lines of the Bible, which speak about the “ruah” of God hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). Just as the wind is seemingly arbitrary and blows sometimes from the west, sometimes from the south, and sometimes from the north, so also the Holy Spirit directs those in whom he dwells. What Jesus taught Nicodemus was the need for a person reborn in the Spirit to be docile to the motions of that same Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit will move a person this way and sometimes that way. 
2. The Riddle of the Descent of the Son of Man: Jesus used riddles and parables to speak not only about the Holy Spirit, but also about his own identity. Jesus’ parables (meshalim) were not exclusively narrative stories. “Jesus was known for utilizing meshalim that took the form of riddles, puzzling sayings, and/or questions that were deliberately intended to be both ambiguous and thought-provoking” (Pitre, Jesus and Divine Christology, 111). Jesus used riddle-like parables to both reveal and conceal the mystery of the kingdom of God and the mystery of his divinity (see Pitre, Jesus and Divine Christology, 112). Instead of openly referring to himself as God, Jesus preferred to refer to himself as “the Son of Man.” In this way, he pointed the people to passages from the Hebrew Scriptures. On the one hand, the title meant that Jesus is a human being. He is a descendant of Adam. And, on the other hand, the title refers to a prophecy and vision of the prophet Daniel about a person with both divine and human qualities. The “Son of Man,” in Daniel’s prophecy, received divine authority and an everlasting kingdom from God, the Ancient of Days. Here, in a cryptic way, Jesus alludes to his Incarnation, his descent from heaven, and also his future Ascension, his going up to heaven.
3. The Riddle of Being Lifting Up: Jesus speaks to Nicodemus not only about the Sacrament of Baptism in the New Covenant, and not only about his identity as the Son of Man, but also about his destiny. He, the Son of Man, will be lifted up. And he will be lifted up in three ways. First, Jesus will be lifted up on the Cross. Second, Jesus will be lifted up from the grave. Third, Jesus will be lifted up at the Ascension. Jesus is our King and now sits at the right hand of his Father. He is our eternal and royal High Priest and intercedes for us at the Father’s right hand. And Jesus has sent us the Spirit to sanctify believers and guide the Church to all truth.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I contemplate today the revelation of your passion and resurrection to Nicodemus and the revelation of the mystery of Baptism. You have revealed heavenly things, and I welcome them in faith. I believe you are the Son of Man, lifted up, so that I may enjoy eternal life with you.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Ba tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Đọc qua các Tin Mừng, chúng ta gần như tự hỏi hình như Thánh Luca đã phóng đại một chút trong sách Tông Đồ Công Vụ, vì chúng ta đã bao giờ thấy được một cộng đồng rất hoàn hảo và hài hòa như chúng ta thấy trong Tông Đồ Công Vụ? Họ cũng có những vấn đề của họ như bất cứ nhóm người nào như Thánh Phaolô  cũng đã chúng ta biết. Nhưng có một điều chắc chắn là: họ biết cách để chia sẻ, Họ biết làm thế nào để đảm bảo rằng không có ai phải thiếu thốn bất cứ thứ gì. Và họ biết cách để hỗ trợ và yêu thương nhau, Họ hoà đồng về những điều quan trọng mà tất cả đều thân thương, Đó là sự hiệp nhất, sự hỗ trợ lẫn nhau, và chia sẻ với nhau, đó là nguồn sức mạnh lớn lao của họ.
            Thiên Chúa đã có thể sống ở giữa họ và thực hiện  phép lạ nơi họ, vì họ dành chỗ riêng cho Ngài và sẵn ssàng đón nhận Chúa vào sống ngay vtrong trái tim của họ. Sự đoàn kết và chia sẻ của họ lả sinh lục và sức mạnh. Có lẽ đây là món quà lớn nhất mà chúng ta có thể chia xẻ cho những người khác và thế giới: Sự thể hiện cuộc sống của chúng ta và những gì mà con người chúng ta thực sự đã sống.
            Nắm bắt thời cơ của sự việc và nói rằng "tôi đã làm" thay vì "chúng ta đã làm" chính là nguồn gốc của nhiều vấn đề trong thế giới của chúng ta. Cái “TÔI” và tự hào chính là nguyên nhân chính gây chia rẽ và thù hận, cũng là mối đầu của mọi tội lỗi và sự dữ.
            Chúng ta không thể lý luận, mua bán, hoặc thao tác con đường của chúng ta đến với Thiên Chúa. Là một con người bình thường chúng ta chỉ có thể đi xa hơn nữa; chúng ta không thể đi tắt. Để bước đi được xa hơn nữa đến với Thiên Chúa, chúng ta cần phải được tái sinh thêm một lần thứ hai; Đó sự giác ngộ và tái sinh qua Thánh thần.
 
Reflection
We almost wonder if Luke exaggerated a bit. When have you ever seen a community so perfect and harmonious? They had their problems like any group of human beings; Paul keeps us well informed. But one thing is for sure: they knew how to share. They knew how to ensure that no one was in need. And they knew how to support and love one another and to agree on the important things that they all held dear. It was this unity, mutual support, and sharing that was the source of their great power.
            God was able to dwell in their midst and work miracles because they made room for Him and invited God into their hearts. There is power and strength that comes from unity and sharing. Perhaps this is the greatest gift we can offer others and the world: showing in our own lives what truly human living is. Grasping at things and saying ‘mine’ instead of ‘ours’ is the source of much of our world’s problems.
           We cannot reason, buy, or manipulate our way to God. As ordinary human beings we can only go so far; we always fall short. To go any further, we need a second birth; enlightenment and rebirth through the spirit.