Suy Niệm Tin Mừng
Thứ Tư Tuần thứ 6 Phục Sinh
Tin Mừng này hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu nói về sự xuất hiện của Chúa Thánh Thần, Đấng an ủi chúng ta. Chúa Thánh Thần chỉ có thể đến khi Chúa Giêsu đã được lên trời. Đó là việc rất tốt lành mà Chúa Kitô đã để lại cho chúng ta, bởi vì không có sự ra đi của Ngài, Ngài không thể sai Chúa Thánh Thần đến với chúng ta. Chúng ta có thể thấy rằng Đức Chúa Thánh Thần vẫn luôn tồn tại với chúng ta tới ngày nay bởi vì chúng ta thấy bảy ơn thánh của Chúa Thánh Thần đang sống trong chúng ta. Tất cả chúng ta có thể nhận được những ơn Chúa Thánh Thần như là những thành quả của sự khôn ngoan, ơn hiểu biết, ơn biết lo liệu, ơn Sức Mạnh, ơn Thông minh, ơn đạo đức, và ơn Kính sợ hãi Thiên Chúa. Những ơn này giúp chúng ta được sống hạnh phúc với Thiên Chúa. Tất cả những việc làm tốt của chúng ta có mục tiêu mang đến sự vinh quang không phải là cho chính bản thân mình hay cho một người nào khác, nhưng là đem sự vinh quang cho Thiên Chúa. Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã sống cuộc sống con người của Ngài trong thế giới của chúng ta là để tôn vinh Thiên Chúa. Và Thiên Chúa cũng sẽ tôn vinh Chúa Kitô trong việc Ngài đã sống lại từ cõi chết. Đó là sự thống nhất hoàn hảo và hiệp thông với Chúa Cha, Chúa Con và Chúa Thánh Thần. Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi cùng làm việc với nhau trong sự hiệp nhất vì lợi ích của con người chúng ta.
Reflection: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 / Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14 / Jn 16:
12-15
This Gospel speaks about the arrival of the Paraclete. The Holy Spirit can come only when Jesus would have ascended. It is for our own good that Christ has to leave us, because without his departure, he cannot send us the Holy Spirit. We can see that the Holy Spirit exists today because we see the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit alive around us. We can all receive see the fruits of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord to help us be happy with the Lord. All our good deeds have the ultimate goal to give glory not to others or ourselves, but to God. Christ lived his life on earth for this moment - to give glory to God. And God glorified Christ in return by resurrecting Him from the dead. There is a perfect unity and communion with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity acts together for our benefit.
Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13
Even Jesus’ closest companions, who spent three years with Him during His public ministry, could not bear the fullness of Truth without the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. This is a significant reminder for us, who did not have the privilege of walking with Jesus during His earthly ministry.
Imagine those three years: the disciples witnessed miracle after miracle, listened to sermon after sermon, and enjoyed intimate conversations with Jesus. Just being in His presence—observing how He interacted with others—must have been profoundly inspiring. Yet, even those formative years did not prepare them to bear all that Jesus wished to reveal.
This shows us that understanding the fullness of Truth goes far beyond human capacity. Only through the supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit can we comprehend the deepest mysteries of faith.
What happens to a soul who receives the Holy Spirit and is guided into “all truth?” That soul is transformed. The natural soul gives way to a supernaturally elevated soul, becoming a new creation in Christ. But this transformation requires something essential: the old self must die. We must surrender our fallen nature to receive the new life Christ offers. This requires great sacrifice because we must let go of our old ways and embrace God’s grace. But every sacrifice that leads to a life transformed by divine truth is worth it.
Recall Jesus’ teaching: “No one pours new wine into old wineskins…New wine must be poured into fresh wineskins” (Luke 5:37–38). For us to become fresh wineskins, ready to receive the new wine of God’s grace, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change us. This transformation might be startling at times. As the Spirit works within us, opening our eyes to truths we could never imagine, we begin to bear those truths that previously seemed unbearable. This leads to wonder, awe, and praise of God.
Consider the example of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. When Stephen spoke, the corrupt religious leaders “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). He didn’t rely on years of education or human effort to gain knowledge; instead, the Spirit of Truth lived in him and spoke through him. Stephen had become a fresh wineskin, and the new wine of God’s truth poured forth from him in superabundance, even to the point of giving his life for Christ.
Reflect today on the boundless truths that God desires to reveal to you through the Holy Spirit. No amount of human learning can compare to the depth of wisdom available to those who become new creations in Christ. What areas of your life still resist the Spirit’s transformative work? What old wineskins must you cast aside to receive the new wine of divine grace? By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, you allow God to lead you into the fullness of Truth. As this truth fills your heart, it will draw you into deeper awe and praise for the mysteries of faith, preparing you to bear witness to the world as a true disciple of Christ.
Lord of all Truth, You desire to reveal to me Your very self, yet I am unable to bear the fullness of Who You are and all that You wish to reveal. Please transform me by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that I become a new creation more fully able to receive the fullness of divine Truth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter 2026
1. Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica and Beroea: The First Reading takes place during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (A.D. 50-52). The Acts of the Apostles tells us that Paul left the city of Philippi and made his way with Silas and Timothy down to Thessalonica, the provincial capital of Macedonia. Paul preached there in the synagogue for three weeks, proving first that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and be raised from the dead, and second that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ. Some of the Jews and many devout Gentiles were persuaded by his argument, but some Jews, unfortunately, became envious of the new Gentile converts and attacked the house of Jason, who had received the missionaries into his home (Acts 17:7). Like the previous episode in Philippi, the accusation before the city authorities of Thessalonica against Paul appealed to Roman sensibilities. Jesus, we recall, was brought before Pilate and was accused of presenting himself as a king in opposition to Caesar: “We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king” (Luke 23:2).
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13
This passage still rings true for all of us today. God wants to reveal to us, within the depths of our consciences, the deepest, most profound and transforming truths that flow from the mind of the Father in Heaven. But we cannot bear it all now. Not fully. And eternity will be spent continually deepening our understanding of all that God reveals. And the process of this ongoing and deepening discovery will fill us with an ongoing and deepening joy. This will be our Heaven, but it must begin now.
First of all, it’s important to understand that God does “have much more to tell you.” Interestingly, coming to know how much you do not already know is itself a form of knowledge. Knowing that there is so much more, that God’s wisdom is infinitely beyond you, that the mind of God compared to yours is incomparable is itself a beautiful truth that must be understood. This truth should both humble you and also fill you with a holy awe of God and the infinite depth of wisdom, truth, beauty and glory contained within Him. This is an essential first step.
Furthermore, by saying that “you cannot bear it now” does not mean that you should not try to bear more and more of the truth that God wants to reveal. In fact, it’s a form of invitation, in that it indicates that there will come a time when you will be able to comprehend more. This should once again foster a hope and anticipation for all that remains hidden to be revealed. Humility in the face of the infinite God is necessary for growth in wisdom and knowledge of God.
How does this growth in wisdom and the knowledge of God happen? It happens by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. It is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you to all truth.” But even this statement, once again, implies that this is a process. It is the Spirit Who will “guide” you. And this guidance will continue throughout this life and on into eternity.
This teaching of our Lord begs the question: Have you begun the process? Have you begun to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth? Have there been concrete moments in your life when you came to know God in a new and profound way that could only have been possible by the power and working of God Himself?
Reflect, today, upon these essential questions. If you have had God the Holy Spirit speak clearly to You, then humble yourself before that truth. Pray for more wisdom and more knowledge of all that you do not know. And if you cannot relate to the idea of there being so much more that is beyond you, then humbly turn to our Lord and beg Him to begin to open your mind to all that He wants to say to you. The infinite mind of our God awaits you to be discovered and embraced. Begin the process today and let Him guide you into all truth.
God of all truth, You, Your wisdom, Your love and all of Your glorious attributes are infinite in nature and are beyond my complete comprehension. As I humble myself before these holy truths, dear Lord, please bestow upon me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, so that I may open my mind more fully to You by Your grace. May the process of deep discovery be one of great joy and become for me a process that continues into eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday Sixth Week
of Easter 2025
1. The Guidance of the Spirit: The Gospel of John reminds us that it is the Holy Spirit who will guide us to all truth. When we are stubborn and reject the Spirit’s guidance, we abuse our freedom. However, when we allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, it is then that we are truly free. As Jesus says: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). When we deviate from the moral law, we violate our own freedom, become imprisoned within ourselves, disrupt fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and rebel against divine truth (CCC, 1740). The grace of Christ and the Holy Spirit do not take away our freedom or act as a rival to our freedom. “On the contrary, … the more docile we are to the promptings of grace, the more we grow in inner freedom and confidence during trials… By the working of grace the Holy Spirit educates us in spiritual freedom in order to make us free collaborators in his work in the Church and in the world” (CCC, 1742).
Tin Mừng này hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu nói về sự xuất hiện của Chúa Thánh Thần, Đấng an ủi chúng ta. Chúa Thánh Thần chỉ có thể đến khi Chúa Giêsu đã được lên trời. Đó là việc rất tốt lành mà Chúa Kitô đã để lại cho chúng ta, bởi vì không có sự ra đi của Ngài, Ngài không thể sai Chúa Thánh Thần đến với chúng ta. Chúng ta có thể thấy rằng Đức Chúa Thánh Thần vẫn luôn tồn tại với chúng ta tới ngày nay bởi vì chúng ta thấy bảy ơn thánh của Chúa Thánh Thần đang sống trong chúng ta. Tất cả chúng ta có thể nhận được những ơn Chúa Thánh Thần như là những thành quả của sự khôn ngoan, ơn hiểu biết, ơn biết lo liệu, ơn Sức Mạnh, ơn Thông minh, ơn đạo đức, và ơn Kính sợ hãi Thiên Chúa. Những ơn này giúp chúng ta được sống hạnh phúc với Thiên Chúa. Tất cả những việc làm tốt của chúng ta có mục tiêu mang đến sự vinh quang không phải là cho chính bản thân mình hay cho một người nào khác, nhưng là đem sự vinh quang cho Thiên Chúa. Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã sống cuộc sống con người của Ngài trong thế giới của chúng ta là để tôn vinh Thiên Chúa. Và Thiên Chúa cũng sẽ tôn vinh Chúa Kitô trong việc Ngài đã sống lại từ cõi chết. Đó là sự thống nhất hoàn hảo và hiệp thông với Chúa Cha, Chúa Con và Chúa Thánh Thần. Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi cùng làm việc với nhau trong sự hiệp nhất vì lợi ích của con người chúng ta.
This Gospel speaks about the arrival of the Paraclete. The Holy Spirit can come only when Jesus would have ascended. It is for our own good that Christ has to leave us, because without his departure, he cannot send us the Holy Spirit. We can see that the Holy Spirit exists today because we see the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit alive around us. We can all receive see the fruits of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord to help us be happy with the Lord. All our good deeds have the ultimate goal to give glory not to others or ourselves, but to God. Christ lived his life on earth for this moment - to give glory to God. And God glorified Christ in return by resurrecting Him from the dead. There is a perfect unity and communion with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity acts together for our benefit.
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13
Even Jesus’ closest companions, who spent three years with Him during His public ministry, could not bear the fullness of Truth without the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. This is a significant reminder for us, who did not have the privilege of walking with Jesus during His earthly ministry.
Imagine those three years: the disciples witnessed miracle after miracle, listened to sermon after sermon, and enjoyed intimate conversations with Jesus. Just being in His presence—observing how He interacted with others—must have been profoundly inspiring. Yet, even those formative years did not prepare them to bear all that Jesus wished to reveal.
This shows us that understanding the fullness of Truth goes far beyond human capacity. Only through the supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit can we comprehend the deepest mysteries of faith.
What happens to a soul who receives the Holy Spirit and is guided into “all truth?” That soul is transformed. The natural soul gives way to a supernaturally elevated soul, becoming a new creation in Christ. But this transformation requires something essential: the old self must die. We must surrender our fallen nature to receive the new life Christ offers. This requires great sacrifice because we must let go of our old ways and embrace God’s grace. But every sacrifice that leads to a life transformed by divine truth is worth it.
Recall Jesus’ teaching: “No one pours new wine into old wineskins…New wine must be poured into fresh wineskins” (Luke 5:37–38). For us to become fresh wineskins, ready to receive the new wine of God’s grace, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change us. This transformation might be startling at times. As the Spirit works within us, opening our eyes to truths we could never imagine, we begin to bear those truths that previously seemed unbearable. This leads to wonder, awe, and praise of God.
Consider the example of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. When Stephen spoke, the corrupt religious leaders “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). He didn’t rely on years of education or human effort to gain knowledge; instead, the Spirit of Truth lived in him and spoke through him. Stephen had become a fresh wineskin, and the new wine of God’s truth poured forth from him in superabundance, even to the point of giving his life for Christ.
Reflect today on the boundless truths that God desires to reveal to you through the Holy Spirit. No amount of human learning can compare to the depth of wisdom available to those who become new creations in Christ. What areas of your life still resist the Spirit’s transformative work? What old wineskins must you cast aside to receive the new wine of divine grace? By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, you allow God to lead you into the fullness of Truth. As this truth fills your heart, it will draw you into deeper awe and praise for the mysteries of faith, preparing you to bear witness to the world as a true disciple of Christ.
Lord of all Truth, You desire to reveal to me Your very self, yet I am unable to bear the fullness of Who You are and all that You wish to reveal. Please transform me by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that I become a new creation more fully able to receive the fullness of divine Truth. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica and Beroea: The First Reading takes place during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (A.D. 50-52). The Acts of the Apostles tells us that Paul left the city of Philippi and made his way with Silas and Timothy down to Thessalonica, the provincial capital of Macedonia. Paul preached there in the synagogue for three weeks, proving first that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and be raised from the dead, and second that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ. Some of the Jews and many devout Gentiles were persuaded by his argument, but some Jews, unfortunately, became envious of the new Gentile converts and attacked the house of Jason, who had received the missionaries into his home (Acts 17:7). Like the previous episode in Philippi, the accusation before the city authorities of Thessalonica against Paul appealed to Roman sensibilities. Jesus, we recall, was brought before Pilate and was accused of presenting himself as a king in opposition to Caesar: “We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king” (Luke 23:2).
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13
This passage still rings true for all of us today. God wants to reveal to us, within the depths of our consciences, the deepest, most profound and transforming truths that flow from the mind of the Father in Heaven. But we cannot bear it all now. Not fully. And eternity will be spent continually deepening our understanding of all that God reveals. And the process of this ongoing and deepening discovery will fill us with an ongoing and deepening joy. This will be our Heaven, but it must begin now.
First of all, it’s important to understand that God does “have much more to tell you.” Interestingly, coming to know how much you do not already know is itself a form of knowledge. Knowing that there is so much more, that God’s wisdom is infinitely beyond you, that the mind of God compared to yours is incomparable is itself a beautiful truth that must be understood. This truth should both humble you and also fill you with a holy awe of God and the infinite depth of wisdom, truth, beauty and glory contained within Him. This is an essential first step.
Furthermore, by saying that “you cannot bear it now” does not mean that you should not try to bear more and more of the truth that God wants to reveal. In fact, it’s a form of invitation, in that it indicates that there will come a time when you will be able to comprehend more. This should once again foster a hope and anticipation for all that remains hidden to be revealed. Humility in the face of the infinite God is necessary for growth in wisdom and knowledge of God.
How does this growth in wisdom and the knowledge of God happen? It happens by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. It is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you to all truth.” But even this statement, once again, implies that this is a process. It is the Spirit Who will “guide” you. And this guidance will continue throughout this life and on into eternity.
This teaching of our Lord begs the question: Have you begun the process? Have you begun to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth? Have there been concrete moments in your life when you came to know God in a new and profound way that could only have been possible by the power and working of God Himself?
Reflect, today, upon these essential questions. If you have had God the Holy Spirit speak clearly to You, then humble yourself before that truth. Pray for more wisdom and more knowledge of all that you do not know. And if you cannot relate to the idea of there being so much more that is beyond you, then humbly turn to our Lord and beg Him to begin to open your mind to all that He wants to say to you. The infinite mind of our God awaits you to be discovered and embraced. Begin the process today and let Him guide you into all truth.
God of all truth, You, Your wisdom, Your love and all of Your glorious attributes are infinite in nature and are beyond my complete comprehension. As I humble myself before these holy truths, dear Lord, please bestow upon me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, so that I may open my mind more fully to You by Your grace. May the process of deep discovery be one of great joy and become for me a process that continues into eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. The Guidance of the Spirit: The Gospel of John reminds us that it is the Holy Spirit who will guide us to all truth. When we are stubborn and reject the Spirit’s guidance, we abuse our freedom. However, when we allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, it is then that we are truly free. As Jesus says: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). When we deviate from the moral law, we violate our own freedom, become imprisoned within ourselves, disrupt fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and rebel against divine truth (CCC, 1740). The grace of Christ and the Holy Spirit do not take away our freedom or act as a rival to our freedom. “On the contrary, … the more docile we are to the promptings of grace, the more we grow in inner freedom and confidence during trials… By the working of grace the Holy Spirit educates us in spiritual freedom in order to make us free collaborators in his work in the Church and in the world” (CCC, 1742).
No comments:
Post a Comment