“Anh em đừng mang gì đi đường, đừng mang gậy, bao bị, lương thực, tiền bạc, cũng đừng có hai áo” (Lk. 9:3). Đấy là những điều kiện mà Chúa Giêsu muốn đòi hỏi các môn đệ của Ngài phải thực hiện khi ra đi làm nhiệm vụ rao giẳng Tin Mừng. Nếu chúng ta chịu khó để ý thì thấy những quãng đường họ phải đi qua nào là đồi núi, quanh co và sỏi đá thế mà họ phải đi bộ để chu toàn sứ mạng của các ngài, vậy mà Chúa Giêsu bảo không mang gì hết để đáp ứng những nhu cầu tối thiểu của chúng ta, chắc chắn chúng ta sẽ thấy rằng đó chính là một nhu cầu đầy thách thức. Tuy nhiên, các môn đệ đã làm theo như lời Chúa Giêsu dạy, và tất cả mọi sự và mọi việc đã được diễn ra rất suông sẻ và thành công.
Trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta, chúng ta đánh giá rất nhiều về những nhu cầu và các nguồn lực cần thiết để thực hiện những gì chúng ta cho là quan trọng. Đôi khi, cuộc sống của chúng ta đã trở nên tê bại, liệt cứng khi chúng ta không thành công trong việc thúc đẩy những kế hoạch của chúng ta bởi vì chúng ta thiếu lòng tin và lo sợ rằng chúng ta sẽ không có được những nguồn lực, ý chí cần thiết để tiến hành những dự án đó của chúng ta.
Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu như muốn nhắc nhở với chúng ta là hãy hết lòng tin tưởng vào Ngài. Lẽ tất nhiên, điều này chỉ có thể thành công khi chúng ta thật lòng để tâm, để trí và thực sự thực hiện ý muốn của Thiên Chúa và chứ không phải chỉ đơn thuần nhằm mục đích riêng của chúng ta để tự tôn vinh và mang lai sự quang vinh cho chính mình.
Lạy Chúa Giêsu Kitô, xin ban cấp cho chúng con được những hồng ân của Chúa nhất là lòng tin tuởng và phó thác hoàn toàn trong tình yêu vô điều kiện của Chúa.
Wednesday 25th Week in Ordinary Time
“Take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” This is what Jesus required of the disciples as they set out on mission. If we take account of the distances to be covered by walking and the material needs to be met, we see that bringing nothing was a challenging demand. However, the disciples did as Jesus said and everything went smoothly.
In our daily life, we value very much the supply of resources necessary to carry out what we deem important. Sometimes, our lives become paralyzed as we fail to push forward plans because we are afraid that we will not obtain the resources needed. Jesus tells us just to go on trusting him wholeheartedly. Obviously, this is only possible when we are truly carrying out his will and not simply aiming at our self-glorification or fame.
Accepting the mission and acknowledging our weaknesses and unworthiness — just as Ezra recognizes in front of God the sins of his people — will make us humbler so as to be able to see God's hand in our lives. Only in this way, we are also led to meet the demands of our daily life and achieve our goals.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us, we pray, the grace of full trust in Your unconditional love.
Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.” Luke 9:1–3
Imagine having the power to lay hands on the sick and heal them. Though it may seem like something from the world of fantasy or superheroes, it is, in truth, a participation in divine authority over nature. While children might dream of such power through comic books or cartoons, the power granted to the Apostles was not only real, it was given for a much higher purpose: to draw souls into eternal salvation.
By this point in Luke’s Gospel, the Twelve had been chosen and appointed as Apostles for at least several weeks, if not months. In Luke 6, Jesus called them after spending the night in prayer on a mountain. Since then, they had been formed by listening to His teachings—such as the Sermon on the Plain—witnessing miracles and exorcisms, seeing Him forgive sins, watching in awe as He calmed a stormy sea, and even beholding Him raise the dead.
After this brief but intense period of formation, Jesus sent them on mission. For this mission, Jesus bestowed upon them His own divine power—to heal, cast out demons, and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
As He sent them, He gave an important instruction: “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.” Why would He ask this of them? It wasn’t because of a lack of concern for their needs; rather, He was teaching them a vital spiritual lesson: To be effective instruments of His power and message, they had to rely completely on divine providence.
Imagine being one of the Twelve, entering an unfamiliar village and seeing a crippled man begging at the gate. Suddenly, you feel inspired to lay hands on him and declare his healing. The prompting is so strong, you act. As soon as you say, “Be healed,” the man rises and walks, to the amazement of all. By day’s end, lines of the sick, crippled, and demon-possessed come to you, and each one is healed or delivered.
The next day, a large crowd gathers in the town square. You invite them to sit, then begin preaching all you had heard Jesus teach. As you speak, some are moved to tears; others look to Heaven in joy. Hearts are touched. Chains fall. Lives are changed—all through the instrumentality of your words and presence.
Such a moment would easily lead to the temptation of pride, marveling at all you had done. But Jesus knew this. That’s why, as the day ended and the crowds dispersed, the Apostles had to seek food and shelter from others. That simple act—relying on the kindness of strangers—was a daily reminder that the power they exercised was not their own. They entered towns empty-handed to remember that it was not they who worked wonders or saved souls, but Christ acting and speaking through them.
When God uses us for His glorious purposes, we too will be tempted by the sin of pride. We may marvel at ourselves, seek recognition from others, or expect to be treated as if we were the source of God’s grace. This very real danger must be taken seriously by anyone engaged in Christ’s apostolate. Unless Christ works through us, we can do nothing. We are weak and sinful, and the merit of every good act belongs to Christ alone. We must never forget this sobering truth, especially the more deeply we become involved in His ministry.
Reflect today on how fully you rely on divine providence. Are there times when you are tempted to take credit for what God does through you? Do you seek affirmation and recognition when you serve our Lord? Ask Jesus to give you the grace of humility and detachment, so that you desire only to be a pure instrument of His mercy, never seeking your own glory but always pointing back to Him.
All-powerful Lord, You not only hold full authority over nature, You also possess the power to transform lives and bestow eternal life. Use me as a humble instrument of Your saving mission. Guard my heart against pride and keep me grounded in humility, ever mindful that every good work flows from You. I am but Your servant; You are the source of all goodness. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time 2026
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my Lord and my God. Teach me to trust in your providential care and to seek you above every earthly possession. Help me remember that my life is a pilgrimage toward my true home with you, where I hope to praise you forever with all the angels and saints.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Sent to Proclaim the Kingdom: Jesus does not merely give the Twelve a teaching assignment; he gives them a mission. “He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” The Twelve have received power and authority from Jesus, but this power is given for a purpose: they are to make the Kingdom of God present through their words and deeds.
This mission continues what Jesus himself has been doing. Earlier in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus declares that he must “proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God” because “for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:43). The Twelve now share in that same mission. When Jesus chose them, he called them “apostles” (Luke 6:13), a word derived from the Greek verb meaning “to send.” They are not simply disciples who have learned from Jesus; they are disciples who have been sent by Jesus. Their mission is both proclamation and action. They announce that God is establishing his reign, and they demonstrate that reign by healing the sick and freeing people from demonic oppression. The Kingdom is not merely an idea to be discussed. In Jesus, God’s saving reign is breaking into human history, and its arrival changes lives. This is important for understanding our own Christian vocation. We can easily think of our faith primarily in terms of what we receive: the Sacraments, prayer, Sacred Scripture, Christian fellowship, and the forgiveness of our sins. These are extraordinary gifts, but Jesus does not intend for us to keep them to ourselves. Having encountered Christ, we are also sent. We do not all receive the same mission. The Twelve were sent throughout Galilee. Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, known better as “Padre Pio,” was called to serve Christ as a Capuchin friar and priest, spending much of his life in the confessional, celebrating the Eucharist, offering spiritual counsel, and praying for those entrusted to him. Our own mission may be carried out through our family, workplace, parish, friendships, or ordinary circumstances of daily life. What matters is that we recognize that we, too, have been sent. The Christian question is not simply, “What do I want to do with my life?” It is also, “Lord, what are you sending me to do?” Jesus gives his disciples power and authority for their mission. The same Lord who sends us also gives us the grace necessary to fulfill what he asks. Our task is not to invent a mission for ourselves but to receive the mission Christ entrusts to us and faithfully carry it out. What has Christ sent me to do? Where is he asking me to make his Kingdom more visible through my words and actions?
2. Take Nothing for the Journey: Jesus then gives the Twelve a remarkable command: “Take nothing for the journey.” They are to take neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, nor a second tunic. Everything ordinarily considered necessary for a journey is left behind.
The point is not that these things are evil. A walking stick, food, money, and clothing are legitimate goods. Jesus is teaching the Twelve something deeper: they must learn to depend upon God rather than upon their own resources. The apostles have been given extraordinary power and authority, yet Jesus sends them out in a condition of radical dependence. They cannot rely upon money to purchase food or lodging. They must depend upon the hospitality of those who receive them. Their vulnerability becomes part of their witness. This dependence is especially significant because the apostles are about to exercise great spiritual power. They will cast out demons and cure diseases. Without humility, such power could become an occasion for pride. By sending them with nothing, Jesus reminds them that the power belongs to God. Whatever good they accomplish comes from the Lord who sent them. This lesson applies even when Jesus does not literally ask us to abandon our possessions. We can possess many things without allowing those things to possess us. We can have money, education, professional expertise, technology, influence, and carefully developed plans while recognizing that none is the ultimate source of our security. The temptation is to trust in what we can see and measure. We rely upon our savings, abilities, reputation, professional experience, connections, or plans. These can all be legitimate means of exercising prudence, but they cannot replace divine providence. The Christian life therefore requires a paradoxical combination of prudence and dependence. We should plan wisely and work diligently, but never imagine that our plans eliminate our need for God. We use our resources while remembering that everything we possess ultimately comes from him. This is particularly important when we experience success. The more capable we become, the easier it can be to forget our dependence upon God and believe our accomplishments are entirely our own. Padre Pio understood this dependence through a life of prayer and sacrifice. His ministry bore extraordinary fruit, but he consistently directed people toward God rather than himself. His life reminds us that fruitful apostolic work begins not with self-sufficiency but with surrender. To “take nothing for the journey” is therefore an invitation to spiritual freedom. We do not need to possess everything, control everything, or guarantee every outcome. We need to remain faithful to the One who sends us.
What do I tend to rely upon instead of God? What would it mean for me to trust more deeply in God’s providence while faithfully using the gifts and resources he has given me?
3. Faithful Even When Rejected: Jesus also prepares the Twelve for rejection. “As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” The apostles are not promised that everyone will welcome them. Their mission will involve both acceptance and rejection, just as Jesus himself experienced rejection at Nazareth (Luke 4:28–30). The Gospel does not always produce an immediate or positive response. Jesus therefore gives the Twelve an important lesson in detachment. If a town rejects their message, they are not to remain indefinitely trying to force acceptance. They are to leave and continue their mission. Shaking the dust from their feet is a symbolic act of testimony. It communicates that the apostles have faithfully proclaimed the Gospel and that responsibility for rejecting it now belongs to those who have heard it. As Luke later observes, some people “rejected God’s purpose for themselves” (Luke 7:30). There is an important distinction here. The apostles are responsible for proclaiming the Gospel; they are not responsible for controlling how others respond to it. This can be difficult for us. We naturally want our efforts to succeed. We want our family members to accept our advice, our friends to understand our beliefs, our coworkers to appreciate our witness, and our evangelization to bear visible fruit. But Jesus does not measure the apostles’ faithfulness by the number of people who welcome them. He measures it by whether they go where he sends them and proclaim what he has commanded. That is liberating. We should certainly seek to become better witnesses. We should speak with charity, prudence, courage, and humility. But we cannot force another person’s conversion or control another person’s conscience. We cannot make the Gospel acceptable to someone who refuses to receive it. Our responsibility is faithfulness. The Kingdom of God cannot be confined to one town, one people, or one generation. What begins as the mission of the Twelve will become the Church’s universal mission. We are part of that continuing mission. Wherever Christ has placed us, we have opportunities to proclaim the Gospel—not necessarily by preaching sermons, but through the integrity of our lives, our treatment of others, our willingness to forgive, our generosity, our courage in defending what is true, and our refusal to separate our faith from our daily decisions. Some people will welcome that witness. Others may reject it. Our task remains the same: to remain faithful and keep going. Am I more concerned with being faithful to Christ or with being accepted by others? How can I witness to the Gospel with greater courage and charity?
Wednesday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1–2
This is the first time that Jesus sends His Apostles out on a mission. On this mission, He is preparing them for their ultimate mission, which will come at the time of Pentecost, after Jesus dies, rises and ascends to Heaven. But for now, Jesus commissions these Apostles to do three things: to cast out demons, heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
Just like the Apostles, we are called to combat the devil and his demons. They are fallen angels who retain their natural powers, and they use those natural powers to try to deceive us, oppress us and, in some cases, even possess us. But demons are powerless in the face of God, and God gives us spiritual authority over them. And though there are some who are given the unique ministry of exorcism within the Church, all of us do have spiritual authority over demons, especially over their natural spiritual attacks of temptations.
We combat demons primarily by revealing their lies and bringing them to light. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his spiritual classic The Spiritual Exercises, explains to us some of the ordinary tactics these demons use and how we overcome them. He says that for those steeped in a life of serious sin, the demons continually place before their mind the lie that their sins are enjoyable and rewarding, so that they will continue to choose them. And for those who are striving for holiness, these demons try to discourage them in their deepening conversion. They “bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on” (Rule 2). The way to overcome these temptations is by turning to the truth. First, by realizing that the false “pleasures” of sin are just that: false, fleeting and ultimately demeaning. Furthermore, we overcome these temptations by receiving from God “courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles.” In other words, we overcome the demons by allowing God to strengthen us, clear our thinking, dispel all false obstacles on the road to holiness and by receiving the abundant consolations that God bestows as help on the journey.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that our Lord wants to minister to you in this threefold way. If you can work to overcome the obstacles, put in your path by these demons, then you are in a good position to share in the other two missions given to the Apostles. You will be able to experience mental, emotional and spiritual healing in your life, and you will be able to allow the Kingdom of God to grow strong and powerful within your own soul. From there, you will be sent on a mission by our Lord to bring these graces to others in need.
My all-powerful Lord, You have authority over evil, the power to heal and offer all the gifts of eternal salvation. Help me to be open to the ways that You desire to come to me. Please free me from the attacks of the evil one, bring healing and hope, and bring forth the abundance of Your glorious Kingdom in my life. Jesus, I trust in You
Wednesday 25th Ordinary 202
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my Lord and my God. I trust in you. I long to dwell in your house all the days of my life. I look forward to the day when, in heaven, I will sing your glorious praises with the heavenly host, with all the angels and saints.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Take Nothing for the Journey: In the Gospel, Jesus bestowed power and authority upon his Twelve Apostles. This gift included the power to cast out demons and to heal the sick. It also included the authority to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. As they carry out this mission of healing and teaching, the Apostles are not to trust in the strength of their own abilities. Jesus commands them to take nothing with them and leave everything behind (see Luke 5:11, 28). Although they might be good administrators, they are not to take money with them to buy food or a place to spend the night. Instead, they are to trust in the generosity of the people who welcome them to stay with them. Such practices will help them trust more in God’s providential care. And when they perform signs and wonders, and cast out demons, and heal the sick, they will more readily give glory and praise to God and not fall into the sin of pride and vainglory. As well, if they follow Jesus’ commands, then they will be less likely to fall into the perilous trap of using religion for financial gain.
2. Ezra as a Type of Christ: On Monday, we began reading from the Book of Ezra as our First Reading. The first part of the Book of Ezra (1-6) dealt with the rebuilding of the Temple from 538 to 515 B.C. Ezra 7 moves forward to the middle of the fifth century B.C. and the situation of the Judeans living in Jerusalem. Here, we are introduced to the priest and scribe Ezra, who served as an official in Persia under Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:1-6). “Artaxerxes grants Ezra permission by official decree to return to Jerusalem with the goal of restoring Torah observance (see Ezra 7:7-8, 11-26). The following passage captures the heart of Ezra’s mission: ‘For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel’ (Ezra 7:10). He gathers Levites to come with him to Jerusalem and they fast in preparation (Ezra 8:15-23)” (A Catholic Guide to the Old Testament, 237). When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he found that the people had been unfaithful to the Lord and that the upper classes, especially, had intermarried with the Gentile nations in the land. It was not a question of race, but of the officials and chief men of Judah seeking to advance their power and wealth by intermarrying with foreign nobles. This was seen by Ezra as an injustice to faithful Jewish women, as breaking the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 7:1-4), and as a danger of falling into idolatry. Ezra then pleaded with the Lord, fasting and interceding for the people. In this way, he is seen as a type of Christ, who makes sorrowful intercession and fasts for the people.
3. Ezra’s Spiritual Leadership: Ezra goes into a long prayer that confesses the collective sin of the people of Judah. “The people respond to Ezra’s exhortation and even agree to part with their foreign wives (10:1-17). Again, the text is clear: elite priests and Levites were at the forefront of the guilty here (see Ezra 10:18-24). With Ezra’s spiritual leadership – and the absence of royal Davidic leadership – we can see the gradual movement toward governance of the people by priests and religious leaders, while still remaining subject to various foreign powers. This is the situation at the time of Jesus, with rule by the priestly establishment, along with the Herodian rulers, all of whom serve under the auspices of the Roman authorities” (A Catholic Guide to the Old Testament, 237). Reading the Book of Ezra, then, helps us understand the history of the Jewish people and the influence of the religious authorities during the life and times of Jesus. Jesus comes not to promote a theology of separation between the Jewish people and the Gentiles, but to inaugurate the New Covenant and establish the Kingdom of God that welcomes people of all nations.
Wednesday 25th Ordinary 2024
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my Lord and my God. I trust in you. I long to dwell in your house all the days of my life. I look forward to the day when, in heaven, I will sing your glorious praises with the heavenly host, with all the angels and saints.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Proclaiming God’s Lordship Over All Things: Jesus’ Twelve Apostles were sent out to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God, to cast out demons, to heal the sick, and to cure diseases. This power and authority does not come from themselves but from God. Jesus is the one who gave them power and authority. The Apostles are not to rely on their own talents or strength but on the Father’s providence. The way they are sent out is itself a proclamation of the Kingdom. By not taking a walking stick, money, or second tunic, they proclaim God’s Lordship over creation and his providential care. They proclaim the dominion of God. God is God – He is in charge. He holds in his hands the threads of the world. God is acting now in our lives. He is a living God (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, vol. I, 55-60). Where God is absent, nothing can be good. Where God is not seen, man and the world fall to ruin (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, vol. I, 145).
2. Jesus as the Answer to Agur’s Questions: The Book of Proverbs concludes with the words of Agur (30:1-33); the words of Lemuel (31:1-9); and the praise of a good wife (31:10-31). Today’s First Reading is taken from the words of Agur. Agur begins with questions that challenge his listeners to see that God’s power and wisdom surpass them. He asks: “Who has ascended to the heavens and come down?;” “Who has gathered the wind in his fists?;” “Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?;” “Who has established all the ends of the earth?;” “What is his name, and what is his son’s name?” (Proverbs 30:4). The first question implies that no human being has acquired divine, heavenly wisdom. Only Jesus can claim such wisdom (John 3:13) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, 51). The second, third, and fourth questions contemplate the magnitude of God's creation – it too surpasses us. The last question about the Son of God is difficult to understand, but with the coming of Christ, however, we know that God the Father has an eternal Son. This Son has come down from heaven, dwelt among us, demonstrated power over the wind and waters, and ascended to his heavenly throne where he now reigns!
3. God’s Providential Care: Human beings receive divine wisdom from God and the Word of God is trustworthy. When we hear the Word of God and accept it, it becomes for us a shield since it protects us from false and evil ways. Agur’s petition, in the First Reading, is full of humility. He asks to be removed from falsehood and to receive only what he needs. He feels that if he is poor he will be tempted to steal and that if he is rich he will be tempted to forget his dependence on God. In the Old Testament, then, Agur proclaims the greatness of God’s wisdom and power as well as our dependence on God, who cares for us and protects us. In the New Testament, the Apostles testify to the coming of the Kingdom of God through miraculous signs, which testify to the end of the reign of evil and sin, and through their poverty, they testify to God’s providential care. The Apostles share directly in Jesus’ mission to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom; they will witness the glory of the Kingdom on Mount Tabor; they will witness the inauguration of the Kingdom at the Last Supper and on the Cross; they will be sent out after the Resurrection and Pentecost to proclaim and extend the Kingdom established by Christ.
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