Bài Giảng Chủ nhật thứ hai mùa thường niên: nămA

Bài Giảng Chủ nhật thứ hai mùa thường niên: Năm A

    Mùa Giáng sinh đã qua. Bây giờ chúng ta tiếp tục sự khởi đầu cuộc sống công khai của Jesus, hay được gọi là sứ vụ rao giản của Ngài. 

     Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chúng ta nghe đến việc

 khi ông Gioan Tẩy giả nhìn thấy Chúa và ông chỉ vào Ngài và nói. Đây là con chiên của Thiên Chúa,

    Trong sách Tiên tri Ê-sai chương 53 mô tả sự cảm xúc của những người thuộc Thiên Chúa khi họ nhìn lên Chúa Giêsu trên thập giá. “chính các bệnh tật của chúng tôi, ngài đã mang, chính các đau khổ của chúng tôi, ngài đã vác. Còn chúng tôi, chúng tôi lại kể ngài như kẻ bị trời đánh, bị Thiên Chúa trừng phạt và đày đọa. Nhưng ngài đã bị đâm vì những sự ngỗ nghịch của chúng tôi, và vì tội vạ của chúng tôi, ngài đã bị nghiền tán. Ðã giáng xuống ngài hình phạt đổi lấy an bình cho chúng tôi và nhờ những vết hằn ngài chịu, chúng tôi có phương được lành. (Is 53: 4-5)

       Tất cả chúng ta đã đi lạc như con Chiên lạc, mỗi người đi theo con đường của riêng mình; Nhưng Chúa Giê-su đã đặt lên Ngài tội lỗi của tất cả chúng ta. Mặc dù Ngài bị đối xử khắc nghiệt, Ngài đã phục tùng và không mở miệng; Giống như một con chiên bị dẫn đến lò sát tế hoặc như con trừu trước những người xén lông, Ngài im lặng. Và Ngài vui lòng gánh nhận thương au vì tội lỗi của chúng ta, Ngài bị bầm dập vì tội lỗi của chúng ta. Ngài đã tự nhận lấy sự trừng phạt để giữ cho chúng ta được toàn vẹn. Đó là những ý nghĩ mà thánh Gioan Tẩy Giả đã nhận về Chúa khi đã ông nói ,: Hãy nhìn kia, Đây là Chiên Thiên Chúa.

      Câu hỏi được hỏi là: tại sao? Tại sao thế giới cần một vị cứu tinh? Tại sao Con của Chúa Cha lại phải xuống thế làm người, phải đau khổ và phải chết vì chúng ta? Ngôi Lời có phải đã trở thành Xác Thịt không?

       Giáng sinh có cần thiết không? Thật sự mà nói, chúng ta không thể nói với Chúa là những gì cần thiết hoặc không cần thiết. Nhưng chúng ta chỉ có thể cố gắng để hiểu được những gì là kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa.

       Ngay từ ngày đầu của thế giới, mọi sáng tạo đã được giao phó cho con người nhân loại. Nhưng đáng buồn thay, vì sự ích kỷ và tham lam của con người, chúng ta đã làm sai lệch hoàn toàn mục đích của sự sáng tạo của Thiên Chúa. Thay vì tôn vinh Chúa, thì con người chúng ta đã lợi dụng tình yêu của Thiên Chúa để thỏa mãn nhu cầu ích kỷ và tham lam. Nhưng, Chúa vẫn không lấy món quà của sự sáng tạo ra khỏi chúng ta. Con người một lần nữa khôi phục lại việc tạo ra kế hoạch ban đầu của Thiên Chúa. Chúa Giêsu Kitô chính là người này.

       Một số người trong chúng ta ngày nay vẫn còn tiếp tục biến thái mục đích sáng tạo của Thiên Chúa, Đáng buồn thay, đôi khi, chúng ta cũng đã tham dự với họ trong những việc làm thiếu suy nghĩ. Chúng ta quấn quýt với chính mình đến nỗi chúng ta đã xua đuổi và đẩy Chúa sang một bên. Chúng ta đã biến những điều tốt đẹp của thế giới thành mục đích riêng của chúng ta, chúng ta chỉ biết quan tâm đến sự ích kỷ của chúng ta hơn là xem những món quà, hay những năng khiếu Chúa ban cho chúng ta để làm phương tiện tôn vinh Ngài. Chừng nào chúng ta còn sống như thế thì tình yêu đích thực này không thể tồn tại trên thế giới. Chúng ta không thể trao thân cho người khác hoặc cho người khác nếu khái niệm chính của chúng ta về cách sống là chỉ biết nhận lấy, chứ không phải cho đi. Đây là lý do tại sao một số người đã coi cuộc sống của họ là vô nghĩa và bực bội. Chúa Giêsu đến để sống như những gì mà Chúa Cha muốn tất cả chúng ta được sống. Ngài đã hy sinh hoàn toàn cho chúng ta để chúng ta có thể trải nghiệm được tình yêu hy sinh. Ngài kêu gọi chúng ta phải biết dùng những thứ được Ngài sáng tạo theo như ý của Chúa Cha.

    Kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa cho loài người chúng ta một lần nữa được có hiệu lực kể từ khi Con Một của Ngài đã trở thành con Người như chúng ta. Mọi sự sáng tạo đã được ủy thác nơi Ngài, để Ngài khôi phục thế giới.

    Trong Tin mừng hôm nay, Thánh Gioan Tẩy giả đã thấy Chúa Giêsu và tuyên bố, Hãy nhìn khia, Đây là Chiên Thiên Chúa. Chúa Giêsu là Đấng như con Chiên đã bị giết cho chúng ta. Cái chết của Ngài đã chính là kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa để cứu nhân loại. Ngài đã chinh phục tội lỗi của chúng ta. Ngài phục hồi cuộc sống và nhân phẩm của chúng ta với Chúa. Thánh Gioan Tẩy giả cũng nói rằng Chúa Giêsu là Đấng sẽ rửa tội bằng Chúa Thánh Thần. Chúng ta đã được rửa tội bằng Chúa Thánh Thần, chúng ta đã được Chúa ban cho sức mạnh của Thiên Chúa để biến đổi thế giới. Chúng ta đã được ban cho sức mạnh để tạo ra một thế giới mới, một thế giới trong cách sống mới, cách sống trong tình yêu thương và sự hy sinh.

    Khi chúng ta đọc hoặc hát, Lạy Chiên Thiên Chúa trong Thánh lễ trước khi rước lễ, chúng ta đang nhớ những gì Chúa Giêsu đã làm cho chúng ta và những gì Ngài đã trao phó cho chúng ta để chúng ta làm cho người khác. Chúng ta đang nhớ sự hiến tế và hy sinh của Ngài đã làm để đem tình yêu của Thiên Chúa được thiết thực trên trái đất.

    Chúng ta được nhắc nhở là tham dự với Chúa Giêsu trong tình yêu hiến tế là cách duy nhất để chúng ta có thể trở thành những người theo Ngài. Thánh Gioan Tẩy giả đã tìm đước cho mình cái lý do cho viếc tồn vong của mình. Ông chỉ là người chỉ cho mọi người biết ai mới là  Chiên Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của ông ấy là sứ mệnh của mỗi người chúng ta, là Kitô hữu.

    Chúng ta phải chỉ ra cho thế giới biết Chiên Thiên Chúa.  Không có việc gì  to lớn hơn mà bất kỳ ai trong chúng ta có thể làm được trong cuộc sống của chúng ta hơn là việc tỏ lộ hay đem Chúa Kitô đến cho mọi người, trước tiên cho con cái chúng ta và sau đó là đem Chúa đến với tất cả những người mà chúng ta đã gặp. Thánh Gioan Tẩy giả không phải là một người điển hình trong thời đại của ông. Ông ấy thật phi thường. Thật sự không phải là quần áo ông mặc hay những thứ ông ăn thức ăn hay thậm chí là lời rao giảng của ông đã khiến ông ta  trở nên phi thường. Nhưng trong thực tế ông đã trở nên phi thường vì ông đã tìm thấy mục đích cho cuộc sống của mình. Ông nhìn sang Chúa Giêsu và nói, đây là con chiên Thiên Chúa.

    Cuộc sống của chúng ta cũng có thể phi thường giống như Thánh Gioan, nếu chúng ta có can đảm như Thánh Gioan Tẩy giả là tiết lộ Chúa Kitô cho thế giới của chúng ta đang sống. Chúng ta hãy cùng với Thánh Gioan Tẩy giả nói với cuộc sống của chúng ta, Hãy nhìn kia, ây là Chiên Thiên Chúa.

My Homily Second Sunday of Ordinary Time: 1/18/2019

The Lamb of God

            We come to Church today and we notice right away that the Christmas decorations are gone.  On behalf of Fr. Donahue, Fr. William, and Deacon James, I would like to thank everyone who were here last Sunday evening to help us taking down the decorations and cleaning up.

Christmas is over, the Sanctuary is looking normal now. Do you know where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are now, don’t you?  They’re not in Egypt.  They’re in boxes in storage behind the Sacristy.

Some of the poinsettias remain.  They, particularly the red ones, are a good reminder that the One we celebrate on Christmas gave his blood for us.  As the old priest in my hometown used to repeat in his Christmas homily: “The Wood of the Manger is the Wood of the Cross.”

The Christmas season is over.  Now we move on with the very beginning of Jesus’ public life, usually referred to as his ministry. We come upon John the Baptist seeing Jesus and pointing to him.  “This is the Lamb of God,” he says. “Lamb of God.”  We use that term so often, that it is easy for us to overlook the deep theology and the unfathomable love of our God contained in His sending His Son to be the Lamb.

             In chapter 53 of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah describes the feelings of God’s people as they look at Jesus on the cross. “It was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. “(Is 53:4-5)

            We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD Jesus laid upon Him the guilt of us all.  Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and did not open His mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent. And He is wounded for our sins, bruised for our iniquities. He has taken upon himself the chastisement that makes us whole. That is what John the Baptist meant when he said,  “Look, there, is the Lamb of God.”    The question is: why?  Why did the world need a Savior? 

Why did God’s son become a man to suffer and die for us? Did the Word have to become Flesh?  Was Christmas necessary?  Well, we can’t tell God what is necessary or not necessary.  But we can try to come to an understanding of God’s plan. From the very beginning of the world, all creation was entrusted to human beings.  Sadly, in our human selfishness and self-centeredness, perverted the whole purpose for creation. Instead of glorifying God, creation was used to satisfy our human’s selfish needs.  But, God still did not take the gift of creation away from us.  A man would once more restore creation to God’s original plan.  Jesus Christ is this man.

       Some people continue to pervert the purpose of creation. Sadly, sometimes, we join them. We become so wrapped up in ourselves that we push God aside. We turn the good things of the world into the purpose of creation, being more concerned with our selfishness than seeing God’s gifts as a means of glorifying Him.   As long as we live like this true love cannot exist in the world. We cannot give ourselves to others or to another if our main concept of how to live is to take, not to give.  This is the reason why for some people life is meaningless and frustrating.

            Jesus came to live as the Father wants us all to live. He sacrificed himself completely for us so that we could experience sacrificial love.  He called us to use creation as the Father meant creation to be used. God’s plan for mankind could once more be put into effect since the Son of God became a man. Entrusted with creation, a man restores the world.

In today Gospel,  John the Baptist saw Jesus and proclaimed, “Look, there is the Lamb of God.” Jesus is the One who was the Lamb slain for us. His death opened up God’s plan for mankind.  He conquered our sins. He restored our life with God. John the Baptist also said that Jesus is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”  Baptized with the Holy Spirit, we have been given the power of God to transform the world. We have been given the power to create a new world, a world with a new way of living, the way of sacrificial love. When we say or sing, “Lamb of God” during Mass before the Holy Communion, we are remembering what Jesus did for us and what He has empowered us to do for others. We are remembering His sacrifice to make God’s love real on earth.  We are reminding ourselves that joining Jesus in sacrificial love is the only way we can be his followers. John the Baptist found his reason for existence.  He was to point out the Lamb of God to the world. 

His mission is the mission of every one of us as Christian. We are to point out the Lamb of God to the world. There is nothing greater that any of us can do in our lives than to reveal Christ to others, first to our children and then to all we encounter. John the Baptist was not a typical person of his time.  He was extraordinary.  It was not his clothes or the food he eats or even his preaching that made him extraordinary. It was the fact that he found the purpose for his life.  He looked to Jesus and said, “There is the Lamb of God.” Our lives can also be extraordinary just like John.  May we have the courage, like John the Baptist, to reveal Christ to the world?  Let us join John the Baptist in saying with our lives, “Look, there, is the Lamb of God.”

 

2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Saint John the Baptist speaks these words about Jesus at the moment that he sees Jesus coming to him in the distance. John knew, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” He knew, by this interior revelation, that Jesus would become the Sacrificial Lamb Who would lay down His life for the salvation of the world. Perhaps John did not know the details of how this would happen, but he didn’t need to. He was content knowing this sacred mission of the Messiah, and he was content knowing that Jesus was that Messiah.

Today, as we ponder John’s words, we are able to see them more clearly. Jesus is the One Who gave His life on the Cross for the remission of sins. He is the One Whom we now receive sacramentally in Holy Communion as that “Lamb of God.” It is His flesh and His blood, poured out for us, that we now consume with the deepest reverence and love.

At Mass, these are the final words spoken by the priest after the consecration and prior to Holy Communion. Every time we participate in the Holy Mass, we relive this moment in which John saw our Lord coming to Him.

As we begin this season of Ordinary Time, we are invited to come to know this Lamb of God more fully through His many teachings, miracles and actions done during His public ministry. In the Liturgy of the Word at every Mass, we are called to unpack these words of John, coming to understand the mystery of the life of Christ more fully. And through our participation in the reception of Holy Communion, we come to know Him Who is the Lamb of God in the most personal and intimate of ways, when we enter into holy union (Holy Communion) with Him.

Reflect, today, upon these very familiar words of Saint John the Baptist. As you do, begin by prayerfully pondering the knowledge that John might have had about Christ the first time he saw Him. Why did John say these words? How fully did he understand their meaning? Did he know that his words would be echoed throughout time? As you prayerfully ponder the interior knowledge that John might have had at that time, try also to reflect upon all that we now know about these holy words. Reflect especially upon the suffering and death of the Lamb of God and the way in which He has transmitted His Saving Sacrifice to us in Holy Communion. What a gift! What a mystery! What a joy! Behold the Lamb of God within your heart, mind and soul, and prayerfully seek to know Him more fully this day.

Glorious Lamb of God, You have come and taken away the sins of the world through the sacrifice of Your sacred life on the Cross. Please help me to understand Who You are and all that You have done for me, especially every time I come to behold You and receive You in Holy Communion. Jesus, I trust in You.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 1 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 1 Thường Niên (Mark 2:13-17)

Những ràng buộc của chúng ta vào thế giới vật chất bởi vì chúng ta đang ở trong một thế giới tiêu dùng; chúng ta không có thời giờ cho người khác vì lối sống máy móc,với kỹ thuật tân tiến đã hủy hoại các mối quan hệ cá nhân của chúng ta với gia đình và những người khác. Những quy tắc đã trở nên quan trọng hơn con người; chúng ta không nhìn xuyên qua trái tim hay tình cảm mà chỉ biết nhìn bằng mắt thường. Chúng ta không nhận ra rằng các ràng buộc đấy sẽ dẫn đưa chúng ta đến hư không.
Lời Chúa có sức mạnh thâm nhập vào linh hồn và tâm hồn của chúng ta. Lời Chúa đánh giá những suy nghĩ và thái độ của tâm hồn con tim chúng ta. Lời Chúa kêu gọi sự suy nghĩ phán đoán của chúng ta như ông Lêvi (Mathêu) đáp lại lời kêu gọi của Chúa Giêsu. Ông ta lắng nghe Chúa Giêsu, tin vào những gì Chúa Giêsu nói và đi theo Chúa Giêsu không chút do dự. Phản ứng kịp thời của ông Lêvi đối với Lời Chúa đã khiến ông ta mời Chúa Giêsu dùng bữa cơm tối vớiông ta. Thiên Chúa phán xét chúng ta về cách chúng ta đáp lại lời Chúa, không phải về cách chúng ta làm sạch hay giữ vệ sinh bề ngoài, mà chính là sự giữ cho tâm hồn bên trong chúng ta được sạch sẽ.
Chỉ có Chúa mới có thể phán xét và tha thứ vì thế chúng ta không nên xét đoán người khác mà nên biết tha thứ. Chúa Giêsu, là Chúa, Ngài đã trở thành con người như chúng ta, Ngài biết mọi yếu điểm của chúng ta. Là con của Thiên Chúa, Ngài biết mọi nhu cầu vần thiết của chúng ta. Do đó, Ngài biết mọi thứ, kể cả những suy nghĩ và thái độ của chúng ta; không có gì mà có thể che giấu được khỏi tầm nhìn của Ngài. Ngài đã đến là để củng cố tâm hồn chúng ta nếu chúng ta tin tưởng vào Ngài, Ngài sẽ an ủi và dẫn đưa chúng ta nghỉ ngơi trong Ngài.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng con biết sống theo đức tin.  Xin giúp chúng con biết dùng lời nói và sự suy nghĩ của chúng con tìm thấy sự ưu ái trước tôn nhan Chúa.
 
Saturday 1st Week in Ordinary Time Heb. 4:12-16;  Mk. 2:13-17
Our assumptions are worldly because we are in a consumerist world; we do not have time for others because a mechanical life style has ruined our personal relationships. Rules have become more important than human beings; we do not see-through hearts but see through our naked eyes. We do not realize that assumptions lead us to nowhere.
The Word of God has the power to penetrate the soul and spirit. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. It calls for our response as Levi responded to Jesus’ call. He listened to Jesus, believed in what he said and followed him without hesitation. His prompt response to the Word of God led him to dine with Jesus. God judges us on how we respond, not on how we are outwardly clean, but inwardly clean.
A clear judgement can come only through Jesus our Lord. Jesus, who became human for us, knows our every weakness. As Son of God he knows our every need. Thus he knows everything of our thoughts and attitudes; nothing is hidden from his sight. He will strengthen us if we trust him alone. He will comfort us if we rest in him.
Dear Lord, help us to live by faith. Let our words and thoughts find favour before You.
 
Saturday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2022
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. Mark 2:14
How do you know the will of God for your life? In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola presented three ways in which we come to know the will of God. The first way is the clearest and most definitive way. It is a time in which the person experiences a “clarity beyond doubting” as a result of a special grace of God. In describing this experience, Saint Ignatius mentions the passage quoted above as an illustration of this experience.
There is little said about this call of Levi in the Gospel of Mark, which is also recorded in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 9:9). Levi, who is also known as Matthew, was going about his occupation of collecting taxes at his customs post. It appears that Jesus spoke only these two simple words to Levi: “Follow me.” As a result of these two words, Levi abandons his former life and becomes a follower of Jesus. Why would Levi do such a thing? What was it that convinced him to follow Jesus? Clearly there was much more than just a two-word invitation from Jesus that convinced him to respond.
That which convinced Levi was a special grace of God which produced within his soul a “clarity beyond doubting.” Somehow Levi just knew that God was calling him to abandon his former life and embrace this new life. There was no long discussion, no weighing of the pros and cons, no prolonged thinking about it. Levi just knew, and he responded.
Though this form of clarity in life is rare, it’s important to be aware of the fact that sometimes God does act this way. This is a great gift when it happens! And though this depth of instant clarity is not always the way God speaks to us, it’s important to acknowledge that God does speak to us this way at times.
Reflect, today, upon this call of Levi. Ponder this inner certitude he was given in that moment. Try to imagine what he experienced and what others may have thought of his choice to follow Jesus. Be open to this same grace; and if you ever feel as if God speaks to you with such clarity, be ready and willing to respond without hesitation.
My dear Lord, thank You for calling us all to follow You without hesitation. Thank You for the joy of being Your disciple. Give me the grace to always know Your will for my life and help me to respond to You with total abandonment and trust. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: God our Father, in your eyes, I am like a little child whom you tenderly watch over. God the Son, in your eyes, I am like a poor, helpless sheep whom you gently pick up and carry when I’m worn out from my sins. God the Holy Spirit, in your eyes, I am like a dry piece of wood that you wish to set ablaze with the fire of your love. Thank you, Holy Trinity, for wanting to bring me into your holy friendship. I am completely unworthy of your love but grateful to find rest and a true home in you.
Petition: Lord, grant me a generous heart.
1. He Got Up and Followed Him: “‘He rose and followed him.’ The conciseness of the phrase clearly underlines Matthew’s promptness in response to the call…. In this ‘rising’ one can see the detachment from a situation of sin and, at the same time, the conscious adherence to a new life, upright, in communion with Jesus” (Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, General Audience, August 30, 2006). Holiness of life is not simply separation from what is sinful, but a participation in the love and holiness of God. It is not just separation from something, but transformation into the someone God has created us to be. When he calls, Jesus never gives us a map, only a compass. We do not see the full picture, we simply know the direction. Each day he invites us to follow him, to deepen the communion of love with him, and to keep our eyes fixed on him as on a “lamp shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). Matthew really had no clue where his life would end up. But he did know that it had to change and where that change needed to begin. Matthew was so utterly convinced that Jesus was worthy of his trust that he surrendered his life to him. We must daily choose to follow Matthew’s example of how to follow Jesus.
2. While He Was at Table in His House: “Behold! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Revelation 3:20). They are celebrating Matthew’s vocation to follow Jesus. Matthew could have said “no” or “not yet” or “not now.” But consider the effects if such a refusal had taken place. For starters, there would have been no dinner feast, and consequently many of Matthew’s friends would have missed an intimate encounter with Jesus that night – an encounter that forever changed some of their lives. Jesus knocked at the door of Matthew’s life, and Matthew opened it wide to Jesus. Then, like the Samaritan woman, he ran to get others so that they too might meet Jesus. By way of Matthew’s “yes,” Jesus started touching the lives of others. Whenever we say “yes” to Jesus, he will work not only in us but also through us. Once again, today he will invite us to say “yes” to his will and thereby be his instrument of grace for others. “I am standing at the door, knocking.…”
3. Why Does Your Teacher Eat with Tax Collectors and Sinners? He does so that we might learn two lessons: the depth of his love for every soul, and how we must love others unconditionally. “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Loving a person unconditionally does not mean that we blithely accept their sin. We love them despite their sin and in the hope that one day they will leave it aside. Mercy is the one form of love that we can never directly exercise toward God, yet it is his greatest expression of love for each one of us. Through Jesus’ dying on a cross for the forgiveness of our sins, God has revealed the pinnacle of love. Thus, when we practice mercy, forgiveness, patience, etc. towards those around us, we are imitating the highest form of love. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners for the same reason he called Matthew to follow him: because he loves us and wants to share his life with us.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, the call to follow you is a call to conversion of heart. Touch my heart with your grace so that my thoughts and actions may always reflect my desire to imitate your example of love. Make me patient in each situation and capable of forgiving those who may cause me harm or create difficulties.
Resolution: Today, I will speak to someone – whether a family member, friend, coworker, acquaintance, or stranger – about my gratitude to Jesus Christ. 
 
Saturday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2022
Opening Prayer: Lord, please give me the grace to answer your call. Free me from any wrong thinking or constraint that may hinder me. Teach me humility. Make me keenly aware of my need for your healing and your mercy as I read these words today. 
Encountering Christ:
Calling All Sinners: Jesus’ fame is spread far and wide at this point in his ministry. He needed no one to help him succeed or make him more popular. We don’t know why he called Levi, the tax collector, to follow him, but by doing so, Jesus sent a powerful message to those of us who may feel unwelcome or unworthy to be Christians. Clearly, the Kingdom of God is open to anyone who accepts the invitation. 
Tax Collectors and Sinners: It is especially significant that Jesus “was at table in his (Levi’s) house.” Eating a meal with someone, whether accepting or offering hospitality, can be a sign of intimate friendship. We break bread with those we love or those whom we wish to know better. In his book A Meal with Jesus, author Tim Chester says, “His (Jesus’) mission strategy was a long meal, stretching into the evening. He did evangelism and discipleship around a table with some grilled fish, a loaf of bread, and a pitcher of wine.” Here, in this simple setting, Jesus was exercising his divine physicianship, showing his unconditional love for Matthew and his friends (Matthew 9:12). He has the same unchanging and perfect love for us.
Doctor, Doctor: Just in case the Pharisees or anyone else missed the point, Jesus drove it home with a clear analogy: People do not seek out medical care when they are well. It is when we are sick, injured, or infirm that we seek a doctor. Likewise, people who are full of their own righteousness are sometimes so intent on judging others that they do not always see their deep need for Christ’s healing in their lives. “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23). As sinners, we humbly acknowledge our sicknesses–our attachments–and leave the judgment of others to Christ. We seek with faith and hope our personal cure from the Divine Physician. 
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, how easily I can fall into the trap of judging other people. Please remind me that I will be judged the same way I judge others (Matthew 7:2). Soften my heart that I might look at my sinfulness with honesty and humbly come to you for the cure. Help me to look at the people in my life with love and mercy. I give you thanks for your love, grace, and mercy. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pause before each meal to give praise and thanks for the food and drink you provide, also remembering your merciful love. 
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 1 Thường Niên (Mark 2:13-17 )
Bài đọc thứ nhất đã giới thiệu chúng ta về con người của Saul, người mà sẽ trở thành vị vua đầu tiên của Israel. Ông được mô tả là đẹp trai, cao ráo và là con của một người giàu có.  Người viết sách này dường như cảnh báo cho chúng ta nhận ra rằng những hồng ân, tài năng của con người không nhất thiết hay không đồng nghĩa với sự chấp thuận của Thiên Chúa và những năng khiếu Chúa ban cho này có thể là nguyên nhân của niềm tự hào, đâm ra kêu ngạo và rồi lại coi thường luật của Thiên Chúa. Lời nhắn nhủ rõ ràng: Không phải là dáng vóc bề ngoài mà Thiên Chúa ưng nhận, nhưng những chính là những gì ẩn chứa trong tâm hồn.
Điều này hiển nhiên rõ ràng trong quyết định của Chúa Giêsu trong việc chọn ông Lêvi (Mathêu) để làm một trong những môn đệ của Ngài. Điều này cho thấy Chúa Jêsus chọn những người có vóc dáng dễ nhìn bên ngoài, giản dị, thậm chí có cả những người có những nghề nghiệp "đáng xấu hổ theo Ngài. Lêvi là người bị những người Do Thái lên án, khinh rẻ vì là ông là người thu thuế, là tay sai cho người La Mã. Nghề nghiệp của ông đã kết tội chính  ông vì thâu thuế ông đã phạm tội phản quốc, phản dân tộc, và còn cả cái tội tham lam và tham nhũng, ..... Điều đáng kể là Chúa Jêsus đã đến nhà của ông và cùng ăn uống với ông và những người thu thuế và tội lỗi khác.
Bằng với cử chỉ trên,  trong cả hai bài đọc hôm nay chúng ta thấy Giáo Hội như muốn nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng Thiên Chúa không "nhìn" bề ngoài như con người đã làm. Thiên Chúa "nhìn thấy" rõ những cái gì đẹp  trong thâm tâm, trong tâm hồn chứ không phải chỉ là những dáng vẻ bên ngoài. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện xin Chúa ban cho chúng ta có được ân sủng là để 'thấy' những gì như Chúa 'thấy'.  Lạy Chúa, xin giúp con "được thấy" như Ngài thấy.
 
Sat 13th Jan 2018 - 1st Week in Ordinary Time
The first reading introduces the person of Saul, who later becomes the first king of Israel. He is described as being handsome, taller than most, and the son of a wealthy man. It is interesting that in the two Books of Samuel, there are others who are described as beautiful or handsome, or people of wealth: David, Bathsheba, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah. More often than not, these people come to an unhappy or tragic end. The author of these Books seem to warn that such external gifts do not necessarily indicate divine approval and that these gifts can infact be a source of pride and disobedience to God’s law. The message is clear: It is not the externals that God approves, but what is in the heart.
This is clearly evident in the decision by Jesus in choosing Levi as one of his disciples. It indicated that Jesus chooses his followers from among those who are seen, externally, as simple and even those with 'disgraceful' occupations. Levi would have been held in contempt by his fellow Jews because as a tax collector, he cooperated with the Romans in exacting taxes for the emperor. His profession would clearly place him among the recognised ‘sinners’ of the Jewish people. Even more significant is that Jesus goes to Levi’s house to associate with other ‘sinners’. By this, the readings today remind us that God does not ‘see’ as human beings do. God ‘sees’ the ‘heart’ and not the externals. May we pray for the grace to ‘see’ as God ‘sees’. Lord, help me to ‘see’ as You see.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần 1 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần 1 Thường Niên (Mark 2:1-1 1 )

Qua bài đọc  thứ Nhất, Những người lãnh đạo Israel đến gặp tiên tri Samuel và yêu cầu tiên tri Samuel chọn một người để làm vua cai trị họ. Tại sao họ lại muốn như thế?  Vì họ muốn "giống như các quốc gia khác." Ngay cả khi Tiên Tri Samuel báo cho họ biết về những quyền hành và sự cai trị của nhà vua đối với con cái, ruộng vườn, đất đai,  súc vật của họ, Vvà thực tế họ sẽ trở thành nô lệ của nhà vua, nhưng họ vẫn khăng khăng đòi phải có vua.

Tiên Tri Samuel hoàn toàn không hài lòng với yêu cầu này bởi vì cho đến nay chỉ có Thiên Chúa là Vua của Israel. Từ nền dân chủ do Thiên Chúa cai trị; giờ đây họ sẽ tiến tới chế độ quân chủ để một vị vua loài người cai trị. Nhưng Thiên Chúa đã nói với Samuel: "Hãy nghe tiếng nói của dân chúng và chọn cho họ một vị vua ... không phải là ngươi đã từ chối Ta ...Nhưng họ đã từ chối Ta để cai trị họ".

Trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, là người Kitô hữu, chúng ta cũng có lúc  giống như người Do Thái, chúng ta cố duy trì lối sống của chúng ta để chúng ta cũng giống như những người khác.  Chúng ta cố từ chối lời khuyên của những người Khác, kể cả lời khuyên của Linh Mục để sống một cuộc sng làm nô lệ cho tiền của.  Ngay cả những khi chúng ta biết lối sống, những việc làm đó có ý nghĩa là từ bỏThiên Chúa.?

Lạy Chúa giúp xin giúp chúng con biết nhận ra rằng mặc dù chúng con có thể chối bỏ Chúa, xin Chúa luôn tiếp tục chờ đợi chúng con để chúng con biết sớm giác ngộ về việc sống lối sống "giống như những người khác" và giành lại vị trí của chúng con trong Vương quốc của Chúa như con cái của Chúa mà Chúa đã tạo dựng nên như hình ảnh của Chúa.

 

REFLECTION

The leaders of Israel met and then petitioned the prophet, Samuel, for a king to rule over them. Why?  They wanted to be “like the other nations.” Even when informed about the king's rights over the peoples’ sons, daughters, fields/lands, servants, flocks, and the reality of them becoming the king’s slaves — they still insisted on having this king.

Samuel was utterly unhappy with this request because up till the petition, God was the King of Israel.  From theocracy (being ruled by God); they will now move towards a monarchy (being ruled by a human king). How did God look at this request and what is the prophet of God to do? God told Samuel -“Obey the voice of the people and give them a king … it is not you they have rejected … they have rejected Me from ruling over them.”

In our own lives as Christians, how are we like the Israelites? Do we try to change or maintain a lifestyle, so that we will be “like the others?” Do we insist on this lifestyle, even if it means, rejecting the sound advice of fellow Christians?  Even if it means rejecting God?

Lord, help us to realise that although we may reject You — You will continue to wait for us to come to our senses about living “like the others”, and reclaim our place in Your Kingdom as Your sons and daughters made in Your image.

 

Friday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2023

They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Mark 2:3–4

This paralytic is a symbol of certain people in our lives who seem to be incapable of turning to our Lord by their own effort. It’s clear that the paralytic wanted healing, but he was unable to come to our Lord by his own effort. Therefore, the friends of this paralytic carried him to Jesus, opened the roof (since there was such a large crowd), and lowered the man down before Jesus.

The paralysis of this man is a symbol of a certain type of sin. It’s a sin for which someone desires forgiveness but is incapable of turning to our Lord by their own effort. For example, a serious addiction is something that can so dominate a person’s life that they cannot overcome this addiction by their own effort. They need the help of others to even be able to turn to our Lord for help. 

We each must see ourselves as the friends of this paralytic. Too often when we see someone who is trapped in a life of sin, we simply judge them and turn away from them. But one of the greatest acts of charity we can offer another is to help provide them with the means they need to overcome their sin. This can be done by our counsel, our unwavering compassion, a listening ear, and by any act of fidelity to that person during their time of need and despair.

How do you treat people who are caught in the cycle of manifest sin? Do you roll your eyes at them and turn away? Or do you firmly determine to be there for them to give them hope and to assist them when they have little or no hope in life to overcome their sin? One of the greatest gifts you can give to another is the gift of hope by being there for them to help them turn fully to our Lord.

Reflect, today, upon a person you know who seems to be not only caught in the cycle of sin but has also lost hope to overcome that sin. Prayerfully surrender yourself over to our Lord and commit yourself to the charitable act of doing anything and everything you can so as to help them fully turn to our divine Lord.

My precious Jesus, fill my heart with charity toward those who need You the most but seem incapable of overcoming the sin in their lives that keep them from You. May my unwavering commitment to them be an act of charity that gives them the hope they need to surrender their life to You. Use me, dear Lord. My life is in Your hands. Jesus, I trust in You

 

Friday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2022

Opening Prayer: Lord, soften my heart and teach me to lose my doubt. I love you; I have faith in you. I want to serve you, but sometimes doubt creeps in. Strengthen my faith and my trust in you. You alone are the source of life and healing. 

Encountering Christ:

Extraordinary: The readings of this first week of Ordinary Time have depicted events that are anything but ordinary. Today’s Gospel is no exception. Jesus had shown that he could heal lepers, free the possessed, and raise the dying. His popularity had exploded. Excitement was at a fever pitch. When the word got out that he was at home, the crowds who followed him unrelentingly gathered there as well. They were all looking for healing, meaning, purpose. We come to Jesus’ home every Sunday. What are we looking for?

Friends Like This: The paralytic has some very devoted and loyal friends. Their faith and devotion moved the heart of Jesus and won for their friend the greatest of all gifts—forgiveness of his sins. Jesus’ message to us is clear: it is good to be physically well, but to avail ourselves of the sacrament of Reconciliation so as to be forgiven our sins is a far greater good. This paralytic, with the help of his friends, went to great lengths to encounter Christ. We have only to prepare our hearts and show up at church at the appointed time. How grateful are we for this experience of divine forgiveness? “Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy…”) Jesus to Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul).

They Just Didn’t Get It: One would think that the scribes, who had spent their lives studying Scripture, would recall the words of the prophets regarding the Messiah and realize that he was in their midst. Instead, they criticized Jesus and demanded to know why he thought he had the right to forgive sins. Jesus’ brilliant response did three things: it established his authority to heal, it established his authority to forgive sins, and it held the door open for the scribes to accept the Messiah. Jesus, our Savior, is a God of second chances. He truly loves each one of us and wants us to enter into a loving relationship with him. Jesus can reach even the most hardened sinners. Jacques Fesch was a murderer in the 1950s who experienced a profound conversion while in prison. He said of this experience: “At the end of my first year in prison, a powerful wave of emotion swept over me, causing deep and brutal suffering. Within the space of a few hours, I came into possession of faith, with absolute certainty. I believed … Grace came to me. A great joy flooded my soul, and above all a deep peace.” Jacques Fesch is being considered for canonization. Truly no one is beyond the reach of Jesus’ saving grace–not the scribes who tried to derail his mission, not a man who found Our Lord while he was on death row–no one.

Conversation with Christ: Oh my Lord. I am so grateful for two things: that you look beyond my prayer to see what I really need; and that you are a God of second chances. Often I pray for something and you do not grant what I ask. Later I see that you were working the whole time for the betterment of my soul. When I mess up, you are always there to redirect, transform, and forgive me. I give you thanks for your great wisdom and your great mercy. 

 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần 1 Thường Niên (Mark 2:1-1 1 )

Trong cuộc sống yếu đuối của con người hầu như ai trong chúng ta cũng chỉ thấy những cái xấu trong mọi tình huống. Chúng ta có thể thấy những tin tức tiêu cực mà chúng ta đọc hàng ngày qua các báo chí, trên TV. Chúng ta cũng thấy những cái xấu trên Internet hay qua các tin đồn, bàn luận trên Facebook hay trên các trang sinh hoạt của các nhóm xã hội. Với cái nhìn vào trong những cái khía cạnh của sự xấu xa, chúng ta có lẽ hay thích chê bai hay phỉ báng người khác, có lẽ chúng ta muốn “hạ người khác càng xuống thấp hơn” càng tốt để chúng ta cảm thấy sung sướng và an toàn hơn.

            Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta đã thấy những người Pharisêu và các thầy thông giáo đã làm điều đó, Họ coi thường niềm tin của nhiều người khác, và chống đối những nỗ lực của họ khi họ mang một người bại liệt đến gần với Chúa Giêsu. Họ đã cố tìm cách bắt bẻ, gài bẫy và gán ép cho Chúa Giêsu vào một cái tội kêu ngạo và muốn loại bỏ Người ra khỏi vòng pháp luật và tôn giáo của họ, Vì họ coi Chúa Giêsu như là một tội phạm hơn là một Thiên Chúa.

            Chúa Giêsu đã biết rõ rằng những cái khó chịu đó đang âm ỉ trong lòng của họ bởi vì cái thói đạo đức giả và cái niềm tự cao, tự đại của họ mà Ngài đã khẳng định quyền hạn và uy quyền của Ngài bằng cách chữa lành cho người bại liệt này trước những con mắt ngạc nhiên của đám đông. Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta biết rằng là thành viên của Giáo Hội có nghĩa là chúng ta không được phép thách thức quyền năng của Thiên Chúa và những điều tốt đẹp mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta mỗi ngày. Chúng ta có thể có quyền tự do để chỉ trích những sai lầm mà chúng ta thấy thường xảy ra xung quanh chúng ta và trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta, nhưng chúng ta không nên đặt mình trên bệ giá cao và tin rằng mình hơn người khác bởi vì chúng ta đều là tạo vật do Thiên Chúa sáng tạo ra và chúng ta đều gọi nhau là Kitô hữu.

            Chúng ta hãy cố tránh những cạm bẫy của niềm tự hào, hay của sự ngoạo mạn và sự kêu ngạo, thay vào đó chúng ta nên làm những việc phục vụ trong sự khiêm tốn như là người tôi tớ khiêm hạ của Thiên Chúa, Chúng ta hãy xin Chúa giúp chúng ta có lòng can đảm để loại bỏ sự cám dỗ của những sự suy nghĩ tiêu cực và biết nắm lấy niềm vui trong Tin Mừng của Chúa Giêsu.

            "Lạy Chúa Giêsu, qua tình yêu, lòng thương xót và sự tha thứ của Chúa, Chúa đã mang đến cho chúng con ơn chữa lành và phục hồi thân xác cũng như linh hồn của chúng con, Xin tình yêu và quyền năng của Chúa xoa dịu cuộc sống của chúng con trong mọi lĩnh vực, Và xin Chúa biến đổi và ban cho chúng con  sức mạnh của Chúa Thánh Thần để chúng con có thể bước đi một cách tự tin trong chân lý, và trong sự công chính của Chúa.

 

REFLECTION

It seems inherent in our human nature to look for the bad in any situation. We can see that in the negative news stories we read in the papers or watch on TV. We also observe it in the gossip that circulates among social groups. By talking about the bad side of others, we perhaps try to bring down people to make ourselves feel good. The scribes at Capernaum in today's Gospel were doing just that. They belittled the faith of several men and brushed off their effort to bring a paralytic close to Jesus. They attempted to make Jesus look like a law-breaker or religious violator instead of the preacher of Good News, which he was doing.

            Jesus was obviously annoyed by the hypocrisy and sky-high pride of the scribes that He asserted His authority and power by healing the paralytic in front of the astonished eyes of the crowd. Jesus gives notice that being members of His Church does not give us the license to challenge His authority and the many good things God provides every day. We may have the freedom to criticize the many wrongs we see happening around us in our daily lives but we should not place ourselves on pedestals and believe ourselves superior to others because we call ourselves Christians. Let us avoid the pitfalls of pride and instead work to be humble servants of God. Let us ask Jesus to remove the temptation of negative thinking and embrace the joy of His Good News.

            "Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life -- my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories? Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and righteousness.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần I Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần I Thường Niên. (Mark 1:40-45 )
Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chúng ta thấy người phong cùi đã tới gần Chúa Giêsu và cầu xin ngài chữa lành. Anh ta đã rụt rè khiêm tốn và chỉ dám đề nghị với Chúa rằng "Nếu Ngài muốn, Ngài có thể làm cho tôi sạch!" anh ta không dám năm nĩ xin Chúa Giêsu chữa anh ta, nhưng anh ta chỉ có ý là anh xin được theo như ý Chúa muốn mà thôi.  Cũng vì cử chỉ khiêm tốn và lòng vững tin đó mà Chúa Giê-su đã động lòng thương xót, Ngài đã sốc vì cái sự rụt rè và khiêm tốn của người cùi này. "Tất nhiên Ta muốn, anh hãy nên sạch!"
           Đôi khi những nỗi sợ hãi và những cảm xúc tiêu cực của chúng ta đã nhốt khoá chính mình trong bóng tối để không thể nhận ra Chúa và nhận ra được những ơn lành và long thương xót nơi Thiên Chúa. Chúng ta cần phải thực tâm và vững tin nơi lòng thương xót và từ bi của  Thiên Chúa. Thiên Chúa luôn có sẵn lòng thương xót, và luôn sẵn sàngvgiúp đỡ chúng ta trong những nhu cầu riêng  của chúng ta, nếu chúng ta biết phó thác và đạt niềm tin nơi Ngài. Một phép lạ cần phải có cả hai đối tượng để thực hiện đó là: Thiên Chúa và chúng ta ! Lạy Chúa, xin gia tăng đức tin của chúng con.
 
Thursday 1st Week in Ordinary Time
           The leper was so used to having people run away in disgust and fear that he was afraid to even ask Jesus for healing. He timidly suggested that Jesus could heal him — but only if he wanted to! Jesus, moved with compassion, was shocked at the man’s timidity. ‘Of course I want to, be healed!’ Sometimes our own fear and negative feelings about ourselves blocks us from receiving help and healing from God. We need to really believe in our heart of hearts that God is compassionate, merciful, and eager to help us in our need. It takes two to make a miracle — God and us!  Lord, increase my faith.
 
Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Mark 1:40–41
If we come to our divine Lord with faith, kneel down before Him and present our need to Him, then we also will receive the same response given to this leper: “I do will it. Be made clean.” These words should give us hope in the midst of any and every challenge in life.
What is it that our Lord wills for you? And what is it that He desires to make clean in your life? This story of the leper coming to Jesus does not mean that our Lord will grant any and every request we bring to Him. Instead, it reveals that He wills to make us clean of that which afflicts us the most. Leprosy in this story should be seen as a symbol of the spiritual ills that afflict your soul. First and foremost, it should be seen as a symbol of the sin in your life that has become habitual and slowly does great damage to your soul.
At that time, leprosy not only caused grave physical damage to a person, but it also had the effect of isolating them from the community. They had to live apart from others who did not have the disease; and if they came near others, they had to show they were lepers by certain external signs so that people would not come in contact with them. Thus, leprosy had both personal and communal ramifications
The same is true with many habitual sins. Sin does damage to our souls, but it also affects our relationships. For example, a person who is habitually harsh, judgmental, sarcastic or the like will experience the ill effects of these sins on their relationships.
Returning to the statement of Jesus above, consider that sin which not only affects your soul the most but also your relationships. To that sin, Jesus wishes to say to you, “Be made clean.” He wants to strengthen your relationship by cleansing the sin within your soul. And all it takes for Him to do that is for you to turn to Him on your knees and to present your sin to Him. This is especially true within the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reflect, today, upon your closest relationships in life. And then consider which of your sins most directly hurts those relationships. Whatever comes to mind, you can be certain that Jesus wants to rid you of that spiritual leprosy within your soul.
My divine Lord, help me to see that which is within me that most harms my relationships with others. Help me to see that which causes isolation and hurt. Give me the humility to see this and the trust I need to turn to You to confess it and seek Your healing. You and You alone can free me from my sin, so I turn to You in confidence and surrender. With faith, I also await Your healing words, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Jesus, I trust in You
 
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time together. I need you in my life and the life of my family. It is easy to let activities overwhelm me, so I lose track of you. You fade into the distance, and sometimes sin grows closer. But I know you are always there for me with your unconditional love. Thank you. I love you and long to put you first in my life.
Petition: Lord, wash me from my sins and help me to be detached from them.
1. If You Choose: A leper approaches and falls before Jesus. “If you choose, you can make me clean.” This leper couldn’t free himself from his disease any more than we could from sin. Leprosy was a fatal disease. It separated a man from his family and drove him outside his village to lonely places. Leprosy is a symbol of sin. Sin separates us from God and others. We must approach Jesus with the humility and trust we see in the leper. This story is for us, to show us Christ’s heart. It reveals his love and his desire to free us from sin. Am I convinced of the ugliness of all sin and how it defaces our souls?
2. I Do Choose: Jesus chose to heal the leper. Not only did he heal him, but he also touched him. He reached out to the loneliness of that man, and he touched his life, curing him of the disease. This reveals Christ’s heart so beautifully. Our sin never drives him away from us. He is always ready and willing to come to our aid if only we would cry out for his help. Am I opening all of my sins' inner wounds to Our Lord so that he can heal me, wash me clean and make me whole again?
3. Jesus Wants Us Free: Sin keeps us from being who we were meant to be. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Jesus was free from sin and so was free to love and serve others. He wasn’t compelled by greed or anger. He wasn’t moved by pride or impeded by laziness. He was free to love and loved to the extent of dying on a cross. Sin closes us in on ourselves. We get absorbed in ourselves, and others take the back seat – or no seat at all. How often do we say “no” to others and turn a blind eye to their needs? Isn’t it sin that blinds us and selfishness that impedes us from loving others as Christ loves us? Christ can free us from sin so we are empowered to love as he loves.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, I want to be free, but I need your help. Without you, I can do nothing. Help me to trust you and to turn to you. Don’t let me go off on my own as if I could keep fighting without you. Free me to love you. Free me to love others.
Resolution: I will pray Psalm 51 for myself and my loved ones. 
 
Thursday 1st Week in Ordinary Time 2022
Opening Prayer: Lord, how I need your healing in my own life! Today I kneel before you, and I beg, that if you wish, I may be made clean.
Encountering Christ: 
Kneeling and Begging: Leprosy was a dreaded disease, and in the time of Jesus lepers were considered unclean and had to live segregated from society. The pain and discomfort of their illness were made even worse by the loss of the comfort they needed from other human beings. This leper was truly in a sad state. It took tremendous courage to break the societal rules isolating lepers and seek out Jesus. He prostrated himself and begged to be made clean. Even though this was a life or death matter for the leper, he didn’t demand healing from Jesus. Instead, he told Jesus that he knew his healing would occur only if Jesus wished it. Is this our posture when interceding with the Lord for blessings, conversion, healings, etc.? Do we beg in the words Jesus taught us during his Agony in the Garden, “yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39)?
Healing Touch: The leper’s bravery, faith, and humility were richly rewarded. Jesus did the unthinkable for a man of his time. He reached out and touched the leper, this man with a dreadful and highly contagious disease. Moved with pity, Jesus had not let the human revulsion and fear of contagion stop him from his healing mission. As “other Christs” we are called to reach out to the disenfranchised in much the same way Jesus did. Pope Francis calls all members of the church to be “welcoming those who do not think as we do, who do not have faith or who have lost it. Welcoming the persecuted, the unemployed. Welcoming the different cultures, of which our earth is so richly blessed. Welcoming sinners...” (Pope Francis, July 12, 2015).
Can You Keep a Secret?: Did Jesus know that it would be almost impossible for the leper to keep this healing a secret? Perhaps the leper tried to keep the secret—but how could he explain the fact that he had been deathly ill and was now the picture of health? As his amazing story spread throughout the region, Jesus and his followers felt the consequences. They couldn’t enter a town openly because of the crowds. As we will see later in the Gospels, the crowds still came to Jesus, so his ministry wasn’t thwarted by this man’s disobedience. Truly, God is never limited by our actions. But he desires our faithfulness and fidelity for our own good. 
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, please make me aware of my deep need to be made clean. I place my mind, body, and soul into your care.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make an act of faith, asking for healing of mind, body, and soul, if you will it. 
 
Thursday 1st Week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:40-45
The poor leper was probably used to being rejected or viewed with fear and disgust. He timidly approached Jesus and said, ‘If you choose, you can heal me!’ Jesus was almost indignant ‘of course I choose, be healed!’ But Jesus did something unusual and unheard of he touched the man. He did not view him with fear or disgust, and he was not afraid of impurity or pollution by touching him. This acceptance, affirmation, and physical touch was a major part of the healing power of Jesus. We too heal by affirming and accepting others, as well as by willingness to reach across boundaries. Only fear holds us back, but as with Jesus, we can choose.  Lord, may I be accepting and affirming of others.
 
Thursday 1st Week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:40-45
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time together. I need you in my life and the life of my family. It is easy to let activities overwhelm me so that I lose track of you. You fade into the distance, and sometimes sin grows closer. But I know you are always there for me with your unconditional love. Thank you. I love you and long to put you first in my life.
Petition: Lord, wash me from my sins and help me to be detached from them.
1. If You Choose: A leper approaches and falls before Jesus. “If you choose, you can make me clean.” This leper couldn’t free himself from his disease any more than we can free ourselves from our sin. Leprosy was a fatal disease. It separated a man from his family and drove him outside his village to lonely places. Leprosy is a symbol of sin. Sin separates us from God and others. We need to approach Jesus with that same humility and trust we see in the leper. This story is for us, to show us Christ’s heart. It reveals his love and his desire to free us from sin. Am I convinced of the ugliness of all sin and how it defaces our souls?
2. I Do Choose: Jesus chose to heal the leper. Not only did he heal him, but he also touched him. He reached out to the loneliness of that man, and he touched his life to cure him of the disease. This reveals Christ’s heart so beautifully. Our sin never drives him away from us. He is always ready and willing to come to our aid if only we would cry out for his help. Am I capable of opening all of the inner wounds of my sins to Our Lord so that he can heal me, wash me clean and make me whole again?
3. Jesus Wants Us Free: Sin keeps us from being who we were meant to be. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Jesus was free from sin and so was free to love and serve others. He wasn’t compelled by greed or anger. He wasn’t moved by pride or impeded by laziness. He was free to love, and he loved to the extent of dying on a cross. Sin closes us in on ourselves. We get absorbed in ourselves, and others take the back seat – or no seat at all. How often do we say “no” to others and turn a blind eye to their needs? Isn’t it sin that blinds us and selfishness that impedes us from loving others as Christ loves us? Christ can free us from sin so that we are empowered to love as he loves.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, I want to be free, but I need your help. Without you, I can do nothing. Help me to trust you and to turn to you. Don’t let me go off on my own as if I could keep fighting without you. Free me to love you. Free me to love others.
Resolution: I will pray Psalm 51 for myself and my loved ones.