Suy Niệm bài đọc thứ Tư tuần thứ 9 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm bài đọc thứ Tư tuần thứ 9 Thường Niên Scripture: Mark 12:18-27

Cuộc sống hiện tại có thể sẽ mang lại cho chúng ta những cú sốc tàn phá và những gánh nặng đau đớn. Nhiều người trong chúng ta có ít nhất một lần bị cú sốc quá đau đớn đến nổi la chỉ có muốn được chết thôi. Ngay cả cái chết nhiều khi có vẻ như là một sự lựa chọn hấp dẫn hơn là phải tiếp tục sự đau khổ. Nhưng Thiên Chúa còn vĩ đại hơn là bất cứ một sự đau khổ nào mà con người đã phải nhận. Vì Thiên Chúa rất vô cùng rộng lượng và luôn thương xót.
            Như bài đọc trong sách Tôbia, ông Tobit không thể chịu đựng được cái cảnh mù loà của mình nữa và Sarah cũng đã bị  áp đảo tinh thần bởi cái chết liên tiếp của bảy người chồng ngay trong đêm tân hôn.  Cả hai đã cầu mong cho cái chết để cứu vãn sự đau khổ  của họ, nhưng cả hai cuối cùng quay trở lại với Thiên Chúa. Ông Tobit đã được khôi phục và sáng mắt, Còn Sarah đã được cứu sống bởi Tobia và cuối cùng đã kết hôn với anh ta. Cuối cùng, họ đã ca ngợi Thiên Chúa vì lòng thương xót và lòng từ bi mà họ đã được chứng minh.
            Đây là một lời nhắc nhở cho chúng ta biết là không nên dễ chán nãn bỏ cuộc hay đầu hàng bóng tối và sự tiêu cực. Sự đau khổ của con người không phải là ý muốn của Chúa, và Thiên Chúa luôn hiện diện nơi chúng ta để ban cho chúng ta lòng can đảm, niềm hy vọng, và sự chữa lành.             Chúng ta cần phải mở rộng tâm hồn và trái tim của chúng ta cho một cái gì đó to lớn hơn. Sự sống đời đời chắc chắn còn to lớn hơn những gì mà chúng ta có thể tưởng tượng và chúng ta không nên nghĩ về sự sống đời đời của chúng ta theo ý nghĩa hay điều kiện của con người trần thế. Có lẽ chúng ta có thể cho phép Thiên Chúa đến với chúng ta một cách bất ngờ và thách thức chúng ta trong việc trả lời câu hỏi về đức tin của chúng ta.  Lạy Chúa, xin mở rộng long trí và trái tim của của chúng con.
 
Reflection SG
Life can bring us some devastating blows and painful burdens. Many people have at one time or another reached their limit and longed to have their life end. Even death sometimes seems a more attractive option than continued misery and suffering.  But God is greater than any human suffering and God is infinitely merciful. Tobit could not stand his blindness any longer and Sarah was overwhelmed by the death of seven consecutive husbands on her wedding night.
Both longed for death to give them relief, but both ultimately turned to God. Tobit had his sight restored and Sarah was rescued by Tobias and finally married to him. In the end, they praised God for the mercy and compassion they had been shown.
            It is a reminder to us not to give up or to surrender to darkness and negativity. Human pain and misery is not God’s will, and God is always present to grant us courage, hope, and healing. The Sadducees tried to trap Jesus with a trick question about a woman married to seven different brothers.  He replied that they knew neither the Scriptures nor the power of God — their question showed ignorance and a lack of religious imagination. Life in God’s Kingdom is not just a continuation of our earthly life.
            We need to open our minds and hearts to something far greater — eternal life is greater than we can ever imagine and we should not think of it in earthly terms. Perhaps we can allow God to surprise and challenge us in answering our religious questions.  Lord, expand my mind and heart.
 
Wednesday 9^th Ordinary Time 2023
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers…” Mark 12:18–20
And these Sadducees then go on to present to Jesus a long and unlikely hypothetical scenario in which this woman eventually married all seven brothers after each one died. And at the conclusion of their hypothetical situation, the Sadducees ask Jesus, “At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be?” Of course, Jesus offers them the correct answer and then also states something interesting. He tells the Sadducees that they “are greatly misled.” Just prior to this conversation with the Sadducees, the Pharisees had presented their own question to Jesus in an attempt to trap Him. The difference seems to be that the Sadducees had more sincerity in their pursuit of the truth whereas the Pharisees were more obsessed with their own authority and power.
The Sadducees were considered the more traditional of the religious leaders, in that they accepted only the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, as authentically revealed. They also did not accept the afterlife or the resurrection of the dead because they believed that the Torah did not explicitly teach those things. The Pharisees not only accepted the Torah but also the rest of what is contained in the Old Testament. The Pharisees also accepted what was referred to as the “tradition of the elders,” which meant that they paid much attention to the scrupulous multiplication of laws and regulations that other Pharisees devised, and they sought to impose those man-made laws upon the people.
In this Gospel passage, the problem with the Sadducees seems to be scrupulosity and rigidity in their approach to the faith. They clearly relied upon human reason, and they applied their human reason to the Torah. And though human reason and logical deduction are helpful and necessary in life, they attempted to solve every matter of faith by their own effort by narrowly and rigidly interpreting the Torah. They did not allow themselves to be open to the deeper wisdom of God that floods one’s human reason when one is attentive to divine inspiration and revelation. Instead, they were black and white in all of their deductions and practices. This rigidity left them “greatly misled.”
In our own lives, we can also become greatly misled when we use the gift of our human reason in a rigid and narrow way. We must never overly simplify the faith, and we must never think that we will easily be able to arrive at all the answers by our own effort. Our constant goal must be to allow our minds to become fully immersed in the deepest wisdom of God and all that He has revealed. The teachings of the Church will guide us, keeping us on the straight path, but it will be the voice of God, speaking to our minds in a real and personal way, that will help us to understand the depth and breadth of God’s Will, His Truth, and Wisdom.
Reflect, today, upon any tendency you have to be like these Sadducees. Are you rigid? Or narrow minded? Do you allow yourself to be misled into thinking you have all the answers? If so, seek humility. Humble yourself before the awesome mysteries of Heaven. Use your mind to probe the truths that God has revealed and be ready to be drawn deeper and deeper into the life of God Himself.
My Lord of infinite wisdom, You are Truth Itself, and You continually reveal Yourself to us. Give me the humility I need to always be open to all divine Truth in my life so that I will come to know You and Your holy will as You desire. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday 9^th Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I believe in your power to raise me to new life. I have already begun to experience your eternal life through Baptism. Teach me each day to share more deeply in your life, in the life of your Son, and in the life of the Spirit.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Sadducees and the Second Test: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is demonstrating his authority as the Son of David and the New Solomon. He demonstrates divine wisdom and passes each of the tests put forth by the religious authorities. Yesterday, the Pharisees and Herodians asked him a difficult question about earthly, political authority. Today, the Sadducees ask Jesus a difficult question about marriage and eternal life. “The Sadducees were an elite and powerful party within Judaism, consisting of the priestly aristocracy, their families, and supporters. … They had more lenient religious views than the Pharisees, accepting only the Torah (not the Prophets or Psalms) as sacred Scripture, and rejecting traditions that had arisen more recently in Judaism, such as belief in angels, spirits, and the resurrection from the dead (see Acts 23:6-10)” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 243).
2. Understanding the Power of God and the Scriptures: On the one hand, Jesus tells the Sadducees that their denial of the resurrection from the dead shows that they do not understand the power of God. They do not know that God has the power to restore the dead to life and transform our existence. The Sadducees think that those who hold that there is life after death think that it is a continuation of earthly life. Jesus teaches them that life after death will be different. We will not become angels, since angels are pure spirits and do not have bodies, but will be like the angels and enjoy a glorious and eternal existence. “With this answer Jesus affirms several points denied by the Sadducees: life after death, bodily resurrection, and the existence of angels” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 244). On the other hand, the Sadducees, by denying life after death, do not understand the Scriptures. Although Jesus could have quoted passages from Wisdom or Maccabees that speak about our life after death, Jesus acquiesces to the fact that the Sadducees only accept the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and demonstrates the existence of life after death by quoting from the Book of Exodus. Jesus points out that when God reveals himself and his name to Moses, he reveals that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This means that the three Patriarchs of Israel continue to have a relationship with God even after their death. The Lord is the God of the living and will bestow eternal life on the elect.
3. Paul’s Last Will and Testament: The First Reading is taken from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. Paul is in prison and writes a farewell message to his closest and beloved disciple, Timothy. It reads a last will and testament. It is appropriate to read this letter together with the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12, since Jesus is also preparing his disciples for his passing. The letter 
“is a moving account of how Paul, like a runner crossing the finish line, has reached the end of his apostolic career, with only the crown of martyrdom awaiting him (4:6-9). Young Timothy, instructed by the apostle for more than 15 years, is now asked to take up the mantle of his mentor and continue his ministry of preaching.. With death at his doorstep, Paul hurriedly sends a letter filled with fatherly wisdom and warnings to prepare Timothy for the struggles ahead” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 395). Paul reminds Timothy of the two graces he has received. First, Timothy received the grace (gift) of priestly ministry through the laying on of hands (2 Timothy 1:6). Second, Timothy received the grace of salvation that makes us and enables us to be holy (2 Timothy 1:9).
“is a moving account of how Paul, like a runner crossing the finish line, has reached the end of his apostolic career, with only the crown of martyrdom awaiting him (4:6-9). Young Timothy, instructed by the apostle for more than 15 years, is now asked to take up the mantle of his mentor and continue his ministry of preaching.. With death at his doorstep, Paul hurriedly sends a letter filled with fatherly wisdom and warnings to prepare Timothy for the struggles ahead” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 395). Paul reminds Timothy of the two graces he has received. First, Timothy received the grace (gift) of priestly ministry through the laying on of hands (2 Timothy 1:6). Second, Timothy received the grace of salvation that makes us and enables us to be holy (2 Timothy 1:9).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I do not want to be misled like the Sadducees. Expose the lies of the devil that I am living or have accepted. Correct my thinking. Grant me a true conversion of heart. I want to think as you do and see the world through your eyes.
Living the Word of God: If you were to write a letter, a last will and testament, to your spouse and family, what would you write? What have you learned in your life that you would want to impart? What changes should you make today to live a better life and give a better example?
 
Wednesday 9^th Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has frequently fallen into sin, I know my weakness. Your great love assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to holiness.
Petition: Lord, let me imitate you better in my dealings with my loved ones.
1. If We Only Understood the Power of God: We can be like the Sadducees. It's not that we deny the resurrection of the dead. But we can live as if we don't believe in the power of God. A rash of bad news can leave us on the verge of despair. We might ask: What's the use? Evil seems to be winning on all sides. Families are breaking down. Pornography is rife. Materialism is rampant. Yet, the Almighty remains in charge. "Evil does not have the last word in the world," said Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI on Dec. 22, 2005. We, Christians, are called to be witnesses to hope and joy. Does our life radiate joy? If not, why not?
2. Reading the Scriptures: The study of Scripture is, as it were, the "soul of sacred theology," says Vatican II (see Dei Verbum, 24). Our Lord, in effect, tells the Sadducees: "Because you don't know Scripture, you don't know me. You don't know what I'm about, my message of mercy, my call to repentance, my invitation to seek out the lost sheep." So many of Christ's supposed followers spend their time criticizing the Church, the hierarchy, the parish, and the school. They forget that Christ calls them to build up, not to tear down. If only they knew him better in Scripture. Where do I spend most of my energy day by day? Building up the Church and the community? Or nitpicking at the faults of its members?
3. Like the Angels in Heaven: Marriage is beautiful. It is a sacrament, and an icon, so to speak, of the inner life of the Trinity. But it can bring only relative happiness, at best. Its more transcendent goal is to lead spouses to heaven. In this world, expecting too much of a spouse (or anyone, for that matter) courts disappointment. Humans have weaknesses. Yet, they have their greatness, too. Could not that spouse, that family member, that colleague be saints despite their flaws? Do we see those around us as potential saints? Do we encourage them in their path?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me see the greatness in people, their good qualities, and their potential to be apostles. Let me see, too, how I can help them along the path to holiness.
Resolution: Today, I will compliment someone on their genuine virtue.
 
Wednesday 9^th Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come before you in prayer. I am grateful for this opportunity. Thank you for your willingness to listen to me. Help me to be confident in what I ask from you and attentive to what you tell me. Increase my love for you so that my deepest desire is simply to do what you ask of me. 
Encountering Christ:
“Whose Wife Will She Be?”: “For all seven had been married to her.” In the art of debate, one of the tools employed is the reduction to absurdity; that is, you take the other person’s argument to an extreme to show that if their argument were true, it would lead to consequences patently absurd or contradictory, and thereby false. However, this approach is often reduced to the mere mockery of someone’s argument. That is what the Sadducees attempted with Our Lord. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so to disprove arguments for the afterlife, they thought of a ridiculous example. It was not enough to raise their objection with the example of two brothers having married the woman, but seven. Theirs was more of a “gotcha” question; they seemed little open to an answer.
“Are You Not Misled?”: Jesus’s humility and concern for souls shone forth in his encounters with his enemies. Although keenly aware of their insincerity and verbal traps, he nevertheless took their questions at face value in order to teach them and lead them to conversion. He ignored the mockery and instructed their ignorance: “When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 7:29). Jesus teaches as one with authority. He provided us with a profound pedagogical lesson. Whenever there is a question about the faith, even if couched in ridicule, we have an opportunity to give an answer. We should do so with as much clarity and charity as possible. Our confidence lies not so much in our delivery, important as that is, but in the power of truth and the subsequent work of the Holy Spirit. 
God of the Living: Our Lord revealed a profound truth that goes to the heart of the Sadducees’ disbelief in the resurrection of the dead, starting with what they did believe. They believed in God and in his revelation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They believed that God spoke to Moses. Therefore, if they believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they implicitly believed in man’s everlasting life. Jesus told them that God still “is” the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not “was.” Therefore, not only does God still exist, but so do Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God is God of the living. God is the very source of life. God is never “stuck” in the past. Death does not have the last word with God. Our Lord’s Resurrection will make this truth even more abundantly clear.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, with the aid of your Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Magisterium, continue to lead me from my errors and confusion into all truth (John 16:13). However, I want more than simply seeing clearly; help me to grow in my personal relationship with you. Increase my faith so that I may see your hand at work in even the smallest details of my daily life: a sunset, a flower, a child’s smile. May I have the humility to realize that I still have much to learn about my faith, and the generosity to share the truth about you with others.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will read from either Scripture or the Catechism and then share what I learned with someone else.

Suy Niệm bài đọc thứ Ba tuần thứ 9 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm bài đọc thứ Ba tuần thứ 9 Thường Niên

            Qua bài đọc thứ nhất hôm nay, chúng ta thấy bà con của ông Tôbit đã đau buồn, khổ sở vì một tai nạn  không may đã xảy ra cho ông ta và làm ông ta phải chịu cảnh mù loà.  Như câu chuyện ông Tôbit đã kể lại về vuộc đời của mình, chúng ta có thể chắc chắn là sẽ đặt câu một hỏi với Thiên Chúa một cách khắc nghiệt và cay cú: là tại sao Thiên Chúa đã để cho một người hết sức Đạo đức như Ông Tôbit đã phải chịu những sự khốn khó như thế…. chúng ta biết rằng ông ta thật là một người tốt bụng, biết kính sợ Thiên Chúa và yêu thương mọi người, đã đã không biêt mệt mỏi khi chôn cất những người bị giết hại ngoài đồng.  Trước bị mù đôi mắt, ông đã làm những công việc bác ái không biết mệt mỏi,  thế nhưng tại sao những điều xấu này lại xảy ra cho ông, một người tốt lành biết kính sợ Thiên Chúa?
            (Như chúng ta được biết trong trong sách Tôbia, thì ông Tôbit là một Người Do Thái rất trung thành với Thiên Chúa, một trong những "người nghèo của Chúa", như là để nói rằng một trong những người bất chấp mọi thảm họa, nguy hiểm trong cuộc ông lưu vong  vì chính trị và chiến tranh, những vẫn cực kỳ trung thành với Thiên Chúa. Thế nhưng ông Tobit đã không bao giờ thắc mắc, và phàn nàn với Thiên Chúa vì sự lưu vong, li tán gia đình hay thắc mắc về tai nạn và hậu quả đem đến sự mù loà, và tàn tật của chính mình.)
            Trong cuộc của chúng ta, đôi lúc chúng ta đã gặp phải những nghịc cảnh đáng buồn,  những tạ nạn hay sự không may đã xảy đến với chúng ta hay gia đình, chúng ta đã có những sự phản ứng ra sao trong tâm hồn của mỗi người hay trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Những người yếu kém đíc tin hoặc không có niềm tin thường có lẽ sễ đặt câu hỏi tại sao Thiên Chúa đã lại để cho những điều đó xấu xảy ra cho họ để họ phải gánh nhận những sự kém may mắn này và sự thất vọng. Còn chúng ta, chúng phải có một đức tin vững chãi để tránh những tiến dèm phà không tốy và chúng ta cũng phải biết cố gắng, can đảm để học hỏi và bắt chước ông Tôbit là biết đặt tất cả sự hy vọng và niềm Tin của chúng ta vào Thiên Chúa.
            Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Chúa đang sống giữa chúng con, Chúa là niềm hy vọng và vinh quang của chúng con. Xin Chúa ban cho chúng con những ân sủng để chúng con tin rằng tất cả những gì xẩy đến cho chúng con sẽ được tốt đẹp, vì Chúa đã toàn thắng thế gian này.
 
Reflection SG
Many accidents happen in this world, some very minor, others more devastating. All of them call forth different reactions in human hearts and lives. People with a weaker faith or no faith at all, will often question why God allows such things to happen. Tobit’s kinsmen grieved at his blindness, the result of an unfortunate simple accident.
            As Tobit recounts his story, we discover an element in it which would certainly make some people question God more harshly. He tells us that he was fatigued from burying the dead. He was obviously a good man, engaged, just before the accident to his eyes, in doing works of charity.         Why do bad things happen to good people? Tobit was a faithful Jew, one of “the poor of the Lord”, that is to say one of those, who in spite of the great disaster of being in exile because of Middle-East politics and warfare, remained extraordinarily faithful to God.
            As Tobit did not question God over the exile, so he did not question God over his own accident and his consequent disability. Let us learn from Tobit to place all our hope in God.
Lord Jesus, you are alive in our midst, our hope of glory. Grant us the grace to believe that all will be well, for you have overcome the world.
 
Tuesday 9^th Ordinary time 2023
“Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” Mark 12:14–15
These Pharisees and Herodians were sent to trap Jesus in His speech. These men were very politically minded and loved to pick sides and find fault with others. They were self-righteous and cared little about the salvation of souls. So they came to Jesus with what appeared to be an innocent question. They appear to presume that Jesus would voice opposition to paying the census tax to Caesar, and, if He did, they were ready to report Him to the civil authorities. They didn’t care about the truth; they only cared about trapping our divine Lord. When they brought the Roman coin to Jesus with the image of Caesar on it, Jesus spoke that profoundly wise line, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Clearly, if these hypocritical religious leaders would have come to Jesus with humility and sincerity, Jesus would have responded to them much differently. But because they came only to trap, twist and destroy our Lord, Jesus puts them in their place with an act of divine wisdom. He doesn’t show support for paying the census tax, nor does He speak against it. Therefore, this Gospel passage ends with the line: “They were utterly amazed at him.” “Amazement” is the right response. Therefore, in a sense, we can learn from these hypocritical religious leaders. Whenever we come face-to-face with the profound wisdom of God, we should experience awe and holy amazement.
Of course, the amazement they experienced was on account of Jesus thwarting their evil trap. But even though that is the case, we can learn from this that the wisdom of God can never be outdone. God’s wisdom silences the foolishness of the age and reveals the hidden malice behind that evil.
Have you ever been confronted by the trickery of the secular “know-it-alls” of our age. Have you ever been challenged by another, had your faith directly attacked, or your moral convictions called into question? Most likely, if you have chosen to live your faith openly and with confidence, you may have felt the attack of another. For those who lack a deep faith and a clear gift of divine wisdom, such trickery can cause confusion and anxiety. You may find you do not know how to respond and feel trapped by the erroneous “wisdom” of the age. In that case, what do you do? The only answer to the false doctrines and deceptions we will all encounter within the growingly secular and atheist world is the answer that comes from divine wisdom. By ourselves, none of us is wise enough to combat these errors. Therefore, our only recourse is to continually turn to the wisdom of God.
We turn to the wisdom of God through prayer and sacred study. Our prayer opens our minds to the clear voice of God Who speaks pure truth. And sacred study, especially of the Scripture, the teachings of the Church and the lives of the saints, will help to clarify God’s voice and dispel the confusion the world tries to throw at us. In the end, if we are not immersing our minds in the true wisdom of God, we will be unprepared for that which we encounter within the world.
Reflect, today, upon your need to be filled with divine wisdom so as to navigate the trickery and foolishness of the world. Acknowledge that you are not wise enough on your own to cut through the confusion of life. Pray for the gift of wisdom and allow our Lord to bestow it upon you.
Lord of all Truth, You are wise beyond all worldly wisdom, and You thwart the trickery of the evil one. Open my mind, dear Lord, to Your holy Truth so that I may be able to navigate through the challenges of life. Bestow Your wisdom upon me, dear Lord, so that I may follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday 9^th Ordinary time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, in every age you have been our refuge. You are the eternal God and I am your humble creature. I am in this world as a pilgrim and long for my home. I do not belong to this passing world. I belong to you and am yours.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Give the Image of Caesar to Caesar: The Gospel of Mark narrates three attempts to test and ensnare Jesu on the same day. Jesus, the Son of David, has entered the city of Jerusalem as a King (Mark 11:1-11), purified the old Temple (11:15-19), and alluded to himself as the cornerstone of a new Temple (Mark 12:10-11). Jesus is acting here like a New Solomon. His actions and words provoke the religious 1leaders to question and try to undermine Jesus’ authority. They test him and hope to trap Jesus in his speech. In his responses, Jesus will show that his wisdom far surpasses that of Solomon. Just as the devil tempted and tested Jesus in the desert at the beginning of the Gospel (Mark 1:12-13), Jesus will be tested three times by the religious authorities. The first of three tests comes from the Pharisees and Herodians. They represent opposite ends of the political spectrum. The Herodians supported Herod Antipas and were willing to cooperate with Rome. The Pharisees sought to separate themselves from any contact with the Gentiles and wanted nothing to do with Rome. If Jesus says to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees will go before the people and accuse Jesus of violating God’s law, committing blasphemy, and supporting the Roman occupation. If Jesus says it is unlawful to pay taxes to Caesar, the Herodians will denounce Jesus to the Roman authorities and hope they will imprison Jesus for treason. Jesus knows they are testing him and asks to see a denarius. On one side the coin proclaims Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus. On the other side, the coin proclaims Caesar as the High Priest (Pontifex Maximus) meaning that he is the supreme mediator between human beings and the gods. “Tiberius’s claim of divinity was a way of promoting the emperor worship that was widespread in Roman civic religion, but was an abomination to Jews. Jesus’ questioners bring him a denarius, revealing that they were carrying the idolatrous coin within the temple precincts” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 241). In response to Jesus’ question, the Pharisees and Herodians acknowledge that the image and inscription are Caesar’s. Jesus then resolves the dilemma: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
2. Give the Image of God to the Lord: Jesus tells the Pharisees especially that they are to give back to Caesar. And he tells the Herodians especially that they are to give to God what belongs to God. Caesar has placed his image on a coin. The Lord God has placed his image in human beings. The elements, minerals, plants, and brute animals do not bear the image of God. Human beings and angels are spiritual creatures, endowed with intellect and freedom and capable of knowing and loving God. On the one hand, we are called to be faithful citizens while on this earth. It is an act of justice to pay our taxes and work with public authorities to create a more just and charitable society. On the other hand, we are called to offer ourselves, all that we are, to God. We are called to love God above all things with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
3. Be Prepared: Our First Reading is the conclusion of the Second Letter of Peter, which we began yesterday. It turns our thoughts to the second coming (advent) of Jesus and the definitive end of the old creation. Through his life, passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus inaugurated the New Creation, the New Heavens and the New Earth. What Jesus inaugurated with his first advent, he will bring to conclusion with his second advent. While we are in this world – raising our families, working, and paying taxes – we are to be patient as we await our definitive encounter with God. Saint Peter encourages us to be eager to be found without spot or blemish before God, to be at peace, and to consider the patience of God as salvation. We are also to be on guard not to be led into error by false teachers. Rather than stray from the path and sin, we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. One day, after a life of giving ourselves to God, we hope to behold the glory of God and share in God’s eternal life.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you offer me true wisdom, the heavenly wisdom that leads me to eternal life. Your words remain with me and guide my actions. I need to imitate you in all that I do. Help me to be a good earthly citizen who works for a more just and charitable society. And lead me to be a good citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Living the Word of God: Do I give to Caesar what is Caesar’s? Am I a responsible citizen who contributes according to my talents and abilities? Do I truly give to God what is God’s? What am I holding back?
 
Tuesday 9^th Ordinary time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has frequently fallen into sin, I know my weakness. Your great love assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to holiness.
Petition: Guide me, Lord, on a big decision I must make.
1. Setting the Trap: The Pharisees and Herodians use an old ploy, flattery, to try to trap Jesus. It is a ploy that enjoys a long shelf life. Flattery can cause us to lower our guard. "You're an intelligent person, why don't you …?" Or: "You're a good parent; you already have two kids. You don't really believe the Church on …?" Being Christian in the world often means living among devious people. Hence, Jesus warned us to "be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves" (Matthew 10:16). To maintain a balance, we must live only for God. Is it Christ who shapes my day?
2. Lying in Wait: They pose a false dilemma to Jesus. It's "either/or." Either Jesus must accept Caesar totally or rebel against Rome. Such is how the world sees it. It's still either/or. Either we embrace Darwinism (no questions asked) or cling to Creationism. Either we are tolerant of alternate lifestyles, or we are insufferable bigots. But things are more complicated than that. Moreover, the Catholic faith is often "both/and." Hence, we give to Caesar and God what belongs to each. And how do we decide what belongs to whom? That's where things get tricky. And that is precisely why we are called as Christians to develop our gifts, intelligence, and prayer life, to make the right choices. Catholicism is not a religion for robots. It demands that we responsibly use our freedom and gifts to do God's will. Am I using my gifts well? Do I develop my skills and intellect to serve God better?
3. The Trap is Sprung; the Game is Over: Jesus' response floors his critics. Why? Partly because he throws the question back to them. Now they have to decide what belongs to Caesar — and what belongs to God. "You must decide," was Karol Wojtyla's signature phrase as a confessor. Nothing can so frighten us as freedom. It frightened Jesus' audience. How am I using my freedom? How am I using the time God gives me?
Conversation with Christ: Help me realize that you are calling me in freedom. You respect the freedom you gave me, even if I misuse it. But I don't want to misuse it. I want to render a good account of my life on Judgment Day.
Resolution: I will read some Scripture or a few paragraphs from the Catechism or a papal document today to try to form myself better in the faith.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần 9 Thuong Nien

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần 9 TN Mark 12:1-12 ,

Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta biết rằng nhờ Chúa Giêsu mà chúng ta có thể gọi Thiên Chúa trên trời là Cha. Và cũng là nhờ cái chết của Chúa Giêsu mà chúng ta được cứu khỏi mọi tội lỗi và thoát khỏi được những cơn giận của Thiên Chúa khi Ngài ngự đến trong ngày phán xét. Thánh Phêrô nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng là như sự công minh của Thiên Chúa và Chúa Giêsu Kitô là đấng Cứu Thế mà chúng ta có thể được thông phần trong bản tính của Thiên Chúa. Nhưng để đạt được điều này, chúng ta cần phải phấn đấu để sống một đời sống thánh thiện: phải sống phù hợp với những giáo huấn của Chúa Giêsu, và bước đi trong con đường của Chúa Kitô vì Ngài là Ngôi Lời của Thiên Chúa.  Nếu như làm được như vậy, chúng ta có thể biến đổi được nội tâm và thậm chí cả bên ngoài, và vì vậy mà hình ảnh của Thiên Chúa có thể được thể hiện một cách đúng đắn qua danh tính của chúng ta là con cái của Ngài.
Điều này thật sự không phải là một việc làm dễ dàng cho chúng ta. Nhưng với sự thánh thiện mà chúng ta có thể đạt được nhờ ân sủng của Thiên Chúa và ân sũng này đã trở thành một động lực bên trong thúc đẩy chúng ta sống theo sự mặc khải của Thiên Chúa, là sống trong kiên nhẫn và cung kính theo ý muốn của Ngài, và biết phục vụ những người khác hết lòng mà không đắn đo.
Hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu nhắc nhở chúng ta một lần nữa là con cái của Thiên Chúa, chúng ta phải kiên quyết giữ gìn, bảo vệ và xây dựng Giáo Hội của Người. Chúng ta không thể để bị hư hỏng hoặc để những ngoại vật bên ngoài cản trở nhiệm vụ này. Nếu không, chúng ta sẽ sẽ bị kết thúc cuộc sống như những người thuê vườn nho tàn ác,  tồi tệ.  Thiên Chúa sẽ đuổi chúng ta ra khỏi vườn Nho của Ngài và đưa vào ngục tối đời đời.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng con biết củng cố đức tin của chúng ta trong Trong Lời Chúa..
 
REFLECTION
It is through Jesus that we can address God our heavenly Father. It is through Jesus’ death that we are saved from our sins and escape God’s anger at his coming in judgement. St Peter reminds us that it is through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that we can share the divine nature. But in order to attain this we must strive to live a life of holiness: to live in accordance with Jesus’ teachings, and to walk in the path of the Word. In doing so, we can be transformed totally interiorly and even exteriorly, so that the image of God can be manifested rightly through our identity of being his children.
This is obviously not an easy task for us. But holiness can be achieved with God’s grace and become an interior driving force motivating us to follow God’s revelation, to live patiently and reverently according to his will, and to serve others wholeheartedly without reservation.  Jesus’ parable of the tenants reminds us again that, being God’s children, we must steadfastly preserve, safeguard and build his Church. We must not be corrupted or hindered in this duty. Otherwise, we shall end up otherwise like the atrocious tenants paying for what we have done wrongfully.    Lord, help me to strengthen my faith in the Word.
 
Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time 
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.” Mark 12:1–3
This was the first of “many” servants the owner of the vineyard sent to the tenants to obtain some of the produce of the vineyard. Some of the servants were mistreated, some beaten and others were killed. In the end, the owner sent his son. The tenants killed him, thinking that they would inherit the vineyard if the son were dead.
The context of this parable is important. Jesus had just entered Jerusalem for the beginning of the first Holy Week, which would ultimately end with His death and resurrection. The day before, Jesus had cleansed the Temple of the money changers. The chief priests, scribes and elders were outraged and began to plot His death. Jesus especially addressed this parable to them.
To understand this parable, you need to understand who represents whom. The religious leaders of Israel were the tenants, the vineyard was the Jewish nation, God the Father was the man who planted the vineyard, the many servants sent to gather the produce were the prophets of old, and Jesus was the Beloved Son Who was killed. The parable concludes by saying that the owner of the vineyard (God the Father) will put the tenants to death and give the vineyard to others. In other words, the scribes, Pharisees, chief priests and elders would soon have their religious authority taken away from them, and it would be given to the Apostles and their successors. This parable, therefore, presents us with a summary of the way the Church was formed. 
It’s helpful to note that the religious leaders of the time knew that Jesus addressed this parable to them, but they failed to heed the lesson. Ideally, if they were open to the gift of faith, they would have realized that they were attempting to steal the “vineyard” from God. They were attempting to control and manipulate the Kingdom of Israel, to make it into their own image, and to disregard the will of God Who established it.
This parable is especially important for anyone who exercises some form of holy authority. Parents exercise authority within the home. Bishops and priests exercise authority within the Church. And we all exercise a certain spiritual authority when we seek to fulfill our unique mission in life. The lesson from this parable is simple: don’t abuse your authority. Don’t exercise authority according to your own will; exercise it with humility only in accord with God’s will. Every leader, always and everywhere, must lead according to the mind and will of God. If they fail, they will suffer the consequences.
Reflect, today, upon any way that God has entrusted you with a spiritual duty to fulfill His mission in this world. When a duty of leadership is entrusted to a person, the leader is also entrusted with the spiritual authority to fulfill that duty in accord with the mind and will of God. This requires constant humility so that it is only God’s will that is fulfilled. Seek to exercise all authority in accord with the mind and will of God, and the vineyard entrusted to your care will bear an abundance of good fruit.
Loving Father, You have chosen to send me, as a tenant of Your Kingdom, to bear good fruit for eternal life. Please help me to always exercise the authority and duty entrusted to me with humility so that I will seek to fulfill Your will and Your will alone. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, help me to welcome messengers and your Son. I want to conform my life to your Word. Inspire me to know what to teach my family, to produce good fruit for the Kingdom, and to love my neighbor.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Parable of the Wicked Tenants: In the Gospel, Jesus refuses to speak directly to the religious leaders about the nature and origin of his authority. He chooses, rather, to speak to them about his divine authority through parables, which hide the divine mysteries from the proud and reveal them to the humble. On the one hand, the Parable of the Wicked Tenants gives a powerful account of Jesus’ authority and, on the other, discredits the authority of his opponents. Earlier, Jesus hinted that his authority was from heaven. Now, he tells the parable to reveal that he has authority because he is the Son of God. He is God’s unique and most privileged agent. He has the right to pronounce judgment on the Temple because he is the son of the true owner of Mount Zion (Tim Gray, The Temple in the Gospel of Mark, 61).
2. The New Temple and the New Leaders of Israel: Jesus is the beloved son rejected by the wicked tenants but vindicated by the Lord. The parable teaches us that the old leaders of Israel have rejected Jesus as the Son of God and as the Cornerstone of the New Temple. This rejection recalls the story found in Ezra about the beginnings of the Second Temple. When Judah returned from Exile and the humble foundation stone was laid for the Second Temple, the younger generation rejoiced but the older group priests, Levites, and elders began to weep. The latter group didn’t think that the humble beginning of the new Temple matched to glory of the Old Temple of Solomon. The same thing happens in Jesus’ day. Jesus is the Son of David leading the people out of exile. He lays the foundation stone for the New Temple. The crowds rejoice and praise this new work, but many of the leading priests, scribes, and elders despise and reject this humble beginning. “Locked in the old ways of being Israel, they reject the new plans the Lord has for them. The builders reject the would-be cornerstone of the new Zion, but the Lord himself promises that the work will be completed. Despite the humble beginnings, the splendor of the new temple will be greater than that of the old” (Gray, The Temple in the Gospel of Mark, 76). When the old leaders put Jesus to death, Jesus will rise from the dead and hand over the vineyard of the Lord to his apostles, the new leaders of the new Israel. 
3. Why We Read Second Peter Today and Tomorrow: During the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, we will read from Mark, chapter 12, a chapter that narrates some of Jesus’ actions and words before his passion and death. It is appropriate that we read from Second Peter today and tomorrow because it is a letter that encourages Christians to await Christ’s second coming by living a holy life (2 Peter 3:11). Second Peter reminds his hearers of the truth of God’s Word (2 Peter 1:12) and warns them against false teachers (2 Peter 2:1). “In the foreground of the letter are a set of opponents whom Peter accuses of two things: first, they are skeptics who deny the promise of Christ’s return and the final judgment; second, they live and teach an immoral way of life not in accord with the gospel” (Keating, First and Second Peter, Jude, 129). Peter teaches that Jesus will come again in glory as our judge. Peter calls us to live a holy and blameless life of virtue as we wait for Christ’s return. We are able to be holy, not because we are naturally strong, but because we have been made “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) through the grace of Christ.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I want to be prepared for the day of my definitive encounter with you. You will come in glory to judge me. Help me to know truly and deeply what I am doing well and what I need to correct.
Living the Word of God: If God were to ask me for the fruits I have produced throughout my life, what would I show him? If there are good fruits, am I humble of heart and thankful for the good God has done in me? If there are many bad fruits, what do I need to change to produce good fruit?
 
Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has frequently fallen into sin, I know my weakness. Your great love assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to holiness.
Petition: Lord, let me be open to you and your messages.
1. Stand Corrected: Being corrected hurts. Being corrected in public hurts even more. And having one's whole way of life corrected — well, that really stings. And so it must have been for the leaders who approached Jesus. In a not-so-subtle way, our Lord tells them they are wrong. Wrong about their self-righteousness, their narrow reading of Scripture, and how they think God works in the world. This blinded them to the Son of God when he came among them. We think we would have been different; we would not have rejected Jesus, we tell ourselves. Are we so sure? Aren't we like the leaders of Jesus' time when we fail to listen to his agents; a bishop, a parish priest, a legitimate superior? Have I said no to Christ lately?
2. "Another Servant" God doesn't give up on us after one try. He often sends several messengers into our lives to draw us closer to him. Such is the illogic of a Father's love. Where do we miss the clues that God sends us? It could be in something a child says, a line from a homily, or an e-mail from a friend in crisis. These are the ordinary means God uses to reach out to us. Old Testament prophets faced rejection by the people of God. Have things changed much? Could I be turning a deaf ear to a prophet?
3. "This Is the Heir" The tenant farmers don't seem very bright. They murder the son to get his inheritance. What father would give an inheritance to someone who killed his son? It doesn't make sense. Then again, sin doesn't make sense either. We often reject Christ and then wonder why our prayers to God the Father go (seemingly) unanswered. What could we be thinking? How often do I offer up a sacrifice or an act of charity for a prayer intention?
Conversation with Christ: Let me live up to the demands of my faith, Lord. Let me realize that my dignity as a Christian demands that I try to live a life worthy of my baptism; that I am not satisfied living like everyone else.
Resolution: I will offer up a decade of a rosary for a family member far from the faith.
 
REFLECTION
God chose to use the tragic death of his own Son to give new life to his people. He chose to outdo the hatred of his people through his generous outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them. Yes, when his own Son was crucified, God chose the way of unconditional love, and he is still doing it today. No matter how far we may we from him like lost sheep, he gently seeks us out and brings us back to himself. No matter how foolish or how wasteful we have been with our lives, he is always ready to give us a new start in life. No matter how hopeless or desperate situation might become, he has already prepared a way out for us. Moreover, what God does for us is an example of what we should do for one another.
Often we have wounds in our lives that can either cause bitterness and hatred, or become occasions for generous self-giving. We can also love unconditionally an alcoholic in our family or among our friends; a spouse whose affection has become cold; a teenager who rejects our family values; a neighbor or fellow worker who tells lies about us. By allowing Christ's own example to inspire us, we can feel beyond our own personal wounds, and reach out with compassion to heal the wounds of another who may be hurting more than we. By following God's way of unconditional love, we can use each dying of a part of ourselves as a means of passing on new life to another person.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ Mình và Máu Thánh Chuá

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ Mình và Máu Thánh Chuá
Đang bữa ăn, Đức Giê-su cầm lấy bánh, dâng lời chúc tụng, rồi bẻ ra, trao cho các ông và nói: “Anh em hãy cầm lấy, đây là mình Thầy.” Và Người cầm chén rượu, dâng lời tạ ơn, rồi trao cho các ông, và tất cả đều uống chén này. Người bảo các ông: “Đây là máu Thầy, máu Giao Ước, đổ ra vì muôn người....” . Mk. 14:22–24
Trong thánh lễ, ngay khi linh mục đọc những lời truyền phép, biến bánh rượu thành Mình và Máu, Linh hồn và Thiên tính của Chúa Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta, ngài quỳ gối, đứng dậy và đọc: “Đây là Mầu nhiệm đức tin." “Mầu nhiệm đức tin” là gì? Thông thường, khi chúng tôi nói điều gì đó là bí ẩn, chúng ta muốn nói rằng kết luận được ẩn giấu nhưng có những manh mối nhất định giúp giải đáp bí ẩn. Và một khi bí ẩn được giải quyết, mọi thứ đều rõ ràng thì điều đó nó không còn là bí ẩn nữa hay là mầu nhiệm nữa.
“Mầu nhiệm đức tin” thì khác nhiều. Những lời này được tuyên xưng trong Thánh lễ ngay sau khi truyền phép như là một cách lôi kéo các tín hữu vào sự kính trong và tôn vinh về những gì vừa xảy ra. Nhưng mầu nhiệm này chỉ có thể tạo ra sự tôn kính và kinh ngạc nếu thực tế những gì vừa diễn ra được hiểu qua hồng ân đức tin. Đức tin là biết và tin mà không nhận thức được thực tế qua con mắt bằng năm giác quan hoặc bằng suy luận hơp lý. Nói cách khác, đức tin tạo ra kiến ​​thức thực sự về một thực tại tâm linh mà chỉ có thể biết, hiểu và tin thông qua sự thấu hiểu tâm linh. Vì vậy, nếu chúng ta tham dự Thánh lễ và được ban ơn hiểu biết về đức tin, thì ngay khi việc truyền phép bánh và rượu diễn ra, chúng ta sẽ nói trong thâm tâm: “Lạy Chúa và Thiên Chúa của chúng con!” Chúng ta sẽ biết rằng Đức Chúa Con hiện diện trước mặt chúng ta một cách kín đáo. Mắt chúng ta không nhận thức được, cũng không có giác quan nào tỏ lộ cho chúng ta thực tế vĩ đại trước mắt chúng ta. Chúng ta không thể suy luận một cách hợp lý những gì vừa diễn ra. Thay vào đó, chúng ta biết và tin rằng Con Thiên Chúa, Đấng Cứu Thế, hiện đang hiện diện trước mặt chúng ta trong sự trọn vẹn của Ngài, dưới hình thức bánh và rượu.
Ngoài sự hiện diện thiêng liêng của Chúa và Thiên Chúa toàn thể Mầu Nhiệm Cứu Chuộc của chúng ta cũng được hiện diện. Thánh Giáo hoàng Gioan Phaolô II nói với chúng ta rằng trong thời điểm này có một “sự đồng nhất trong thời gian” liên kết Mầu nhiệm Vượt qua, tức là Cuộc đời, Cái chết và Sự Phục sinh của Chúa Giêsu, trong mọi khoảnh khắc Bí tích Thánh Thể được cử hành và hiện diện qua Thánh Thể. lời thánh hiến. Và sự hiệp nhất giữa mỗi Thánh Lễ và Mầu Nhiệm Vượt Qua “dẫn chúng ta đến sự kinh ngạc và lòng biết ơn sâu xa” (Ecclesia de Bischecia, số 5).
Chúng ta có cảm nhận và trải nghiệm được sự mặc khải huyền bí và biết ơn sâu sắc này mỗi khi chúng ta tham dự Thánh lễ Hy tế không? Chúng ta có nhận ra khi chúng ta tham dự Thánh lễ và khi nghe đọc những lời truyền phép rằng toàn thể Mầu nhiệm cứu chuộc của chúng ta được hiện diện trước mặt chúng ta, ẩn giấu khỏi mắt chúng ta nhưng được linh hồn và tâm trí chúng ta nhìn thấy được bằng đức tin không? Chúng ta có hiểu rằng chính Thiên Chúa là Ngôi Hai trong Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi Chí Thánh đã ngự xuống với chúng ta để ở với chúng ta vào thời điểm đó trong Bí tích vinh quang này không?
Hôm nay chúng ta hãy suy ngẫm về Mầu nhiệm Đức tin bí ẩn nhưng có thật. hãy cho phép bản thân chúng ta được cuốn hút vào sự mặc khải và kinh ngạc trước những gì chúng ta có vinh dự được tham dự. Hãy để niềm tin của chúng ta trong Bí tích Thánh Thể được phát triển bằng cách cởi mở đón nhận món quà đức tin sddos âu sắc hơn thông qua sự hiểu biết và niềm tin thiêng liêng. Chúng ta hãy chiêm ngắm Hồng Ân Thánh Thể cao cả này bằng con mắt đức tin và chúng ta sẽ được lôi cuốn vào trong sự mặc khải và tôn kính mà Thiên Chúa muốn ban cho chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa Thánh Thể luôn hiển vinh, chúng con tin rằng Chúa hiện diện trong thế giới của chúng con trong hình bánh và rượu, mỗi khi cử hành Thánh lễ mặc khải và tôn kính mỗi khi chúng con chứng kiến ​​bí tích Thánh thể trong mỗng Thánh lễ mỗi ngày. .
 
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Year B)
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” Mark 14:22–24 (Year B Gospel)
At the holy Mass, as soon as the priest pronounces the words of the consecration, transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, he genuflects, rises, and then says, “The mystery of faith.” What is “the mystery of faith?” Oftentimes, when we say that something is a mystery, we mean that the conclusion is hidden but that there are certain clues to help solve the mystery. And once the mystery is solved, everything is clear and it is no longer a mystery.
“The mystery of faith” is much different. Those words are spoken at Mass immediately after the consecration as a way of drawing the faithful into a holy awe and amazement of what just took place. But this mystery can only produce wonder and awe if the reality of what just took place is understood through the gift of faith. Faith is knowing and believing without perceiving the reality before us with our five senses or through logical deduction. In other words, faith produces true knowledge of a spiritual reality that can only be known, understood and believed through spiritual insight. Therefore, if we attend the Mass and have been gifted with the knowledge of faith, then as soon as the consecration of the bread and wine takes place, we will cry out interiorly, “My Lord and my God!” We will know that God the Son is present before us in a veiled way. Our eyes do not perceive, nor do any of our senses reveal to us the great reality before us. We cannot rationally deduce what just took place. Instead, we come to know and believe that the Son of God, the Savior of the World, is now present before us in His fullness, under the veil of mere bread and wine.
In addition to the divine presence of our Lord and our God, the entire Mystery of our Redemption is made present. Saint Pope John Paul II tells us that in this moment there is a “oneness in time” that links the Paschal Mystery, that is, the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, to every moment that the Eucharist is celebrated and made present through the words of consecration. And that unity between each Mass and the Paschal Mystery “leads us to profound amazement and gratitude” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #5). Do you sense and experience this profound amazement and gratitude each time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Do you realize as you attend the Mass and as the words of consecration are spoken that the entire Mystery of your redemption is made present before you, hidden from your eyes but visible to your soul by faith? Do you understand that it is God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity Who descends to us to dwell with us in that moment of time in this glorious Sacrament?
Reflect, today, upon the hidden but real Mystery of Faith. Allow yourself to be drawn into a wonder and awe at what you are privileged to attend. Let your faith in the Most Holy Eucharist grow by being open to a deepening of this gift of faith through spiritual insight and belief. Behold this great Gift of the Eucharist with the eyes of faith and you will be drawn into the wonder and awe that God wants to bestow upon you.
My ever-glorious Eucharistic Lord, I do believe that You are here, made present in our world under the form of bread and wine, every time the Holy Mass is celebrated. Fill me with a deeper faith in this Holy Gift, dear Lord, so that I may be drawn into wonder and awe every time I witness this holy Consecration. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Corpus Christi’
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of the Eucharist. It is the memorial of your Son’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. It is the foretaste of the heavenly banquet and food for eternal life. May I always welcome this gift!
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Role of Animal Blood in the Old Covenant: In the First Reading, taken from Exodus 24, we learn about the ceremony by which Moses ratified the Old Covenant between the Lord God and the people of Israel. A covenant creates a kinship or familial bond, with conditions and obligations, between two unrelated parties. For example, when a man and woman get married, they enter into a covenant, become one family, and promise to be faithful to one another until death. When we read about the divine covenants in the Bible, we see how human beings become members of God’s family. Covenants were established and renewed through swearing oaths and performing rituals and ceremonies. The words and actions that ratified and renewed covenants reflect the kinship bond being created and the divine sanctions enforcing that bond. The blood rituals in the ratification of a covenant – shedding the animal’s blood and sprinkling it – symbolize both the covenant bond as well as the covenant sanctions. In Exodus 24, the blood first indicates kinship. That is why Moses sprinkles half of the blood on the altar of God and half of the blood on the people. This symbolizes that the Lord God and the people of Israel are now one family. Second, the blood symbolizes the curse that will be triggered if one of the parties is unfaithful to the covenant. Both parties are saying to one another: “May my blood be shed if I violate the covenant.” At the foot of Mt. Sinai, the people of Israel accepted the words and ordinances of the Lord: The Lord will be their God and they will be his people. If we continue reading the story of Exodus, we see that the sacrificial blood ritual was followed by a shared familial meal (Exodus 24:10-11).
2. The Role of Jesus’ Blood in the New Covenant: Many of Jesus’ words and actions at the Last Supper evoke the covenant ratification ceremony of Sinai from Exodus 24 (for the four points that follow see Pitre, Jesus and the Last Supper, 94-95). First, Jesus identifies the cup with “my blood of the covenant.” This parallels Moses’ reference to “the blood of the covenant” (Exodus 24:8). Second, Jesus’ image of his blood being “poured out” in sacrifice (Mark 14:24) is similar to the imagery in Exodus, in which the blood of the peace offerings was thrown against or poured out on the altar (Exodus 24:6). “Both are images of a sacrificial libation of blood, by which the covenant relationship is established and sealed” (Pitre, Jesus and the Last Supper, 94). Just as the ancient priests would pour out the blood of a sacrificial animal, Jesus is the priest and sacrifice whose blood is poured out. Third, Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with the Twelve, who represent the twelve tribes of Israel (Mark 14:17). This recalls that Moses offered the blood of the covenant with the twelve tribes of Israel who are present and symbolically represented by the twelve pillars around the altar (Exodus 24:4). Fourth, Jesus speaks about his blood and the covenant in the context of a meal. In like manner, Moses’ offering of the blood of the covenant culminates in a heavenly banquet, in which he and the elders of Israel ascend Mt. Sinai into the presence of God and somehow eat and drink (Exodus 24:11). While the old covenant of Mt. Sinai was sealed by Moses through the offering of the blood of animals, the New Covenant of Mt. Zion is sealed by Jesus through the offering of his own blood. Jesus recapitulates the covenant actions of Moses but reconfigures them around his own suffering and death.
3. The Effect of Jesus’ Blood: In the Second Reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, we learn that Jesus’s blood is far superior to that of animals. The blood of animals cannot remove sin (Hebrews 10:4), but Jesus’ blood can remove our sin and purify our hearts. When Israel broke the commandments of the Old Covenant by worshipping the Golden Calf, they triggered the curse of death. They deserved death. Moses interceded for them and God did not wipe them out, but the covenant curse remained. “What then saves us from the curse of death for violating that covenant? Christ’s death does. He died on our behalf, in our place. But it is deeper than that. Through baptism, we actually participate in Christ’s death. In a real if mysterious way, baptism is a death that we undergo (Rom 6:3-11)” (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year B, 502). The New Covenant offers us something the Old Covenant could not. While the Old Covenant promised the land of Canaan to Israel, we are invited, in the New Covenant, to enter into the true promised land – eternal life with God in heaven. The Eucharist we partake of here on earth is a foretaste of that eternal banquet.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you shed your blood to save and redeem me. You poured out your blood on the Cross to wash away my sins. You are the pleasing and acceptable sacrifice. Help me today to unite my sacrifice to yours and offer it to the Father out of love.
Living the Word of God: Can I set aside time today to contemplate Jesus’ Passion? How am I called this week to give myself as Christ did? What do those around me need from me this week?
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ Mình và Máu Thánh Chuá
Phong tục Việt Nam chúng ta khi có những dịp mừng kỷ niệm vui mừng hay những sự kiện quan trọng trong cuộc sống, chúng ta thường mời những người thân quen và bạn bè đến dự tiệc vui. Ăn uống với nhau là một trong nhữnh sinh hoạt sống động quan trọng của con người.
            Trong bài đọc thứ nhất, ông Môi-sen đã đóng ấn giao ước giữa dân Israel với Yavê Thiên Chúa bằng những cùa lễ hiến dâng hy sinh : "Tất cả những điều mà Ðức Yavê đã phán chúng ta phải vâng lời phục tùng."
 Trong bài đọc thứ hai, chúng ta được nhắc nhở rằng sự hy sinh bằng giá máu của Chúa Kitô trên thập giá mang lại ơn cứu chuộc và sự cứu rỗi cho tất cả mọi người.
            Trong bữa ăn tối mừng ngày lễ vượt qua ‘Passover’ hàng năm, người Do Thái đã ăn mừng ngày họ được  giải thoát khỏi cảnh nô lệ, tôi đòi nơi xứ Ai Cập. Trong bữa tiệc mừng Lễ Vượt qua cuối cùng với các môn đệ  thân thiết của mình,  Chúa Giêsu đã ban hành bí tích Thánh Thể khi Ngài nói với các môn đệ: "Hãy lấy cầm lấy mà ăn, vì này là mình Ta." Sau đó Ngài lại nói: "Đây là máu của ta, Máu Giao ước đã được đổ ra cho nhiều người. Các con hãy làm việc này để nhớ đến ta"  
Mỗi lần chúng ta tham dự Thánh Thể, chúng ta nhận được Mình và Máu Chúa Kitô. Ngài đã để lại chính NGÀI cho chúng ta trong Thánh Thể như là một bí tích của sự hiệp nhất giữa chính Ngài và tất cả chúng ta và tất cả những ai đã tin vào ngài, và đó là dấu chỉ  của sự hiệp nhất giữa tất cả những ai đã tin và theo Ngài.
            Trong bài bài giảng về bánh hằng sống, Chúa Jêsus đã Phán, “Ta là bánh sống từ trời xuống, ai ăn bánh này sẽ được sống đời đời. Và bánh Ta sẽ ban, ấy là thịt mình Ta vì sự sống thế gian". (Ga 6:51).Ngài cũng đã nhắc lại, " Quả thật quả thật, Ta bảo các ngươi: nếu các ngươi không ăn thịt Con Người và uống máu Ngài, các ngươi không có sự sống nơi mình các ngươi. Ai ăn thịt và uống máu Ta thì có sự sống đời đời. và Ta sẽ cho nó sống lại trong ngày sau hết. " (Ga 6: 53- 54)
            Chúng ta hãy cảm tạ ơn Chúa Jêsus Kitô vì món quà vô giá của là Ngài ban cho chúng ta chính Ngài qua phép Thánh Thể, và sự hiện diện liên tục của Ngài ở giữa chúng ta như là của ăn lương thực cho cho sự sống đời đời cùa chúng ta.
 
REFLECTION June 3, 2018 – SUNDAY, THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
 We celebrate important occasions and   events in life by inviting relatives and friends to a meal. Eating together is an important human activity.
 In the first reading Moses seals the covenant between Yahweh and Israel with sacrificial offerings: "All that Yahweh said we shall do and obey."
 In the second reading we are reminded how the bloody sacrifice of Christ on the cross brought redemption and salvation to all.
 At the annual celebration of the Paschal meal, the Jewish people celebrated their liberation from their Egyptian captivity. Jesus uses this occasion, his Last Supper with his close disciples, to institute the sacrament of the Eucharist: "Take this, it is my body." "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be poured out for many."
 Every time we join a Eucharistic celebration we receive the body and blood of Christ. He left us himself in the Eucharist as a sacrament of unity between himself and all his believers and followers and as a sign of unity among all who believe and follow him.
 At his discourse on the bread of life, Jesus had said, "I am the living bread which has come down from heaven: whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world." (Jn 6:51).
 When many questioned him, he reiterated, "Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day." (Jn 6: 53- 54)
 We thank the Lord Jesus for the priceless gift of himself in the Eucharist, his continuing real presence in our midst as our food and drink for eternal life.
 
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Opening Prayer: My precious Jesus, thank you for the gift of your Body and Blood in the Eucharist. On this feast of Corpus Christi, I offer you praise and gratitude for this immense source of grace in my life.
Encountering Christ:
Christ’s Hospitality: Jesus arranged everything for the Passover feast. The upper room was “furnished and ready.” The table was set for a feast of remembrance: the Passover that would become the first Eucharistic banquet. Not only did Jesus prepare the setting, but he also provided the meal as well. For his Body is true food and His Blood is true drink (John 6:55). Like the ram caught in the brambles on Mount Moriah, God himself provided the lamb for the sacrifice (cf. Genesis 22:13). Christ himself became our Paschal victim, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). In what ways has Christ offered you his hospitality? When has he arranged situations and provided for you? What things could you detach from and allow him to take care of for you?
Food for Disciples: The Eucharist is food for the disciples. All those gathered in the upper room were Christ’s followers. In Jesus’s hands, the Passover bread became the very flesh of Our Lord. He blessed, broke, and gave His Body to his disciples to spiritually nourish and sustain them for the trial of his suffering and death to come. As Jesus’s disciples today, we receive the very same food that the first disciples received that day. It prepares us for the trials in our own lives in the same way it prepared the apostles to endure the Passion. Christ gives us the same nourishment that he gave to St. Peter, St. James, St. John, and the rest of the apostles because we have the same mission: to proclaim the Gospel and be His ambassadors to the culture around us (2 Corinthians 5:20). We can ask ourselves if our vocations and ministries are truly nourished by our reception and adoration of the Eucharist.
Christ in Us: St. Augustine taught of the Eucharist, “Behold the mystery of your salvation laid out for you; behold what you are, become what you receive.” When we eat regular food, it is transformed and becomes part of us. But in a mysterious way, when we consume Jesus’s Body in the Eucharist, it does not become our flesh; in fact, we are transformed into him. We become like Jesus, not the other way around. Pope Benedict XVI said, “The Body and Blood of Christ are given to us so that we ourselves will be transformed in our turn. We are to become the Body of Christ, his own Flesh and Blood.” Christ comes to dwell within us when we worthily receive the Eucharist. We become living tabernacles of his Presence. Like Mary carrying Christ in her womb to love and serve Elizabeth (cf. Luke 1:39), we can carry his Presence to love and serve the people around us.
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, how marvelous it is that you give me your Body in the ultimate act of self-giving love. Thank you for feeding and nourishing me in such an intimate yet powerful way. I thank you for how you have healed me in the past through the gift of your Body and Blood. I know that you give me this precious gift so that I will share your love with others and not keep your graces only for myself. Please imbue me with your loving, merciful Presence and give me the fortitude to carry it out to serve others out of love for you. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will spend time contemplating you in the Eucharist and how my service as a disciple is connected to your nourishing gift.