Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư thuần thứ 10 Thường NIên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư thuần thứ 10 Thường NIên

Trong khi các đoạn Tin Mửng hôm qua (Mt.5: 13-16) Chúa Giêsu mô tả nhiệm vụ và bổn phận của các môn đệ, Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chúng ta nghe Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta về sứ vụ của Chúa Giêsu liên quan đến các điều luật của Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của Ngài đến với Thế gian không phải là để tiêu diệt hoặc bãi bỏ lề luật của các tiên tri, nhưng Ngài đến để thực thi và làm những Luật này được nên trọn vẹn.
Chúa Giêsu có ý Khi Ngài nói Ngài đến để thực thi luật của Chúa?
            Chúa Giêsu đã đến để tỏ lộ cho chúng ta  thấy rõ được ý nghĩa thực sự của Cựu Ước và do đó Ngài đã đến để hoàn thành. Nhưng thực thi theo Thánh Mathêu  có nghĩa là phải triệt để và bén nhậy với những nhu cầu luật pháp , để phù hợp với việc loan báoTin Mừng  Nước Thiên Chúa. Bằng cách này, mà Chúa Giêsu đã mời gọi tất cả mọi người phải nhận ra là tinh thần của luật pháp và không việc thực thi luật phái ckhông chỉ đơn thuần là việc thực thi những điểu được viết thành luật. Điều này cũng được khẳng định cho chúng ta thấy trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay (v. 6) trong đó nói và nhấn mạnh rằng là thật sự không phải là chữ viết của giao ước mới là vấn đề,  nhưng là thần khí.
            Nhửng ”chữ viết”' ở đây đồng nghĩa với pháp luật như một tiêu chuẩn bề ngoài mà đật trước tất cả mọi người, bởi vì con người là bộ phận hay phạm phạm hay phá luật pháp, một tội phạm bị kết án và bị kết án tử hình. Mặt khác, Thần khí (Chúa Thánh Thần) là  Đấng ban sự sống là "Thần khí” của Thiên Chúa hằng sống, người mà đã đến để  hoàn tất những ứng nghiệm lời hứa trong giao ước mới. Thần khí viết  các lề luật tương tư như thế ngay trên bia đá trong tâm hồn của chúng ta " (v. 3). Đấy là Chúa Giêsu, bộ luật mới của chúng ta. Vì thế, chúng ta là, là những các môn đệ của Chúa Kitô, chúng ta phải biết tuân theo, vâng lời  luật của Chúa mỗi ngày bằng cách là biết sống và  làm theo ý muốn của Thiên Chúa, và sống theo cách của Chúa trong sự công bình, chínhtrực.
            Lạy Chúa, xin giúp và ban chúng con có được ân sũng của Chúa ban mỗi ngày, để chúng con biết tuân giữ luật pháp của Thần Khí củă Chúa là luật biết yêu thương người.
Tìm kiếm ý muốn củă Thiên Chúa trong tất cả mọi việc con làm, Và Ngài sẽ chỉ cho con lối mà con sẽ di.. đi  hãy nhận ra Người trong mọi nẻo đường con đi và Người sẽ san phẳng các lối con theo.
 
Reflection SG
While the preceding passage (Mt.5:13-16) describes he mission to the disciples, today’s gospel talks about the mission of Jesus in relation to the law. His mission is not to destroy or abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfil them. What does Jesus mean by fulfillment of the law?
            Jesus came to reveal the true meaning of the OT and thus bring it to fulfillment. But fulfillment, Matthew means radicalizing and sharpening the demands of the law in accordance with the proclamation of the Kingdom. By this he was inviting the people to realize the spirit of the law and not mere observance of the letter of the law. This is reiterated in the first reading (v. 6) wherein stated that it is not the letter of the new covenant that matters but the spirit.
            The ‘letter’ here is synonymous with the law as an external standard before which all people, because they are law breakers, stood guilty and condemned to death. On the other hand, the spirit who gives life is the ‘spirit of the living God’s, who, in fulfillment of the promise of the new covenant, writes that the same law inwardly on tablets of human hearts’ (v. 3). This is Jesus — our new law. So, as disciples of Christ, we respond daily to the law by doing God’s will with righteousness and as a way of life.
“Lord, grant us the grace to observe the spirit of the law of love.”
 
Wednesday 10th Week in Ordinary Time
Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” Matthew 5:17–18
The law and the prophets, as found in the Old Testament, consists of three types. First, there are the moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments, that are primarily based on the natural law of God. By “natural law,” we mean that our human reason can understand their truthfulness, such as with “Thou shall not kill, steal, etc.” Second, there were many liturgical precepts that were laid down and practiced as a preparation for and prefiguration of their ultimate liturgical fulfillment. The fulfillment is now found in the sacramental life of the Church. Third, there were various legal precepts that gave specific directions on daily living. These laws include instructions on food, relations with others, how to treat foreigners, cleansings, purifications of utensils, tithing, and much more.
In our Gospel today, Jesus essentially says two things. First, regarding the legal and liturgical precepts, He says that He came to “fulfill” them. Thus, Christians are no longer bound by these Old Testament legal and liturgical laws, in that we are now called to a much higher fulfillment of them all. But as for the moral laws, especially those found in the Ten Commandments, not a single precept taught is abolished. Instead, these Commandments are deepened, and the call to moral perfection is now much clearer. It is for this reason that Jesus goes on to say, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
It’s important to understand that those who lived before the time of Christ were not held to the same standard as we are today. That’s because they did not enjoy the gift of grace that was won by the Cross and is bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Today, we have so much more and, for that reason, are called to a much greater life of holiness. For example, we no longer celebrate the Passover as a mere remembrance of what God did by setting the Israelites free from slavery to the Egyptians. Today, we celebrate the New Passover through our participation in the Holy Eucharist, and our “remembrance” goes beyond the simple recalling of a memory of old. Our remembrance is one that enables us to actually participate in the saving sacrifice of Christ. We share in the actual event and are partakers of the grace won on the Cross each time we celebrate the Holy Mass. And as for the moral laws of the Old Testament, they become the bottom line of morality. The upper limit is now much higher. We are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We are to lay down our lives for others and take up our crosses daily to follow Jesus. We are called to the perfection of sacrificial love, and that is only possible by our sharing in the very life, death and resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Reflect, today, upon the very high calling you have been given by our Lord. It’s not enough to simply do the bare minimum in our worship and moral life. Doing so may permit you to be “least in the Kingdom of heaven,” but God wants you to share in His greatness. He calls you to be among the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Do you understand your high calling? Do you have the perfection of holiness as your goal? Commit yourself to the full participation in the New Law of Christ and you will be eternally grateful that you did.
My most glorious Lord, You came to bring our lives to the fullness of grace and holiness. You call us to the heights of Heaven. Help me to see my high calling, dear Lord, and to work diligently to embrace all that You now command by Your New Law of grace and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday 10th Week in Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you call me to a high standard of life in the New Covenant. I realize that on my own I cannot live this, but also that, with your grace, all things are possible. With the grace of your Son and Spirit, I can be holy and perfect, love my enemies, and forgive those who sin against me.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal: In the First Reading, we hear about some events in the northern Kingdom of Israel. The wicked King Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel and fell into idolatry. In Samaria, he built an altar for the Canaanite god of storms and fertility, Baal, and the fertility goddess, Asherah (1 Kings 16:32-33). In response to the idolatry of King Ahaz and his wife Jezebel, the Lord, the God of Israel, called Elijah to be his prophet and told him of the drought and famine that would afflict the land of Israel. Elijah confronted King Ahaz and asked that all Israel be gathered at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah. On the mountain, Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal to a contest to prove that the Lord is God. This challenge recalls the confrontation between Moses and the Egyptian magicians in the Book of Exodus and the confrontation between the Lord God and the Dagon in the Book of Samuel. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal throughout the day as they were unable to call down fire from heaven upon the sacrifice they prepared. In the afternoon, Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord with twelve stones, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. To show the power of the Lord God, Elijah doused the sacrifice with water and filled the trench around the altar with water. In contrast to the complicated prayer and frenzied actions of the prophets of Baal, Elijah’s prayer to God is very simple. Elijah unites his prayer to the time of the afternoon offering in the Temple in Jerusalem. He recalls God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By doing this, Elijah’s prayer recognizes that the Lord God acts in history and cares for his people, who have entered into a covenant with him. Second, Elijah says that he has served the Lord faithfully and done everything according to his word. In this case, he did exactly as the Lord commanded during the famine and now confronts the King about the false prophets of Baal. Lastly, Elijah asks God to answer his prayer so that the people of Israel may know him as the true God and may turn their hearts back to him. He is not seeking his own glory, but only that of the Lord God. God answers his prayer and heavenly fire consumes the sacrifice and licks up the water. Before this great sign and manifestation of divine power, the people cry out: “The Lord is God; the Lord is God.”
2. The Fulfillment of the Old Law: In the Gospel, Jesus has just finished proclaiming the beatitudes and he now begins to explain his relationship to the Law of Moses and the prophets. He fulfills them in two ways: first, through his life, death, and resurrection; second, through his teaching, by showing the kind of life to which the law ultimately pointed. Jesus is the authoritative interpreter of the law and brings out its deeper meaning. “It is in this sense that the smallest letter of the law remains until heaven and earth pass away and until all things have taken place. The law retains its status as God's revealed word, and one must continue to teach and obey these commandments. But disciples must now follow the law in light of Christ's authoritative interpretation” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 94).
3. The Passing Away of Heaven and Earth: When Jesus speaks of the law not passing away until heaven and earth pass away, we need to understand this as referring to three events. The first is the event of Jesus’ death on the Cross. This event establishes the New Covenant and brings the Old Covenant to its fulfillment. The sacrificial laws of the Old Covenant expire with the sacrifice of Jesus but the moral Law was retained and refined (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 15). The veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus’ death and symbolizes the perfection and transformation of the Old into the New. Jesus’ death inaugurates a 40-year period from A.D. 30-70, in which Jewish Christians still retain many of the prescriptions of the Old Law while embracing their new life in Christ. During this period, believers in Christ begin to understand that Gentile believers are not obligated to take on the yoke of the Old Law (Acts 15:10). The second passing away of heaven and earth is the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. The Temple was a microcosm of the universe and had images of the sun, the moon, and the stars. The destruction of the Temple, i.e., the passing away of the microcosm of the universe, was the sign of some of the Old Law passing away. Lambs and animals could no longer be sacrificed in the Temple; annual pilgrimages to the Temple ceased. The cultural walls of separation – including many dietary restrictions – between Jews and Gentiles were truly torn down. The third passing away of heaven and earth is the end of the world. This means that the heart of the law of the Old Covenant, brought to fulfillment in the New, remains until the end of time. In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will highlight six Old Covenant laws and bring them to their perfection in the New Law.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, inscribe your law on my heart. Cut away my stubbornness and resistance to your grace. Guide me with your Spirit and make me docile to the Spirit’s inspirations.
Living the Word of God: Am I teaching others the new commandment of love? How do I live this in my family? Am I a model of love and charity? What do I need to change?
 
Meditation: Great are those who teach and obey the commandments
Why do people tend to view the "law of God" negatively rather than positively? Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
For the people of Israel the "law" could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch or Torah, which explain the commandments and ordinances of God for his people. The "law" also referred to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people. The Jews in Jesus' time also used it as a description of the oral or scribal law. Needless to say, the scribes added many more things to the law than God intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law because it placed burdens on people which God had not intended.
The essence of God's law
Jesus made it very clear that the essence of God's law - his commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled. God's law is true and righteous because it flows from his love, goodness, and holiness. It is a law of grace, love, and freedom for us. That is why God commands us to love him above all else and to follow in the way of his Son, the Lord Jesus who taught us how to love by laying down our lives for one another.
Reverence and respect
Jesus taught reverence for God’s law - reverence for God himself, reverence for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful desires master and enslave us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments teach us the way of love - love of God and love of neighbor. What is impossible to humans is possible to God who gives generously of his gifts and the Holy Spirit to those who put their faith in him. God gives us the grace, help, and strength to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think and judge as he judges, and to act as he acts with mercy, loving-kindness, and goodness. The Lord loves righteousness and hates wickedness. As his followers we must love his commandments and hate every form of sin and wrong-doing. Do you seek to understand the intention of his law and to grow in wisdom of his ways?
Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them the gift of the Holy Spirit who writes God's law of love and truth on our hearts. The Spirit teaches us God's truth and gives us wisdom and understanding of God's ways. The Spirit helps us in our weakness, strengthens us in temptation, and transforms us, day by day, into the likeness of Christ himself. There is great blessing and reward for those who obey God's commandments and who help others, especially the younger generations, to love, respect, and obey the Lord.
"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts, minds, and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words, and deeds may be be in accord with your Father’s law and wisdom. And thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."

Suy Niệm Bài đọc thứ Ba tuần thứ 10 Thường Niên

 Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ  Năm Tuần 10 Thường Niên
Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta biết là nếu chúng ta là những người theo Chúa Giêsu, thì chúng ta cũng chưa chắc đã thực hành theo đúng như các điều luật viết trong sách luật của ông Môisen. Chúa Giêsu đã cảnh báo các môn đệ là những sự độc ác có thể gây ra do lòng tức giận Ngài khuyến khích họ nên tìm kiếm sự hòa giải với tất cả những ai mà chúng ta đã làm điều gì sai trái với họ hoặc những ai mà đã làm điều sai trái với chúng ta.  Sự tức giận có thể gây ra tổn hại về sức khỏe và tinh thần của chúng ta. Chúng ta không nên cầm giữ, dồn nén bất cứ một sự oán giận nào trong lòng của chúng ta và tất cả những chuyện cũ đầy cay đắng không khoan dung trong tâm hồn của  chúng ta.  Chúa Giêsu đã dạy rõ ràng là chúng ta không nên sử dụng những từ ngữ, (kiểu chơi chữ) để gây hại, làm tổn thất tinh thần cho những người khác.
            C
            Chúa Giêsu cho chúng ta biết là điều kiện cần thiết để đến với Ngài là chúng ta cần phải biết hòa thuận và kính trọng với mọi người chung quanh cho dù họ là bất cứ hạng nười nào. Nếu chúng ta nuôi dưỡng sự oán giận với người khác trong lòng thì chúng ta không xứng đáng để tiến tới gần bàn thờ của Thiên Chúa.
           Bổn phận đầu tiên của chúng ta là phải cố gắng hết sức để hòa giải với những người mà chúng ta đã làm họ mất lòng hay những người đã làm mất lòng chúng ta trước khi chúng ta bước đến trước bàn thờ để dâng lễ hay cầu nguyện. Và chỉ có được thế,  thì chúng ta mới sẵn sàng được tâm hồn và xứng đáng dâng vật lễ của chúng ta lên Thiên Chúa một cách đẹp lòng Ngài. Và đấy là những gì có thể giúp chúng ta tìm thấy sự an bình trong ân sủng của Thiên Chúa.
Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay Chúa muồn chúng ta hãy nhìn vào chính cuộc sống của chúng ta và thử xem coi chúng ta đã sống và giữ những điều mà Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã dạy. Chúng ta có ý thức và cư xử với mọi người trong tình thần hoà giải, thân thiện trong hoà bình? Hãy tự xét coi: chúng ta có cần phải xin lỗi ai đó trong cuộc sống của chúng ta? chúng ta đã có sự tha thứ cho người có lỗi với chính mình? Chúng ta có tìm kiếm hòa giải, cho dù chúng ta chỉ là một trong những nạn nhận bị người khác xúc phạm?
Xin cho lời của Chúa trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, trở thành một cái nhiệt kế tình yêu hàng ngày của chúng ta đối với Thiên Chúa và đối với anh chị chung quanh chúng ta.
 
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time 2023
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” Matthew 5:21–22
The passage quoted above gives us three deepening levels of sin that we commit against another. These sins were new teachings not contained in the Old Testament. By this teaching, Jesus’ call to radical holiness and love of neighbor is made very clear. The first level of sin is simply to be “angry” interiorly. The sin of anger is an interior attitude of disgust toward another. Jesus says that the consequence of having anger toward another is that you will be “liable to judgment.” The second level of sin is when you say to another “Raqa.” This Aramaic word is difficult to translate but would include some form of expression of one’s anger toward another. It would be a derogatory way of saying to another that they are unintelligent or inferior. The third level of sin Jesus identifies is when you call another “fool.” This word is an even stronger expression of Raqa and would be a verbal criticism of them, indicating that the person is a lost soul in a moral sense. It’s a strong moral condemnation of another that is expressed.
So, do you struggle with anger? Jesus’ calling to freedom from all levels of this sin is a high one. There are many times in life when our passion of anger is stirred up for one reason or another, and that passion leads to one of these levels of sin. It’s a common temptation to want to condemn another with whom you are angry in the strongest way possible. 
It’s important to understand that this new teaching of Jesus is truly not a burden when understood and embraced. At first, it can seem that these laws of our Lord against anger are negative. That’s because lashing out at another gives a false sense of satisfaction, and these commands of our Lord, in a sense, “rob” us of that satisfaction. It can be a depressing thought to think about the moral obligation to forgive to the point that disordered anger disappears. But is it depressing? Is this law of our Lord a burden?
The deep truth is that what Jesus teaches us in this passage is, in many ways, more for our own good than that of others. Our anger toward another, be it interior, verbally critical or all-out condemning, can be hurtful toward the person with whom we are angry, but the damage these forms of anger do is far worse for us than them. Being angry, even interiorly, even if we put on a happy face, does great damage to our soul and our ability to be united to God. For that reason, it is not this new law of our Lord regarding anger that is the burden, it is the anger itself that is a heavy burden and a burden from which Jesus wants you free.
Reflect, today, upon the sin of anger. As you do, try to see your disordered anger as the real enemy rather than the person with whom you are angry. Pray to our Lord to free you from this enemy of the soul and seek the freedom that He wants to bestow.
My merciful Lord, You call us to perfect freedom from all that burdens us. Anger burdens us. Help me to see the burden that my anger imposes upon me and help me to seek true freedom through the act of forgiveness and reconciliation. Please forgive me, dear Lord, as I forgive all who have hurt me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” Matthew 5:21–22
The passage quoted above gives us three deepening levels of sin that we commit against another. These sins were new teachings not contained in the Old Testament. By this teaching, Jesus’ call to radical holiness and love of neighbor is made very clear.
The first level of sin is simply to be “angry” interiorly. The sin of anger is an interior attitude of disgust toward another. Jesus says that the consequence of having anger toward another is that you will be “liable to judgment.” The second level of sin is when you say to another “Raqa.” This Aramaic word is difficult to translate but would include some form of expression of one’s anger toward another. It would be a derogatory way of saying to another that they are unintelligent or inferior. The third level of sin Jesus identifies is when you call another “fool.” This word is an even stronger expression of Raqa and would be a verbal criticism of them, indicating that the person is a lost soul in a moral sense. It’s a strong moral condemnation of another that is expressed.
So, do you struggle with anger? Jesus’ calling to freedom from all levels of this sin is a high one. There are many times in life when our passion of anger is stirred up for one reason or another, and that passion leads to one of these levels of sin. It’s a common temptation to want to condemn another with whom you are angry in the strongest way possible. 
It’s important to understand that this new teaching of Jesus is truly not a burden when understood and embraced. At first, it can seem that these laws of our Lord against anger are negative. That’s because lashing out at another gives a false sense of satisfaction, and these commands of our Lord, in a sense, “rob” us of that satisfaction. It can be a depressing thought to think about the moral obligation to forgive to the point that disordered anger disappears. But is it depressing? Is this law of our Lord a burden?
The deep truth is that what Jesus teaches us in this passage is, in many ways, more for our own good than that of others. Our anger toward another, be it interior, verbally critical or all-out condemning, can be hurtful toward the person with whom we are angry, but the damage these forms of anger do is far worse for us than them. Being angry, even interiorly, even if we put on a happy face, does great damage to our soul and our ability to be united to God. For that reason, it is not this new law of our Lord regarding anger that is the burden, it is the anger itself that is a heavy burden and a burden from which Jesus wants you free.
Reflect, today, upon the sin of anger. As you do, try to see your disordered anger as the real enemy rather than the person with whom you are angry. Pray to our Lord to free you from this enemy of the soul and seek the freedom that He wants to bestow.
My merciful Lord, You call us to perfect freedom from all that burdens us. Anger burdens us. Help me to see the burden that my anger imposes upon me and help me to seek true freedom through the act of forgiveness and reconciliation. Please forgive me, dear Lord, as I forgive all who have hurt me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Thursday 10th Week in Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want to imitate your patient love. When someone offends me or corrects me, I will not react in anger or rashly, but seek the truth in love. When I offend something I will seek out their forgiveness and make amends.
Encountering the Word of God. 
1. Elijah’s Trust in the Lord: The First Reading tells us about the end of a long drought in the northern Kingdom of Israel. Elijah knows the rain is coming and tells the wicked King Ahab to eat and drink, for the famine and drought are over. Elijah himself climbs Mount Carmel to wait for the rain as it comes in from the sea. He is bent over, possibly in prayer, and does not raise his eyes to the sea. Instead, he has his servant inform him of what takes place. He trusts fully in God’s word and does not need to see to believe. In the servant’s seventh report, the servant tells Elijah that he sees a small cloud, rising from the sea, which indicates that the promised rain is near. Although the story is not as powerful as the one we read yesterday about Elijah calling forth fire from the sky to consume the sacrifice, it does teach us an important lesson about God’s providence. The Lord watches over us. This is recalled in today’s psalm, which praises God for his loving care. God has visited the land and watered it with rain. This is necessary for an abundant and rich harvest.
2. Salvation from Sin and Death: It is important to remember that when we pray to God we should not limit ourselves to asking for our material needs. Today’s psalm can be read in the light of Jesus Christ and we see that there is a much greater visitation that will take place – the Incarnation of the Son of God. Jesus brings us, not earthly water that lasts for a time, but living water that gives eternal life (4:14). We need salvation, not just from famine or drought, but from sin and death. God, in his providence, did not leave us to ourselves when our first parents sinned against him but sent his only Son to save us.
3. Wounds against Charity: When we present ourselves before God, we do so as people redeemed in Christ. We form part of the Body of Christ and are bound with others in love. Having something against our brothers or sisters wounds this unity and charity. Calling them “fools” goes against the peace and joy that Christ brings. Our righteousness or holiness does not consist primarily in fulfilling detailed external rites. The Pharisees were confused on this point. Our righteousness and holiness are found in union with Christ. This union with Christ and the communion we share with others in Christ is a gift that we need to accept and protect. That is why Christ tells each one of us today: “Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I desire to practice righteousness. I want to remain in a right relationship with the Father, with you, and with the Spirit. I ask for your grace so that I may do good works that give glory to God and merit eternal life.
Living the Word of God: Who is it that I struggle with the most? Who do I interact with that I call a fool or consider a fool in my heart? What can I do to fix that relationship? How can I see the good in my brother or sister?
 
Thursday 10th Week in Ordinary Time:  Matthew 5:20-26
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Father of love, the source of all blessings, you have led me throughout my life, and you lead me still. Thank you for your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, you died for me on the cross to pay for my sins and manifest your unconditional love for me. Thank you for showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul, you heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire from the most intimate depths of my soul. Thank you for your loving presence within me.
Petition: Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart more like yours.
 
1. Anger in Our Hearts: Jesus is speaking here in particular about anger, a desire for revenge or an attitude that refuses to forgive. Jesus always brings us back to the human heart. Actions flow from decisions made in the heart, even if not immediately evident. When we cultivate a sentiment in our heart – be it good or evil - it will eventually find ways of coming to fruition. “If you are angry do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger or you will give the devil a chance” (Ephesians 4:26). Any unwillingness to forgive leads to resentment in the heart and ultimately destroys lives and relationships. “What does it mean to forgive, if not to appeal to a good that is greater than any evil?” (Pope Saint John Paul II, Memory and Identity, p. 15).
2. Insults Are Grave Matters: “Sticks and stones may break my bones…” Each one of us knows firsthand the penetrating power of words. One may edify or destroy, enhance or tarnish, heal, or wound with them. It is rather striking that Jesus refers to insults towards “a brother or sister:” in other words, insulting those closest to us, especially those closest to our hearts. It is no revelation that those we love the most are also the ones most capable of wounding us deeply, and vice versa. What dagger could ever penetrate more than an unkind word from a loved one? The true revelation is that God takes each word we speak seriously. In fact, he will hold us accountable for them because the words are an outward manifestation of what we have in our hearts. The power of words reveals the weight of words.
3. Hold No Grudges: “If you remember that your brother or sister has something against you…” This phrase makes us shift a little in our seats. Jesus gives us a tremendous view into God’s heart. God’s very essence is a unity of love – three persons, one nature. We are made in God’s image and to live forever in union with God. But so, too, are my brothers and sisters. If we have done anything to wound the union of love with those around us, we must repair the breach. In fact, it is so important to God (and so important for us) that God will not accept our “offering” if we have consciously wounded the unity with those around us. Bring those particularly difficult relationships to prayer, and draw the strength from God to love as we should. He will not ask for some virtue and then refuse his grace.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, teach me to love and help me to be a saint. You have created me and called me to the Catholic faith. Help me to live that faith generously, living the primacy of love in my daily life. Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus.
Resolution: Today, I will do three hidden acts of charity. 
 
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel we hear about anger. We also hear that if we are to be followers of Jesus, it is not enough to follow the letter of the law. The disciples are warned against the evil that anger can bring and they are encouraged to seek reconciliation with anyone who has wronged them or whom they have wronged. Anger places our spiritual health in danger. There should be no holding on to old resentments that fill us with uncharitable bitterness. Jesus is clear about not using the power of words to inflict harm on those around us.
Jesus set down an essential condition to come to him. We need to be at peace with our neighbor. Many of us have suffered because we have stopped speaking to each other, unwilling to reach out because of stubbornness or pride. If we harbor resentment towards another, we are told not approach the altar of God. Our first duty is to try to reconcile and then come to the altar. Only then are we ready to offer the gift of ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God. This is what can help us to find peace that comes to us by God's grace.
s we reflect on today's Gospel, let us look at our own lives and see if we are following Jesus' teaching. Are we consciously acting as peacemakers? Is there somebody in our lives to whom we need to give an apology? Is there somebody we still have not forgiven? Do we seek reconciliation, even when we are the one who was offended? May Jesus' teaching, in today's Gospel, become the thermometer of our daily love for God and for each other.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày 11 thánh 6 Lể Thánh Barnabas Tông đồ

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày 11 thánh 6 Lể Thánh Barnabas Tông đồ
Trong bài đọc Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta nghe Chúa Giêsu hướng dẫn các môn đệ, những người mà Ngài sẽ trao cho nhiệm vụ là rao giảng Nước Trời. Họ sẽ chữa lành tất cả các bệnh tật, làm cho kẻ chết được sống lại và trừ được ma quỉ. Ngài đã hướng dẫn họ không được mang tất cả những gì cho cuộc hành trình rao giảng của, họ phải ra đi với bàn tay trắng và cây gậy đi đường, họ phải biết tin tưởng vào sự quan phòng của Thiên Chúa qua sự nương dựa vào sự  tiếp đón và hiếu khách của những người tiếp nhận họ.
            Trong bài đọc thứ nhất, chúng ta nghe tác giả mô tả một người môn đệ gương mẫu trong Hội Thánh đầu tiên. Đấy là thánh Barnabas, một người tốt, là một người rất đáng tin cậy, người biết vâng lời và có ảnh hưởng, là môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu và cũng là một trong 12 Tông Đồ  đã  đem các dân tộc trở lại với Chúa và tuyên xưng Chúa Giêsu Kitô bằng lời nói và hành động. Hội Thánh tại Jerusalem đã gời ngài đi Antioch và thi hành nhiệm vụ của ngài  ở Antioch. Chúng ta đã được nghe nói rằng thánh Barnabas đã hoạt động mạnh mẽ qua ơn Chúa Thánh Thần. Hoạt động chính của ngài là củng cố đức tin  cộng đồng ở Antioch.  Việc rao giảng của ngài đã góp phần không nhỏ vào sự phát triển cộng đồng và gia tăng nhân số.
            Tất cả chúng ta có lẽ sẽ không rao giảng hùng hồn được như Thánh Phêrô. Chúng ta sẽ không thể lôi kkéo cả ngàn tín đồ về với Chúa như thánh Phaolô. Chúng ta cũng không có thể hiểu được thong minh về thần học như thánh Gioan. Chúng ta cũng không có thể làm cho kẻ chết  được sống hay chữa bệnh hay nói tiếng lạ, nhưng tất cả chúng ta cũng nên học hỏi và bắt chước thánh Barnabas. Tất cả chúng ta nên học hỏi để khuyến khích anh chị em của chúng ta nên biết sống và trở nên những người Kitô Hữu tốt hơn. Tất cả chúng ta hãy ráng trở nên là những người con xứng đáng của Chúa trong những lời nói và việc làm hàng ngày của chúng ta
 
Reflection on St Barnabas, Apostle June 11
In today’s gospel reading, we hear Jesus instructing his disciples, whom he missions to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. They are to cure the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils. He instructs them to travel light and to rely on the hospitality of those who receive them.
            In the first reading, we have a depiction of an exemplary disciple in the early church. This is Barnabas, a good man. Barnabas comes across as a reliable, obedient and influential man, who collaborates with the Spirit in converting the nations and proclaiming the Lord Jesus by words and deeds. The church in Jerusalem sends him to mission in Antioch. We are told that he sees the working of the Spirit in Antioch. His labour consolidates the faith of the Antioch community and his preaching contributes to the increase of the community. The critical mass of prophets and teachers in Antioch includes Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus, latterly known as Paul, whom Barnabas takes under his wing.
May the Lord’s peace and love prevail in our Church and in the world. St. Barnabas, pray for us.
 
Reflection:
I always admired Barnabas. His name, which means “Son of Encouragement”, reminds me of a guy I knew in high school, Joe. He was a delight to be around, and everyone else was better when he was with us. He was one of the best advertisements for Christianity I have ever known, truly a lampstand. I was always disappointed that he was some sort of Evangelical Christian and not a Catholic, that he did not play for our team, so to speak. I imagine Barnabas to be a lot like him, with a word of encouragement for everyone and never a personal attack, neither to a person’s face nor behind their back, not with meaningless compliments but actual encouragement. Blessed is everyone around a Barnabas.
            Encouragement, it seems to me, is an eighth gift of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, encouragement is not only a gift of the Holy Spirit but also a title. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Encouragement. The Holy Spirit brings encouragement where it is needed by giving this gift to someone near a person whom he is pleased to encourage and is, thereby, the Spirit of Encouragement that every Barnabas is the son of.
            Today we read that Barnabas went to Antioch and encouraged everyone “for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” This kind of encouragement is more truly a proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit than speaking in tongues or prophecy. The evil spirit gives prophecies, but only the Holy Spirit gives encouragement to Christians. We see a characteristic of that encouragement when Barnabas goes up to Tarsus and finds Paul. A true Barnabas looks for the God-given gifts in others and is not jealous but rather rejoices.
            We Christians are not all going to preach like Peter. We will not all count converts by the thousands like Paul. We do not all have the theological mind of John. We may not raise the dead or cure the sick or speak in tongues or prophesy, but we all should learn to emulate Barnabas. We all should learn to encourage our brothers and sisters to be better Christians. We should all be sons and daughters of encouragement – not mere human encouragement: patronizing, saccharine words – but the encouragement of the Spirit of Encouragement, who fills our hearts, who always has a word or action ready for us to share with another. When you see a person in need, just listen to that Spirit and speak the encouragement
 
Reflection:
St. Barnabas, a Cypriot, was one of the earliest Jews to join the young Christian community. He sold a piece of land and brought the money to the apostles to use for the Christian community. Here we see his generosity.
When Saul was converted by the Lord in Damascus, Barnabas took charge of him and introduced him to the apostles in Jerusalem. Afterwards, he was commissioned to go with Saul, now called Paul, to preach in far-away countries and to non-Jews.  St. Barnabas was stoned to death in Salamis, Cyprus in 61 AD.
This tells us to be missionaries – to tell non-believers about Jesus, even our family members who have stopped believing in God and are so pre-occupied with earning money or having a good time. We are called to bring the Good News of salvation to others because there are people hungry for it.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus says that true virtue is more than just being good and upright. We are told to reconcile with those who are angry with us, regardless of who is right or wrong. The world needs peacemakers, people who answer evil with good. Enough of "patigasan," people should learn to reconcile because we know that we will not always be in total agreement with others. And so if we have a quarrel with someone, we must pray for the grace to reconcile with him/her. And if everyone has this attitude, won't the world be a better place to live in?
 
Meditation: Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 Saint Barnabas, Apostle
He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. (Acts 11:24)
When your ceiling falls in and water starts gushing from above, you call a plumber. When your house catches fire, you call the fire department. When you hear that a new church has sprung up in Antioch, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, who do you call? A peacemaker! Even in those early days, leaders in the Church knew that when a large number of zealous, excited people get together, they need a guiding hand and some skilled mediation.So the apostles sent Barnabas.
            This isn’t the only place in the Scriptures where we encounter this fellow. Other stories help round out our image of who Barnabas is and what sort of character traits he has. When he is first introduced, we learn that his real name is Joseph, but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Then, every time he appears in Acts or Paul’s letters, we hear of him as a peacemaker, as someone widely respected in the Church. Indeed, he must have been a solid, reliable man, to be sent to a faraway city on such an important mission!
We’d all like to be peacemakers. But it isn’t enough to want it. Bringing peace to a stressful situation—helping people to experience God’s calm—can be quite a challenge. How do we know what to say to defuse an argument or bring people together in harmony? A great clue is in Barnabas name, and in the first thing he did when he got to Antioch: encouragement.
            Peacemaking doesn’t involve having all the answers. It doesn’t mean taking control of a situation and mastering everyone involved. The first step can often be just a simple boost. “You’re doing great.” “I’m proud of you; hang in there.” Even if we have no other wisdom to offer, a few genuine encouraging words can defuse a tense situation. It can soften hearts and start people on the path to reconciliation. Your hopeful, peace-filled attitude can be contagious, in fact.
            So the next time you’re in a stressful situation that needs a peacemaker, remember Barnabas, and try to become a son or daughter of encouragement as well! “Lord, help me to be a peacemaker and serve you as faithfully as Barnabas did.”
 
 
Reflection: Saint Barnabas, originally named Joseph, was born on the isle of Cyprus and was a Jew of the tribe of Levi (see Acts 4:36). Nothing else is known about his early life. During Jesus’ public ministry, Joseph became His fervent follower and might have been one of the seventy-two disciples whom Jesus sent out on a mission (see Luke 10:1–24). After Pentecost, as the Church in Jerusalem began to grow, the Apostles changed Joseph’s name to Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” His name change might have occurred because Barnabas supported the Church when he “sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles” (Acts 4:37). This is the first mention of Barnabas in the New Testament.
Three years later, after Saint Paul had undergone his conversion to the Christian faith and spent three years fasting and praying in Arabia, he traveled to Jerusalem to consult with the Apostles. The Apostles and the Christian community were at first hesitant to receive him, for they were aware of the persecutions he had issued against the Church. Barnabas, however, “brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27). After spending a short period of time in Jerusalem, Saint Paul returned to his hometown of Tarsus to avoid persecution. He remained in Tarsus for the next several years.
During that time, some of the Christians who left Jerusalem after the martyrdom of Saint Stephen traveled north to Antioch in Syria, where many Greek Gentiles lived. In Antioch, the Greek-speaking Christians began to preach the Word of God to the Gentiles. As a result, many of the Gentiles converted and accepted the faith. When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to minister to these new converts. Barnabas was so impressed that he went to find Saint Paul in Tarsus and brought him back to Antioch to help share the Good News. It was there, in Antioch, that the word “Christian” was first used, perhaps because the new converts were Gentiles who converted not to the Jewish faith, but directly to Christ.
After a year in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem on a relief mission to assist those suffering from a famine. They brought with them money that was raised among the Christians in Antioch. After returning to Antioch, the Holy Spirit revealed to the Christian community that Paul and Barnabas were to be “set apart” for a special mission. The two were then ordained as bishops and sent forth on a mission, bringing with them Barnabas’ relative, John Mark, the Gospel writer. Over the next year, they traveled to Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos, Perga of Pamphylia, Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Derbe, Iconium, and back to Antioch, Syria. During this journey, they won many converts; some Greeks even tried to worship the two as gods. They also encountered opposition, including an unsuccessful attempt to kill Paul by stoning. The two later returned to Jerusalem to help settle disputes about Gentile converts before being sent off on another mission. Before the second journey, Barnabas and Paul disagreed about John Mark’s involvement in the mission, since John Mark had previously abandoned them for an unknown reason while in Pamphylia. The disagreement was so severe that Paul and Barnabas parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas with him to Syria and Cilicia.
Nothing else is known for certain about Barnabas’ missionary activity with John Mark in Cyprus. Based on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and his letter to the Colossians, the disagreement the two had over John Mark did not have any lasting effect on their friendship. Even John Mark is later affectionately mentioned by Paul.
The only source we have that details Barnabas’ martyrdom comes from the fifth century, which makes its historicity uncertain. According to that tradition, Barnabas was preaching the Gospel around the year 61 and was arrested, dragged out of the city, and either burned to death or stoned. One tradition states that John Mark found his remains and buried them.
Another legend holds that in the year 478, Saint Barnabas appeared to the Archbishop of Cyprus and revealed the location of his burial to him. Archbishop Anthimos then found Saint Barnabas’ body incorrupt, holding the Gospel of Matthew. The Roman emperor then erected a church at the site and buried Saint Barnabas there. Though the church was later lost to history, excavations of the site have found a tomb believed to be that of Saint Barnabas. Saint Barnabas is the patron saint of Cyprus because he was the first missionary bishop on that island.
As we honor this great apostolic bishop, ponder the impact his ministry has had over time. Although the number of converts during his lifetime might have only been in the hundreds or thousands, the effect those converts had on subsequent generations multiplied over and over again. Saint Barnabas traveled, preached, baptized, celebrated the sacraments, and founded many Christian communities. He endured rejection, hardship, violence, and martyrdom, but he pressed on. His fervor stemmed from knowing his Lord, not only through his firsthand witness of Jesus’ ministry but also through his life of prayer and his reception of the Holy Spirit. Try to see his mission as one similar to yours. You, too, are called to zealously preach the Gospel to others. Do not hesitate to do so, no matter the cost. Pray that God uses you as He wills, and offer yourself to His service in imitation of this holy Apostle.
Prayer: Saint Barnabas, you listened to the Gospel from the mouth of Christ Himself, witnessed His miracles, and allowed His saving message to transform your life. As a result, you spent the rest of your life preaching the Good News and saving many souls. Please pray for me, that I will follow your example and dedicate my life to the mission to which I am called. Saint Barnabas, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.