Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 10 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 10 Thường Niên,
Ngay trong Bữa Tiệc Ly, Thánh Phêrô đã dám tuyên bố rằng ông sẽ sẵn sàng theo Chúa Giêsu cho đến chết, nhưng sự can đảm và nhiệt tình đó không còn nữa ngay ông ta khi nhìn thấy Chúa Giêsu đã tự nộp mình cho quân dữ trong vừa cây dầu. Thánh Phêrô khám phá ra sự thật đáng buồn là ông không thể theo Chúa Giêsu đến nơi thập giá với sức mạnh của sự quyết tâm nơi mình. Mãi đến sau khi Chúa Thánh Thần Hiên Xuống thì ông ta mới nhận được sức mạnh của Chúa Thánh Thần và có can đảm và vững tâm rao giảng Tin Mừng mà không còn sợ hãi những khi phải đối mặt với sự bắt bớ, trừng phạt và cái chết. Mỗi người chúng ta cũng cần phải phấn đấu để trở thành những người chân tình và trung thành như Thánh Phêrô. Cũng như Chúa Giêsu có thể nhìn thấy chân lý phản ánh qua các môn đệ, những người xung quanh chúng ta sẽ thấy chân lý và sự chân thành được phản ánh trong những hành vi và việc làm của chúng ta. Trong thực tại, thật là dễ dàng để chúng ta thổi phồng và tô điểm sự thật.
    Khi chúng ta tự đầu hàng con tim và tâm thức chúng ta với Chúa, chúng ta có thể làm chủ cuộc sống tâm linh, tình cảm của chúng ta qua kinh nghiệm sống trong sự liêm chính, và thánh thiện trọn vẹn. Thực tại của thiên đường, những lời hứa của một Thiên Chúa trung thành, và một nỗi sợ hãi tội lỗi lành mạnh sẽ làm việc với nhau để hình thành trong chúng ta một sự cam kết chân thành với chân lý, sự thật mà Chúa Giêsu đã cho thấy. Chúng ta hãy tôi tiếp tục cầu xin Thánh Thần nắn đúc chúng ta theo hình ảnh của Chúa Kitô. Thế giới đang chờ đợi những việc làm chúng của chúng ta..
 
REFLECTION
Why is it so hard for us to be truthful? Is it because we are afraid or insecure? Is it because we are too proud to admit that we might be wrong? Or maybe it is hard to face the consequences of the truth. In contrast to Peter's denial was Jesus' response when he was asked if he was the Messiah. Jesus simply replied, "I am." By giving such an answer, Jesus signed his own death warrant. Fear did not overcome him because he had placed himself in his Father's hands and knew that God's word could never be overcome.
    At the Last Supper, Peter said that he would willingly die for Jesus, but his bravado and enthusiasm soon left him when he saw how meekly Jesus surrendered to his captors. Peter discovered the sad truth that he could not follow Jesus to the cross solely by the power of his own resolve. It was only after Pentecost that he received the power of the Spirit and began to preach the Gospel with boldness — even in the face of punishment and death.
    Each one of us should strive to be sincere and truthful people. Just as Jesus could see truth reflected in his disciples, those around us should see truth and sincerity reflected in our conduct. It is too easy to exaggerate and embellish the truth. For example, frequently during election time, we hear people saying they do not know whom to vote for, because they cannot trust politicians. Has anybody lost trust in us?
    As we surrender our hearts and minds to the Spirit, we too can master our emotional life and experience a godly wholeness and integrity. The reality of heaven, the promises of a faithful God, and a healthy fear of sin will work together to form in us the simple commitment to the truth that Jesus showed. Let us continue to ask the spirit to mold us into the image of Christ. The world is waiting for our witness.
 
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all…” Matthew 5:33–34
The purpose of an oath was to guarantee the truthfulness of the statement made. Sometimes this can be very good. For example, many of the Sacraments involve making a public vow before God and the Church. In these cases, the vow is a form of oath that is solemnized so as to invite the grace of God to enter and strengthen it. It becomes a way of making a public witness to one’s faith and an expression of one’s need for God’s grace to be faithful to the promise that is made.
Jesus is not speaking about these forms of public vows, oaths and promises in the Gospel today. Instead, He is addressing a practice that some engaged in, whereby they regularly swore on God’s name about the truthfulness of what they were saying. The problem with this is that it takes something solemn and sacred and carelessly turns it into something ordinary. There is no need to “swear to God” about everything one says.
First of all, if one feels a need to call on God’s name regularly so as to convince another of the truthfulness of their statements, then it is most likely the case that they do so because they are struggling with dishonesty. Oath-taking on a regular basis seems to presuppose a human tendency to lie. For that reason, it is not ideal to go about one’s daily interactions with this presupposition. Instead, as Christians we must strive for a fundamental disposition of truthfulness. Jesus concludes this Gospel teaching by saying, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” In other words, work to become a person of true honesty and integrity. Be sincere in all of your dealings, and do not begin with a presupposition of dishonesty. Begin with the intention of complete honesty and sincerity, and that will suffice.
Furthermore, if one were to go about their day making one oath after another, swearing on God’s name to the truthfulness every time, this would have the effect of lessening the solemnity of those few times when this is a good and holy practice. Making public vows, such as marriage vows, or public promises, such as priests make, are unique and solemn. Publicly renewing our faith within the Church, taking an oath as one begins the responsibility of some public office, or any other more solemn opportunity for oath-taking should be seen as a special occasion. Therefore, our daily commitments must simply be the fruit of our honesty and integrity as persons.
Reflect, today, upon your own daily approach to honesty and sincerity. Do you go about your day with the goal of living in the truth, speaking the truth and seeking the truth? Are you honest with others, seeking good and clear communication with them? Ponder these questions and know that interior integrity requires these virtues of honesty and sincerity. Seek that integrity and others will benefit as they grow to trust you each and every day.
Lord, You are the source of all truth, and You are Truth Itself. Please help me to become a daily instrument of that Truth in all that I say and do. I choose You and Your holy will always, and I choose to be Your instrument for all to see. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord God, help me hear your voice amid the noise of the world. I want to respond generously to your call. I need to discern wisely what I need to leave behind to follow your Son. Grant me a wise and discerning heart so that I can live in your love and bring others to enjoy life with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Leaving the Dead: In 1 Kings 19:15-16, the Lord God gave Elijah three anointing tasks. He was to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, Jehu to be king over the northern kingdom of Israel, and Elisha to be prophet in his place. In today’s First Reading, Elijah carries out the third task, manifesting his prompt obedience to God’s word. The appointment of Elisha as prophet looks forward to an episode in the New Testament when Jesus calls a disciple to follow him. When Elijah casts his mantle over Elisha, Elisha says to Elijah: “Let me kiss my father and my mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” And Elijah allows him to do so. In the Gospels, one of the disciples says to Jesus: “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:21-22). The Gospel of Luke reads: “To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:59-60).
2. The Fourth Commandment: Since children were responsible for mourning and burying their parents and other relatives (Tobit 1:16-20; 4:3; 6:15), it could seem like Jesus violates the Fourth Commandment to honor one’s parents. This, however, is not the case, for two reasons. First, Jesus is calling men and women to a new family, the family of God. The new family is formed by adherence to Jesus himself, to his Law; communion with Jesus is filial communion with the Father – it is a yes to the fourth commandment on a new level. It is entry into the family of those who call God Father, of those who are united with Jesus and, “by listening to him, united with the will of the Father, thereby attaining to the heart of the obedience intended by the Torah” (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth Vol. 1, 115-117). Second, Jesus is the new Moses and brings the old law to perfection. Jesus’ authority to interpret the law in a new way rests on his divine sonship. He has divine authority and transfers the Ten Commandments into the context of God's universal family. He brings the God of Israel to all nations. He is the “new Moses,” the prophet-like-Moses that God raised up (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth Vol. 1, 122; Deuteronomy 18:15).
3. Something Greater than Elijah: Jesus, then, can do what Elijah cannot: In Jesus, there is something greater than Elijah. We also get a sense of the urgency and radicality of Jesus’ call. His hour is approaching. The time of the Kingdom is here. In today’s Gospel, we see how Jesus brings the old law to fulfillment. Not making false oaths is the bare minimum. Jesus, however, invites his followers to not swear oaths at all and not place themselves unnecessarily in a position of divine judgment. In everything they say and do, Jesus’ followers are to be truthful. When Jesus calls us to follow him, he invites us to say with the Psalmist: “You, O Lord, are my portion and cup; you, O Lord, are my inheritance.” This inheritance makes us sons and daughters of God who share in eternal life. Our souls are not abandoned to the netherworld for we will rise to life with the Son.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. I praise you for you God and I thank you for all you have done for me. I pray that I may always walk in the truth and in your light.
Living the Word of God: How am I living the Fourth Commandment to honor my parents and the Eighth Commandment to be truthful in my speech? What can I do better 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 10 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 10 Thường Niên
Là con người, chúng ta thường hay thích chú trọng và thích nhìn vào cái vẻ bề ngoài. Hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu nhắc nhở chúng ta là không nên chờ cho cây xấu trưởng thành rồi mới nhận ra các quả xấu trên cây ấy... Chúng ta phải nên ngăn chặn không để những hạt giống xấu, gian ác gieo vào trong lòng chúng ta. Chúng ta không nên ngồi đợi để cho tội lỗi tiềm ẩn trong chúng ta lộ diện rồi mới thức tỉnh! Chúng ta phải biết loại bỏ tội lỗi ngay từ gốc rễ của chúng. Đây không phải chỉ là những hành động mà chúng ta phải làm bên ngoài, nhưng còn phải làm ngay cả trong ý chí của chúng ta nữa. Đây không phải là những vấn đề mà chúng ta phải làm, nhưng là vấn đề mà chúng ta phải làm như thế nào!. Nếu chúng ta làm được một việc gì vì tình yêu đối với Thiên Chúa và con người, thì điều đó luôn luôn sẽ là một công trạng trước mặt Chúa.
    Trong bài tin mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu có vẻ phóng đại sự hy sinh một phần thân thể để cho chúng ta thấy rõ được cái quan điểm của Ngài muốn dạy chúng ta. Cũng giống như việc phẫu thuật cắt bỏ đi một phần thân thể là một biện pháp quyết liệt để ngăn chặn sự lây lan của bệnh tật có thể huy hoại toàn bộ cơ thể, phẫu thuật tâm linh có thể cũng cần thiết để ngăn chặn sự tàn phá toàn diện linh hồn của con người trước ngày Chúa phán xét. Phẫu thuật có thể làm cho chúng ta phải chịu đau đớn, nhưng nhờ đó qua quá trình chữa trị, chúng ta có thể có được một cuộc sống mới tốt lành hơn. Điều này có thể là một cơ hội để giúp cho chúng ta biết chọn lựa và đặt ưu tiên cho cuộc sống vĩnh cửu của chúng ta. Một sự thay đổi nhỏ nơi chúng ta cũng có thể đó là tất cả những gì cần thiết để tạo ra một sự khác biệt to lớn.
    Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta nhận thấy rằng Chúa Giêsu đã không cần phải đạt ra thêm một điều luật mới, hay một quy tắc mới để làm cho cuộc sống của con người phải gánh thêm một gánh nặng, nhưng, thay vào đó, Ngài đã giải thích cho họ biết được cái ý nghĩa cần thiết của Lề Luật. 
    Chúa Giêsu đã đề xuất cho chúng ta một lý tưởng đạo đức rất cao siêu đối với chúng ta, nhưng không phải là một một điều mà chúng ta không thể thực hiên được. Chúng ta hãy cầu xin Chúa Giêsu trong ngày hôm nay là: Mặc dầu trong tất cả những yếu đuối của con người chúng ta, chúng ta vẫn không có thể làm mất đi niềm hy vọng nơi chúng ta, nhưng dựa vào Chúa Thánh Thần của Thiên Chúa thể hiện quyền lực của Ngài trong sự yếu đuối của chúng ta.
 
REFLECTION
People often look only at outward appearances. We should not wait for the evil tree to bear evil fruits. We should prevent the sowing of evil seed. We should not wait until our hidden sins manifest themselves. We must get rid of them at their very roots. It is not the outward action that counts, but the will. It is not what we do that matters, but how we do it. If we do a thing out of love for God and people, it is always meritorious. Jesus uses exaggeration to make his point. Just as physical amputation is a drastic measure to prevent the spread of disease to the entire body, spiritual surgery may be necessary to prevent the destruction of the whole person in the final judgment.
    We might consider what needs to be cut out of our own life so that we can live more faithfully as good Catholics. Surgery can be painful, but the healing process can lead to new life. This may be an opportunity for us to set priorities with a purity of intent that can be life-giving for us. Small changes may be all that are needed to make a big difference. Hearing today's Gospel reading, we realize that Jesus was not setting up new rules to make people's lives even more burdensome, but, rather, he was explaining the essential meaning of the Law.
    Jesus is proposing a very high moral ideal for us, but not an impossible one. Let us ask Jesus today that in all our human frailties we may not lose hope but rely on his Spirit to show his power in our weakness.
    
Friday Week Tenth in Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I desire each day to encounter you in prayer. I find you in your Word and in the depths and garden of my heart. I hear your gentle voice as you walk with me and fill me with your Spirit.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Old Covenant Payer in Genesis: The episode with Elijah, in the First Reading, is an eloquent testimony to the reality of our encounter with God in prayer. In a certain sense, Elijah represents a culminating moment in the prayer of the Old Testament: the wind, the earthquake, the fire, and God passing by, all recall other episodes of prayerful encounters between God and his people. The story of Adam and Eve in the garden before the fall suggests a close relationship between God and his children. The garden was the habitual place of encounter between God and man. After the fall, we are told that God was walking in the garden in the cool breeze of the day (Genesis 3:8). After the fall, man’s relationship with God continues: in the offering of the first-born of Abel’s flock, in the invocation of the divine name at the time of Enoch (Genesis 4:26), in Enoch’s and Noah’s walking with God (Genesis 5:24; 6:9), and in Noah's offering that was pleasing to God (Genesis 8:20-21) (CCC, 2569). God walks with us. He is present to us and desires that we enter into prayerful communion with him. 
2. The Old Covenant Prayer of Moses and Elijah: The First Reading also recalls the encounters between God and Moses. God called to Moses from the fire of the burning bush. At the foot of Mount Sinai, there was thunder and lightning, smoke, fire, and an earthquake (Exodus 19:16-18). Later on, when Moses asks to see God's glory, God responds: “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord;’ and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” God placed Moses in a cleft of a rock and covered him until he passed by. God removed his hand, allowing Moses to see his back, but did not show him his face. Elijah does not encounter God in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but rather in a gentle, whispering breeze. The Catechism connects Elijah’s experience with that of Moses and the Transfiguration: “Taking the desert road that leads to the place where the living and true God reveals himself to his people, Elijah, like Moses before him, hides ‘in a cleft of the rock’ until the mysterious presence of God has passed by. But only on the mountain of the Transfiguration will Moses and Elijah behold the unveiled face of him whom they sought; ‘the light of the knowledge of the glory of God [shines] in the face of Christ,’ crucified and risen” (CCC, 2584).
3. New Covenant Prayer and Life: Today’s Psalm invites us to pray: “I long to see your face, O Lord.” Our longing and waiting for the Lord is answered in the coming of Jesus Christ. The law of the Old Covenant was incapable of reconciling us with God; the New Covenant, established by Jesus Christ, fulfills and perfects the Old Law. The New Law, the Catechism teaches, is the grace of the Holy Spirit: it is a law of love because it makes us act out of love infused by the Holy Spirit; it is a law of grace because it confers the strength of grace to act; it is the law of freedom because it sets us free from the ritual and juridical observances of the Old Law (CCC, 1972). In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus brings about a fundamental revision of the way of understanding and carrying out the moral law of the Old Covenant. Yesterday, we saw his revision of the Fifth commandment. Today, Jesus addresses the sixth commandment. Tomorrow, Jesus takes up the eighth commandment. In his revision, Jesus brings the Old Law to fulfillment for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. He challenges the New People of God to a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. In particular, we are challenged to live a radical interior purity: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Purity of heart means life according to what the Spirit wants and not according to what the flesh wants (Romans 8:5-10; Galatians 5:19-23). In this way, through life according to the Spirit and by praying in union with the Son, we truly enter into communion with God.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me how to pray as I ought. I do not want to multiply words unnecessarily. I want a true relationship with you. I will praise you and give you thanks for all you have done. I will ask you for what I need according to your Father’s will. I will beg for forgiveness and mercy when I fail and sin against you.
Living the Word of God: How is my life of prayer? When do I pray best? In the morning or in the evening? On the weekend? Do I see prayer as conversing with God, having a conversation with a friend who loves me? What is God asking me to do to improve my life of prayer?
 
Friday Week Tenth in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, open my heart to accept your saving words. Bless me as I reflect upon your gift of marriage to the world.
Encountering Christ:
Jesus Protects the Sacrament: Christ himself instituted each of the seven sacraments, and here we have a biblical example that shows Jesus elevating marriage to a sacrament. Marriage is important and sacred. In the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, a man and a woman choose to love, honor, and cherish their beloved spouse in order to grow in holiness and love together. In this passage, Jesus indicated the importance of the sacrament by placing clear boundaries around the marriage vows, the sacred words of the sacrament. These vows are the form of the sacrament which the man and the woman promise to each other. In fact, the ministers of Holy Matrimony are the man and the woman, not the priest or deacon, who instead act as a witness to the marriage. The Catechism teaches “that the spouses, as ministers of Christ's grace, mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church” (CCC 1623).
    Marriage, A Sturdy Boat: Marriage between a man and a woman reflects the covenantal relationship between Christ and his Church. The exclusive, faithful love between a man and a woman is a sign to the world of the love that God has for his Church. Marriage is a vocation, and therefore a path to holiness. In a recent letter to married couples, Pope Francis wrote these encouraging words to married couples: “Marriage, as a vocation, calls you to steer a tiny boat–wave-tossed yet sturdy, thanks to the reality of the sacrament–across a sometimes stormy sea. How often do you want to say, or better, cry out, like the Apostles: ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ (Mark 4:38). Let us never forget, though, that by virtue of the sacrament of Matrimony, Jesus is present in that boat; he is concerned for you and he remains at your side amid the tempest.”
    Indissoluble Bond of Love: Jesus, as the author of the sacrament, underscored the importance of the marriage vocation and rebuked the temptations to sin that can attack this shared vocation between man and woman. Adultery attacks the bond of love between the married couple. In fact, not just the physical act of adultery, but even the lust that proceeds the physical act attacks the bond. Divorce seeks to dissolve an indissoluble bond; it ignores the truth that marriage is for life. Later in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes this point even more strongly: “Some Pharisees came forward and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason whatsoever?’ He replied, ‘Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator “made them male and female” and said: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh”? And so they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate’” (Matthew 19:3-6).
    Conversing with Christ: Thank you, my Jesus, for instituting the sacrament of Marriage. Through it you have given married couples a path of holiness in their way of life. I am sorry for any sins I have committed that go against your plan for marriage. Help me to always protect the bond of married love. Make your holy presence known to all married couples, and strengthen them as they traverse the sometimes stormy seas of married life. Bless them with the virtues they need for their state in life.
    Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pray for a married couple who could use some extra prayers.
 
REFLECTION 2017
In the Gospel reading Jesus clarifies that adultery is committed not only in deed but also in thought and in the heart: "Do not commit adultery. But I tell you this: anyone who looks at a woman to satisfy his lust has in fact already committed adultery with her in his heart."
    Jesus also declares the indissolubility of Christian marriage. In the parallel passage in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus refers to the Old Testament, "Man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one body. Therefore let no one separate what God has joined." (Mk 10: 7- 9)
    In the Gospel reading Jesus says that we should prefer to lose our eye or whatever part of the body responsible for the sin, rather than risk damnation because of sin. If something or some place might cause us to sin, avoid it. If a show brings lustful thoughts and acts, avoid it. Do we have any real choice? The following of Christ is not easy: Jesus speaks of the narrow path. Jesus says that his disciples, following a crucified Lord, should also be ready to carry their own crosses. But if we love the Lord, nothing is difficult to give; with God's grace, nothing is impossible

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Năm Tuần 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.