Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 13 TN

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 13 TN Mt. 9:9-13
Tất cả của cải vật chất trên thế giới và sự đam mê của chúng ta chắc chắn sẽ không thể đáp ứng đươc tất cả những nhu cầu đòi hỏi của con người chúng ta. Chỉ có Chúa Giêsu, Con Thiên Chúa là vị cứu tinh của thế giới mới có thể đem lại cho chúng ta những niềm vui và hạnh phúc nước trời.
            Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta biết rằng, Chúa Giêsu đến với chúng ta như là một vị bác sĩ linh hồn để làm xoa dịu những đau khổ và chữa lành những căn bệnh trên thể xác và căn bệnh nội tâm đang huỷ hoại tâm linh của chúng ta, chúng ta nên vui mừng vì Ngài đã đến và tiếp cận với những người tội lỗi, những người đã bị bỏ rơi bên lề xã hội. Chúng ta nên sống theo lời Chúa hôm nay là nên tìm hiểu thêm về ý nghĩa của lòng thương xót, vì Thiên Chúa đầy lòng thương xót, do đó chúng ta ​​sẽ phải bắt chước Chúa như thế,  nghĩa là chúng ta  không nên giới hạn tình yêu của Thiên Chúa hay của chúng ta với bất cứ ai.
            Lạy Chúa Giêsu, là Đấng Cứu Thế của chúng con, xin Chúa, sưởi ấm tâm hồn của chúng con với tình yêu vị tha của Chúa. Vì tâm hồn của chúng con đang mang đầy tội lỗi, Xin tẩy sạch chúng con bằng máu quý báu của Chúa. Và xin khỏ lấp tâm hồn của chúng con với sự hiện diện của Chúa Thánh Thần.  Lạy Chúa Giêsu,  tâm hồn của chúng con là của Chúa; Xin Chúa hãy chiếm hữu tâm hồn chúng con và chỉ có Chúa mới là sở hữu tâm hồn con mà thôi.
 
Reflection…..
Today gospel passage gives us hope. Jesus comes to save sinners. The tax collector Matthew must have experienced the meaninglessness of accumulating riches, exploiting others, etc.  He must also have resolved to amend his ways after listening to Jesus preach. The world and all its allurements cannot satisfy man. Only Jesus, Son of God and saviour of the world, can. Jesus is the true physician of minds, souls, and bodies
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners,
- Jesus' defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn't need to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick.  Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life.
            The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didn't want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). On more than one occasion Jesus quoted the saying from the prophet Hosea: For I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Should thank the Lord for the great mercy he has shown to us?  And do We show mercy to our neighbor as well?
            "Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself." (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)
 
Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.  Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”  Matthew 9:12–13
Would you describe yourself as one who is “well” or one who is “sick?” Are you among the “righteous” or the “sinners?” Be careful how you answer this question. Of course, the pride that comes with our fallen human nature often tempts us to claim that we are “well” and “righteous.” But humility will reveal the truth that we are among the “sick” and “sinners.”
This statement of Jesus is a response to the Pharisees who noticed that Jesus was dining at the house of Matthew, the tax collector, whom He had just called to follow Him. Matthew did indeed leave everything behind and followed Jesus, and then he hosted dinner for Jesus at his house. At that dinner, there were “many tax collectors and sinners” who came and sat with Jesus and His disciples, which led the Pharisees to ridicule them all.
Jesus’ response is very important for us to hear. By stating that He came not for those who were well and righteous but for those who were sick and sinners, it tells us two important things. First, it tells us that we are all spiritually sick and sinful. Second, it tells us that if we cannot humbly admit to that, and in our pride claim that we are well and are righteous, then we essentially reject Jesus, the Divine Physician, from our lives. We essentially say, “Lord, I do not need You.”
It’s also helpful to notice that Jesus was not embarrassed to be seen with sinners. He did not hesitate at all and, in fact, clearly stated that they were those whom He came for. For that reason, we should not be afraid or embarrassed to admit we are sinners who are spiritually ill and in need of our Lord. To deny that fact is to deny reality and to deny the very source of the ongoing healing we most certainly need in life. It’s a denial of our need for Christ Jesus Himself.
Do you need our Lord? Do you need interior cleansing, healing, and forgiveness every day? If it’s difficult for you to wholeheartedly say “Yes” to that question, then perhaps you struggle with the pride of the Pharisees more than you know. No matter how holy you become, no matter how deeply you pray and no matter how charitable you are, you will always need the healing and forgiveness of the Divine Physician each and every day. 
Reflect, today, upon the need you have in your life today for forgiveness. What sin do you struggle with the most? Interestingly, the holier one becomes, the more clearly they see their daily sins and their need for forgiveness and healing. If you struggle with this at all, spend time examining your conscience. Look for ways to do it more thoroughly and honestly. If you do, you can be certain that our Lord, the Divine Physician, will deeply desire to dine with you today and always.
My forgiving Lord, You are the Divine Physician Who has come to forgive and heal all of our ills. Remove my pride and self-righteousness so that I can be filled with humility and see clearly the sin in my life. As I see my sin, help me to turn to You and to trust in Your abundant mercy. You came for sinners, dear Lord, and I am one of those sinners in need. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday 13^th Ordinary Time:2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I offer you the sacrifice of my life, united to the sufferings of your Son. I will be merciful as you are merciful. I will strive for holiness and perfection as you are holy and perfect. 
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Visions of Amos: Amos prophesied during the height of Israel’s prosperity. The officials of the kingdom considered the prophet nothing more than a thorn in their side (Amos 7:10-17). Amaziah, the high priest at the sanctuary of Bethel, expelled Amos from the sanctuary and demanded that he return to his native Judah. Amos’s prophecies and visions only intensify: “The sequence of Amos’ visions indicates that he became increasingly conscious of impending doom hanging over Israel because of the injustice in the land. In his early visions of locusts and drought, the prophet is able to avert disaster by means of intercessory prayer (7:1-6). However in the last three visions of the plumb-line, the ripe fruit, and the sanctuary (7:7-9; 8:1-3; 9:1-4), the prophet shows that calamity has become irrevocable. The Lord seems to be indicating that by rejecting the prophet’s word, Israel had crossed the line of no return” (Duggan, The Consuming Fire, 249). Amos foresees the “Day of the Lord” not as a time of victory over Israel’s enemies, but rather as a time of divine judgment, terror for the unrighteous, wailing, and lamentation. Israel and Samaria will be invaded by Assyria in 722 B.C. and the people will be sent into exile. This was nothing more than the fulfillment of God’s word, the divine visitation on the injustice rampant among the people. The people were unfaithful to their mission to bring the nations to worship the one, true God, and so God sent them out as exiles into the nations, until the day when his Son, Jesus Christ, would come to restore the tribes of Israel and gather all people to himself. Am I faithful to the mission I have received at Baptism and Confirmation to be a witness to God in the world?
2. The Call of Matthew: In comparison to Israel’s day of visitation, Matthew’s encounter with the Lord has a much different outcome. Matthew does not reject the voice of the Lord and instead leaves everything to follow Christ. Just as the first apostles left their nets, Matthew leaves his counting post. From the outside, it looks like Matthew is nothing more than a sinner, who contributes to the Roman oppression of the people. From the outside, someone could easily accuse Matthew of the sins listed by Amos: waiting for the Sabbath to end so as to get on with making money, fixing his scales to cheat the people, and so on. But this is not the case, Matthew’s heart was open to the movement of God’s grace. He didn’t let it pass by and responded generously. Jesus defends Matthew from the questions of the Pharisees, who thought that they were righteous because they fulfilled the external rites of the law. Jesus is inviting his disciples to a higher righteousness. He is inviting them to leave their sinful ways behind and share in the righteousness of the New Covenant, a righteousness that he, as our Savior and Redeemer, has won for us. Am I living in the righteousness of the New Covenant?
3. Our Attitude Towards Others: We are like Matthew. We are sinners in need of God’s mercy. When God visits us, we should not follow the example of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who rejected the word of the Lord. Rather, we need to welcome the Word of God each day in prayer, in Sacred Scripture, in the Eucharist, and in serving our brothers. Our attitude toward sinners cannot be like that of the Pharisees who separated themselves from others and judged them severely, completely oblivious to the log in their own eye. Rather, we need to be like Matthew, who, after encountering Jesus and leaving everything to follow him, gathers his family and friends and acquaintances at table so that they too may encounter the Word of salvation.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I recognize myself as a sinner in need of your merciful love. Any victory I have over sin is due primarily to your grace and secondarily to my effort to collaborate with your grace. Do not let my heart grow prideful when I am victorious over sin. Do not let my heart be discouraged when I fail.
Living the Word of God: When I am with my friends, coworkers, and family, do I seek to share with them the love and mercy of God?
 
Friday 13^th Ordinary Time:
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask for your grace to look beyond the superficial elements of life, to see all with your eyes, and thus respond with your heart.
Encountering Christ:
Looking Beyond: When Jesus looks at a soul, he looks beyond the prejudices of culture. He looks beyond the humanly derived political agendas or social platforms. Jesus looks beyond the surface to see the dignity of the wounded person. That implies seeing the heart of every single soul. When Jesus looked at Matthew, he saw his entire history from the moment of his splendid creation, through the messiness of life, to the present state of his soul. Jesus always calls the whole person, as they are, because he also sees beyond the present to the potential apostle awaiting nurturing.
Follow Me: Jesus’s words were directed to Matthew personally. The call is personal. But those words spoken to one person can resonate with someone else who overhears—with astonishing consequences. The Pharisees were standing by, ready to judge Jesus’s every move. But perhaps they heard the words directed at Matthew and felt a stirring within themselves? Did they open their hearts to that resonance or put up a wall? Is not judgment a way of protecting oneself against self-examination? Judgment turns the blame elsewhere to avoid sincere interior conversion. Jesus knew these tactics and didn't give up. Neither did he condemn. They didn’t respond to “follow me,” but perhaps they would hear his call in his next words. 
“I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice”: “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus not only looks beyond the superficial aspects of life but calls us to act in a way that often breaks our comfortable schemes. Sacrifice is often associated with the external accomplishment of things. But mercy is exercised internally in a disposition of the heart. Mercy requires extending a profound humility and charity to someone in desperate need. Sinners need mercy, and those are the people Jesus called. Are we not among the sinners Jesus calls? To respond to this call we must not only allow our schemes to be broken and see ourselves in the light of humility, sinners as we are but also see the sinner in others and still love them with the heart of Christ.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am a sinner in need of your mercy, especially when I fall into harsh judgments. Grant me the vision to look beyond my narrow-mindedness and see the lies sown by the enemy. Help me to receive your mercy, and in turn, respond to others with your merciful heart. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will recognize my harsh judgments, whether they be on myself or on others. I will seek to recognize in humility my need for your mercy—a mercy that does not condemn but invites me to repent and follow you. 
 Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần 13 Thường Niên
Trong bài đọc thứ nhất, tiên tri Amos cho thấy những sai phạm của sự bóc lột và của những sự lừa đảo. Tiên tri  Amos cảnh báo Israel về sự trừng phạt bí ẩn của Thiên Chúa trên những người làm sự ác; Chúa sẽ cho đem lại bóng tối, tang tóc, nạn đói kém và sự khô cần vì thiếu Lời Chúa.
Sự trừng phạt  này coi như có vẻ điên rồ. Nhưng, nó có nghĩa là Thiên Chúa có thể đã chán ngấy với sự lì lợm của chúng ta và Ngài sẽ khộng còn muốn nói chuyện với chúng ta nữa.  Nếu tội lỗi của chúng ta đã trở nên nặng gánh mà tâm hồn chúng ta không còn sức chịu đựng, Thiên Chúa sẽ để cho những hành động đồi trụy, tội lỗi làm cho chúng ta bị quá khô cằn và cho đến chúng ta khát vọng tình yêu và lòng thương xót của Ngài. Địa ngục không phải là lò lửa và diêm sinh, nhưng là một nơi mà không có sự hiện diện của Thiên Chúa , và ở nơi đó, con người sẽ cảm thấy  rỗng và thiếu vắng vì những hành động ích kỷ của chúng ta và sự sống vô đạo đức, sẽ nổi lên và gặm nhấm tâm hồn chúng ta , Chỉ có Thiên Chúa thực sự mới có thể lấp đầy tâm hồn và làm cho chúng ta được hạnh phúc. Không phải tiền bạc, không phải sự thành công, danh vọng, quyền lực, và uy tín của trần thế
            Đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay đoạn cho chúng ta thấy được niềm hy vọng, vì Chúa Giêsu đến để kêu gọi và cứu chữa những con người tội lỗi. Người thu thuế Mathêô chắc chắn đã có thấu hiểu đưoơc về sự vô nghĩa của việc tích lũy của cải vật chất. Và vì thế ông đã từ bỏ tất cả để chạy theo và nghe những lời Chúa Giêsu giảng dạy.
            Tất cả của cải vật chất trên thế giới và sự đam mê của chúng sẽ không thể đáp ứng cho con người chúng ta. Chỉ có Chúa Giêsu, Con Thiên Chúa là vị cứu tinh của thế giới mới có thể đem lại chúng ta những niềm vui và hạnh phúc nước trời.
            Lạy Chúa Giêsu, là Đấng Cứu Thế của chúng con, xin Chúa, sưởi ấm tâm hồn của chúng con với tình yêu vị tha của Chúa. Vì tâm hồn của chúng con đang mang đầy tội lỗi; Xin tẩy sạch chúng con bằng máu quý báu của Chúa. Va xin lấp đầy tâm hồn của chúng con với sự hiện diện của Chúa Thánh Thần.  Lạy Chúa Giêsu,  tâm hồn của chúng con là của Chúa; Xin Chúa hãy chiếm hữu tâm hồn chúng con và chỉ có Chúa mới là sở hữu tâm hồn con mà thôi.
 
Reflection:
     In the first reading, the prophet Amos exposes the wrongdoings of exploiters and swindlers. Obviously the sins of the present time are also the sins of the past.  Amos warns Israel of a mysterious punishment from God on evildoers; darkness, mourning, famine and drought of the word of God. The punishment is sound  scariest.  But it means that God can be so fed up with us as to stop talking to us. If our sins become too much to bear, God will leave us to our depraved actions till we are so dried up and thirsty for his love and mercy.  Hell is not fire and brimstone, but a place where God is absent because there He is not wanted. And there, the emptiness man feels after years of selfish actions, such as exploiting others and immoral living, will surface and gnaw at him because only God can truly fill up and make us happy. Not money, success, fame, power or prestige.
            Today gospel passage gives us hope. Jesus comes to save sinners. The tax collector Matthew must have experienced the meaninglessness of accumulating riches, exploiting others, etc.  He must also have resolved to amend his ways after listening to Jesus preach. The world and all its allurements cannot satisfy man. Only Jesus, Son of God and saviour of the world, can.
            Do we believe this?  Have you finally realized this? If you are still thinking that the world can give you happiness, true happiness, Jesus is coming to you and inviting you to change your mentality. Do not be like the Pharisees who were self-righteous and who looked down on others. Jesus is willing to dine with us even if we are sinners. Are we interested in dining with him or do we prefer the company of the devil? 

Suy Niệm Tin Thứ Năm tuần 13 TN.

Suy Niệm Tin Thứ Năm tuần 13 TN.

      Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu thực hiện quyền lực của mình trên tất cả mọi thứ. Ngài bất chấp tất cả những bệnh tật, và đem các thứ bệnh hoạn đó ra khỏi cơ thể của người bại liệt, Ngài cho chúng ta thấy rằng Ngài có quyền thế trên tất cả mọi thứ. Chúng ta không thể có lòng yêu thương chân tình sâu sắc như Chúa Giêsu đãyêu thương con người chúng ta; một trong những cách mà chúng ta có thể hy vọng để thể hiện tình yêu và sự tận tâm của chúng ta là bằng cách đặt niềm tin của chúng ta một cách trọn vẹn và hoàn toàn trong Chúa Giêsu và Chúa Cha.

            Xin Chúa giúp chúng ta có thể luôn luôn biết cầu nguyện để được Chúa Thánh thần hướng dẫn trong nhưng việc làm đúng; và nếu chúng ta có cơ hội để giúp đỡ bất cứ ai, xin cho chúng ta có can đam, nhẫn nại và quảng đại để có thể bất chấp những chỉ trích mà chúng ta có thể nhận được, để chúang ta có thể có khiêm tốn để tiếp tục công việc làm sáng danh Chúa (không phải là để làm sang danh chúng ta).

 

REFLECTION   

Very often in life, we are asked to make a choice between doing what is right and doing what is acceptable. Doing the right thing is harder than it seems to be; it is a conscious action that takes courage, fortitude, and strength of character that comes with maturity. We are constantly reminded that God always did what was right, and that we ought to emulate Him in everything we do. While this is a noble pursuit, it is a very difficult one. We were made in His image and likeness, but that does not mean that we possess His wisdom, power, or strength. We must remember that God will always be there; whether we welcome Him or not — to guide, to assist, and to love us.

            In the Gospel, Jesus is exercising his authority over everything. By disregarding the sickness, and driving it out from the paralytic's body, he is showing us that he has the final say in everything. We cannot love as deeply as Jesus loved; one of the few ways that we can hope to express our love and devotion is by placing our trust fully and wholly in Jesus and the Father.

May we always pray for guidance in doing the right thing; and if we have the opportunity to help, in spite of the criticisms we may receive, may we have the courage to continue.

 

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:1–2

Just prior to this passage, Jesus cast out demons from two men from the town of the Gadarenes. Afterwards, the townspeople told Him to leave their town, so Jesus departed by boat and arrived in Capernaum, which was where He had been living after leaving Nazareth. This encounter with a paralytic on a stretcher is what awaited Him when He disembarked from the boat.

Recall that when Jesus had returned to Nazareth, where He grew up, He was not able to perform any miracles there because of their lack of faith. Their familiarity with Him tempted them to disbelieve that He was someone special. But now, in His new town where He had recently moved to, Jesus was able to perform mighty miracles because the people had manifest faith. 

In the passage above, try to enter the scene. Jesus was just rejected by the Gadarenes, He came by boat to Capernaum, He disembarked and was immediately met with a group of people who had clearly been waiting for Him. Try to imagine their conversations while Jesus was away at the other side of the lake. They knew He would return to His new home, they prepared a stretcher for the paralytic, and then they waited, hoped and prayed that Jesus would come and heal the man. It is also clear that Jesus could immediately sense their faith and was deeply touched by it. One of the most important parts of this passage is that Jesus did not simply say “Yes” to the physical healing and leave it at that. Instead, His response to the paralytic was to first forgive his sins. There is an important lesson for us to learn from this which will help us know how best to pray.

Oftentimes when we pray, we pray for this or that favor from our Lord. We pray for what we want Jesus to grant us. But this story shows us that what Jesus wants for us is different. First, He wants to grant us forgiveness for our sins. This is His priority, and it should also be ours. Once the forgiveness of sins takes place with this paralytic, Jesus also heals, as proof of His power to forgive sins. This story should help us to order our priorities in prayer according to Jesus’ priorities. If we make sorrow for sin our first priority, we can be certain that Jesus will answer us. From there, Jesus knows all of our needs. We can present them to Him but only when we are reconciled within our own heart with Him.

Reflect, today, upon the way you pray each day. Try to understand the importance of making a daily examination of your sins. This must become the first and most important part of your daily prayer. Though many people do not like to look at sin, it is much easier to do when the focus is not so much the sin as it is a focus upon the mercy of forgiveness and spiritual healing you need. The more aware you become of your daily sin, the more mercy you will receive. And the more mercy for the forgiveness of your sins you receive, the more our Lord will be able to bless you abundantly in other ways. Always start with the mercy of our Lord and your own need for that mercy every day, and all else will be taken care of by our Lord.

My merciful Lord, You desire reconciliation with me, in the innermost depths of my heart, to be my daily priority in prayer. You desire to forgive and to heal me so that I will grow closer to You. Please do forgive me for my sins, dear Lord, and help me to become more attentive to the ways that I sin against You and others every day. Thank You in advance for this saving grace and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

Thursday 13^th Ordinary Time 2024

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for the gift of your forgiveness. You know my weakness and what can paralyze me spiritually. Heal me today, make me strong in your Spirit so that I can hallow your name, extend your kingdom, and do your will. 

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Ten Mighty Deeds of the New Moses: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is often and in different ways presented as the New Moses. Just as Moses did 10 mighty deeds in Egypt before Pharaoh – the 10 plagues – so Jesus, the New Moses, did 10 mighty deeds in Galilee (Matthew 8:1-9:38). Today’s mighty deed – the healing of the paralytic – is the sixth of the ten mighty deeds. The number 10, in Hebrew, symbolizes authority. By working ten mighty deeds, Jesus is demonstrating his power and authority. When he later commissions and sends out his Apostles, he sends them out with a share in his authority (Matthew 10:1). Our Gospel passage opens with Jesus returning to his own town of Capernaum. He is moved by the faith of the people who brought him the paralytic. Instead of first healing the man’s physical paralysis and then forgiving his sins, Jesus first declares that the man’s sins are forgiven. On hearing Jesus forgive the paralytic’s sins, the scribes think in their hearts that Jesus is committing the sin of blasphemy. For them, Jesus is appropriating something to himself that belongs solely to God – the power to forgive sins. Just as Moses told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, ‘By this you shall know that I am the Lord’” (Exodus 7:17), Jesus uses a similar expression for the scribes. When faced with the 10 mighty deeds of Jesus, the scribes harden their hearts and act like new pharaohs. What do I most need Jesus to heal in my life?

2. Making the Invisible Visible: When Moses worked 10 wonders in Egypt, this led to the Exodus and the covenant at Mt. Sinai. When Jesus works 10 wonders in Galilee (Northern Israel), this leads to the New Exodus and the New Covenant. Jesus’ mighty deeds make visible what is invisible. The physical healing – the curing of the man’s physical paralysis – makes visible the invisible spiritual healing – the forgiveness of the man’s spiritual paralysis. The physical and spiritual healings look forward to the sacraments, which are visible and effective signs of God’s invisible grace. “The passage surprisingly ends with the crowds glorifying God for granting authority to forgive sins not just to Jesus, but to human beings. Why the plural? Readers of Matthew’s Gospel might see this as pointing to the forgiveness Jesus continues to offer through his disciples, whom he commissions to forgive sins (16:19; 18:18; see John 20:23)” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 134). When was the last time I received the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

3. Amos and Amaziah: The First Reading records Amos’ confrontation with the priest Amaziah in Bethel. The sanctuary at Bethel housed one of the idolatrous golden calves that Jeroboam I set up for Israel to worship (1 Kings 12:28-29; Hosea 10:5). We can see a parallel with the today’s Gospel: just as the scribes are opposing the works of Jesus, Amaziah opposes the prophetic work of Amos. “Amaziah falsely accuses Amos of treachery against northern Israel’s king [Jeroboam II, who reigned from 793 to 753 B.C.] and demands that he return to his native Judah in the South (7:10-13). Amos insists that he is not a prophet by trade, but one uniquely called by God with a message for northern Israel (7:14-17)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Minor Prophets, 69). Amos denies that he became a prophet for financial gain. He had earned his living as a shepherd in the highlands of Judah during part of the year and as a sycamore dresser in the lowlands of Judah. Amos pronounces a judgment upon Amaziah, telling him that his family will suffer due to his opposition to God’s word and messenger. This will come about when the Assyrians conquer Israel and send the Israelites into exile in 722 B.C. How do I treat the messengers of God’s Word?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I do not want to be like the scribes in today’s Gospel and oppose your work. Dwell in my heart and reign there. Help me to be docile to the inspirations of your Holy Spirit.

Living the Word of God: Am I in need of the Sacrament of Reconciliation? What are the sins that keep me in a state of spiritual paralysis? Ask Jesus for healing.

 

Thursday 13^th Ordinary Time:

Opening Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, I believe in you. I come before you to receive your healing and listen for your commands. I trust that you desire all things for my salvation.

Encountering Christ:

Courage, Child: July’s liturgical readings are filled with stories from Jesus’s Galilean ministry. To steep ourselves in the liturgy this month requires courage, for if we truly open ourselves to Jesus’s healing power, we submit ourselves also to follow his commands. But fear not. Hear Jesus’s words, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus’s touch, command, and desire are for our deepest healing—the salvation of our souls. How can we bring ourselves before the Lord this month? And how can we be intercessors for others? Who can we bring to the Lord this month for Jesus’s healing?

Jesus Knew What They Were Thinking: Nothing is hidden from the Lord’s eye. He sees the depths of the heart. He sees judgment, doubt, fear, and desire. In prayer, we are invited to present ourselves before the Lord as we are and let him speak “into” our present struggles. If we identify more with the judgmental and narrow-minded scribes at times, we can note that Jesus does not condemn them but questions them, inciting an examination of conscience with the hope that they will take on a new vision. If we identify with the paralytic who hears his command, “Rise and walk,” let us not hesitate to respond, for great is the reward. The fruit of responding to God’s command is that we become channels for God’s grace.

Awe: “Rise and walk,” Jesus said to the paralytic. Easier said than done, considering that he was a paralytic. And yet, in faith, he obeyed. The simplest human action done in obedience becomes a means for others to praise and glorify God. Never underestimate the testimony of a heart that seeks to obey the Lord. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, grant me the courage to approach you with sincerity, for you already know my heart. Give me strength to obey your commands, however I discover them today, be it in my daily duty or through your revelation in Scripture and in the Church’s teachings.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will recognize my interior motives, trust in your desire for my salvation, and seek to live my daily duty in obedience to your holy will.

 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm tuần 13 TN. Mathêu 9:1-8,

            Qua Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã tuyên bố cho nhóm người Do Thái biết rằng chỉ có Chúa mới là đấng có thẩm quyền tha tội và Chúa Giêsu không những đã chứng minh bằng quyền lực của Ngài đến từ Thiên Chúa, mà Ngài đã còn cho họ thấy sức mạnh tuyệt vời của tình yêu cứu chuộc và lòng thương xót của Thiên Chúa qua việc chữa lành cho người thanh niện đang bị bệnh bại liệt kia. Người thanh niên này đã bị bại liệt không phải chỉ về bại liệt về thể chất mà thôi, nhưng còn bại liệt cả phần tinh thần nữa. Chúa Giêsu muốn giải cứu anh ta khỏi gánh nặng và gông cùm tội lỗi nơi tâm hồn của anh mà còn phục hồi cơ thể cho anh ta nữa.

            Với lòng từ bi cũng như bất chấp sự thù nghịch và sự chống đối của những người luật sĩ, người biêt phái và những người đứng đầu các hội trường, Chúa đã làm một phép lạ là chữa lành người bại liệt. Người bại liệt được chữa lành không chỉ vì anh ta tin vào Chúa Giêsu mà còn vì những người đã khiêng anh ta có đức tin tuyệt vời.    Chúa Giêsu luôn sẵn sàng để đến với chúng ta để chữa những căn bệnh đang làm bại liệt tâm trí, cơ thể và tâm hồn của chúng ta. . Ân sủng của Ngài sẽ giúp đưa chúng ta thoát khỏi quyền lực của tội lỗi và khỏi sự trói buộc của ma quỷ luôn đang rình rập sự yếu đuối của chúng ta.  

 

Reflection 2016

The healing power of Jesus made people bring the paralytic to Jesus, and it his compassion for the sick and his admiration of the faith of the paralytic's friends which prompted Jesus to restore the paralytic to health.

However, before Jesus healed the paralytic, he forgave his sins: "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven."  Teachers of the Law in the crowd were enraged about Jesus forgiving the sins of the paralytic, "This man insults God."  

"Jesus was aware of what they were thinking. And said, 'Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'?  You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.' He then said to the paralyzed man, 'Stand up! Take up your stretcher and go home.' The man got up and went home."

The crowd was awed at the healing of the paralytic.  The Gospel did not make any mention of the crowd's reaction to Jesus forgiving the sins of the paralytic, except that the teachers of the Law reacted that Jesus was committing blasphemy: only God can forgive sins.

Every time we participate at Mass our faith tells us we are participating in a miracle, in ordinary bread and wine being transformed into the body and blood of Christ.   Do we really believe in this?  Do we feel the awesomeness of this gift of the generous God to us? And do we then truly praise and thank God every time we participate in the Eucharist?

Or are we so used to the Mass and we take it for granted?  Let us ask God to deepen our faith.     

 

REFLECTION 2018

In ttie first reading Amos prophesies in the name of Yahweh because Yahweh chose him to prophesy. True prophets speak what God tells them to say:

In the Gospel reading, when the teachers of the Law questioned how Jesus could forgive sins, he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'?"

Before they could answer, to prove himself Jesus cured the paralyzed man, "Stand up! Take up your stretcher and go home." If we had been with Jesus then, we might have reacted as the teachers of the Law did: How could a man like Jesus forgive sins? Would we have believed in Jesus after he cured the paralyzed man? The reading says that the crowd was "filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings." The reading did not say whether the cure convinced the teachers of the Law of the legitimacy of Jesus' message. Though we have not seen such miracles, do we believe in Jesus as our God and Savior? Are we like the Apostle Thomas who would not believe until he himself saw the risen Christ and his wounds? 

There were two miracles in today's Gospel reading: the cure of the paralytic and the forgiveness of his sins. Both healings are miracles of God's loving mercy: may we value the healing of the spirit more

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư, tuần 13 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư, tuần 13 Thường Niên
Do sự phát triển nhanh chóng và tiên tiến của khoa học ngày nay, hầu hết con người húng ta hình như không còn tin rằng có ma quỷ vẫn hằng hiện diện xung quanh chúng ta và đang cố gắng để cám dỗ chúng ta hoặc gây ảnh hưởng đến những quyết định hàng ngày  trong cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta. Tuy nhiên, trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta biết  ma quỷ  hiện hữu và chúng luôn tìm cách xâm nhập vào tâm hồn và ngay cả thân xác của chúng ta để hãm hãi chúng ta. Ma quỷ luôn cố gắng tìm cách để tách biệt chúng ta ra khỏi Thiên Chúa bằng cách cám dỗ và làm cho chúng ta mù quáng không nhìn nhận thấy sự thật, và ngăn cản chúng ta làm những gì đẹp lòng Thiên Chúa.
                                                                                                                                      Làm thế nào ma quỷ hay sự ác có thể thành công trong việc đạt được mục tiêu của chúng?  Ma quỷ sẽ tìm cách và làm bất cứ điều gì khiến mọi người chúng ta phải tách rời xa Thiên Chúa, ví dụ như cách chúng làm cho chúng ta tin rằng chúng ta là bậc thầy của chính mình, bằng cách tập trung và đạt sự chú tâm của chúng ta vào các giá trị bên ngoài.
                                                                                                                                      Một khi chúng ta đang sống trong đường lối của tình yêu, chân lý  và sự thật, Nhưng rồi chúng ta lại để cho bóng tối, hoang vu, tham vọng và những lời nói dối len lỏi vào trong tâm hồn của chúng ta vả chúng sẽ nắm lấy cơ hội đễ chia rẽ chúng ta và Thiên Chúa. Tuy nhiên, chúng ta không thể tuyệt vọng ngay cả những khi chúng ta đang ở trong một tình huống như vậy, bởi vì Thiên Chúa sẽ ban cho chúng ta những ân sủng và cứu chúng ta như Chúa Giêsu đã giải thoát người bị quỷ ám như trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay. Điều duy nhất là chúng ta cần phải làm là đặt niềm tin của chúng ta trong Chúa và trong tình yêu vô biên của Ngài, hãy tin tưởng và chắc chắn rằng Ngài sẽ không bao giờ bỏ rơi chúng ta.
 Lạy Chúa, xin giải thoát chúng con thoát khỏi mọi sự dữ của những điều gian ác, và sự cám dỗ của ma quỷ.
 
Wednesday 13th Week in Ordinary Time 2014
Due to the rapid and advanced development of science today, people hardly believe that the evil spirit is still around us trying to mislead us or influence our daily decisions and lives. Nonetheless, why does the Bible, which is called the book of love and truth, bother to tell us about the evil spirit? Because the evil spirit is trying to separate us from God, blind us from seeing the truth, stop us from doing what pleases God.
                                                                                                                                      How could evil succeed in achieving its goal? It would do anything that leads people away from God, for example by making one believe that he is the master of oneself, by directing one’s attention and focus on external values.
                                                                                                                                      Once we are away from love and truth, then darkness, desolation, and lies will take hold of us. However, we are not hopeless even if we are in such a situation, because God will empower us with grace and rescue us as Jesus liberated the man in today's gospel. The only thing we need to do is to put our trust in him and his infinite love, confident that he will never abandon us.  Lord, liberate us from the siege of evil.
 
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. Matthew 8:33–34
Why would “the whole town” beg Jesus to leave their district as a result of Jesus delivering two of their fellow townsmen from demons? This event took place on the northeast edge of the Sea of Galilee near a town of the Gadarenes who were not of Jewish background, which accounts for the fact that there was such a large herd of swine (the Jewish people did not eat pork). Two of the Gadarenes were possessed by demons, and Scripture reports that “They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.” And when Jesus delivers them from this awful plight, instead of rejoicing in gratitude, the townspeople begged Jesus to leave.
Saint Jerome says that it is possible that the people were actually acting in humility, in that they did not consider themselves worthy to be in the presence of someone as great as Jesus. Like Saint Peter who fell at the feet of Jesus and cried out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8), these townspeople may have been in such awe at what Jesus did for them that they did not see themselves as being worthy of His presence. However, other Church Fathers point out that it is more likely that these townspeople signify those who are stuck in their life of sin and do not want to come face-to-face with the Gospel or with the Person of Jesus. They prefer to close their ears to the truth and to remain in their life of ignorance and sin.
It’s also helpful to reflect upon the relationship between the townspeople and these two demoniacs. Ideally, when the townspeople saw these two men completely freed of the demons who tormented them, they would have rejoiced in a way similar to the way the father of the Prodigal Son rejoiced when his son returned to him. Sadly, in this case, there seems to be a tremendous lack of excitement by their fellow townsmen over the freedom these two demoniacs experienced. This shows a clear lack of love for these two men within the town. Perhaps many of the townspeople took a twisted form of pleasure in their mockery of these two men over the years, and they enjoyed telling stories about how crazy they were. Now, they were faced with these two men who were completely changed, and they may have found it difficult to speak well of them because of their pride.
This negative example set by these townspeople gives us an opportunity to reflect upon how we think about and treat those who have changed their ways and have turned from evil to good. Perhaps you have a family member who has sincerely tried to change. Or perhaps someone at work, a neighbor or some other acquaintance has gone from a life of sin to a life seeking virtue. The real question to ponder is whether you rejoice over the goodness of others, over their ongoing conversion and pursuit of holiness, or whether you struggle with truly expressing joy as you see people you know change for the good. It’s often very easy to criticize but much more difficult to rejoice in the holy transformation of another.
Reflect, today, upon those in your life, those close to you and those with whom you are mere acquaintances, who have been set free by our Lord in some way and have moved from a life of sin toward a life of virtue. How do you react to them? Are you able to sincerely rejoice in the goodness of others? Or do you find yourself struggling with jealousy, anger, envy and the like? As you do see the goodness of God at work in others, try to put on the mentality suggested by Saint Jerome above. Allow yourself to be in awe of God’s action in their lives. As you do, humble yourself before the transforming power of God, admitting that you are not worthy to witness His transforming power but rejoice in gratitude nonetheless.
My all-powerful Lord, You overcame the power of the evil one and cast demons from these two men who suffered through this oppression for many years. Give me the eyes I need to see You at work in our world and to joyfully bear witness to Your transforming action in the lives of others. May I always humble myself before Your saving actions and learn to express true gratitude for all that You do. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: 
My Jesus, I so often find myself divided, giving more importance to things of this world than to the salvation of others or even the good of my own soul. Open my eyes and heart to love holiness and the salvation of souls as much as you do.
Encountering Christ:
Sin Torments: “Two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.” Here were two people, tormented and in bondage, courtesy of the devil. Their condition was serious, if not fatal, but isn’t this our reality anytime we allow sin into our life? When a soul drifts from God it grows distant, cold to God, and can even become aggressive out of fear or hatred. In their exchange with Jesus, the souls in this passage did all of the talking out of extreme agitation. Jesus simply looked at them unafraid and in control. Jesus is always loving, patient, and attentive to our pleadings, and showers his mercy upon us when we desire to be freed from the bondage of sin.
Jesus Spoke: “Go then!” Jesus hadn’t spoken a word until now but the demoniacs knew he would expel them at some point because perfect good always prevails over evil. Jesus didn’t want them to be slaves to sin, nor does he want this for us. Jesus wants us to be free to truly follow him and love what is good, true, and beautiful as he created it. It’s our responsibility to surrender to God, confess, and make reparation whenever we realize we’ve given into sin. 
They Banished Jesus: “They begged him to leave their district.” People sometimes don’t want the good of others, especially if it requires sacrificing their own comfort or security. The people in this district weren’t happy for the demoniacs who had been cured. Rather they were afraid and concerned with the revenue they lost when Jesus cast the devils into their swine. We should beware of growing tepid in our faith and distant from Jesus lest we lose a sense of the seriousness of sin and its consequences. Conversion of a sinner is the ultimate good and always a cause for celebration.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to never grow accustomed to sin in my life but to seek you with a sincere heart so that no taint of sin may mark my soul. Make me a more passionate lover of the salvation of souls so that I may call people to freedom from sin by your grace.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will be open to talking to someone about the gift of salvation in Christ.