Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba sau Lễ Hiển Linh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba sau Lễ Hiển Linh (Marcô 6:34-44)
Một ít bánh mì và hai con cá, làm sao mà đủ để nuôi bao nhiêu đây người?
      Những năng khiếu, tài năng và khả năng giới hạn của chúng ta sẽ không thể giúp nuôi ăn cho tất cả những người đang đói khát và giúp cho những người rách rưới có đủ mặc ấm trong mùa đông, hay giúp làm giảm bớt những sự bần cùng, nghèo khổ của con người một cách hoàn toàn! Nhưng với những hồng  ân và ơn sủng của Thiên Chúa sẽ đến và một ngày nào đó sẽ không còn người đói khát, không còn những nỗi buồn, lo âu ,  Không còn bệnh tật,  không còn những sự nghèo hèn đói khổ.
            Thiên Chúa sẽ làm phép lạ và làm cho điều này được xảy ra mà không phải do chúng ta. Tuy nhiên, Thiên Chúa sẽ không làm cho chúng ta những gì mà chúng ta có thể tự làm ra được với trí thông minh và khả năng mà Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta. Vì nhũng công việc đó là tất cả những gì trong vòng phạm vi hoạt động và khả năng của chúng ta, chúng ta có thể chia sẻ những nguồn lực mà chúng ta có, “một vài ổ bánh và ba con cá” với bao nhiêu người đang trong cơn đói khát, Chúng ta có thể chia sẻ sự phong phú củaTin Mừng. Chúng ta có thể chia sẻ lòng thương xót và sự tha thứ, như Chúa Giêsu đã làm bằng lời nói và các việc làm của chúng ta, chúng ta có thể giúp mọi người hiểu được và đi đến chỗ mà họ có thể tin rằng họ được yêu thương và họ đáng yêu và đáng được ấp ủ. Chúng ta có thể làm được điều đó nếu chúng ta sẵn sàng và vui lòng chia sẻ những gì mà bản thân chúng ta đã nhận được
             Lạy Chúa, Xin Chúa giúp chúng con biết sẵn lòng đem Tin Mừng của Chúa đến cho những người nghèo bằng tình yêu thương chân thành như Chính Chúa đã dành cho chúng con và thương yêu chúng con.
 
 Tuesday after Epiphany
Some bread and some fish what good are they when so many are hungry and need to be fed? When so many are lost and in need of a shepherd but refuse to be shepherded, what are we t,o do? We can try and send them away. We can try and distance ourselves from them and their problems (which really are also our problems). We can despair. We can run. Or we can love. We can love them first. And love them again. And love them again. Which is what our God does for us over and over again.
            Our limited gifts and talents and abilities are not going to feed all the hungry or clothe all the naked or completely alleviate poverty. But with God’s grace there will come a day when there will be no more hunger, no more sadness, no more illness and no more poverty. God will make it happen, not us. Yet God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves.
            It is within our purview to share what meager resources we have, our few loaves of bread and fish, with those who are hungry. We can share the riches of the Gospel. We can share mercy and forgiveness. Like Jesus, by our words and actions we can help people to understand and come to believe that they are loved and lovable and cherished. We can do it if we will share what we ourselves have first received.  Lord, help me to bring the Good News to the poor.
 
Tuesday after Epiphany 2024
When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34
What is compassion? It’s an attribute by which someone sees the suffering of another and experiences true empathy for them. This empathy, in turn, leads the person to reach out and share in the person’s suffering, helping them to endure whatever they are going through. This is what Jesus experienced within His own Sacred Heart as He looked out upon this vast crowd.
The Scripture above introduces the familiar miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fish. And though the miracle itself offers much to ponder, this introductory line also gives us much to ponder regarding our Lord’s motivation for performing this miracle.
When Jesus looked out at the large crowd, He saw a group of people who seemed lost, were searching and were spiritually hungry. They desired some direction in their lives, and, for that reason, they were coming to Jesus. But what’s very helpful to reflect upon is Jesus’ Heart. He was not annoyed by their insistence, He was not burdened by them; rather He was deeply moved by their spiritual poverty and hunger. This moved His Heart to “pity,” which is a form of sincere compassion. For that reason, He taught them “many things.”
Interestingly, the miracle was simply an extra blessing but was not the primary action Jesus took on account of His compassionate Heart. First and foremost, His compassion led Him to teach them.
Jesus looks at each one of us with the same compassion. Whenever you find yourself confused, lacking direction in life and spiritually hungry, Jesus gazes at you with the same gaze He offered this vast crowd. And His remedy for your needs is to teach you, also. He wants you to learn from Him by studying the Scripture, by daily prayer and meditation, by reading the lives of the saints and learning the many glorious teachings of our Church. This is the food that every wandering heart needs for spiritual satisfaction.
Reflect, today, upon the most compassionate Heart of our Divine Lord. Allow yourself to see Him gazing at you with the utmost love. Know that His gaze is one that drives Him to speak to you, to teach you and to lead you to Himself. Trust this most compassionate Heart of our Lord and allow Him to reach out to you in love.
Lord, help me to see You as You gaze at me with the most heartfelt love and compassion. I know You know my every struggle and my every need. Help me to open myself up to You and Your mercy so that You become my true Shepherd. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday after Epiphany 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, all this week, I will contemplate the epiphany of your Son. He manifested your glory to Israel and to all the nations. He cured the sick and did mighty deeds to testify to his divine nature as your Son. I believe in him, in you, and in your Holy Spirit.
Encountering the Word of God
1. A Prophet Like Moses: The Book of Deuteronomy (18:15) promised that one day, God would send his people a prophet like Moses. Many prophets, such as the prophet Elijah, were like Moses. But the one who ultimately fulfills the prophecy of Deuteronomy is Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22; 7:37). Moses was a ruler, preacher, lawgiver, intercessor, wonderworker, and foreseer of the future. Jesus does all of these and does them in a superior fashion. Today’s Gospel recalls how the people of Israel were fed by God in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses. The first line in today’s Gospel speaks about sheep without a shepherd. Moses was a shepherd (Exodus 3:1) and tended the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro. While tending the sheep, the Lord called Moses to tend his people and lead them out of Egypt to the land promised to Abraham. Jesus sees the vast crowd and, like God the Father, has pity on them. Jesus, like Moses, will shepherd them and lead them out of the slavery to sin to the Promised Land of Heaven.
2. The New Manna: One of the greatest works of the Lord God in the desert was providing Manna for his people: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). When the disciples approached Jesus, they pointed out how the vast crowd had followed Jesus into a deserted place and were in need of food. Instead of sending the people to the local farms and villages to buy bread and food, Jesus commands his disciples to give the crowd something to eat. The miracle of feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish looks forward to the Eucharist, the New Manna, which feeds God’s adopted children for eternal life. The old Manna was sufficient to sustain God’s people for a day in the wilderness. The New Manna nourishes us, not just for a day, but for eternal life.  
3. Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Baskets, Five Thousand Men: All of the numbers in the Gospels have a profound meaning. Nothing is arbitrary. The number five recalls the Law of Moses, the first five books of the Bible. These five books narrate the story of creation, the fall of humanity, the renewal of the covenant of creation with Noah, the sin of the Tower of Babel, the covenant promises made with Abraham, the twelve sons of Israel, the exodus from Egypt, the covenant at Sinai, the worship of the golden calf, the priestly code and the holiness code in Leviticus, the ten rebellions of the people during their 40 years in the desert, and the “second law” given by Moses before the people entered the promised land. While the five loaves and five thousand men symbolize the Old Law, the two fish symbolize the New Law given by Jesus, the New Moses: love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself. The twelve baskets symbolize the New Israel, which gathers people not just from Jacob’s descendants but from all nations into the new Kingdom of God.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for the awesome gift of the Eucharist. Help me to appreciate how you have stayed close to us through the centuries and will continue to do so. I want to spend more time with you this year. Help me to do so.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai sau Lễ Hiển Linh (ba Vua)
Trong thế gìới của của chúng ta, có rất nhiều thần thánh và không phải tất cả trong số thần thánh này thần thánh nào cũng tốt cà hoặc thậm chí hữu ích. Thánh Gioan Tẩy Già có một sự hướng dẫn tốt để biết phân biệt: Liệu thần thánh hay Thần Khí này có giúp chùng ta xác định được việc Thiên Chúa đã đến trong thân xác? Nếu chỉ nghe theo tiếng thần khí (Chúa Thánh Thần) mà chúng ta khẳng định được Thiên Chúa đã đến trong thân xác, và Chúa Giêsu là con Người thật mà không phải là một huyền thoại, ý tưởng, hoặc ý thức hệ, Thì chúng ta có thể tin rằng Chúa Giêsu đã đến với chúng ta để cùng tham dự vào trong cuộc sống con người và trong thế giới của chúng ta môyt cách sâu sắc, đó là tất cả những gì về sự nhập thể của Chúa Kitô.  
Thánh Gioan cũng đã bảo đảm với chúng ta rằng Chúa Giêsu là một con người trong chúng ta, nhưng Ngài có quyền lực và sức mạnh hơn bất cứ một lực lượng thế tục nào. Chúng ta không nên sợ hãi, nhút nhát, hay không nghiêm khắc về tinh thần, nhưng tự hành xử như những người đến từ Thiên Chúa. Trong Tin Mừng Thánh Matthêu hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu bắt đầu sứ vụ rao giảng của Ngài ở Galilê, và điều này đã được miêu tả đúng như là những lời mà các tiên tri loan báo trước kia, và đến nay đã được thực hiện . “Những người ở trong bóng tối đã thấy một ánh sáng, và ánh sáng tuyệt vời là chính Chúa Giêsu và sứ điệp của ngài với Đức Chúa Trời.”
            Thông điệp đầu tiên của Thánh Gioan là nói về những triều đại của Thiên Chúa đang đến gần và tầm quan trọng của việc mở tâm trí và trái tim con người chúng ta để biết đón nhận Thông điệp đó. Đó là những gì gọi là 'ăn năn', là sám hối” và có nghĩa là: chúng ta cần phải biết thay đổi cách mà chúng ta suy nghĩ và nhìn vào thế giới hôm nay. Thiên Chúa đi vào trong lịch sử của con người nhân loại theo một cách mới và nó đòi hỏi cái nhìn sâu sắc tinh thần để nhận thức ra được các hoạt động của Thiên Chúa trong thế giới này, hôm nay. Chúng ta phải biết luôn  cởi mỡ với tình yêu thương của Thiên Chúa và cách sống mới sẽ cho phép con người chúng ta tham dự vào lịch sử mới và đầy thú vị này. Chúa Giêsu đã đến trong thân xác con người bằng xương, bằng thịt như chúng ta và cũng vì thế mà cuộc sống của chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ còn được coi như cũ xưa nữa. Chúng ta cẩn đổi mới tâm hồn chúng ta. Lạy Chúa. Xin Chúa  mở lòng trí và trái tim của chúng con
 
Reflection
There are many spirits in the world and not all of them are good or even helpful. John has a good guide to discernment: Does the spirit affirm or deny that Jesus has come in the flesh? Listen only to those spirits that affirm his coming in the flesh, for Jesus is not a myth, idea, or ideology.  Jesus is deeply involved in human lives and in our world — that is what the incarnation is all about. John also assures us that Jesus is within us and is far more powerful than any worldly force. We should not be fearful, timid, or spiritually lax, but conduct ourselves as people who are from God. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, and this was portrayed as the fulfillment of prophecy. The people who dwell in darkness had seen a great light, and that great light was Jesus himself and his message from God.
His first message was about the approaching reign of God and the importance of opening one's mind and heart to receive it. That is what ‘repentance’ means — changing how one thinks and views the world. God entered human history in a new way and it requires spiritual insight to be aware of God's activity in the world.  Being open to God’s love and to a new way of living will enable one to participate in this new and exciting history. Jesus has come in the flesh and our lives will never be the same again.
Lord, open my mind and heart.

Suy Niệm Bài Đọc thứ Hai sau Lễ Hiển Linh.

Suy Niệm Bài Đọc thứ Hai sau Lễ Hiển Linh. ( 1 Jn. 3:22-4:6; Mt. 4:12-17,23-25)
Trong thư Thứ Nhất của Thánh Gioan hôm nay, đã nhắc tới bốn (4) lần nói về sự tự tin: hai lần về sự tự tin khi đối diện với sự phán xét của Thiên Chúa ( 2:28; 4:17) và hai lần liên quan đến sự tự tin trong lời cầu nguyện (3:21; 5:14) .Nếu chúng ta đọc hết cả lá thư này, chúng ta sẽ thấy rõ ràng và hiểu được y của Thánh Gioan muốn dùng nhũng lời này như một sự khích lệ cho những Kitô hữu thời đấy hầu nuôi dưỡng họ với một đời sống tâm linh sâu đậm hơn và để thực hiện việc này với lòng tự tin. Như thế, theo những cách khác nhau thánh Goan muốn nhấn mạnh tầm quan trọng của lòng tin chắc chắn, vững vàng và do đó sự tự tin cần phải có cho việc bồi dưỡng đời sống tâm linh hay tinh thần của chúng ta .
            Do đó Thánh Gioan đã khá chắc chắn về sự hiệu quả về những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta , vì " bất cứ điều gì chúng ta xin, chúng ta sẽ nhận được nơi đôi bàn tay của Thiên Chúa. " (1 John 3:22) Lý do cho sự chắc chắn này đã được liên kết chặt chẽ với đời sống luân lý mà đó là một khía cạnh không thể thiếu được trong đời sống đức tin của con người và đó là một nền tảng không thể thiếu được trong một cuộc sống tâm linh Kitô giáo: "Chúng ta đang giữ những gìới răn của Thiên Chúa và làm những gì để Thiên Chúa được hài lòng qua ánh mắt của Ngài." Tuân giữ các điều răn của Thiên Chúa, không có nghĩa là một thái độ mang tính pháp lý cho đời sống tâm linh: giữ các điều răn của Thiên Chúa có nghĩa là không có gì khác hơn là việc chúng ta vẩn còn tồn tại trong Thiên Chúa và là nơi cho Thiên Chúa ngự trị, như Thánh Gioan đã chỉ ra cho chúng ta.
            Cầu nguyện đòi hỏi một mối quan hệ thân mật với Chúa trong cùng một lúc cầu nguyện cũng còn bồi dưỡng mối quan hệ đó bằng cách cho chúng ta thêm sức mạnh và sự thông minh sáng suốt để làm những gì việc mà Chúa Cha luôn được làm vui lòng .
            Lạy Cha ở trên trời, Xin ban cho chúng con những ân sủng của Chúa để giúp chúng con được trở nên giống như Chúa Giêsu, luôn luôn làm những gì để làm đẹp lòng Chúa, Cha của chúng con.
 
Monday after Epiphany
Four times in his First Letter, St John speaks of confidence: twice about confidence when facing God’s judgment (2:28; 4:17) and twice concerning confidence in prayer (3:21; 5:14). The whole Letter is clearly meant to be an encouragement for Christians to foster a deeper spiritual life and to do so with confidence. Thus, in different ways it stresses the importance of certainty, and hence of confidence, for the fostering of our spiritual lives.
            Thus John is quite certain of the efficacy of our prayers, for “whatever we ask we shall receive at God’s hands.” (1 John 3:22) The reason for this certainty is closely linked with the moral life which is an indispensable aspect of the life of faith and an inalienable foundation for a Christian spiritual life: “we are keeping his commandments and doing what it pleasing in his sight.”
            Keeping God's commandments does not mean a legalistic attitude to the spiritual life: keeping the commandments is nothing other than remaining in God and being a dwelling place for God, as John goes on to point out. Prayer demands an intimate relationship with God while at the same time fostering that relationship through giving us the strength and wisdom to do always what is pleasing to the Father.
Father in heaven grant us the grace to be like Jesus, always doing what is pleasing to You.
 
Monday after Epiphany2025
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
Now that our Christmas Octave and Epiphany celebrations are complete, we begin to turn our eyes to the public ministry of Christ. The above line from today’s Gospel presents us with the most central summary of all of the teachings of Jesus: Repent. However, He doesn’t say only to repent, He also says that “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And that second statement is the reason we must repent.
In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that the primary reason for our lives is to give to God the greatest glory we can. In other words, to bring forth the Kingdom of Heaven. But he also goes on to say that this can only be accomplished when we turn away from sin and all inordinate attachments in our lives so that the one and only focus of our lives is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the goal of repentance.
Soon we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and then we return to Ordinary Time within the Liturgical Year. Throughout Ordinary Time, we will reflect upon the public ministry of Jesus and focus upon His many teachings. But all of His teachings, everything that He says and does, ultimately points us to repentance, a turning away from sin and a turning toward our glorious God.
In your own life, it is essential that you place before your mind and heart the call to repentance. It is essential that you daily hear Jesus saying those words to you: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Do not only think about Him saying this many years ago; rather, hear it said to you, today, tomorrow and every day of your life. There will never be a time in your life when you do not need to repent with all your heart. We will never reach perfection in this life, so repentance must be our daily mission. 
Reflect, today, upon this exhortation from our Lord to repent. Repent with your whole heart. Examining your actions every day is essential to this mission. See the ways that your actions keep you from God and reject those actions. And look for the ways that God is active in your life and embrace those acts of mercy. Repent and turn toward the Lord. This is Jesus’ message to you this day.
Lord, I repent of the sin in my life and pray that You give me the grace to become free from all that keeps me from You. May I not only turn from sin but also turn to You as the source of all mercy and fulfillment in my life. Help me to keep my eyes on the Kingdom of Heaven and to do all I can to share in that Kingdom here and now. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Monday after Epiphany 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for sending your Son to inaugurate your Kingdom on earth. I am a member of that Kingdom through my Baptism, which cured me of the stain of original sin and made me your adopted child.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Zebulun and Naphtali: All this week, the Gospels will focus on various epiphanies or manifestations. Today, the focus is on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and his announcement of the “Kingdom of the Heavens.” Matthew tells us that after his Baptism in the Jordan and Temptation in the Desert, Jesus left his hometown of Nazareth and began to live in Capernaum, a town on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew mentions the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This is significant because these Galilean regions were the first to be ravaged by the Assyrian invasions from 733 to 732 B.C. (see 2 Kings 15:29). “Jesus targets Galilee as the place to begin reversing the tragedies of Israel’s history by restoring the 12 tribes in the New Covenant” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1731). The fishing village of Capernaum, where Jesus took up residence, was on the border between the two ancient regions of Zebulun and Naphtali. Isaiah 9:1-2 foretells a “latter time” when God will restore hope to Galilee. The regions will see a great light, and this is the epiphanic light of Jesus Christ. 
2. The Kingdom of the Heavens: When Jesus begins to preach, he takes up the message of John the Baptist and calls the people of Galilee to repent. This is an invitation to change their mindset. The reason why such a change is necessary is that the Kingdom of the Heavens has drawn near. Matthew uses the expression “Kingdom of the Heavens,” while the other Gospels tend to use the expression “Kingdom of God.” The reason why Matthew uses the expression is that his Gospel emphasizes the inbreaking of the Kingdom of the Heavens here on earth. When Jesus gives a series of parables on the Kingdom, he speaks about how good and evil will be present in the Kingdom and how the Kingdom will transform society like yeast in bread dough. The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a seed that will start out very small but grow to international dimensions. The Kingdom of the Heavens will transform society and make it more just and charitable. Only at the end of time will good and evil be definitively separated.
3. The Gospel of the Kingdom: Jesus taught in the synagogues of Galilee. He proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom. This is the good news that the ancient Kingdom of David would be restored. God promised David that his kingdom would last forever, and Jesus, the royal son of David, came to fulfill that covenant promise. The kingdom of David was not restored as a political kingdom with military power and earthly wealth. It was restored as a spiritual kingdom and liturgical empire. Jesus heals every disease and sickness. These physical healings were signs (CCC, 547-550) that pointed to the future spiritual healings in the Sacraments of the Church, the seed and beginning of the Kingdom of the Heavens inaugurated on earth by Christ (CCC, 567). “By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness, and death, Jesus performed messianic signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but to free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage” (CCC, 549).
you in prayer and meditate on your Word. It is a Kingdom of justice, love, mercy, purity, meekness, humility, peace, charity, and grace.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai sau Lễ Hiển Linh (ba Vua)
Trong thế gìới của của chúng ta, có rất nhiều thần thánh và không phải tất cả trong số thần thánh này thần thánh nào cũng tốt cà hoặc thậm chí hữu ích. Thánh Gioan Tẩy Già có một sự hướng dẫn tốt để biết phân biệt: Liệu thần thánh hay Thần Khí này có giúp chùng ta xác định được việc Thiên Chúa đã đến trong thân xác? Nếu chỉ nghe theo tiếng thần khí (Chúa Thánh Thần) mà chúng ta khẳng định được Thiên Chúa đã đến trong thân xác, và Chúa Giêsu là con Người thật mà không phải là một huyền thoại, ý tưởng, hoặc ý thức hệ, Thì chúng ta có thể tin rằng Chúa Giêsu đã đến với chúng ta để cùng tham dự vào trong cuộc sống con người và trong thế giới của chúng ta môyt cách sâu sắc, đó là tất cả những gì về sự nhập thể của Chúa Kitô.  
Thánh Gioan cũng đã bảo đảm với chúng ta rằng Chúa Giêsu là một con người trong chúng ta, nhưng Ngài có quyền lực và sức mạnh hơn bất cứ một lực lượng thế tục nào. Chúng ta không nên sợ hãi, nhút nhát, hay không nghiêm khắc về tinh thần, nhưng tự hành xử như những người đến từ Thiên Chúa. Trong Tin Mừng Thánh Matthêu hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu bắt đầu sứ vụ rao giảng của Ngài ở Galilê, và điều này đã được miêu tả đúng như là những lời mà các tiên tri loan báo trước kia, và đến nay đã được thực hiện . “Những người ở trong bóng tối đã thấy một ánh sáng, và ánh sáng tuyệt vời là chính Chúa Giêsu và sứ điệp của ngài với Đức Chúa Trời.”
            Thông điệp đầu tiên của Thánh Gioan là nói về những triều đại của Thiên Chúa đang đến gần và tầm quan trọng của việc mở tâm trí và trái tim con người chúng ta để biết đón nhận Thông điệp đó. Đó là những gì gọi là 'ăn năn', là sám hối” và có nghĩa là: chúng ta cần phải biết thay đổi cách mà chúng ta suy nghĩ và nhìn vào thế giới hôm nay. Thiên Chúa đi vào trong lịch sử của con người nhân loại theo một cách mới và nó đòi hỏi cái nhìn sâu sắc tinh thần để nhận thức ra được các hoạt động của Thiên Chúa trong thế giới này, hôm nay. Chúng ta phải biết luôn  cởi mỡ với tình yêu thương của Thiên Chúa và cách sống mới sẽ cho phép con người chúng ta tham dự vào lịch sử mới và đầy thú vị này. Chúa Giêsu đã đến trong thân xác con người bằng xương, bằng thịt như chúng ta và cũng vì thế mà cuộc sống của chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ còn được coi như cũ xưa nữa. Chúng ta cẩn đổi mới tâm hồn chúng ta. Lạy Chúa. Xin Chúa mở lòng trí và trái tim của chúng con
 
Reflection
There are many spirits in the world and not all of them are good or even helpful. John has a good guide to discernment: Does the spirit affirm or deny that Jesus has come in the flesh? Listen only to those spirits that affirm his coming in the flesh, for Jesus is not a myth, idea, or ideology.  Jesus is deeply involved in human lives and in our world — that is what the incarnation is all about. John also assures us that Jesus is within us and is far more powerful than any worldly force. We should not be fearful, timid, or spiritually lax, but conduct ourselves as people who are from God. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, and this was portrayed as the fulfillment of prophecy. The people who dwell in darkness had seen a great light, and that great light was Jesus himself and his message from God.
His first message was about the approaching reign of God and the importance of opening one's mind and heart to receive it. That is what ‘repentance’ means — changing how one thinks and views the world. God entered human history in a new way and it requires spiritual insight to be aware of God's activity in the world.  Being open to God’s love and to a new way of living will enable one to participate in this new and exciting history. Jesus has come in the flesh and our lives will never be the same again.
Lord, open my mind and heart.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật Chủa Hiển Linh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật Chủa Hiển Linh

 Khi Đức Giê-su ra đời tại Bê-lem, miền Giu-đê, thời vua Hê-rô-đê trị vì, có mấy nhà chiêm tinh từ phương Đông đến Giê-ru-sa-lem, ²và hỏi : “Đức Vua dân Do-thái mới sinh, hiện ở đâu ? Chúng tôi đã thấy ngôi sao của Người xuất hiện bên phương Đông, nên chúng tôi đến bái lạy Người.” (Mt 2:1-2)

            Ba vị đạo sĩ (vua.?) rất có thể đến từ Ba Tư, Iran ngày nay. Họ là những người khoa học gia thường xuyên nghiên cứu về chiêm tinh qua các vì sao. Họ không phải là người Do Thái nhưng rất có thể đã biết niềm tin phổ biến của người Do Thái là sẽ xuất hiện một vị vua một đáng Mêsaia  để cứu họ.

            Những đạo sĩ này được Thiên Chúa mời gọi đến để gặp gỡ Đấng Cứu Rỗi của Thế giới. Điều thú vị là Thiên Chúa đã dùng những thứ rất quen thuộc với họ để làm công cụ cho ơn gọi của họ: các vì sao. Các Đạop Sĩ này Họ tin rằng qua một ngôi sao mới xuất hiện trên bầu trời, thi sẽ có một người có tầm quan trọng đã được sinh ra, sự ra đời này sẽ đi kèm sự xuất hiệ của một ngôi sao mới. Vì vậy, khi họ nhìn thấy ngôi sao mới, sáng và rực rỡ này, thì họ đâm ra tò mò và niềm hy vọng. Một trong những khía cạnh quan trọng nhất của câu chuyện này là họ đã phản hồi. Thiên Chúa kêu gọi những nhà Đạo sĩ này qua việc dùng hình ảnh một ngôi sao, và họ đã chọn đi theo dấu hiệu này, và họ đã bắt đầu một cuộc hành trình dài và gian khổ.

            Thiên Chúa thường sử dụng những việc làm quen thuộc nhất trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta để gửi đến chúng ta lời kêu gọi của Ngài. Ví dụ, chúng ta hãy nhớ lại là nhiều môn đệ của Chúa hay các Tông Đồ đều là người đánh cá, và Chúa Giê Su đã dung các công việc làm ăn thường ngày của họ để mời gọi họ theo Ngài và tiếp tục loan truyền Tin Mừng của Ngài đến với mọi nơi.  và rõ ràng là Ngài muốn làm cho họ trở thành “những tay đánh lưới người.” Ngài đặc biệt dùng phép lạ để giúp các môn đệ mới chọn của Ngài bắt được mẻ lưới nhiều cá để cho họ thấy rõ ràng rằng họ có một ơn gọi mới.             Trong cuộc sống của chúng ta cũng thế, Chúa không ngừng kêu gọi chúng ta tìm kiếm Ngài và thờ phượng Ngài. Ngài sẽ sử dụng một số phần công việc bình thường nhất trong cuộc sống của chúng ta để gửi đi tiếng mời gọi đó.

Hôm nay Chúa đã gọi chúng ta như thế nào? Bằng cách nào mà Ngài đã gửi đến cho chúng ta một ngôi sao lạ để giúp chúng ta tìm đến Chúa? Nhiều lần và nhiều cách, Chúa đã đén và mời gọi chúng ta, nhưng chúng ta đã phớt lờ tiếng Chúa mời gọi chúng ta. Chúng ta cần phải học hỏi từ những người Đạo sĩ Đông Phương này và siêng năng đáp ứng khi Ngài kêu gọi. Chúng ta không được ngần ngại và phải tìm cách chú ý hàng ngày đến những cách mà Chúa mời gọi chúng ta tin tưởng, phó thác và thờ phượng một cách chân thành và sâu sắc hơn.

Hôm nay, chúng ta hãy suy ngẫm về những lờimời gọi của Thiên Chúa trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Chúng ta đang nghe Tiếng Chúa? Chúng ta đang đáp trả lời Bgafi ? Bạn có sẵn sàng và sẵn sàng từ bỏ tất cả những thứ khác trong cuộc sống để phục vụ thánh ý của Ngài không? Chúng ta hãy tìm kiếm Chúa, chờ đợi Ngài và đáp ứng những yêu cầu của Ngài. Làm như vậy sẽ là những quyết định tốt nhất mà chung ta từng thực hiện. Lạy Chúa, chúng con yêu mến Chúa và xin hứa với Chúa là chúng con sẽ sẵn sàng mở lòng chúng con để đón nhận bàn tay hướng dẫn của Chúa trong cuộc đời của chúng con. Xin Chúa giúp cho chúng con luôn biết chú ý đến những cách khác nhau mà Chúa thường gọi chúng con mỗi ngày. Và xin cho chúng con luôn hết lòng đáp lại tiếng gọi của Chúa. Lạy Chúa, chúng con tin vào Chúa.

 
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” Matthew 2:1–2

The Magi were most likely from Persia, modern-day Iran. They were men who regularly engaged in a study of the stars. They were not Jewish but were most likely aware of the popular belief of the Jewish people that a king would be born who would save them.

These Magi were called by God to encounter the Savior of the World. Interestingly, God used something very familiar to them as an instrument of their calling: the stars. It was among their belief that when someone of great importance was born, this birth was accompanied by a new star. So when they saw this new, bright and brilliant star, they were filled with curiosity and hope. One of the most significant aspects of this story is that they responded. God called them through the use of a star, and they chose to follow this sign, embarking on a long and arduous journey.

God often uses those things most familiar to us that are part of our daily life to send forth His calling. Recall, for example, that many of the Apostles were fishermen, and Jesus used their occupation to call them, making them “fishers of men.”

Respecially used the miraculous catch of fish to clearly indicate to them that they had a new calling.
In our own lives, God is constantly calling us to seek Him out and worship Him. He will often use some of the most ordinary parts of our lives to send forth that calling. How is He calling you? In what way is He sending you a star to follow? Many times when God speaks, we ignore His voice. We must learn from these Magi and diligently respond when He calls. We must not hesitate and must seek to daily be attentive to the ways that God invites us to deeper trust, surrender and worship.

Reflect, today, upon God’s call in your life. Are you listening? Are you responding? Are you ready and willing to abandon all else in life so as to serve His holy will? Seek Him, wait on Him and respond. Doing so will be the best decision you ever make.

Lord, I love You and pray that I will be open to Your guiding hand in my life. May I always be attentive to the countless ways that You call to me each and every day. And may I always respond to You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

The Epiphany of the Lord 2025

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ~Matthew 2:10-11

Reflection: All of God’s creation gives Him glory and praises Him by its very existence. Psalm 143 states, “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all shining stars. Praise him, highest heavens, you waters above the heavens. Let them all praise the LORD’s name; for he commanded and they were created…” Though creation gives praise to God simply by existing and thus, revealing its Creator, today’s solemnity commemorates the one moment in time when God used a star to manifest His eternal glory.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, it was commonly believed that a new star would appear whenever a new ruler was born. The Father in Heaven used this belief to honor His Son Who was born as the new King. The three Magi from the East were astrologers. When they saw this “new star,” they chose to follow it to discover the new King. Creation itself, in the form of a star, pointed the way, thus giving glory to the newborn King, manifesting Him to the whole world as symbolized by the Magi.

The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” Therefore, as we honor this moment in time when the Christ Child was made manifest to the world, we need to look into our own hearts. There, we discover Christ’s ongoing manifestation to us so that we can worship Him Who has also chosen to be born within our hearts. We must diligently seek out that manifestation of God within us and respond to it in the same ways that the Magi responded.

First of all, the Magi were determined. When they saw a sign from the heavens that pointed to a new King, they stopped everything and departed in haste to find Him. When God speaks to you and manifests Himself to you in some way, nothing could be more important than to be attentive to His voice and follow His manifestation with the same haste.

The Magi brought the Christ Child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God was honored and glorified through His creation by the giving of these gifts. God created gold to manifest His beauty and dignity. It was a gift that symbolized kingship. When we ponder the natural gift of gold given to the Christ Child, we are inspired to give Him our own gift of symbolic gold by prayerfully acknowledging Him as our own King to whom we pledge our complete submission.

Made from the sap of trees found in India, northeastern Africa, and the Arabian peninsula, frankincense and myrrh are also fruits of God’s creation. Used in worship to symbolize prayers rising to heaven, frankincense symbolizes the Christ Child’s divinity. We offer frankincense to Christ when we acknowledge His divine nature, since He is God in the flesh. Often used in burial, myrrh honors the Christ Child Who came to give His life as a sacrifice for many. We offer myrrh to profess our belief in the saving power of Christ’s death on the Cross and our need for that gift of salvation.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany, try to see it as a historical event in which you are invited to share. God wants to manifest Himself to you today. When this happens, you must respond with faith and worship, giving God the greatest glory by giving Him your very life and offering Him your spiritual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Prayer: Most glorious Christ Child, the Father in Heaven honored Your birth by placing a star over the place where you lay. Through that new star, Your divine presence was made manifest to the world in the Magi who responded with faith and worship. Please manifest Yourself to me within my own soul where You wish to be born, and give me the love and zeal I need to follow the example of the Magi, offering You my own gifts in adoration and trust. Jesus, I trust in You.’

 

January 5, 2025 The Epiphany of the Lord

Opening Prayer: Lord God, the Magi from the east traveled many miles to encounter your Son in Bethlehem. They worshipped your Son and brought him gifts. I want to do the same and encounter you and your Son. I bring the humble gift of myself to you today.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Gold for their King: The Magi, who came to Bethlehem and gave tribute to Jesus, were members of a priestly-political class from the east. They discerned the sign of the star as indicating the birth of the “King of the Jews.” Their gift of gold symbolizes the “wealth of the nations” being brought to Jesus, the newborn king. In this way, Matthew sees the visit of the Magi as the fulfillment of the First Reading from Isaiah: “dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.” The idea is that all nations, from all four directions, come to give homage and tribute to God. The visit of the Magi anticipates the day when the Gentile nations will join the restored tribes of Israel in the Church.

2. Frankincense for their God: When the Magi began their journey, they were intent on rendering homage to the “King of the Jews.” But when they encountered the newborn king in the house in Bethlehem, they prostrated themselves before the child in an act of worship. They offered the gift of frankincense, which was used in liturgical worship to symbolize the rising of our prayers to God. This gift is indicative of their initial recognition of Jesus’ divine nature. 

3. Myrrh for their Priestly Savior: Myrrh was an anointing oil used to consecrate Levitical priests and the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 30:23-33). It was also a burial ointment (John 19:39-40) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 9). The gift is a recognition of Jesus’ humanity and his mission to save and redeem us by dying for us. Jesus is our redeemer, who pays our debt of sin, and our eternal high priest, who offers himself for our sins and establishes the New Covenant.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my King and Savior. You guide and govern me with justice and want to lead me to true peace. I offer myself to you and all that I am. I ask that you rescue me today and help me in my affliction. Have pity on me and shower me with your mercy. 

 
January 7, 2024- The Epiphany of the Lord

Opening Prayer: Lord, the Magi from the east traveled many miles to encounter you in your dwelling in Bethlehem. They worshipped you and brought you gifts. I want to do the same. I want to encounter you. I bring you the humble gift of myself to you today.

Encountering the Word of God

 1. Three Epiphanies: An epiphany is a divine manifestation. The liturgy today celebrates three such epiphanies. Today we celebrate the visit of the Magi and the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. Tomorrow, we will celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and the manifestation of Jesus to Israel. The third manifestation is at the Wedding in Cana and is given to Jesus’ disciples. The threefold manifestation is captured in an antiphon from today’s Liturgy of the Hours: “Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation.” The Catechism teaches that the Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world (see CCC, 528). 

 2. Nations Shall Walk by Jerusalem’s Radiance: Isaiah speaks about the coming of the light and the manifestation of the Lord God to all the nations of the world. He foresees the day when people from all nations will stream to Jerusalem on pilgrimage and bring frankincense to worship the true God and gold as a tribute for the universal King. This prophecy is fulfilled during the visit of the Magi, who represent the Gentile nations and give tribute to the newborn King, our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 3. The False King: When the Magi encountered Herod, they encountered the false “King of the Jews.” Herod was not a descendant of David, not from the tribe of Judah, and not an Israelite. He was an Idumaean, a descendant of the Edomites from Jacob’s brother, Esau. He was appointed the “King of Judah” by the Roman Senate and given an army to defeat the Parthian invasion of Palestine. He reigned as a vassal king of Judah from 37 to 4 B.C. Herod tried to validate his appointment as king by marrying a princess from the Hasmonean dynasty. He wanted to be recognized as another King Solomon and so he rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to be recognized as a priest-king and Messiah figure. At the same time, he stopped at nothing to keep his power. He murdered his own sons and one of his wives thinking that they were threats to his rule. He felt threatened by the newborn son of Mary, whom the Magi called the “King of the Jews” and plotted to kill the baby Jesus. After worshipping the true King of Israel and offering him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Magi did not go back to the wicked and false King Herod.

 Conversing with Christ: Lord, you are my King and Savior. You guide and govern me with justice and want to lead me to true peace. I offer myself to you and all that I am. I ask that you rescue me today and help me in my affliction. Have pity on me and shower me with your mercy.

 Resolution: What can I offer Jesus today? Jesus is present, especially in the poor. What act of charity can I do for those in need around me? That will be my humble homage to my king.

 

January 5^th 2025, Epiphany Sunday

Today, we are celebrating Epiphany Sunday. This special Feast, normally celebrated on January 6th, commemorates the revealing of Jesus as the Christ to the Gentiles.

In the First Reading, the prophecy of Isaiah gave the people of Israel hope that the promised Messiah would soon rise among the people and that His glory would be seen by all. As God's chosen people, it was prophesied to the Jewish nation that they would be the light of the world and that the nations of the world would come to their light. The true wealth that the Jewish nation gained was that from their people, the Son of God was born in flesh and blood on earth. From their people, the Holy Catholic Church had its beginning. From their people, the Blessed Virgin Mary was created immaculate. And from their people, we have received the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament. Out of their people, as instruments of God, salvation came to the world through Jesus Christ. Endless are the riches that the Lord God Almighty has bestowed upon the Jewish nation.  Truly, the Jewish nation became a light in the world, drawing all nations towards the abundance of its riches. Today, Isaiah concluded his prophecy with the words, "They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord." [Is. 60:6]  These words echoed the gifts that the three wise men from the East [Mt. 2:1-2, 9-11] brought to Jesus in adoration after following the shining star in the sky.

Today, the First Reading spoke of the joy of the Israelites. It spoke of Jesus Christ, the Light, [Lk. 2:32] who was given to the world through God's chosen people. It spoke of the three wise men who found and adored the Lord Jesus, the Light of the world.

In the letter to the Ephesians we heard today, Saint Paul said: "Surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humanity as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." [Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6]

When and under what circumstances did God reveal to the apostles that the Gentiles were called to become members of the Body of Christ? This answer is found in the Acts of the Apostles. When Saint Peter was called to Caesarea, he personally witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit descending upon the Gentiles. [Acts 11:15] Sometime later, when Saints Paul and Barnabas were preaching in the synagogue on the sabbath in Antioch, some of the Jews became jealous when they saw the large crowd that had gathered. Consequently, St. Paul and Barnabas said to them, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles.

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" [Acts 13:46-7]  That is how the Light of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, was revealed to the Gentiles, our ancestors.  In a way, we should always be grateful to the Jewish people of those days. Thanks to them, we sinful creatures rejoice because the gracious mercy of the Lord God was bestowed upon us.  Now, through our faith in Jesus Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism by water and Spirit, we are admitted into the Body of Christ as spiritual members of the growing Kingdom of God on earth.

Today's Gospel Reading relates to us the event of the three wise men who followed the star that led them to the Child Jesus.  They followed the brilliant star in the sky. To them, the light of the star was a symbol of hope, of joy and of peace.  To them, the star was small but a reflection of the fullness of the Light of the world that awaited them at the end of their journey.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, The Feast of Epiphany is a reflection of the Light. Through the Birth of Jesus, we see the arrival of the Light in the world. Through the Magi, we see the light of hope, of joy and of peace to come. Through the Baptism of Jesus, we see the beginning of the ministry of the Light in the world. Through the miracle at Cana, we see the Light of God manifesting His Supreme power over the element of water.  All these events are reminders to us that we too are called to be a light in the world. Being enlighten by the Light of God in our hearts, we are called to go forward and to share with others the Good News, our hope, our joy and our peace that the Light of Christ has bestowed upon us.

Let us reflect upon the Light of Christ that has come upon us. Let us assess the status of our Christian obligation towards Jesus Christ.  Are we shining in the world in the fullness of the light that Jesus has given us?  And, if the need be. Let us correct what needs to be corrected so the fullness of our light may shine forth in all things for the glory of God.

Like the Magi, we too come to adore Jesus, our Lord.  And we fall on our knees as they fell on their knees, to hear the angel voices proclaiming the coming of the Lord into our present world and into our hearts this morning.  We must remember the coming of Jesus, is not a onetime only thing, he comes each morning to call us to continue our journey with him, following where he our star leads us by faith to where he takes us, ultimately taking us home.

January 4, when before Epiphany

January 4, when before Epiphany
Suy niệm Phúc âm John 1:35-42 (lễ nhớ bà Thánh Ann Seton, Thánh đầu tiên sinh tại Hoa Kỳ)
Tất cả trong chúng ta mỗi người đều có một "ơn gọi" riêng, một ơn gọi để trở nên những gì mà chúng ta đang là hiện tại. Một số người trong chúng ta có thể nghĩ rằng ơn gọi là sự kêu gọi chúng ta để trở thành linh mục, hay một nữ tu. Thay vào đó, ơn gọi là sự kêu gọi chúng ta để thực hành và phát huy những tài năng và năng khiếu mà Thiên Chúa đã ban riêng cho chúng ta, không phải chỉ để cho vinh quang của Ngài mà còn mang lại những hữu ích cho nhân loại, để họ đến gần Ngài hơn.
Khi chúng ta không xử dụng ơn gọi của chúng ta một cách nghiêm túc, cũng giống như khi chúng ta nhận lấy một quà tặng người khác biếu một cách không nghiêm túc. Có lẽ một số người trong chúng ta có thể cảm thấy khó khăn để xác định cái ơn gọi của mình hoặc để phát triển các năng khiếu và tài năng của chúng ta trong việc theo đuổi ơn gọi của chúng ta. Thông thường, điều này xảy ra bởi vì có lẽ chúng ta đã quên rằng việc thực hiện "ơn gọi” của chúng ta đòi hỏi chúng ta làm việc sát cánh với Chúa Giêsu.
Chúng ta hãy học nơi những người bạn Công Giáo của thánh nữ Ann Seton Những người đã giúp cho thánh nữ thấy được tình yêu thuơng, bác ái và sự quan tâm cho con người và đã giúp cho thanh nữ quyết tâm trở thành người công giáo tốt giống như họ. Khi chúng ta gặp phải những đau buồn thất vọng, chúng ta hãy cố gắng quên đi nỗi buồn của chúng ta, và thay vào đó, chúng ta nên làm việc và tìm cách giúp cho thế giới của chúng thành một môi trường tốt đẹp hơn để sống. Hãy giúp đỡ và an ủi những người đau khổ cần sự giúp đỡ, Hãy ban phát tình yêu và săn sóc những ai đang cần tới sự giúp đỡ cũa chúng ta, Bạn hãy nhớ rằng Thiên Chúa sẽ ở trong chúng ta trong tất cả mọi hoàn cảnh.
 
REFLECTION
We all have a vocation, a call to become more than what we are. As Christians, God calls us to become his disciples and to spread the Good News. A calling may not be the same from one person to the next. St. John the Baptist, for example, was called to prepare the way for the Lord's coming. And we read in today's reading, that even as he accomplished his calling, he also points the way for others to follow Jesus. Andrew and Peter are among the first disciples of Jesus who answer God's calling with John's help. Jesus guides them as disciples, and later in their own lives, Sts. Andrew and Peter become great missionaries of Christ.
Some of us may think that a vocation is a calling for one to become priests or nuns. Rather, a vocation is a calling for us to fulfill the talents and skills God has given us not only for His glory but also to bring the rest of humanity closer to Him. When we do not take our vocation seriously, it is akin to not taking our own gifts seriously.  Perhaps some of us may find it difficult to define our vocation or to develop our skills and talents in pursuit of our vocation. Usually this happens because perhaps we have forgotten that the fulfillment of our calling requires us to working side by side with Jesus. Jesus is our superior, coach, mentor, and pillar of support.  Let us work with our Lord Jesus in making our vocations a reality and an achievement that will benefit not just ourselves but also those around us.
 
January 4, when before Epiphany
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. John 1:38–39
            What an interesting exchange. Andrew was one of two disciples of John the Baptist who heard John say that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” As a result, Andrew and the other disciple left the Baptist and started to physically follow Jesus. As they began to follow Jesus, He turned to them and asked them what they were looking for. And their response, followed by Jesus’ invitation, is recorded above.
Jesus’ invitation was unique: “Come, and you will see.” With that invitation, these two disciples went and remained with Jesus that day. But that’s not all that happened. It is clear from the subsequent passage that by spending the day with Jesus, these two disciples came to faith in Who Jesus was. Later in the passage, Andrew goes to his brother Peter to tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” What was it about their day with Jesus that convinced them of Who He was?
Though the details of their stay with Jesus are not included in the Gospel, it seems clear that simply being in Jesus’ presence is all that these disciples need. Consider, again, Jesus’ twofold invitation: “Come…” followed by “and you will see.” When our Lord speaks to each of us, His invitation is quite similar. First, He will invite us to come with Him. We are to come to the place where Jesus is staying. Where is that? For us, it is not necessarily a physical place; rather, it is first and foremost a place of prayer. We must hear Jesus invite us to come to Him through the interior journey of personal prayer. It is there, within the depths of our soul, that we will rest with our Lord. He invites us to simply be there in His divine presence.
When we come to Him and rest with Him in His presence, another thing will happen: “and you will see.” We will see Him, come to know Him, be enlightened by Him and come to faith in Him. At first, this happens by His spoken Word. Ultimately, this takes place through an interior revelation that we can only receive in prayer.
Reflect, today, upon this gentle invitation that our Lord gave to these disciples. As you ponder these words, hear them spoken also to you. At first, spend time reflecting only upon the word “come.” Allow it to penetrate your soul. Allow it to become deeply personal. Know that it is a real and loving invitation from Jesus. After that, try to spend time pondering the words “and you will see.” What is it that God wants you to see? What personal revelation of faith does God want to bestow upon you? “Come, and you will see.” Allow these words to change your life, just as they changed the lives of these first disciples of our Lord.
Lord, You continuously invite me to come to You, to be with You and to sit with You in Your divine presence. Please help me to hear this gentle invitation of Your love. As I do, please open the eyes of my soul to see You, know You and love You more fully. And as I see You, give me grace and strength to follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
January 4, when before Epiphany 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you invite me each day to come and stay with you. That is what I truly desire. I only want to be with you and dwell with you all the days of my life. 
Encountering the Word of God
1. Andrew’s Testimony: In its opening chapter, the Gospel of John narrates the call of the first Apostles. When we first meet Andrew, we learn that he was a follower and disciple of John the Baptist. He left his fishing business and brother, Simon, for a time to go out into the wilderness with John. When John pointed out Jesus, Andrew immediately left John and became a follower of Jesus, the Lamb of God. “After spending the day with Jesus, we are told that Andrew went looking for his brother Simon. Andrew was so excited that, as soon as he saw him, he blurted out, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (Jn 1:41). These are the first words that Christ’s chief Apostle ever heard about Jesus, and they are extremely profound. The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah for over five hundred years, and here comes Andrew saying, ‘We have found the Messiah’” (Gray, Peter, 9). Andrew spent an entire afternoon with Jesus and probably spoke at length about his life, his time with John the Baptist, and his brother Simon.
2. The Hellenistic Influence in Bethsaida: Andrew had a Greek name, and even his brother, Simon, had, as his name, a Greek form of the Jewish name, Simeon. Andrew and Simon were originally from Bethsaida but had their home in Capernaum when Jesus called them. Why did they move from Bethsaida to Capernaum? One hypothesis is that they moved “after Philip the Tetrarch made Bethsaida his capital and dedicated a pagan temple there, naming it Julia in honor of the wife of Caesar Augustus. Having a pagan temple in their village would have been extremely offensive to Peter and Andrew, who were devout Jews” (Gray, Peter, 12). Because of this, they likely moved south to the town of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee and continued their fishing business there. It was providential that some of Jesus’ Apostles had a rudimentary knowledge of Greek as they would be sent out to preach and teach in the name of Jesus to all the nations.
3. Peter the Rock: In the Gospel, Simon was given a new name by Jesus. In Aramaic, this name was “Cephas” and meant “Rock.” In Greek, the name was “Petros,” and this is where we get the English name “Peter” from. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus explains that he will build his Church on Peter, the rock. “Like the kings in the ancient world, Jesus would be a builder who built his house on solid rock. King Solomon, the Old Testament paragon of wisdom, built his Temple on the rock of Mount Moriah, the same rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. This Temple built by Solomon would be the center of Jewish worship for the next thousand years. Jesus would build a ‘new temple’ that would define and establish his kingdom and royal authority of his dynasty. Unlike the kings of antiquity, however, Jesus was not going to build on a physical rock in a specific place but on the person of Peter” (Gray, Peter, 68). 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, where do you abide? You abide in the tabernacle, and I can visit you. You are in the poor, and I can serve you. You are in the hungry, and I can feed you. You are in hospital, and I can visit you. You are in my heart, and there, I can remain with you.
 
January 4, when before Epiphany
Opening Prayer: Lord, you invite me each day to come and stay with you. That is what I truly desire. I only want
to be with you and dwell with you all the days of my life.
Encountering the Word of God
They Remained with Jesus: The Gospel of John tells us how two of John the Baptist’s disciples, Andrew and most likely the Apostle John, followed Jesus and asked him about where he was staying. The word “staying” has a deep meaning in John’s Gospel. It is the same word as remaining or abiding. The two disciples of John saw where Jesus was staying and abided with him that day. This is a wonderful image of the Christian life. It is so much more than imitating Jesus. It is about entering into true communion with Jesus, him abiding in us and we in him. We see the great effect of abiding with Jesus. The two disciples want others to come and experience Jesus in person. Andrew brings his brother Simon to Jesus. And Jesus immediately changes Simon’s name to “Cephas,” the Aramaic word for “rock.” In fact, the name “Peter” is the Greek word for “rock,” and upon this rock, Jesus builds his Church (see Matthew 16:18). 
Acting as Children of God: Like the Gospel of John, the First Letter of John loves contrasts. Today’s contrast is between those who show they are children and slaves of the devil by persisting in serious sin and those who show they are true children of God by acting in righteousness. For John, acting in righteousness means loving God and neighbor. As Catholics, we do not hold that we are made righteous through faith alone. Although our initial justification, which places us in a right relationship with God, is by faith and is unmerited, we need our initial faith to flourish in loving works of righteousness so as to attain the vision of God in heaven. This means that although we do not merit the initial gift of sanctifying grace, we are called to merit the glory of heaven through works of love empowered by divine grace.
Act in Righteousness: Acting in righteousness is possible because, as children of God, we have been given sanctifying grace and the infused virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Grace abides in our soul and makes us sharers in divine life. Faith abides in our mind and elevates it to truths that exceed our natural capacity. Hope resides in our will and makes us actively tend toward God. Charity abides in our will and unites us to God imperfectly in this life and perfectly in the next. Empowered by divine grace and disposed by the infused virtues, we can act righteously and merit eternal life!
Conversing with Christ: Lord, where are you staying? You are staying in the tabernacle and I can visit you. You are in the poor and I can serve you. You are in the hungry and I can feed you. You are in the hospital and I can visit you. You are in my heart and I can be with you.