Suy Niệm Chúa Nhật thứ Ba Mùa Thường Niêm Năm C

Suy Niệm Chúa Nhật thứ Ba Mùa Thường Niêm Năm C
            Có lẽ đôi khi chúng ta cũng thường hay tự hỏi: làm thế nào chúng ta biết được Tin Mừng của Chúa là đáng tin cậy? Chúng ta có thể tin rằng những người viết Tin Mừng đã kể lại lịch sử có thật?
Vâng, trong phần mở đầu của bài Tin Mừng hôm nay: Thánh Luca đã cho chúng ta thấy rằng ông đã biên soạn những bài tường thuật về cuộc đời của Chúa Giêsu trong Tin Mừng của ông lả dựa trên những sự kiện có thật và đã được chứng kiến tận mắt. Nếu như thánh Luca không hiểu đúng mọi sự kiện và những người liên hệ trong các bài tin mừng của ông thì những người có liên quan hoặc hay biết sự kiện đã xảy ra và thời Cha Giêsu có lẽ họ sẽ sửa sai Thánh Luca và các bài tường thuật về Chúa Giêsu của ông. Thánh Luca là một nhà sử học cẩn thận. Ông đã phỏng vấn những người đã có mặt trong các sự kiện xảy ra.
            Sau khi Tin Mừng của ông bắt đầu được lưu hành, mọi người có thể sửa chữa những sai sót của ông. Vì ông là một bác sĩ được đào tạo, chúng ta có thể tin tưởng vào các bài viết của Thánh Luca.
            Là Kitô giáo, tất nhiên chúng ta biết Đức Chúa Thánh Thần hướng dẫn ông Mathiêu. Marcô, Luca và Gioan, nhưng ngay cả ở cấp độ con người, chúng ta cũng thấy rằng các sách Phúc âm không phải là câu chuyện cổ tích. Nhưng là những câu chuyện được người đáng tin cậy đã kể lại về những sự kiện lớn thay đổi cuộc đời.
Hôm nay chúng ta thấy một trong những sự kiện đó và điều này đưa chúng ta đến điểm chính của bài Tin Mừng. Khi Chúa Giêsu trở về Nazaréth, quê hương của Ngài, Ngài được mời đứng trong hội đường và đọc sách Thánh, Ngài mở ra đoạn kinh thánh ca tiên tri của Isaiah nới về Đấng Mêsaia hay đấng cứu thế: "Thần khí của Chúa ngự trên tôi vì đã xức dầu cho tôi." Trong tiếng Do Thái, chữ "được xức dầu" là Messiah  và trong tiếng Hy Lạp là đức Kitô.  Chúa Thánh Thần đã xức dầu cho Chúa Giêsu để mang lại những điều vui mừng đến cho người nghèo khổ, cho người mù được thấy, giải oan và trả tự do cho những người bị áp bức và loan báo năm hồng ân cùa Chúa. (Lc 4:18-19)
Khi chúng ta nghĩ về 'người nghèo khổ', chúng ta đã đúng khi nghĩ về sự nghèo đói về kinh tế và những đau khổ mà con người đã phải mang nó trong cuộc sống. Tuy nhiên, thuật ngữ này còn rộng lớn hơn thế. Nó đề cập đến nhu cầu của con người trong tất cả về chiều kích, và đặc biệt là nhu cầu của chúng ta về tình yêu. Người 'nghèo' là những người đang thiếu thốn và cần có sự đầy đủ, Họ là những người kêu cầu Chúa trong cơn khốn cùng của họ. Chúa Giêsu đã bảo đảm với họ rằng trong Ngài, Thiên Chúa sẽ đáp lại tiếng kêu xin của họ:
"Hôm nay đoạn Kinh thánh này đã được ứng nghiệm với những gì đã được nghe.  Dù nhu cầu cá nhân của chúng ta và bất cứ nhu cầu nào của xã hội chúng ta, Chúa Giêsu đã đến để lôi kéo chúng ta vào sự hiệp thông trong  tình yêu. Đó chính là nhu cầu cần thiết nhất của chúng ta. Khi Chúa Giêsu bắt đầu sứ vụ công khai của Ngài. Thánh Luca đã trình bày điều này như là điểm chính yếu trong chương trình cứu rỗi của Chúa Giêsu.
Là môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu, chúng ta được khích lệ bởi sự bảo đảm của Chúa Giêsu là tiếng kêu xin của chúng ta đang được Thiên Chúa lắng nghe. Chúng ta cũng được thử thách để cùng với Chúa Giêsu thực hiện sứ mệnh của Người đối với người nghèo khổ.
       Như Phaolô đã cho chúng ta biết trong bài đọc hai là chúng ta làm điều này theo những cách khác nhau tùy theo những năng khiếu, khả năng đặc biệt tự nhiên cũng như ân sủng riêng của mỗi người. Đây là tầm quan trọng của Giáo hội, mà mỗi chúng ta là thành viên, là chi thể của Giáo Hội.  Chỉ có khi nào chúng ta có cùng nhau, chúng ta mới có thể tạo nên một bản giao hưởng của tình yêu. Chỉ có khi nào cùng nhau, chúng ta mới có thể trở thành một trái tim của Chúa Giêsu cho thế giới. Chỉ có khi nào chúng ta cùng nhau, chúng ta mới có thể kêu gọi ngọn lửa tình yêu của Thiên Chúa để khai thác cho Thiên Chúa nguồn năng lượng tình yêu trong thế giới của chúng ta, và chào đón Chúa Thánh Thần của Thiên Chúa để đổi mới bộ mặt của trái đất.
Điều quan trọng là người mỗi chúng ta phải có đóng một vai trò của mình trong việc này. Điều quan trọng nhất là chúng ta cũng phải biết hoan nghênh phần đóng góp khác của những người khác. Và chúng ta cũng phải cùng nhau làm những việc này với tư cách là một chi thể trong Thân thể của Chúa Giêsu Kitô Đấng Cứu Thế trong thế giới. Đây là Luật mới mà chúng ta đã được Chúa Giêsu ban cho chúng ta trong bữa Tiệc ly:  ‘Hãy yêu thương nhau như Thầy đã yêu thương các con’. Đây là giao ước mới và là bản chất của Kitô giáo. Ước gì đây chính là nguồn vui cho chúng ta khi chúng ta cùng nhau suy niệm về sứ mệnh mà Chúa Giêsu đã giao phó cho chúng ta.
 
3rd Sunday of the Year, Year C
The readings presented to us on this third Sunday of Ordinary Time have a special interest. The First Reading takes us to the beginnings of Judaism in the fifth century before Christ. The central constitution of Judaism is found in the first five scrolls of the Bible, the Pentateuch.
            The first of these books, the Book of Genesis, gives the Israelite version of the Near Eastern myths concerning creation and the flood followed by the story of the patriarchs. The rest offer a variety of reflections on Moses, and so on the essence of Judaism. They tell of the dealings of God with the people of Israel and what is expected of them as God’s chosen people. These scrolls have a long history, but they reached their final form during and after the exile and so they offer a perspective on the history of Israel that is colored by the experience of the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of the temple in the beginning of the sixth century before Christ. Ezra has come from Babylon, and worked with the priests and the main landowners to produce the final edition of the Torah (or the ‘Law’).
            In today’s reading we are given the account of his presenting of the Law to the people in Jerusalem. It is interesting to hear that the books needed to be interpreted to the people. This is because they were written in ancient Hebrew, whereas the language of the people by this time was Aramaic – a language which they had picked up during the exile. Israel has by this time been reduced to a portion of the tribal lands of Judah, and the religion of the people of Judah (the ‘Jews’) is the religion based on the contents of the books of the Law presented on this occasion by Ezra and welcomed by the people with ‘Amen’.
            They entered into a renewed covenant with God, determined to put the past behind them, and be faithful to God’s will as presented in the books of the Law. Wherever God’s will is expressed in propositions there is a danger that people who lose perspective will become scrupulous and legalistic in their interpretation of the Law. Jesus often pointed this out telling the lawyers to ‘go and learn the meaning of the Law’ (Matthew 9:13).
            The First Reading, however, ends with a statement of the joy that knowing God’s will brought to the Jewish people. This is reinforced by the Responsorial Psalm: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes’(Psalm 19:7-8)
            They considered it a privilege to know God’s special care for them and to know God’s will for them.They knew that by obeying God’s will they would learn wisdom and keep their hearts open to receive the love that God was offering them.
            The Torah consists in two elements. There are the commandments that speak of our response (this accounts for the English translation 'Law'), but more basically there are the accounts of God’s presence and redeeming action in the history of his people. Faithful to this tradition, Jesus begins his ministry in the synagogue of his hometown by proclaiming the ministry given him by God, a ministry of revealing God’s love to the poor: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free’(Luke 4:18).
            When we think of the ‘poor’ we are right to think in terms of economic poverty and the human misery that goes with it. However, the term is wider than that. It refers to human need in all its dimensions, and especially to our need for love. The ‘poor’ are those who are in need and who cry out to God in their distress. Jesus is assuring them that in him God is answering their cry: ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’.          Whatever our personal need and whatever the needs of our society, Jesus has come to draw us into the communion of love which is our most profound need. At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry Luke presents this as the essence of Jesus’ agenda.
            As disciples of Jesus, we are encouraged by Jesus’ assurance that our cry is being heard. We are also challenged to join Jesus in carrying on his mission to the poor. As Paul assures us, we do this in different ways according to each person’s special gifts of nature and grace. This is the importance of the Church, the body of which each of us is a member. Only together can we create a symphony of love. Only together can we be the heart of Jesus to the world. Only together can we call down the fire of God’s love, harness for God the energies of love in our world, and welcome God’s Spirit to renew the face of the earth. It matters that each of us plays our part in this. It matters that we welcome the part played by others. And it matters that we do it together as the Body of Christ in the world. This is the new Law given us by Jesus at the last supper: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. This is the new covenant and the essence of Christianity. May it be a source of joy to us as we meditate together on the mission entrusted to us by Jesus.
 
3rd Sunday of the Year, Year C
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. Luke 4:14–15
This Gospel passage reveals to us the very beginnings of Jesus’ public ministry. He began His public ministry immediately after spending forty days in the desert being tempted by the devil. As He began, He went to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit.” Many people heard about Him and welcomed Him with much enthusiasm.
Though Jesus was initially welcomed with praise, we know that things quickly changed. Some eventually became so hostile that they put Jesus to death, but it’s useful to ponder the initial response He received. This initial response is one that must become continuously new in our lives. The initial response was that He “was praised by all.”
esus would later teach about this initial experience many would have toward the Gospel when He taught the Parable of the Sower. Recall that the seed that was sown on rocky ground, that fell among thorns, and that was sown in good soil all began to grow. Only that which was sown on the path failed to grow, because the birds came and ate it up. This latter case describes those who are completely indifferent to the Gospel. But in today’s Gospel, the “all” are those who at least paid attention and initially responded with enthusiasm. The seed began to grow in these three scenarios—but, of course, in only one of those cases did the seed ultimately bear good fruit.
Another way to look at this initial encounter with the Gospel is to consider a child. In almost every case, when a child is presented with the Gospel, they will begin to respond and even find excitement in the faith. But, as many parents have seen, this initial welcome is sometimes followed by a rejection of the Gospel later in life.
When did you initially encounter the Gospel? For some it was during childhood. For others, there was a powerful experience of conversion later in life. Think of that initial encounter you had and the ways that you were excited by your newfound faith. Has that experience continued and grown in your life? Or has your initial praise of God and enthusiasm dwindled or even died?
Reflect, today, upon the fact that God wants us to continuously experience the Gospel as something new and transforming. The newness of the life of grace must never wear off. Ponder this experience in your life and try to see yourself as one of the people in today’s Gospel who heard Jesus for the first time. Ponder their enthusiasm and join in their praise of our Lord so that you will be motivated to let God and the preaching of His holy Word continuously transform you.
Glorious Word of God, You have come to set us free by revealing to us Your love and mercy and by bestowing that grace upon us. Please open my mind and heart to Your holy Word so that I will be driven by a holy love to serve and follow You all the days of my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
3rd Sunday of the Year, Year C
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have not given up on humanity. What Adam and Eve lost for us in the Garden, you have given in a superior fashion through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me, during this Jubilee Year, to enjoy forgiveness, true freedom, love in my family, and the fullness of life.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Inaugurating the Great Jubilee: The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time has been set aside as a Sunday devoted to the celebration of the Word of God (Pope Francis, Apperuit illis, n. 3). Every Sunday this year, which has been declared a Year of Jubilee, we will be reading from the Gospel according to Luke. Luke’s Gospel begins Jesus’ public ministry with Jesus interpreting the Word of God in the synagogue at Nazareth. The Gospel closes with Jesus, on the day of his resurrection, interpreting the Word of God on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). In the synagogue today, Jesus proclaims that he is the Anointed One, the divine Melchizedek figure, who inaugurates the Great Jubilee. He proclaims liberty and announces the year of the Lord’s favor. He promises to release the people from the debt of all their sins. He promises to deliver them from slavery to the power of the devil. He promises to atone for the people’s sins (see Bergsma, Jesus and the Jubilee, 75-77).
2. Nehemiah and Ezra: In the First Reading, we hear how the people of Israel marked the return to their homeland after the Babylonian exile by publicly reading the Book of the Law, most likely the Book of Deuteronomy. They had been scattered in exile, but now were gathered as one around the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:1). By listening to the Word of God with “attentive ears” (Nehemiah 8:3), they discovered the meaning of their experience of exile and return. They realized that their sin and idolatry triggered the curse of exile, that they had been punished for their sins, but that God remained faithful and bestowed his mercy upon them. One of the reasons for the 70 years of exile in Babylon was that Israel had not been observing the Sabbath years of rest (every 7 years) and the Jubilee years (every 50 years) during their 500 years in the promised land (see 2 Chronicles 36:20-21). God promised, however, that when the 70 years were completed in Babylon, he would visit his people, fulfill his promise, and bring the people back to the Promised Land (see Jeremiah 29:10).
3. One Body with Many Parts: In the Second Reading, Paul proclaims the mystery of the unity and diversity of the Church: We are many diverse parts that form one body. The Church of Christ is one and undivided, but this unity does not mean uniformity. Paul speaks about different ministries within the Church. Some, like the bishops, are designated as Apostles in the Church. Some exercise the ministry of prophet, when they proclaim the Word of God. Some are teachers in the Church. Some perform mighty deeds, some have gifts of healing, some are capable administrators. There is a great variety of spiritualities, charisms, and ministries within the Church. The saints of the Church show us that each one of us, with our unique personalities, are capable of holiness with God’s saving grace.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am humbled to know that I form part of your mystical body, the Church. Guide me as I make important 

Suy Niệm tin mừng Lễ Thánh Phaolô trở lại., Jan 25th

Suy Niệm tin mừng Lễ Thánh Phaolô trở lại.

Sự biến cải của Thánh Phaolô và những hậu quả của sự cải biến này là một trong số những sự kiện quan trọng nhất ảnh hưởng đến lịch sử của Giáo Hội thời sơ khai. Trong sách Công vụ Tông Đồ, Thánh Luca đã cẩn thận không để những câu chuyện của Thánh Phao-lô lấn át những câu chuyện nói đến uy quyền của thánh Phêrô và những công việc của cạ́c thánh tông đồ.
Chúng tôi cũng phải nên bắt chước như vậy. Bất kể những tranh chấp nảy sinh trong Giáo hội thời sơ khai giữa Thánh Phaolô và các Tông Đồ mà Chúa Giêsu đã chọn trong cuộc sống trần thế của Ngài (Mk 3,14), chúng ta không có một lý do gì để làm một sự lựa chọn giữa Thánh Phêrô và Phaolô. Chính thánh Phao-lô đã lên án những thái độ như vậy trong thư gởi tín hứu Corintô (1Cor 10-16). Cả hai đều là nhân vật chủ chốt trong công trình cứu độ của Thiên Chúa.
Sự trung thành của chúng ta đối với Chúa Jêsus trong Giáo hội mà Ngài đã thành lập trên nền đá tảng đó là Pherô, một Giáo hội, mặc dù có nhiều khuyết điểm nhưng luôn luôn có sự chăm sóc của Thiên Chúa Cha trên Trời, được các thánh và những người thầy thật vĩ đại phục vụ và chăm nom. Thái độ chia rẽ mà Thánh Phaolô lên án thường có thể nảy sinh giữa chúng ta. Chúng ta đừng bao giờ làm bất cứ điều gì gây ra sự chia rẽ trong cộng đoàn Giáo Hội.
Lạy Chúa, khi chúng ta cử hành sự mừng lễ Phao-lô trở lại, xin ban cho chúng ta được có những ân sủng để luôn luôn nhớ rằng chúng ta được kêu gọi đổi mới liên tục, trung tín, kiên trì và khoan dung trong Giáo Hội của chúng ta.
 
January 25:  Conversion of St Paul the Apostle 
The conversion of Saint Paul and its consequences were in many ways the most significant cluster of events affecting the early history of the Church. In his Acts of the Apostles, St Luke is careful not to let Paul’s story completely override his account of Peter's authority and apostolic work.
So too for us. Whatever disputes arose in the early Church between Paul and the Apostles whom Jesus chose during his earthly life “to be with him” (Mk 3:14), we have no reason whatsoever to choose between Peter and Paul. Paul himself condemns such attitudes (1Cor 10-16). Both are key figures in God’s work of salvation. Our loyalty is to Jesus in the Church which he founded on Peter, a Church which, in spite of many weaknesses, has always, in God’s providential care, been served by great saints and teachers. The divisive attitude which St Paul condemns can often arise amongst us. Let us never on any account be guilty of causing divisions in the church community.
Lord, as we celebrate the conversion of Paul, grant us the grace always to remember that we are called to constant conversion, fidelity and perseverance and tolerance in Your Church.
 
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle, January 25
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17
Saint Paul (who in Hebrew was known as Saul of Tarsus) was a devout Jewish Pharisee who vigorously defended the law. After Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, the newfound Christian faith began to grow rapidly. As a result, Saul of Tarsus vigorously tried to end this new religion which he perceived as erroneous. He traveled about looking for followers of Jesus to arrest and imprison. Saul even gave his consent to the stoning of the deacon, Saint Stephen, the first martyr. However, on one of his journeys, Saul had a vision of the risen Christ Who spoke to him gently, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). It was in that encounter that Saul was left blinded for three days.
The line quoted above are the words of Ananias, a devout disciple of Jesus. Ananias had also received a vision from Jesus Who told him to go to Saul of Tarsus and to lay his hands on him so that he would be healed. Ananias was also told that Saul was “a chosen instrument” through which the Gospel would be preached to the “Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel.”
Though there are many fascinating aspects to the story of Saint Paul and his conversion, it is also inspiring to reflect upon the way in which God first converted him. Jesus was not harsh with Saul. He was not condemning. Instead, he saw the goodness and vigor of Saul and knew that he would respond if he were given the opportunity. Though Jesus used the powerful action of striking him blind, He did so because He saw so much potential for good within Saul.
This same truth applies to our lives. Each one of us has incredible potential for good, and God does see this. God is aware of all that He can do with us and is seeking to draw us into His mission of sharing the Gospel with those in need. The question to ponder is whether or not you have responded to the ways that God has spoken to you and invited you to serve Him with your life. Saul’s encounter with Jesus was powerful and transforming not only because he was blinded by this vision—it was powerful and transforming, first and foremost, because Saul wanted to serve God but was trying to do so in an erroneous way. And once that error was corrected, Saul responded in an immediate and complete way. As a result, Saul became one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the Church.
Reflect, today, upon the desire in the heart of Jesus to invite you into His mission. Though you may be unaware of the many ways God can use you, Jesus is fully aware. He sees all of your gifts and knows who He wants to draw to Himself through you. Say “Yes” to Him this day and do so with every fiber of your soul. Doing so will allow God to do great things through you.
Lord, I do love You and desire to be used by You in the way that You choose. Help me to convert my heart more fully to You so that I can be led by Your gentle and powerful hand. I accept whatever mission You give to me and pray that my life will give You true glory and further Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Satursday 2nd in Ordinary Time - Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the figure of Paul and his conversion today, help me to understand his message more fully and imitate his sanctity more perfectly. Paul knew what Jesus willed for him and embraced this. I embrace your will today too. Make me a vessel of your mercy and Good News.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Purpose of the Acts of the Apostles: One of the reasons why Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles was to tell the history of the early Church. The work that Jesus began to do, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, is continued through his disciples, and this continued work is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The two towering figures in Acts are Peter and Paul. In Acts, Luke draws parallels between the life of Jesus and the lives of Peter and Paul. One reason for this was that Paul’s preaching and teaching was so controversial. Paul was inviting people to put off the yoke of the Law of Moses and embrace faith in Jesus as the one true path to salvation. There were rival missionaries who tried to discredit Paul and undermine his authority to preach this gospel. Propaganda from these missionaries had damaging effects on some of the Churches Paul established. And since Paul was not one of the original Twelve Apostles, Luke sought to show how Paul’s life and ministry paralleled that of Peter, and how Peter’s life paralleled that of Jesus (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1932).
2. Three Accounts of Paul’s Conversion: Luke could have narrated Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus once, but he chose to include three separate accounts to stress that Paul was not a missionary maverick, but a chosen messenger sent by Jesus (Acts 9:1-19; 22:3-16; 26:2-18). At first, Paul’s life had no place for Christ. He zealously persecuted the followers of Jesus and approved of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. But while heading to Damascus to round up Christians there, Paul was confronted by the Lord Jesus in a vision. “The vision blinded Paul physically, but his mind and spirit were enlightened: Jesus, whom he had opposed, revealed himself to Paul as the risen Lord of the universe, exalted at the right hand of God. Paul was soon baptized and regained his sight, and things would never be the same again” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1985).
3. The Gospel and Theology of Paul: Paul’s gospel is the message of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord over both heaven and earth as the promised Messiah from the line of David. Paul knew that Jesus was not just one more king from David’s line. He is God’s eternal Son, whom God sent into the world to enable both Jews and Gentiles to become his adopted children. Both Jew and Gentile, however, were under the reign of sin and needed to be saved. The good news that Paul announces is that God has revealed his plan to restore the world to communion and life with him. At the center of this plan is the Incarnation of God’s Son. Through his human nature, the Son of God has united God and mankind in himself. He is the obedient Adam, who remained sinless and who humbled himself before the divine plan even unto death. Jesus’ death is the ultimate act and demonstration of God’s love. The death of Christ, which expiates and atones for our sin, is the basis of the reconciliation between the Father and sinful humanity. God’s gift and grace of salvation and justification is received by us through faith and baptism. The old sign of circumcision, which brought people into God’s covenant family, was brought to fulfillment in the Sacrament of Baptism. The old Law of Moses is fulfilled in faith that works itself out in love. All who are united to Christ are reconciled to God and connected to one another as members of a single body. As members of Jesus’ body, we are by grace what Jesus is by nature, sons of God and heirs of the world to come (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1988-1989).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your servant Paul gave his entire life to spread the message of the New Covenant. Help me to do the same and spread the message of the Gospel in my family and my community.

Suy Niệm thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Thường Niên

Suy Niệm thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Thường Niên Mk 3:13-19

Chúa Giêsu có được vinh danh trong nhà của chúng ta? Tại sao người thân của Chúa Giêsu sẽ đã giận dữ và khó chịu với Ngài khi Ngài bắt đầu công khai sứ vụ của mình? Trong một dịp Chúa Giêsu đã nhấn mạnh rằng kẻ thù của chúng ta sẽ có thể là những thành viên trong gia đình của chúng ta (Matthew 10:36). Trong Phúc Âm của thanh Máccô đã ghi lại phản ứng của người thân của Chúa Giêsu khi Ngài về nhà: “họ đến liền bắt Người”, Họ đã chắc chắn và nói là Chúa Giêsu đã mất trí hay đã điên rồ như một người cuồng tín (Mk 3:21). Làm sao mà một người thợ mộc quê mùa ở cái làng nhỏ bé Nazareth này lại có thể trở thành một nhà truyền giáo lưu động được? Để chiều theo cách suy nghĩ của họ, Chúa Giêsu đã bỏ đi sự an ninh và an toàn của một cuộc sống yên lặng và đáng kính để gần gũi với gia đình và những người thân của mình.
Chúa Giêsu cứ ngời là sẽ chỉ gặp những chống đối nơi các thầy thượng tết, tư tế, những Pharêsiu ở Jerusalem. Nhưng Ngài cũng phải gặp sự chống đối của những người thân cận của Ngài, sự kiện này thậm chí còn làm cho ngài bị khó khăn hơn. Khi chúng ta chọn để trở thành môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu và làm theo ý muốn của Ngài trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, chúng ta chắc chắn cũng có thể phải gặp những sự chống đối như thế nơi những người chống lại sứ điệp tình yêu của Thiên Chúa, Tin Mừng của Ngài, cũng như cuộc sống đạo của chúng ta. Nhưng người chống đối mà thực sự sẽ gây nhiếu khó khăn nhất cho chúng ta đó chính là những người gần gũi với chúng ta nhất, những người trong gia đình hoặc bạn bè thân thiết của chúng ta. Vì họ không muốn chúng ta phải bỏ mất nhiều thời giờ quá nghiêm trọng cho công việc rao truyền Tin Mừng ơn Cứu độ của Thiên Chúa. Chúa Giêsu đã gặp sự chống đối của những người trong gia đình, bạn bè, hay của kẻ thù, Nhưng với ân sủng và sự quyết tâm Ngài đã phải chấp nhận để thực hiện ý muốn của Thiên Chúa Cha. Chúng ta có sẵn sàng vâng lời và bắt chước làm theo Chúa Giêsu ngay cả khi những người khác, kể cà những người thân yêu trong gia đình đang chống lại việc làm của chúng ta như vậy?
`"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, xin cho chúng con luôn biệt đặt Chúa trước hết mọi sự và tìm được niềm vui trong việc làm theo ý muốn của Chúa. Xin cho tình yêu và đức bác ái của Chúa được lớn lên trong chúng con, đặc biệt là khi chúng con phải đối mặt với những sự chống đối và những nghịch cảnh"
 
Meditation Satursday 2nd in Ordinary Time
Is the Lord Jesus honored in your home? Why would Jesus' relatives be so upset with him when he began his public ministry? On one occasion Jesus remarked that a man's enemies will be the members of his own household (Matthew 10:36). The Gospel of Mark records the reaction of Jesus' relatives when he went home: they came to seize him. They, no doubt, thought that Jesus must have gone mad or become a religious fanatic. How could a good home-body from Nazareth leave his carpentry trade and go off to become a traveling preacher? To their way of thinking, Jesus had thrown away the security and safety of a quiet and respectable life close to his family and relatives.
Do not be afraid to follow Jesus all the way
Jesus probably expected to meet opposition from the highest religious authorities in Jerusalem. For him to meet opposition from his own relatives must have been even harder. When we choose to be disciples of the Lord Jesus and to follow his will for our lives, we can expect to meet opposition from those who are opposed to the Gospel message and Christian way of life. But the hardest opposition may actually come from someone close to us, a family member or close friend who doesn't want us to take the Gospel message too seriously. Jesus met opposition - whether from family, friend, or foe - with grace and determination to fulfill his Father's will. Are you ready to obey and follow the Lord Jesus even if others oppose your doing so?
Lord Jesus, may I always put you first and find joy in doing your will. May your love and charity grow in me, especially in the face of opposition and adversity.
 
Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus came with his disciples into the house.  Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.  When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:20–21
When you consider the sufferings of Jesus, most likely your thoughts first turn to the crucifixion. From there, you may think about His scourging at the pillar, the carrying of the Cross and the other events that took place from the time of His arrest until His death. However, there were many other human sufferings that our Lord endured for our good and the good of all. The Gospel passage above presents us with one such experience.
Though physical pain is quite undesirable, there are other sufferings that can be just as difficult to endure, if not more difficult. One such suffering is being misunderstood and treated by your own family as if you were out of your mind. In Jesus’ case, it appears as if many of His extended family, not including His own mother of course, were quite vocally critical of Jesus. Perhaps they were jealous of Him and had some form of envy, or perhaps they were embarrassed by all the attention He was getting. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that Jesus’ own relatives tried to prevent Him from ministering to the people who deeply longed to be with Him. Some of His extended family members made up the story that Jesus was “out of his mind” and sought to put an end to His popularity.
Family life should be a community of love, but for some it becomes a source of sorrow and hurt. Why did Jesus allow Himself to endure this form of suffering? In part, to be able to relate with any and every suffering you endure as a result of your own family. Additionally, His endurance of it also redeemed this form of suffering, making it possible for your family hurt to share in that redemption and grace. Thus, when you turn to God in prayer with your family struggles, you will be consoled to know that the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, understands your suffering from His own human experience. He knows the pain so many family members feel from first-hand experience. And He is able to look at every family suffering with the utmost compassion so as to give each person who asks the grace they need to not only endure that suffering but also to use it for good and for God’s glory.
Reflect, today, upon any way that you need to surrender some hurt within your own family over to God. Turn to our Lord Who fully understands your struggles and invite His powerful and compassionate presence into your life so that He can transform all that you endure into His grace and mercy.
My compassionate Lord, You endured much in this world, including the rejection and ridicule of those in Your own family. I offer to You my own family and especially the hurt that has been present. Please come and redeem all family struggles and bring healing and hope to me and to all those who need it the most. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Satursday 2nd in Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Father, you are always ready to listen to my prayer. You are so patient with me and look tenderly upon me. Help me today as I contemplate your servant, David, and your Son, Jesus. I want to eradicate evil from my life and flourish with the gift of your divine grace.
 Encountering the Word of God
 1. David’s Reaction to the Death of Saul: The Second Book of Samuel opens with the announcement of King Saul’s death by an Amalekite man. Instead of telling David the truth that Saul committed suicide (1 Samuel 31:4), the Amalekite fabricates a lie and says to David that Saul asked him to kill him before the enemy chariots and horsemen got to him and that he acquiesced to Saul’s request. In response, David rends his garments and commands that the Amalekite be put to death for slaying Saul, the Lord’s anointed. The reading conveniently skips over this and concentrates on David mourning the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.
 2. David as a New Adam: The deeper meaning of the story is that David is a New Adam figure. Like Adam, David is both a king and a priest. When David kills the Amalekite, he is acting like a righteous king. First, the Amalekite said that he was the one who killed Saul, the Lord’s anointed, and David exacts justice for this killing. Second, the Amalekites, according to the Law of Moses, were under the ban of destruction and were to be eradicated. And David faithfully carries out this command of Moses. Third, David’s actions were similar to those of Samuel, who killed King Agag the Amalekite when Saul refused to do it. Lastly, by eradicating the evil personified in the Amalekite, David did what Adam should have done to the serpent in the garden. There is a true contrast in the two books of Samuel between the disobedient and unrepentant Saul and the obedient and repentant David. David was not perfect, but when he sinned, he acknowledged it and humbly begged for forgiveness. Saul dies by his own hand, surrounded by his enemies, and abandoned by the Lord. Saul was rejected as king because after defeating the Amalekites he did not carry out the command of Samuel in its fullness.
 3. Jesus is misunderstood by his family: The Psalm reflects the situation of Israel. The king has been slain and it seems as if God has abandoned Israel. And yet, despite this situation, Israel prays to God: Rouse your power and come to save us. Israel is called to trust in God, who will raise up David as King of Israel and who will one day send his Son to establish the eternal Kingdom. As Jesus announces and establishes the Kingdom of God throughout Galilee, he meets with opposition from the religious authorities who are now plotting to kill him. As well, the crowds gathered around Jesus at the house in Capernaum made it impossible for him and his disciples to eat. Jesus’ relatives try to take charge and want to seize him. They probably wanted to protect him. Whatever the case may be, it shows that even Jesus’ relatives do not understand who Jesus truly is and what his mission is.
 Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your closest relatives, your disciples, and your Apostles, all struggled in different ways to understand who you are and what your mission is. Help me to overcome my own misunderstandings and grow in my faith that you are the Christ and the Son of God, who came to redeem me by dying on the Cross and rising to new life.
 Resolution: We can often fall into the temptation to complain about suffering in our lives or think that things should be different than they are. The wrong thing to do in the face of suffering is to complain and accuse God of wrongdoing or not listening to us. The right thing to do is lament to God in prayer and humbly seek strength, patience, and guidance. In fact, many of the Psalms, which are a model of prayer for us, are prayers of lament that begin with a cry for help in a desperate situation and end in the hope that God will act on our behalf. How can I model my prayer on the Psalms of Lament?
 
Satursday 2nd in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer:
 Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will. In today's Gospel I see your commitment and self-giving. You are so generous with your time and your life. You are always present to all who need you. Help me to see and understand that the way you sacrifice and give yourself to the crowd is the way you sacrifice and give yourself to me.
Encountering Christ:
1. Total Self-Giving: Jesus went home, but even there he was not able to rest or eat. Jesus was human just like us and had the same human needs that we do, but here we see how he was ready to give up everything. His family members thought he was crazy. But this was God’s answer to man’s need. God gives us everything. Sometimes there are so many demands in our lives that it seems like following Christ is crazy. Yet, as his disciples, we willingly follow his example and give everything we have.
2. A Prefiguring of the Passion: This brief snapshot in the daily life of Christ prefigures what will happen in the culminating moment of his life. Men will crowd in upon him, constantly demanding more and more until they take his very life. Those who loved him did not want Christ to die on the cross and would have tried to find an escape, but that is not why God became man. He became man to give of himself for our sake. On the cross, that self-giving was made complete. Our daily self-giving is not a prefiguring of Christ's passion but a fulfilment of that passion in our own life. 
3. A Prefiguring of the Eucharist: Even today, Jesus gives everything to those who press around him and demand his attention and his love. We experience this in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is all of God given to us, to be taken into our little hearts and bodies. What a gift from God! “When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now” (St. Teresa of Calcutta). Christ doesn’t calculate or measure; he gives us all of himself. When we receive Christ in the Eucharist, he enables us to give everything, just as he does.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. I can see your boundless love in this short anecdote from your daily life. Every moment of your life was lived with this generosity. You gave all on the cross, and you give us that all you are in the Eucharist. Thank you. I never want to forget your love and generosity. Please keep me always close to you.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will not be like those who try to limit Jesus’s generosity and self-giving. I will go to you many times during the day in prayer to ask you to heal me, to save me, to simply be with me. And I will spend ten minutes before the tabernacle in your Eucharistic presence.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 2 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 2 Thường Niên

Lạy Chúa, con đây, con đến để làm theo ý Chúa. Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa chọn và sai Mười Hai Sứ Đồ của Chúa ra đi rao giảng Lời Chúa Chúng con biết rằng Chúa đã chọn chúng con theo cùng một cách. Chúa đã gọi chúng con, Chúa đã đặt chúng con vào số Chúa chọn, và sai chúng con đi. Xin Chúa hãy cho chúng con sức mạnh để đáp ứng ơn gọi của Chúa. Chúng con muốn làm theo ý muốn của Chúa và là môn đệ của Chua. Cho dù chúng con biết Chúa sẽ cho chúng con sức mạnh, đôi khi chúng con vẫn cảm thấy sức nặng của những công việc này, và chúng con bắt đầu nghi ngờ. Chúng con muốn thêm hạn để cam kết và quyết định trả lời ơn gọi của và sứ mệnh của Chúa trao..
Phúc Âm cho chúng ta thấy rằng Chúa Giêsu đã chọn Mười Hai Tông Đồ, chủ yếu của ngài là để họ có thể ở với ngài. Ở với Chúa Giêsu là lý do trước tiên là để làm tông đồ. Mặc dù chữ Tông đồ theo tiếng Hy Lạp có nghĩa là người được sai đi, nhưng Phúc Âm nói rõ rằng tông đồ trước hết là cần ở với Chúa Giêsu, nghĩa là cùng sống với Ngài và theo Ngài. Tất cả chúng ta cũng cần điều này. Chúng ta cần ở sát bên cạnh với Chúa Giêsu luôn luôn. Không có lý do nào chính đáng hơn là trở thành tông đồ của Chúa hơn là được cam kết là được cùng đồng hành cùng Chúa Giêsu.
Bây giờ chúng ta đến với ý nghĩa của tiếng Hy Lạp có nghĩa là tông đồ: người được sai đi. Làm thế nào để một tông đồ của Đức Kitô vừa ở cùng với Đức Kitô vừa được sai đi? Có lẽ chúng ta có thể tìm thấy câu trả lời về lý do tại sao các tông đồ được sai đi rao giảng. Một tông đồ chỉ có thể rao giảng về Đức Kitô khi người ấy ở với Đức Kitô. Và khi thực sự rao giảng về Đức Kitô là khi chúng ta làm cho Ngài hiện diện với chúng ta và hiện diện với những người đang nghe chúng ta nói về Tin Mừng của Ngài. Thật là một thực tế tâm linh đáng kinh ngạc.
Quyền năng xua đuổi ma quỷ có thể coi chúng ta là một siêu năng lực đáng kinh ngạc. Nhưng Chúa Giêsu Christ đã liệt kê nó ở vị trí cuối cùng về lý do ngài gọi các tông đồ. Quyền năng đuổi quỷ là hệ quả của việc ở với Đực Kitô và rao giảng về Ngài. Khi chúng ta làm điều này theo ý muốn của Thiên Chúa, thì hàng ộng của Ma quỷ sẽ không còn chỗ hoạt động. Với Đớc Kitô ở bên cạnh chúng ta, ma quỷ không còn quyền năng và không thể gây ra sự dữ trong tâm hồn chúng ta, mặc dù chúng ta biết nó không ngừng ra tay để tiêu diệt chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Chúa đã kêu gọi chúng con làm tông đồ của Chúa. Đó là một nhiệm vụ vượt xa sự tưởng tượng của chúng con, và nhiều khi chúng con không hiểu làm thế nào để có thể thực hiện việc đó cho tốt đẹp. Chúng con đã cố gắng suy niệm về những lý do mà Chúa đã gọi chúng con, những lý do mà Chúa đã gọi tất cả chúng con. Xin Chúa giúp chúng con luôn ở gần Chúa. Xin giúp chúng con loan truyền về Chúa cho mọi người mà chúng con gặp một cách không sợ hãi. Xin Chúa hãy giữ chúng con được vững vàng trước những cơn cám dỗ của ma quỷ.
Lạy Chúa, hôm nay nhờ ân sủng của Chúa, chúng con sẽ suy ngẫm về ơn gọi mà Chúa đã kêu gọi chúng con và tìm cách làm thế nào để con có thể sống ở gần với Chúa hơn, Rao truyên Tin Mừng về Chúa và mạnh mẽ chống lại ma quỷ trong cuộc sống của chúng con và trong cuộc sống của người khác.
 
Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14–15
The Twelve Apostles were first called by Jesus and then sent to preach with authority. The authority they were given was for the purpose of driving out demons. But how did they do that? It’s interesting to note that the authority they were given over demons was, in part, associated with their commission to preach. And though there are some recorded instances in the Scriptures of the Apostles driving out demons directly by command, it should also be understood that the preaching of the Gospel with the authority of Christ has a direct effect of driving out demons.
Demons are fallen angels. But even in their fallen state, they retain the natural powers they have, such as the power of influence and suggestion. They seek to communicate with us to deceive us and draw us away from Christ. The good angels, of course, also exercise this same natural power for our good. Our guardian angels, for example, constantly seek to communicate to us the truths of God and His grace. The angelic battle for good and evil is real, and as Christians we must be aware of this reality.
One of the greatest ways to confront satan and his demons is to listen to the Truth and to proclaim it with the authority of Christ. Though the Apostles were given a special authority for their preaching, every Christian, by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, is entrusted with the message of the Gospel to proclaim in various ways. And with that authority, we must constantly strive to bring forth the Kingdom of God. Doing so will have a direct impact on the diminishment of the kingdom of satan.
Reflect, today, upon your duty to share the Gospel with others. Sometimes this is done by an explicit sharing of the message of Jesus Christ, and at other times the message is shared more by our actions and virtue. But every Christian is entrusted with this mission and must learn to fulfill that mission with true authority, knowing that as that authority from Christ is exercised, the Kingdom of God increases and the activity of the evil one is overcome.
My all-powerful Lord, I thank You for the grace You have given me to proclaim the truth of Your saving message to those whom I encounter every day. Help me to fulfill my mission to preach in both word and deed and to do so with the gentle yet powerful authority given me by You. I offer myself to Your service, dear Lord. Do with me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday 2nd Week of Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I praise you for all your works. As I contemplate the appointment of the Twelve, I realize how unique each one was. You look upon me with the same love and know who I am better than I know myself. Help me today to know my strengths and my weaknesses, my personality traits and deepest desires, so that I may better serve you and your Kingdom.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Twelve as the New Israel: Mark has just narrated the growing conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities (Mark 2:1-3:6). Instead of embracing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and accepting the signs of salvation, the Pharisees and religious leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. This means that the people of Israel needed new leadership, that she needed new shepherds. The number twelve is not arbitrary. It refers back to the number of the sons of Jacob, the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve sons of Jacob were representatives of Old Covenant Israel (Genesis 49:3-28). Here, Jesus gathers 12 new patriarchs to found his New Covenant people in the Church.
2. The Twelve as Ministers in the New Kingdom: The number twelve also refers back to the 12 administrators of David’s Kingdom. King Solomon, appointed a cabinet of ministers for specific tasks in the kingdom (1 Kings 4:1-6). He also had twelve officers (district governors) over all Israel (1 Kings 4:7). “The officials selected by Solomon point to those whom Christ appointed as rulers of his people. Twelve officers were chosen to oversee the house of the king, and so the apostles are made stewards of the divine mysteries in order to nourish the Israel of God and administer the household of the King of Peace (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 510).
3. Our High Priest is Mediator of a Better Covenant: The Letter to the Hebrews mediates at length on the New Covenant that Jesus, our eternal high priest, has established. The author recalls the prophecy of Jeremiah that compares and contrasts the Old Covenant with the New. Israel broke the Old Covenant; the New Covenant will be unbreakable. The Old Covenant was written on tablets of stone. The New Covenant will be written on the heart. The Old Covenant enabled Israel to teach others about the one, true God. The New Covenant will grant superior, intimate, and personal knowledge of God. The Old Covenant was ineffective to take away and forgive sin. The New Covenant, by contrast, will bring about true forgiveness and reconciliation. Our sins will be blotted out and remembered no more.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you commissioned your Apostles and gave them the power to teach and drive out demons. I ask that you empower me today to carry out the mission you have given me. Like the Apostles, I want to spread your Gospel message of love and forgiveness.
 
Friday 2nd Week of Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord, you are so patient with me, are slow to anger, and abound in merciful love for me. I am called to be merciful just as you are merciful. Justice and mercy go hand in hand. Help me to discern when I need to be firm in seeking justice, when I need to be a peacemaker, and when I need to show unbounded mercy.
 Encountering the Word of God
 1. David’s Respect for Saul: The First Reading narrates the conflict between Saul and David. One thing that emerges is the deep respect David has for Saul as the Lord’s anointed king. Instead of killing Saul, David leaves the judgment of the wicked king to God, knowing that God will exact justice. David points out that he took pity on Saul. In a certain sense, sparing the life of Saul in the cave was a greater victory for David than his victory over Goliath. David’s victory in the case of Saul is not attained through weapons and bloodshed, but by putting his anger to death and practicing mercy. Wickedness is never the right path.
 2. The Consequences of David’s Mercy: Saul is moved to tears when he learns that David spared his life. Saul now knows more than ever that his time as king is ending and that one day David will reign as king over Israel. David has shown that he will be a good king, who is capable of mercy. David is not perfect. He knows this and many times throughout his reign we will see him entrust himself to the Lord’s mercy and beg for forgiveness.
 3. Jesus Appointed Twelve Apostles: In the Gospel, Jesus appointed twelve new leaders for a new Israel. The twelve are called “apostles,” a title which means “one sent out.” They are authorized to act as Jesus’ envoys and representatives. On the one hand, they are tasked with being with Jesus. On the other, they are sent out to preach and drive out demons. The Apostles have different backgrounds, sensibilities, and personalities. Everything they are, all of their talents and abilities, can be placed at the service of God’s merciful Kingdom. However, only from intimate communion with Jesus will their apostolic ministry bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. The Apostles are to proclaim the Kingdom of God not only through their words but also by their actions. The Kingdom they proclaim and extend is in the world but not of the world. Over time they will learn that they will suffer for this Kingdom and that one of its main characteristics is merciful love.
 Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you commissioned your Apostles and gave them the power to teach and drive out demons. I ask that you empower me today to carry out the mission you have given me. I want to spread your Gospel message of love and forgiveness.
 Resolution: David and the Apostles all experienced divine mercy and, in turn, often extended mercy to those around them. We should imitate their good example. In fact, Jesus invites us to pray to the Father and ask for forgiveness in relation to how we forgive others (Matthew 5:12). We are told to be merciful as our Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy! (Matthew 5:7). How can I practice mercy today?
 
Friday 2nd Week of Ordinary Time Opening Prayer:
 Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will. In today’s Gospel you appoint and send out your Twelve Apostles. I know that you have appointed me in the very same way. You have called me, set me apart, and then sent me. Please give me the strength to respond to your call. I wish to do your will and be your apostle. Although I know you will give me the strength, oftentimes I feel the weight of this mission, and I begin to doubt. I want to renew my commitment and my decision to answer your call and your mission.
Encountering Christ:
1. To Be with Him: The Gospel shows us that Jesus appointed his Twelve Apostles primarily so that they could be with him. To be with Jesus is the first reason to be an apostle. Even though the Greek word for apostle means someone who is sent, the Gospel makes it clear that the apostle, first of all, needs to be with Jesus. All of us need this. We need to be with Jesus always. There’s no better reason to be an apostle than to be committed to accompanying Jesus side by side. 
2. Sent Forth to Preach: Now we come to the meaning of the Greek word for apostle: someone who is sent forth. How can an apostle of Christ both be with Christ and sent forth? Maybe we can find the answer in why the apostles are sent forth—to preach. An apostle can preach Christ only when he is with Christ. And truly preaching Christ makes him present with us and present to those listening. What an amazing spiritual reality. 
3. Authority to Drive Out Demons: The authority to drive out demons may strike us as an incredible superpower. But Christ lists it in last place of his reasons for calling the apostles. The power to expel demons is a consequence of being with Christ and preaching him. When we do this according to God’s will, there’s very little room for the enemy to act. With Christ by our side, the devil is powerless and can wreak no evil in our soul, even though we know he is constantly out to destroy us.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have called me to be your apostle. It is a mission well beyond me, and many times I do not understand how to do it well. I have tried to meditate on the reasons you have called me, the reasons you call all of us. Help me to stay close to you always. Help me to preach you fearlessly to everyone that I meet. Keep me strong against the temptations of the devil. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will reflect on the vocation you have called me to, and see how I can better be with you, preach you, and stand strong against the devil in my life and in the life of others.
 
Daily Reflection
            "He appointed twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons."
Calling, appointing, naming the 12 Apostles, No small moment in Christian church history. What would  it have been like to be called as an Apostle? Would we have had the courage to accept Jesus' call, appointment, and mission? Do we have the courage to be disciples today?
            Mark's gospel makes it clear immediately before the naming of the Apostles that Jesus has stirred serious controversy by forgiving the sins of a paralytic man, dining with tax collectors and sinners, and healing a man's withered hand on the Sabbath. The controversy has grown so strong that immediately after naming the Apostles, Jesus' own family thinks he is "out of his mind" and scribes from Jerusalem (presumably sent by official religious authorities to investigate this potentially threatening person) have concluded that Jesus is "possessed by Beelzebub" and drives out demons by the authority of the Devil. By accepting their appointment and mission to preach and drive out demons like Jesus, the Apostles will be labeled as controversial and dangerous like their leader.
            What demons would Jesus be driving out today? Whom would he be healing? With whom would he be eating? About what would he be preaching? What authorities would think he was mentally ill, threatening, or evil? Would I have the courage and faith to follow such a man when he called?
            Of course, Jesus is calling each of us every day. We need to discern in our lives what that call is and if we are truly willing to accept it. Jesus' call looks different in different people's lives, but I believe that one way or another it involves dining with and caring for the poor and marginalized, loving, forgiving, healing, welcoming the stranger and the migrant, and tirelessly working for peace and justice.
            Jesus, help us to hear your call. Grant us the courage to accept your invitation to join you in your  mission despite the potential danger and controversy.
 
Meditation:
What is God's call on your life? When Jesus embarked on his mission he chose twelve men for the task of preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick in the power of that kingdom. In the choice of the twelve, we see a characteristic feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, who had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power.
            When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not shrug back because we think that we have little or nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you make your life an offering to the Lord and allow him to use you as he sees fit?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with gratitude and generosity for all you have done for me. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All."