Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần 26 Thường Niên (Luke
9:51-56)
Hôm nay chúng ta
hãy suy niệm vào tình yêu bao la của Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã ban cho chúng ta, Đó là
một tình yêu có sự tôn trọng tự do cá nhân riêng của mỗi chúng ta. Những khoảnh
khắc trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, đôi khi chúng ta chẳng khắc gì những người của
Samaria, có những hành động kém thân thiện, không hiếu khách khi Chúa Kitô đi
qua và ghé thăm chúng ta. .
Chúng
ta không thể biết được là khi nào Ngài đã đến với chúng ta. Có thể Ngài đến
trong hình bóng một người thấp kém nhất trong chúng ta, có thể là một em bé,
lang thang bán vé sổ, có thể là người hành khất đang ăn xin trên đường mà chúng ta đã gặp trên hè
phố hôm nay,
có thể một người nào đó đang thiếu thốn tình thương, đang thất vọng, đang cần sự
chú ý và giúp đỡ của chúng ta.! Chúa Giêsu luôn luôn đi qua trong cuộc sống của
chúng ta, trong những khoảng thời gian tốt có, xấu có, Sự qua lại ghé thăm của
Ngài luôn luôn là những mục đích để giúp chúng ta phát triển thêm trong đức
tin, để giúp chúng ta kiên định giữ lời dạy bảo của Ngài và tìm kiếm vương quốc
của Ngài là Thiên Đàng trước tiên.
Chúng
ta hãy cố gắng không nên từ chối bất cứ điều gì mà có vẻ không tốt cho chúng
ta, hay là một sự thất vọng, vv . Chúng ta hãy nhớ cầu nguyện xin Chúa ban cho
chúng ta những ân sũng và những hồng ơn được hiểu biết và kiên nhẫn, được ơn sức
mạnh tinh thần trong thời gian thử thách. Và đặc biệt nhất là hồng ân của trí
tuệ để chúng ta biết phân biệt và nhận ra Chúa khi Chúa đến và đang đi qua đời
chúng ta.
Meditation:
Are you surprised
to see two of Jesus' disciples praying for the destruction of a Samaritan
village? The Jews and Samaritans had been divided for centuries. Jewish
pilgrims who passed through Samaritan territory were often assaulted. Jesus did
the unthinkable for a Jew. He not only decided to travel through Samaritan
territory at personal risk, but he also asked for hospitality in one of their
villages! Jesus' offer of friendship was rebuffed. Is there any wonder that the
disciples were indignant and felt justified in wanting to see retribution done
to this village? Wouldn't you respond the same way? Jesus, however, rebukes his
disciples for their lack of toleration. Jesus had "set his face
toward Jerusalem" to die on a cross that Jew, Samaritan and Gentile might
be reconciled with God and be united as one people in Christ.
Tolerance is a much needed virtue today.
But aren't we often tolerant for the wrong thing or for the wrong motive?
Christian love seeks the highest good of both one's neighbor and one's enemy.
When Abraham Lincoln was criticized for his courtesy and tolerance towards his
enemies during the American Civil War, he responded: "Do I not destroy my
enemies when I make them my friends?" How do you treat those who cross you
and cause you trouble? Do you seek their good rather than their harm?
"Lord Jesus, you are gracious,
merciful, and kind. Set me free from my prejudice and intolerance towards those
I find disagreeable, and widen my heart to love and to do good even to those
who wish me harm or evil."
Tuesday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he
resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of
him. Luke 9:51–52
Shortly after Jesus spoke to His disciples about His pending
suffering, death and resurrection, we read that Jesus “resolutely determined to
journey to Jerusalem.” There is much to reflect upon in that short statement.
First of all, Jerusalem was the place of the Temple where the
animal sacrifices of the Old Testament took place as a prefiguration of the one
and ultimate sacrifice to come. Jesus came into this world as the Lamb of God,
the Sacrificial Victim Who would die for our sins. He knew His ultimate end in
this world, and He knew it would require much suffering. This knowledge of His
future suffering is the foundational context of this passage today.
As Jesus’ suffering and death drew close, He became more and more
determined in His human will to fulfill the will of the Father by laying down
His life. Of course, Jesus always fulfilled the will of the Father, but little
by little the human manifestation of Jesus’s determination became more and more
pronounced. The specific human virtue that slowly became manifest was courage.
Spiritual courage is the supernatural ability to embrace the will of the Father
when His will leads a person into a life of sacrifice. Within our fallen human
nature, we tend to avoid sacrifice. We often work to avoid conflict and
suffering and to embrace the easy way in life. Therefore, to come face-to-face
with some future suffering brings forth a temptation to fear—and that fear
requires courage to overcome it. As His suffering drew closer, the temptation
to fear grew stronger and, as a result, His perfect virtue of courage became
more manifest. Note that Jesus not only decided to go to Jerusalem to offer His
life sacrificially, He “resolutely determined” to do so. There was no wavering,
no doubting the Father’s will, no hesitancy, no fear. His perfect sacrificial
love slowly became manifest for all to see.
Another reason Jesus became resolute in His determination to
travel to Jerusalem was to witness His love to His disciples. They needed
courage themselves. So, as they listened to Jesus speak about what was
coming in Jerusalem and as they witnessed His unwavering determination, they
were also encouraged and were strengthened to overcome the temptations to fear.
Of course, they only perfected that virtue later in their lives when they also
followed in the footsteps of our Lord, laying down their own lives as martyrs.
Reflect, today, upon that which causes fear and anxiety in your
own life. If that suffering is of your own making, then seek to rectify it. But
if that suffering is a cross that our Lord is calling you to embrace with love,
then do so sacrificially and with much determination. Do not be cowed by the
heaviness of the cross you are given in life. The crosses we are called to
embrace are always able to be transformed into grace. Allow courage to grow
within you and allow the witness of our Lord to encourage you as you seek to
imitate His sacrificial love.
My courageous Lord, You faced Your suffering with much courage,
strength, surrender and hope. You saw the value of Your free embrace of Your
suffering and chose it with all the power of your soul. Give me the grace I
need, dear Lord, to also resolutely determine to journey toward the cross I am
called to embrace in life, so that my free embrace of my cross will unite me
more fully with You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday 26th Sunday Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God,
you sent your Son into the world not to condemn it but to save it. You know
what I need to welcome your Son into my life. I desire that you dwell in my
heart and reign there. Protect me from all that would separate me from you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Return of the King: Today, we
begin a new section in the Gospel of Luke, known as the “travel narrative.” In
Luke 9:51, Luke signals a change in the narrative: “When the days for Jesus to
be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.”
When Luke says that Jesus “set his face,” it means to do something with fixed
determination. “This phrase is sometimes used by the Old Testament prophets
(see Ezekiel 21:2) when they have to do something exceedingly difficult. From
this point on, Jesus will be ‘on the way’ to Jerusalem. He knows what is
awaiting him there, and he knows the opposition that will follow him as he
tries to lead people to the true Kingdom of God, rather than the kingdom of man
that many promote” (Powell, Walking with Christ, 57). During the
next ten chapters of Luke’s Gospel (ch. 10-19), Jesus will be walking toward
Jerusalem. This is where Jesus’ New Exodus will take place. The scenes on the
way to Jerusalem all relate to the return of the King. “There is both a
positive and a negative sense to this return. It is positive for those who will
follow Jesus and experience the new exodus from sin, slavery, and death that
Jesus has promised. For those who oppose and reject Jesus, however, there will
be consequences.
2. The New Exodus: “Because the
return of the king is the overarching theme of the next ten chapters, we will
see many stories and parables about people returning home, masters coming back
from journeys, and things that were lost being recovered” (Powell, Walking
with Christ, 61). The exodus of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom
provides the background to Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Israel’s journey led to
the acquisition of the earthly Promised Land and Israel’s eventual growth into
a kingdom. Jesus’ journey enables us to enter the heavenly Promised Land and
establishes the Kingdom of God, which will grow like a small mustard seed into
a great tree that welcomes the birds of all nations. In the first exodus, God
revealed himself to Israel as not only their creator but also their redeemer.
In Jesus’ New Exodus, he reveals himself as the eternal Son who was sent by the
Father to redeem all humanity. That is the positive side of the exodus story.
But there is also a dark side: the first exodus also led to Israel’s downfall.
“When the firstborn son rejects his Father in exchange for an idol of a golden
calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, the rebellion sends Israel into a downward
spiral of sin. This history is also in the background as Jesus now makes a new journey
to the heart of Israel’s Promised Land. The ‘way’ of the Exodus, with all its
implications of slavery and freedom, will now be overlayed onto the ‘way’ of
the Cross. On this way, Jesus will take on the consequences of Israel’s
rejection of God’s Fatherhood and demonstrate the lengths to which God will go
to save his children” (Powell, Walking with Christ, 62).
3. Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of
Christ: The
prophets Haggai and Zechariah both encouraged the people to rebuild the Temple
of Jerusalem. In our First Reading, Zechariah envisions the Gentile nations
coming to Jerusalem to seek the Lord God. In an earlier vision, Zechariah saw
the Gentiles becoming members of God’s covenant people (Zechariah 2:11). In a
later vision, he will see them coming as pilgrims to Jerusalem to serve the
Lord as King (Zechariah 14:16-17). Here, Zechariah “envisions the conversion of
the nations as an event simultaneous with the homecoming of Israel’s exiles” (Ignatius
Catholic Study Bible, 1615). Sometimes it can be hard for us to understand
the importance of the Old Testament. We can easily think that we just need the
four Gospels to know about Jesus. On this memorial of St. Jerome, however, we
are reminded that being ignorant of Scripture – including the Old Testament –
leads to ignorance of Christ. As Pope Francis recently wrote on the anniversary
of Jerome’s passing: “Jerome teaches us that not only should the Gospels and
the apostolic Tradition present in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Letters
be studied and commented on, but that the entire Old Testament is indispensable
for understanding the truth and the riches of Christ” (Francis, Apostolic
Letter Scripturae sacrae affectus).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus,
the Word of God made flesh, I long to see your Kingdom definitively established
and your return in glory. I struggle to overcome sin and evil in my life, but I
trust in you, knowing you are at my side.
Tuesday 26th Sunday Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: Jesus, my heart thirsts for an encounter
with you, but so often I want to meet you on my own turf, according to my own
terms. Open my heart to allow myself to be challenged by your word to journey
wherever you are leading, not setting the conditions myself, but allowing you
to invite me deeper.
Encountering Christ:
Determined to Journey to Jerusalem: Through intimate prayer with his Father,
Jesus came to a clear understanding of the Father’s will. Once he knew his
Father’s will, there was not the slightest hesitation on his part. His resolute
determination did not arise from a personal attraction to what lay ahead. He
was in no way deceived as to the excruciating suffering that awaited him in
Jerusalem. Yet, his determination was unfailing. In her writings, St. Teresa of
Avila speaks of the importance of having a “determined determination” never to
give up prayer. How “determinedly determined” are we to become a saint? How
“determinedly determined” are we to fulfill God’s will in our life no matter
what?
He Sent Messengers Ahead of Him: The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. Their motives were based
on cultural tensions of the times: Samaritans and Jews purely and simply did
not mix. Yet, what these Samaritans did not realize was that they were turning
away their Lord God and Savior for something as trivial as a centuries-old
tradition of resentment and prejudice. How often for us, too, a multitude of
reasons present themselves for turning away the Lord’s advances in our lives.
Jesus’s steps were pointed in the direction of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem was the
place of the cross. We easily find excuses to refuse Our Lord’s invitations
because they bring us uncomfortably close to the cross. We forget that the
“Jerusalem” Jesus invites us to can also be the source of the fullness of life
for us.
Fire to Consume Them?: James and John, together with the rest
of the apostles, had still not come to see things as God sees them. They failed
to understand that God does not work in human hearts, or in the world at large,
by force. The only force he uses is that of love. The Samaritans were not to be
converted through a show of brute power. In fact, Jesus knew that the way to
transform their hearts lay precisely in continuing down the road to their
redemption, to the point of drinking the chalice that was his to drink. Let us
join Our Lord on his path toward Jerusalem, and perhaps, instead of focusing on
the attitudes of those around us, allow God to transform our hearts and teach
us to love to the ultimate consequences, as he did.
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you journeyed resolutely toward
Jerusalem, knowing that your Passion and death awaited you there. Grant me a
“determined determination” to embrace the invitation to follow you to its final
consequences. Give me the strength to desire not only holiness but also the
path necessary to reach it. Help me to keep my eyes set on you no matter what.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will practice
fortitude as the opportunity presents itself in my day.
REFLECTION
To "become like little children" in the Gospel reading
does not mean to be ignorant and weak, helpless and gullible. To "become
like little children" means to be little children totally dependent on
their parents and elders in our relationship with our heavenly Father. It means
we should be "innocent," with the pure innocence of little children,
trusting, obedient and dependent on our Father in heaven in the way of little
children with their parents. It means we somehow let go of our pride, arrogance
and complete confidence in ourselves.
In the first reading Yahweh, God of Israel, faithful to his
covenant, reiterates his love for Israel and promises their return to
Jerusalem, "I am going to save my people ... They will be my people and I
shall be their God." Are we
able to "become like little children" before our heavenly Father? Are
we able to have complete trust and confidence that our heavenly Father will
take care of us? "If God so clothes the grass in the field which blooms
today and is to be burned tomorrow in an oven, how much more will he clothe
you?" (Mt 6: 30) "As bad as you are, you know how to give good things
to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good
things to those who ask him!" (Mt 7: 11)
REFLECTION Tuesday 26th
Ordinary Time Luke 9:51-56
Let us reflect today on the immense love of Jesus Christ
for us – a love that respects your freedom. Many moments in our life we, like
the people of Samaria, act in the same hostile way, not knowing it is the Lord
who is passing by and visiting us. What are some of the moments that Jesus
could be passing by? He often takes the form of a little one, someone of no
importance to whom we do not pay attention and whom we can easily reject. A
poor one perhaps? Or a relative who needs consolation? Someone sick who may
need medical help? Or a situation that is not expected? A failure in life?
Jesus is always passing in our lives, in good times and bad times. This passing
is always to help us grow stronger in faith, for us to hold steadfast to his
teachings and to seek first his kingdom. Let us not reject anything that does
not seem good for us, an irritation to our plans, a disappointment, etc. Let us
pray instead for the gift of understanding and patience - the gift of fortitude
in times of trials. And most especially the gift of wisdom to discern when the
Lord is passing.
Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần 26 Thường Niên
Bài đọc Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta thấy được những
sự kiện quan trọng trong sứ vụ công khai của Chúa
Giêsu Kitô: Ông Phêrô đã tuyên xưng đức tin ông và tin vào Chúa
Giêsu, Ngài là Đấng Thiên sai của Thiên
Chúa, đã tiên đoán về sự đau khổ về cuộc khổ nạn
của Ngài và cái chết và sự phục sinh của Ngài và Ngài cũng đã tõ mình ra trong cuộc biến mình với Môi-se và Ê-li trước mặt các tông đồ Phêrô,
Giacôbê và Gioan.
Đây chính trong bối cảnh này mà Chúa Giêsu thấy các môn đệ tranh cãi về cái tôi, về cái chức
quyền của họ "Họ đã tranh cãi là
ai trong số họ là người lớn nhất." Và Chúa Giêsu đã giáo huấn họ, dạy cho họ
biết được cái giá trị của của mỗi
người chúng ta trong nước của Thiên Chúa, và Ngài đã mang một đứa trẻ trước mặt họ, "Ai đón chào những đứa trẻ này vì danh thầy, là đón chào thầy, và ai chào đón thầy, thì đón chào Đấng đã
sai thầy và hãy nghe đây. nếu một ai
trong các người được coi như thè nhỏ nhất
hay thấp kém nhất trong số tất cả
các con, Thì người ấy là một con người vĩ đại nhất. "
Trong giá trị của Thiên Chúa, người lớn nhất vĩ đại nhất là nhỏ nhất và thấp kém. Thật là vinh phuc cho ngững ai có tinh thần của người nghèo... Những người
than khóc... Hiền lành... Những ai đói khát vì sự
công chính... Những ai bị bách hại vì sự công chính." (Mt 5: 3-10)
Con Thiên Chúa "Ngài
đã hủy mình ra không, là lĩnh lấy thân phận tôi đòi, trở thành giống hẳn người
ta; đem thân đội lốt người phàm, 8 Ngài đã hạ mình thấp hèn, trở
thành vâng phục cho đến chết, và là cái chết thập giá! 9 Bởi vậy
Thiên Chúa đã siêu tôn Ngài! và ban cho Ngài Danh hiệu vượt quá mọi danh hiệu,"(Phil 2: 7-9)
Để theo Đức Giêsu kitô là đi
theo con người đầy tờ khiêm tốn, đau khồ, ""Nếu ai muốn đi sau Ta, thì hãy chối bỏ chính mình,
hãy vác lấy khổ giá của mình và hãy theo Ta. 3" (Mc 8: 34)
Reflection:
Our gospel
reading today follows key events in our Lord's public ministry: Peter's
profession of faith in him as the Messiah of God, his prediction of his
suffering, death and resurrection and his transfiguration with Moses and Elijah
before the apostles Peter, James and John.
It is in
this context that Jesus finds his disciples arguing "about which of them
was the greatest." And Jesus educates them in God's value system by
bringing in a little child before them, "Whoever welcomes this little
child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who
sent me. And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the
one who is the greatest."
In God's
value system, the least is the greatest. For "fortunate are those who have
the spirit of the poor. . . those who mourn. . . the gentle. . . those
who hunger and thirst for . . . those who are persecuted for the cause of
justice." (Mt 5: 3 – 10)
The Son of
God "emptied himself, taking the nature of a servant, made in human
likeness. . . humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross.
That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names."
(Phil 2: 7 – 9) The following of Jesus is the
following of the humble Suffering Servant, "If you want to follow me, deny
yourself take up your cross and follow me." (Mk 8: 34)
Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the
greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and
placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one
who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke
9:48
This conversation between Jesus and His disciples took place
shortly after three events. First, it took place after the disciples returned
from the first mission on which Jesus had sent them. Second, it was after Peter
made his profession of faith stating that Jesus was “The Messiah of God.”
Third, it occurred after the Transfiguration in which Jesus took Peter, James
and John up the mountain to reveal His glory. After these three events, it
appears that a certain rivalry began to manifest itself among the disciples.
Perhaps there was jealousy of Peter’s profession of faith, or perhaps the
disciples who were not taken up the mountain of the Transfiguration were a bit
envious. But whatever the cause, Jesus addresses what is the beginning of a
desire for vainglory among the disciples.
In commenting on this passage, Saint Cyril of Alexandria notes
that in the spiritual battle, the devil’s first tactic is to stir up fleshly
desires within our souls to keep us bound by the desire for those pleasures.
However, when a person is able to escape these more base and fleshly desires,
then the devil stirs up a spiritual sin; namely, a selfishness and vainglory.
It is this desire for vainglory, the desire to be perceived as the greatest,
with which the disciples were struggling.
Our Lord addresses the disciples after He “realized the intention
of their hearts.” This is a very important line. Essentially, Jesus noticed
that the desire for vainglory was just beginning. By analogy, when a weed
begins to grow, it is easily pulled up by the roots. But if it is left to grow
for a while, then the roots are more difficult to pull up, and doing so often
affects the other plants and ground around the weed. So it is with sin. By
gently bringing a child into their midst and stating that “the one who is least
among you is the one who is the greatest,” Jesus was helping them to remove
this “weed” of the sin of vainglory before it took deep root in their lives. As
Jesus continues His conversation with the disciples, He continues to act with
gentleness, addressing their slight error in their reasoning.
This is important to understand, because our Lord always desires
to address our sin the very moment it begins. If we are open to His subtle
promptings of grace, gently redirecting our actions the moment we begin to go
astray, then our attentiveness to His loving rebuke will help keep us from
becoming more deeply rooted in our error, whatever it may be. Establishing a
practice of constant self-reflection greatly helps with this. Establishing this
habit means we do not see our Lord as a harsh and critical Judge; rather, we
see Him in His gentleness and care. This image of Jesus gently bringing a child
before the disciples so as to teach them about true greatness should help us to
realize that we should never fear these gentle promptings of grace.
Reflect, today, upon our Lord appearing before you, gently
addressing the small sins with which you are struggling. Of course, all serious
sins must be firmly dealt with first. But once all serious sin is rooted out of
your life, be attentive to the gentle and merciful promptings of grace by which
Jesus wants to root out every small sin at its beginning and even every
spiritual imperfection. Attentiveness to these graces is the surest way to grow
in holiness and to allow our Lord to lead you into His glorious will, making
you truly great within His Kingdom.
My
most merciful and gentle Jesus, I thank You for the many ways in which You come
to me, revealing Your love and grace. Please help me to see clearly the ways
that I must change, so that even the beginnings of the smallest sin in my life
may be rooted out. I love You, my Lord. Help me to love You with all my heart.
Jesus, I trust in You
Monday 26th in Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time to reflect on
your word. Help me to draw from it a message you have for me personally
today.
Encountering Christ:
The Disciples Argued: In retrospect, imagine listening in on what
sounded like petty bickering among men who would become the first pope and
pillars of the future church. That they were arguing, among all things, for a
place of position seems outrageous knowing how holy these men eventually
became. This incident speaks to the awesome and gratuitous transforming power
of God! None of us deserve sainthood, but when we bend our hearts toward Jesus
and follow in his footsteps, he graciously softens our hard edges, tames our
restlessness, and stretches our capacity to love until we are able to love as
he does. Then, the desire of the Father is fulfilled for us and we are made
worthy, by his doing, to join him one day in heaven for all eternity.
Jesus Knew: Jesus “realized the intention of their hearts”
and he concluded that the remedy was to place a small child in their midst. The
disciples had succumbed to concupiscence, as we all do. Bishop Barron, quoting
Thomas Aquinas, acknowledged we are primarily attracted to power, wealth,
honor, or pleasure. “When we try to satisfy the hunger for God with something
less than God, we will naturally be frustrated, and then in our frustration, we
will convince ourselves that we need more of that finite good, so we will
struggle to achieve it, only to find ourselves again, necessarily,
dissatisfied,” he said. By placing a child in their midst, Jesus was trying to
show the disciples what is most important to him: not power or status, but
purity of heart. Jesus does the same for us, calling us over and over again
through prayer and the sacraments to purify our intentions and seek him above
all things.
In Our Company: Moment by moment Jesus was dismantling
his friends’ notion of what it means to be an apostle. They had assumed they
were members of an exclusive club, wielding powers Jesus gave them for the good
of mankind. Jesus reminded them that his love and powers are available to
anyone who loves him in return, from a small child to a stranger expelling
demons on the other side of town. As practicing Catholics, we might be tempted
to fall into the trap of comparing our faith practices or our apostolic works
to others, instead of keeping our focus on Christ. He reminds us to draw our
meaning and purpose from him alone.
Conversing with Christ: Lord as I walk through my day, help me
to be aware of times when I measure my worth by worldly standards instead of
yours. Reorient me, just as you did the apostles.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ Kính Các Tổng Lãnh Thiên Thần
Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
Hôm nay, chúng ta mừng kính lễ các Tổng
lãnh thiên thần Michael, Gabriel và Raphael.
Tất cả chúng ta chắc ai cũng biết và
quen thuộc với Tổng lãnh thiên thần Michael, người chiến binh, vệ sĩ của
Thiên Chúa, và với Tổng lãnh thiên thần Gabriel, người sứ giả của Thiên Chúa
xuống. truyền tin và đem tin mừng tới Đức Maria và Zechariah và cho nhân
loại vì sự ra đời của Chúa Giêsu và Goan Tẩy giả. Tổng lãnh thiên thần
Raphael, Người "Y sĩ của Thiên Chúa," mà chúng ta thấy xuất hiện
trong sách Tobit để chữa lành mắt cho Tobit khỏi chứng mù lòa và bảo vệ Tobias
trong cuộc hôn nhân với cô Sara, người đã bị nhiều quỷ dữ dày vò.
Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất trích sách Khải
Huyền, chúng ta thấy Michael, chiến binh của Thiên Chúa, đánh bại Sa-tan và
những kẻ ác của hắn. Những cuộc tranh đấu để chống lại lực lượng gian ác
tiếp tục đến ngày hôm nay. Giáo Hội dạy chúng ta phải biết chống lại điều
gian ác và dối trá. Tổng lãnh thiên thần Michael đang tiếp tục giúp bảo vệ
Giáo Hội và tất cả những người sống mà có lòng tốt và trọng sự thật.
Trong bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu
kêu gọi các môn đệ đầu tiên của Ngài, chúng ta nghe Chúa Giê-su bảo đảm với
chúng ta rằng các thiên thần đang ở trong sự sẵn sằng chờ lệnh của Thiên
Chúa, " các thiên thần của Thiên Chúa lên xuống trên Con Người." Các
thiên thần và các tổng lãnh Thiên Thần giúp chúng ta trong cuộc hành trình
của cuộc sống của chúng ta đến với thiên đàng và nước Thiên Cha, Chúng tôi
được kêu gọi để ưến với các Thiên Thần để cầu bầu và giúp chúng ta
trong cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta và nhất là trong những khi cần thiết.
Sept 29, the Feast of the Archangels Michael,
Gabriel and Raphael
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. We are familiar with Michael, the fighter and
warrior of God, and with Gabriel, God's messenger to Mary and Zechariah for the
birth of their sons.
The Archangel Raphael, "the Medicine of
God," appears in the book of Tobit to heal Tobit from his blindness and to
protect Tobias in her marriage to Sara who had been tormented by many devils.
In the first reading from Revelation, we see
Michael, God's warrior, defeating Satan and his evil hosts. These struggles
against evil forces continue today. The Church teaches against evil and lies.
Michael helps protect the Church and all those who live for goodness and truth.
In the Gospel reading, at Jesus' call of his
first disciples, we hear Jesus assuring us that angels are at God's bidding,
"ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." The angels and
archangels help us in our life journey to heaven and the kingdom of God. We are
urged to call upon them in our daily lives and in time of need.
The Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the
angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John
1:51
In Heaven, we will see all things as God sees
them. That full perspective will be beyond glorious. And among the many things
that will amaze us from the perspective of Heaven is the incredibly powerful
ways that the celestial beings participate in the bringing forth of the Kingdom
of God. The Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers,
Principalities, Archangels and Guardian Angels all cooperate with God’s grace
in ways similar to how every member of an orchestra works together to produce a
single piece of beautiful music. God is the conductor, but these celestial
beings participate in the grand fulfillment of the will of God, acting as
living instruments of His divine grace.
Today’s feast honors three of the great
archangels mentioned in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. The Archangel
Michael is described as a protector in the Old Testament Book of Daniel and as
one who does battle with satan in the Books of Revelation and Jude. In
Revelation, Michael casts satan out of Heaven along with the other fallen
angels. The Archangel Gabriel is spoken of also in the Book of Daniel as one
who interprets Daniel’s vision. In the New Testament, he is identified as the
one who appears to the high priest Zechariah while Zechariah is offering
sacrifice in the temple. In that appearance, Gabriel revealed to Zechariah that
his wife would have a child, even though she was advanced in years. Gabriel is
perhaps best known as the one sent to the Blessed Virgin Mary to reveal to her
that she will become the mother of the Savior of the World. Lastly, the
Archangel Raphael is referred to in the Old Testament Book of Tobit and is said
to have been sent to bring healing to Tobit’s eyes.
As we honor these three archangels, we can be
certain that they are three of a countless number of other angelic beings who
cooperate with God, bringing forth His grace and His will into our world. Try
to imagine that profound truth. Some angelic beings build up the Kingdom of God
by devoting their existence to the perpetual worship of God before His throne.
The highest of these are the Seraphim. Other angelic beings build up the
Kingdom by bringing forth God’s grace and truth to us, intervening in our lives
in accord with God’s will. These are especially the guardian angels. The
archangels, three of whom we honor today, especially have the task of
communicating to us the most important messages and graces from God.
Reflect, today, upon the glorious reality of
the whole host of the celestial beings. Specifically call upon the mediation of
these three celestial beings whose names we know, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael,
as well as upon the mediation of our guardian angels and all others celestial
beings. By doing this, we not only entrust ourselves to their loving care, but
we also make an act of faith in God by expressing our belief that God has
chosen to use these celestial beings to bring forth His Kingdom. By themselves,
angels are powerless to act. But since they act only in unison with the will of
God, their mediation is as powerful as the grace of God, since it is God Who
works through them. Acknowledge them today, call upon their mediation and
profess your faith in the glorious work that they do to build up God’s Kingdom.
Most glorious Archangels Michael, Gabriel and
Raphael, please do come to my aid. I entrust myself, my family, our Church and
the entire world to your loving mediation. Please bring forth God’s grace into
our lives, communicate God’s Word and His holy Will, protect us from all harm
and bring healing to those in need. Angels of God, pray for us. Jesus, I trust
in You.
The Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I praise you as the Creator of all things. I
look forward to the day in heaven when I can contemplate the wonderful variety
of your spiritual creatures. May I be protected this day by Saint Michael,
enlightened by Saint Gabriel, and encouraged by Saint Raphael.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Saint Michael as the Guardian of God’s People: As Christians, we profess that God is the
Creator of heaven and earth, of all that is visible and invisible. The
angels that God created are spiritual creatures, called to glorify God
without ceasing and chosen to minister according to God’s plan of salvation for
humanity. The good angels surround Christ, their Lord. They serve him
especially in the accomplishment of his saving mission to men. The Church
venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every
human being (see CCC, 351-352). The Old Testament sees Michael as
the guardian of God’s people; he is the great prince who has charge of them
(see Daniel 10:21; 12:1). “It is no surprise then that he appears [in
Revelation 12] to foil the devil’s attempt to make war on the woman (the
Church) and Christ. The passage demonstrates that there is a spiritual battle
waging behind the scenes of history” (Barber, Coming Soon, 158).
2. Saint Michael’s Battle: Michael the Archangel battles against the
devil, who tempted Adam and Eve "out of envy"(Wisdom 2:24). Satan was
at first a good angel, made by God; but Satan and other angels fell when they
rejected God and his reign (CCC, 392). It was a rejection of God's
loving and merciful plan. The fall of the angels seems to have something to do
with God's love for man and God's plan to make men share in the life of grace
with the angels. Seeing the link between the angelic fall and the Incarnation
of the Son of God, the Fathers of the Church thought “that the angels fell
because they rejected the notion of a God-Man, whom they would have to worship”
(Barber, Coming Soon, 158). Saint Michael, by contrast, accepted
God's plan and cast Satan and his angels from heaven, down to the earth.
3. Satan’s Defeat: Satan, the accuser of men, has been thrown down. Through the
Cross, Christ is victorious over death, and the Kingdom of God is inaugurated
and established. Satan’s defeat happens in several ways. First, Satan is cast
down by Michael at the beginning of time. Second, through Christ’s work on
earth, Satan is again cast out. “Thus when Christ speaks of His own death, He
says, ‘[N]ow shall the ruler of this world be cast out’ (John 12:31)”
(Barber, Coming Soon, 160). The reason the Son of God appeared was
to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Heaven rejoices because Satan
has been defeated. “Yet a woe comes upon the earth because Satan is now angry
at being cast down and looks to take out his frustration on man. However, his
time is ‘short’” (Barber, Coming Soon, 162). Satan is powerful, but
he cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. There will come a day when
Christ returns in glory with his angels and casts the devil into the lake of
fire for eternal punishment (Revelation 20:10). Satan rejected God's love from
the beginning; Michael welcomed it. Satan wanted to reign without God; Michael
desired to reign with God through service. Satan seeks to frustrate God’s plan;
Michael seeks only to accomplish it. Satan is the father of lies and tempts us
to sin against God; Michael serves the truth and protects the Church along the
way to the definitive establishment of God’s Kingdom.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, King of the Universe, grant me your powerful
grace today to work for your Kingdom, spread your merciful love, and serve my
brothers and sisters. May I be inspired today by the example of your archangels
to carry out my mission according to your plan of salvation.
The Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael 9-29- 2023
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this precious time pondering your
word. Bless me as I seek inspiration for my day.
Encountering Christ:
A True Child of Israel: Our Lord told Nathanael that he was a true child of
Israel, that there was “ no duplicity in him.” Jesus was drawing attention to
the nobility of Nathanael’s soul. Nathanael was not about impressing others. He
wasn’t concerned about appearances. He was authentic, real, honest, and
trustworthy. This disposition pleased Jesus. Can we say the same for ourselves?
Let us pray for the grace to be true to our Christian convictions, no matter
what pressures we undergo.
I See You: “Before
Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Wouldn’t we like to know what
went on under that fig tree? Any guess would be mere speculation, but the
important thing to know is that the occurrence Jesus referred to was probably
quite significant to Nathanael. He seemed overcome with amazement that Jesus
knew him more deeply than anyone had ever known him before. Jesus also knows
each of us intimately. He knows our deepest intentions when others only see
words and actions. He knows our distorted intentions—ones that can corrupt even
the most heroic of gestures. And he knows our heart's deepest desires,
sometimes before we do. The more we allow God into the most intimate sanctuary
of our soul, the greater will be our experience of the wonders he can do in us.
It is remarkable that God knows us as he does, even more remarkable that he
loves us as he does, and still more remarkable that he calls us into union with
him. Our experience of giving God permission to plumb the depths of our hearts
opens us to the truth of being deeply, overwhelmingly loved by him and finally
to the experience of allowing him to transform us and lead us to union with
him.
Angels Accompany Us: We celebrate angels in today’s liturgy. The word
“angel” means messenger. In spiritual reality, angels are everywhere. Personal
guardian angels are with us throughout our life. Angels are present at each
Mass adoring Jesus along with us. Angels are invoked at funerals as we ask them
to lead us to paradise (CCC 335). “The whole life of the Church benefits from
the mysterious and powerful help of angels (CCC 334). How blessed are we by
these mysterious creatures God has given us! How often do we think of them?
Welcome their presence in our life? Ask them for favors?
Conversing with Christ: Lord, I can never fully comprehend how well you
know and love me. You even gave the church the gift of archangels. I am
grateful for all of your spiritual gifts and want only to know you more and
more with each passing day.
September 29, 2022- Feast of Saints Michael,
Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be like
your disciple Nathanael, having no duplicity in me. Instill in me a love for
the truth, so that, in large ways and small, I may always be truthful with
those around me. Amen.
Encountering Christ:
1. Where Do We Rest?: Scripture tells
us that Nathanael had been spotted by Christ under a fig tree. What was he
doing there? Praying? Enjoying nature? Having some alone time? In our
electronic age, “rest” never seems to happen. There is always one more post,
email, tweet, text, video, or comment. When was the last time we took a moment
to find a quiet spot, “under a fig tree,” where perhaps the Lord can touch our
heart in a new way?
2. A Heart That Is Pure: This encounter
with Nathanael is but one example of how Jesus treats his followers as
individuals. He knows each of us by name and what is in our hearts. As Psalm
139 says, “Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and
stand; you understand my thoughts from afar…Even before a word is on my tongue,
Lord, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand
upon me.” Since Our Lord knows all of our thoughts, including those that may be
keeping our heart from being pure like Nathanael’s, let us thoroughly examine
conscience, looking for attachments that may be drawing us away from our
all-knowing, all-loving God. Jesus is ready and waiting to purify us through
the sacrament of Reconciliation.
3. Why Do We Believe?: Nathanael’s
spontaneous burst of faith must have delighted Jesus. Jesus promised that
Nathanael would “see greater things than this.” Nathanael’s faith would need
strengthening as he grew from a new convert to an Apostle martyred for his
belief in Jesus. Each of us has had moments of spontaneity when faith seemed
easy as we followed the Way. But, in difficult times, our faith can be tested.
Why do we continue to follow Christ—out of love, fear, and habit?
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, strengthen my faith! I want to be a
diligent worker, full of faith, and ready for any trial. I know my heart is not
pure, but I trust your grace to transform me continually.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng
Chúa Nhật 26 Thường Niên Năm C
Lạy Chúa, con
hy vọng một ngày nào đó con sẽ được ở cùng Chúa trong vinh quang thiên đàng.
Xin Chúa soi sáng cho con biết phục vụ những người nghèo quanh con và xoa dịu nỗi
đau khổ của họ. Con cầu xin Chúa cho con trở thành người quản lý tốt những điều
tốt đẹp con đã nhận được.
Lời cảnh báo cho những người ham mê tiền bạc:
Trong Phúc Âm,
Thánh Luca vừa kể cho chúng ta nghe câu chuyện những người Pharisêu đã đáp lại
Dụ ngôn Người Quản Gia Bất Chính (Luca 16:1-13) của Chúa Giêsu bằng cách chế giễu
Ngài. Thánh Luca cũng cho chúng ta biết lý do tại sao họ làm như vậy. Và Thánh Luca
cho biết những người Pharisêu “ham mê tiền bạc” (Luca 16:14).
Đáp lại sự chế giễu của họ, Chúa Giêsu kể cho họ nghe một dụ ngôn khác; Dụ
ngôn Người Giàu và Ladarô. Giống như Dụ ngôn Người Quản Gia Bất Chính, dụ ngôn
này nhằm khiến những người Pharisêu suy ngẫm về cách họ đang sử dụng của cải.
Liệu họ có đang sử dụng của cải trần gian để tích trữ kho tàng trên trời với
Chúa không? Phải chăng họ đang bỏ bê nhu cầu của người nghèo và chọn cách, giống
như người giàu có, mặc áo vải gai mịn và ăn uống xa hoa mỗi ngày? Mặc dù Chúa
Giêsu ca ngợi sự nghèo khó là một phước lành, Người cũng cảnh báo: “Khốn cho
các ngươi là những kẻ giàu có, vì các ngươi đã được an ủi rồi” (Lc 6:24).
Dụ ngôn hôm nay minh họa cho sự đảo ngược vận mệnh đã được công bố trước đó
trong Bài Giảng Trên Núi. Lazarô, người đã chịu đau khổ ở đời này, giờ đây được
an ủi ở đời sau, và người giàu có, người đã quá quan tâm đến bản thân nhưng lại
bỏ bê người nghèo, giờ đây phải chịu đau khổ trong lửa địa ngục.
Lời Phán Xét của A-mốt đối với Giới Tinh Hoa Giàu Có:
Trong Bài Đọc Thứ Nhất, chúng ta nghe lời phán xét mang tính tiên tri của
A-mốt dành cho những người giàu có ở Sion, ngọn núi thuộc thủ đô Giê-ru-sa-lem
thuộc Vương quốc Giu-đa phía Nam. Phần lớn công việc và sứ điệp tiên tri của
A-mốt hướng đến Vương quốc Israel phía Bắc.
Trong sách A-mốt 4:1, ông nói với những phụ nữ giàu có ở vương quốc phía bắc
về sự áp bức người nghèo: “Hãy nghe lời này, hỡi những con bò cái Ba-san, những
kẻ ở trên núi Sa-ma-ri, áp bức người nghèo, chà đạp người nghèo, những kẻ nói với
chồng mình rằng: ‘Hãy mang đến, cho chúng ta uống.’” Nhưng ở đây, Vương quốc
phía Nam cũng là trọng tâm của ông. A-mốt cảnh báo: “Vì cuộc sống xa hoa, thờ
ngẫu tượng và bỏ bê người nghèo của họ, hình phạt lưu đày sẽ đến” (Hướng dẫn
Công giáo về Cựu Ước, 409).
Lời tiên tri của A-mốt đã ứng nghiệm đối với Vương quốc Israel phía Bắc vào
năm 722 TCN khi người Assyria chinh phục Israel và đày dân tộc này đi lưu đày.
Lời tiên tri của ông đã ứng nghiệm đối với Vương quốc Judah phía Nam vào năm
587 TCN khi người Babylon chinh phục Judah và Jerusalem rồi bắt dân tộc này
sang Babylon làm tù binh. Sự phán xét của A-mốt đối với Israel và Judah cũng áp
dụng cho chúng ta. Nếu chúng ta lơ là việc chăm sóc người nghèo trong đời này,
thì chúng ta có nguy cơ trải qua sự lưu đày vĩnh viễn xa cách Thiên Chúa ở đời
sau.
Lời khuyên nhủ của Thánh Phaolô dành cho Ti-mô-thê:
Trong Bài đọc II, Thánh Phaolô khuyên Ti-mô-thê về cách quản trị cộng đồng
Ê-phê-sô. Cuối bài đọc, Thánh Phaolô cảnh báo Ti-mô-thê về những kẻ lợi dụng
tôn giáo để trục lợi vật chất. Ngay cả ngày nay, chúng ta vẫn thấy những trường
hợp tai tiếng về những kẻ rao giảng “phúc âm thịnh vượng”, những nhà truyền
giáo xin tiền để nuôi sống lối sống xa hoa, và những mục sư ăn cắp của giáo xứ.
Mặc dù Thánh Phaolô cảnh báo về những kẻ lợi dụng tôn giáo để kiếm tiền, ngài
cũng nói rằng “tôn giáo với sự thỏa lòng là một nguồn lợi lớn”. Nguồn lợi ở đây
không phải là của cải vật chất, mà là sự đảm bảo rằng Thiên Chúa sẽ chu cấp cho
những nhu cầu của con người trong đời này và hứa ban sự sống đời đời cho những
ai tích trữ kho tàng trên trời. “Lợi ích thực sự của tôn giáo đòi hỏi sự tự do
nội tâm về của cải vật chất, bằng lòng với những nhu cầu thiết yếu của cuộc sống.
Từ Hy Lạp autarkeia (bằng lòng) là một thuật ngữ triết học phổ biến để chỉ
sự độc lập khỏi của cải vật chất. Phao-lô đồng tình với Gióp và truyền thống
Khôn Ngoan: ‘Tôi trần truồng sinh ra từ lòng mẹ, / và tôi sẽ trần truồng trở về’
(Gióp 1:21). Tất cả những gì người ta đạt được cuối cùng phải đánh mất, do đó
thật phi lý khi lấy của cải làm mục tiêu của cuộc đời” (Montague, I và II
Ti-mô-thê, Titus, 124-125).
Lạy Chúa Giê-su, xin dạy con sống trong sạch và giản dị trong lòng và vượt
qua mọi sự giả hình tôn giáo. Con không muốn lòng con bị chia rẽ. Con yêu Chúa
hết lòng, hết linh hồn, hết trí khôn và hết sức lực.
26th
Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I
hope that one day I will be with you in the glory of heaven. Inspire me to
serve the poor around me and alleviate their suffering. I pray that I be a good
administrator of the good things I have received.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Warning to the Lovers of Money: In the Gospel,
Luke has just told us that the Pharisees responded to Jesus’ Parable of the
Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1-13) by sneering at him. Luke also gives us why
they did so. The Pharisees, Luke tells us, “loved money” (Luke 16:14). In
response to their sneering, Jesus addressed another parable to the Pharisees –
the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Like the Parable of the Dishonest
Steward, it attempts to get the Pharisees to reflect on how they are using
their wealth. Are they using earthly wealth to store up heavenly treasure with
God? Are they neglecting the needs of the poor and choosing, like the rich man,
to dress in fine linen and dine sumptuously each day? While Jesus has praised
poverty as a blessing, he warns: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have
received your consolation” (Luke 6:24). Today’s parable exemplifies the
reversal of fortunes announced earlier in the Sermon on the Plain. Lazarus, who
suffered in this life, is now comforted in the next life, and the rich man, who
cared excessively for himself but neglected to care for the poor, now suffers
torment in the flames of Hades.
2. Amos’s Judgment of the Wealthy
Elite: In
the First Reading, we hear Amos’s prophetic judgment pronounced upon the
wealthy in Zion, the mountain in the capital city of Jerusalem in the Southern
Kingdom of Judah. Much of Amos’ prophetic work and message was directed to the
Northern Kingdom of Israel. In Amos 4:1, he addresses the wealthy women of the
northern kingdom for their oppression of the poor: “Hear this word, you cows of
Bashan, who are in the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the
needy, who say to their husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink.’” But here the
Southern Kingdom is also his focus. Amos warns: “Because of their lives of
luxury, idolatry, and neglect of the poor, the punishment of exile is coming” (A
Catholic Guide to the Old Testament, 409). Amos’ prophecy is fulfilled for
the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. when the Assyrians conquered Israel
and sent its people into exile. His prophecy is fulfilled for the Southern
Kingdom of Judah in 587 B.C. when the Babylonians conquered Judah and Jerusalem
and brought its people to Babylon as captives. Amos’ judgment on Israel and
Judah applies to us. If we neglect to care for the poor in this life, then we
are in danger of experiencing eternal exile from God in the next.
3. Paul’s Exhortations to Timothy: In the Second
Reading, Paul is offering Timothy advice on how to govern the community in
Ephesus. At the end of the reading, Paul warns Timothy about those who use
religion for their own material gain. Even today, we have the scandalous
example of those who preach the “prosperity gospel,” evangelists who ask for
money to support their lavish lifestyle, and pastors who steal from their
parishes. While Paul warns against those who use religion to make money, he
also says that “religion with contentment is a great gain.” The gain, here, is
not material wealth, but the assurance that God will provide for one’s needs in
this life and promises eternal life to those who store up heavenly treasure.
“[R]eligion’s real benefit demands inner freedom regarding material wealth,
being content with the necessities of life. The Greek word autarkeia (contentment)
was a common philosophical term for independence from material goods. Paul
agrees with Job and the Wisdom tradition: ‘Naked I came forth from my mother’s
womb, / and naked shall I go back again’ (Job 1:21). All that one has gained
one must ultimately forfeit, hence the absurdity of making wealth the goal of
one’s life” (Montague, First and Second Timothy, Titus, 124-125).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus,
teach me to be pure and simple of heart and overcome any religious hypocrisy. I
do not want my heart to be divided. I love you with all my heart, soul, mind,
and strength.
26th
Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a
rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously
each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with
sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the
rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man
died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.” Luke 16:19–22
No rational person
would want to go to hell. The rich man in this parable certainly did not desire
hell, but his actions led him there. Most people, however, do want to be rich
in this world. In fact, many people would think it irrational not to
desire wealth. It is very rare to find a person who chooses to live in
simplicity as a means to deeper spiritual fulfillment and as a preparation for
the riches of Heaven. But one clear message from our Gospel story today is that
the life that Lazarus lived on earth was far better than that of the rich man.
So which life do you prefer here and now? While it is true that the rich man’s
riches were not the exclusive cause of his eternal damnation, it is also true
that his riches imposed upon him a temptation toward selfishness and
indifference to the needs of others, which ended in his eternal demise.
Imagine that you
won many millions of dollars. What would you do with it? As a good Christian,
you might immediately profess that you would use that money for good, to help
the poor and make a difference in the lives of others. What would the ideal
response be to winning many millions of dollars? Would it suffice to give away
ten percent and then use the rest for yourself? Probably not.
One thing that this parable teaches is
that material wealth not only adds nothing of value to our eternal reward, it
also adds much temptation to our lives. True, if you received a lot of money
and then used that money exclusively for good in accord with God’s will, that
would be a holy act of charity on your part and good for your eternal soul. But
doing so would be very difficult. It would be very difficult to resist the
temptations that come from material wealth.
Is it good to be
rich? It is certainly good to be able to take care of your basic needs in life
and those of your family. Having money helps you do that. But once our basic
needs have been met, the money left over is far more of a temptation than it is
a blessing. We have to believe that. And if you are among those who want to
become rich so that you can help others, consider this scenario. If that is
your motivation, and if you did win a large amount of money, would it be
possible for you to continue living the way you are living now? Imagine staying
in the same home, driving the same car, having the same lifestyle, and using
all the money you obtained 100% for the glory of God and the good of others.
That would be hard to do. But if you could do it, not only would it be good for
others, it would be exceptionally good for your own soul. Though this Gospel
story has many valuable lessons in it, one of the clearest messages is that
earthly poverty benefits a soul far more than earthly wealth. Many people will find
that hard to accept.
Reflect, today,
upon the stark contrast between Lazarus and the rich man. One dined sumptuously
every day, was clothed in fine linen and purple garments and then spent
eternity in the netherworld where he was tormented. The other longed to eat the
scraps from another’s table, had no home, was covered in sores, but spent
eternity in Heaven after being carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
Choose to imitate Lazarus rather than the rich man. If you have many material
possessions, work hard at being detached from them. Live simply, be generous,
and never neglect those in need. If you have very little, do not covet more.
Eliminate envy, don’t despair, trust in the providence of God, and rejoice
that, like Lazarus, you are able to build up eternal riches within your soul
that will remain with you forever.
Lord of true
riches, the spiritual wealth of true virtue, charity, faith and hope are all
that matters in life. Material possessions mean little in this life and are a
source of many temptations. Please free me from the desire for wealth. Free me
from greed, selfishness and envy. Fill me with a spirit of detachment and
generosity, and help me to build up true treasure in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in
You.
