Suy Niệm bài Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần 26TN

Suy Niệm bài Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần 26TN – (Luke 10:1-12)
Chúa Giêsu đã sai 70 môn đệ của Ngài từng cặp, hai người một ra đi khắp xóm làng để rao giảng về Nước của Thiên Chúa. Họ được Chúa ban cho quyền chữa lành và an ủi, nhưng không được mang theo bất cứ thứ gì, họ, không được chọn lựa thức ăn hoặc chỗ ở của họ. Đó là một kinh nghiệm về sự tin cậy vào Thiên Chúa một cách tuyệt đối, vì họ không được phép mang theo tiền bạc hoặc đem theo quần áo. Tất cả sẽ được Thiên Chúa chu cấp và lo liệu. Như Thánh Phanxicô chúng ta mừng kính hôm nay. Từng là một người con trong gia đình quý phái giàu có, ngài đã nghe theo tiếng gọi của Chúa và từ bỏ tất cả mặc dù có sự ngăn cản của bố mẹ, ngài đã trả lại tất cả ngay cả bộ quần áo ngài mặc trên người để theo Chúa sống trong sự khó nghèo cho đến hôm nay. Chúng ta đã chng kiến bao nhiêu là người đã theo ngài và sống trong nhà các dòng Phanxicô .
Chúng ta đã chuẩn bị và bắt đầu cho cuộc hành trình của chúng ta chưa? Chúng ta học được cách đặt niềm tin tưởng của chúng ta vào Thiên Chúa. Sự tin tưởng đó không phải là tiền bạc, những mối liên hệ, hay quyền lực mà chúng ta sẽ thấy trong cuộc sống, nhưng đó là sự chăm sóc, ân cần chu đáo của Thiên Chúa. Thánh Phanxicô Assisi biết rõ điều này, các tu sĩ dòng Phanxicô từng sống rất đơn sơ, khó nghèo, và họ được Thiên Chúa chúc phúc trong sự thành công. Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô kêu gọi chúng ta nên học lại bài học này trong sự hợp nhất trong Giáo Hội; tin tưởng nhiều hơn vào Thiên Chúa và đừng quá để tâm đến sự giàu có và quyền lực.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp con biết sống trọn vẹn trong tình yêu mến Chúa.
 
Reflection:
Jesus sent out 70 followers, two by two, to travel through the land proclaiming the kingdom of God. They were to heal and comfort, but not linger or be choosy about their food or accommodations. It was an experience of absolute trust in God, for they were not allowed to take money or spare clothing. All would be provided. Would we embark on a journey so unprepared? We could learn to be far more trusting than we are. It is not money, connections, or power that will see us through life, but the care and providence of God. St. Francis of Assisi knew this well — his friars travelled and lived very lightly, and they were blessed with success. Pope Francis urges us to relearn this lesson as a Church — trust more in God and less in wealth and power.
  Like the disciples of Jesus, we are missioned to go and spread the Good News to those who do not know God, even to those we do not know. We are told that "Evangelization happens when the word of Jesus speaks to people's hearts and minds. This means that we must let our faith shine on the world around us, radiating the love of Jesus by the everyday way we speak, think and act." (US Conference of Bishops)
 May we, in our own little ways, become bearers of the Good News to others? Lord, help me to live in complete trust.
 
Thursday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.”  Luke 10:1–3
Why would our Lord send His disciples out like lambs among wolves? At first, this might be concerning and cause us to wonder if our Lord were sending them into a situation in which they would encounter harm. Saint Ambrose, in commenting on this, explains that there is no reason for these disciples to fear, since Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who always protects His sheep. It’s helpful to reflect upon what sort of danger these disciples would encounter on this mission and all future missions and to contrast that danger with the only form of danger we should fear.
The “wolves” in this situation are especially some of the cruel religious and civil leaders of that time, as well as those who would reject the disciples and their teaching. When looking at the worldly danger that our Lord encountered, as well as His disciples, we see that it was a danger of persecution. But is that a “danger” that one should fear? Clearly not, since Jesus never cowered in the face of it. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see how this same fate of persecution befell Jesus’ followers. But in the divine perspective, true “danger” is only that which has the potential to do eternal damage to one’s soul: sin. 
Sin and sin alone has the potential to do true damage, not persecution or even death. So when Jesus sent His disciples out “like lambs among wolves,” He was fully aware of the persecution they would receive in this world. But He exhorted them and sent them, because He knew that even if they were to eventually suffer persecution and death, their faith and courage in the midst of it would gain them merit in eternal life and would become an instrument of grace for others in their life of faith. As was commonly said in the early Church, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.” For that reason, as Jesus sent these sheep out among wolves, He also accompanied their souls as the Good Shepherd, protecting their virtue, strengthening them in their witness to the faith, and keeping them from fear and from sin. He did not want them to fear the death of their body or their worldly reputation—rather, only the death of their souls which He, as the Good Shepherd, vigorously defended.
Reflect, today, upon the glorious truth that our Lord also sends you forth to be like a lamb among wolves. The fulfillment of the will of God in your life will take fortitude and courage as you trust that our Lord will keep you free from the countless temptations of sin. As you go forth, do not be surprised if you encounter harshness from others in the world, judgment and even persecution in various forms. When you do, respond with virtue. Keep faith, hope and charity alive in your life and do not fear those who can harm you in ways that are not eternal. Instead, stay firmly grounded in your mission to love and to share the mercy and truth of God in our world, no matter the consequences. Doing so will bring with it countless interior blessings of grace and will enable God to use you as an instrument of His grace in ways beyond that which you can ever conceive.
My courageous Lord, You came face-to-face with a harshness and cruelty in this world that ultimately enabled You to give witness to Your divine love by freely laying down Your life. Please send me forth on Your mission and strengthen me with every divine virtue so that I will not fear any form of persecution but always remain steadfast in my love of You, overcoming all fear through the gift of faith. My life is Yours, dear Lord. Do with me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Thursday 26th Week in Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: Jesus, as I come to prayer, I ask you to show me your heart and to share your longings with me so that they might become mine as well. You ask me to be moved by the abundant needs in this world and to pray for more laborers for the harvest. Help me to open my heart to your answer to this prayer in my own heart and to be willing to become part of the answer through my commitment to being a sower of peace in this world. 
Encountering Christ:
1.      He Sent Them in Pairs: Jesus sent his disciples to prepare the way ahead of him. They were to testify to their own experience of how their own lives had been changed through their relationship with the Master and so enkindle in their listeners the desire for a similarly transformative encounter with Jesus. When Jesus arrived in these towns, he would find hearts already open to his words: good soil to plant seeds of eternal life. Today, too, he sends us ahead of him to the homes, streets, and public places we frequent. We are called to be his witnesses, very often not even through our words, but primarily through the sincere, unpretentious testimony of a Christian genuinely and joyfully striving to live according to the Gospel. Such testimony is a powerful invitation to others to take an interest in the secret behind the fruitfulness of our lives and dispose their hearts to the future action of grace.
2.      Carry Nothing: Jesus sent his disciples on a mission without the support of material guarantees. He wanted them to learn that the success of their ministry was not to be found in human security but in the power of his word at work in them. Just as they were to rely on God’s providence to provide for their material needs–food, drink, or a replacement sandal if something went awry–so too, and more importantly, were they to rely on his action, and not their prepared discourses and eloquence, in order to minister effectively. Self-reliance can work its way into our spiritual lives and apostolic work in very subtle ways. All too often, we can be tempted to over plan down to the last dot and comma, leaving God little room to provide our “daily bread.” If our attention is too occupied studying the map we have laid out for ourselves, we may fail to notice the Spirit’s gentle directions calling us to testify to his love.
3.      Peace to This Household: Jesus calls us to be sowers of peace—indiscriminate sowers of peace. Jesus does not ask his disciples to evaluate others’ worthiness before offering them the blessing of peace. It is not for them to judge the merits of those they minister to. They are called to be sowers who freely spread the good news they have been privileged to receive and leave it to God to bring that seed to fruition. We are not to ration that we have received but to give it freely. Peace that is shared will multiply and come back to bless us, even when it is not well-received by those to whom it is offered. However, grace that is allowed to grow stagnant within our hearts will dry up and wither. Are we sowers of peace wherever we go?
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to be aware that I am “sent” by you each and every day, not only when I am explicitly engaged in the apostolate, but rather in every moment, by reason of your Spirit living in me. You have allowed me to encounter your love and call me to find the deepest joy in loving as you love. Grant me the grace to be a sower of peace and a true reflection of your love for those I encounter throughout my day. Help me freely give what I have received from you and be capable of recognizing your gentle invitations to be an instrument of your love in the most unexpected of places.
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will take a moment to become aware of a person in my life who I might unconsciously consider undeserving of my gift of peace. I will offer a tangible gesture of peace to this person, with the desire that Jesus is able to express his love for that person through me.
 
REFLECTIION Luke 10:1-12
Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu cho chúng ta biết là những người theo Chúa sẽ phải chịu phần khổ sở đau đớn và đánh đập như chính Ngài sẽ phải chịu. Đó là những  phần rất đặc biệt duy nhất mà các môn đệ như chúng ta được mời gọi để trở thành người Kitô hữu. Chúa Giêsu không hứa là sẽ làm cho cuộc sống của chúng ta bây giờ được dễ dàng hơn, được có đời sống đầy đủ hơn so với thời gian mà các tông đồ đã sống. Ngài đã và đang sai chúng ta ra đi và sống giữa dòng đời như chiên con sống giữa bầy sói.
Một khi chúng ta đã định cho hướng đi cho tương lai của chúng ta, chúng ta phải đứng lên, phổ biến truyền bá và bênh vực cho sự thật khi có sự tổn hại đến quyền lợi ích kỷ của những người khác, cũng vì thế mà chúng ta có thể phải gánh chịu những đau thương, nhữ bắt bớ, giam cầm vì chúng ta dám làm môn đệ và theo Chúa Kitô.
            Mỗi khi chúng ta đón nhận những sự sĩ nhục vì đã sống theo gương Đức Kitô, chúng ta hãy nên nhớ rằng, chính Chúa Kitô đã sống và làm gương cho chúng ta trong mọi nơi, mọi lúc và mọi hoàn cảnh. Những dấu đinh trên tay và chân, và mũi đòng đâm sâu trên ngực Chúa đã trờ nên là dấu chỉ và chứng từ tốt nhất khi Ngài đã hiện ra cho các môn đệ của Ngài sau khi Ngài đã sống lại. Chúa đã trân trọng những vết thường đắt giá nhất trên thân thể của Ngài mà Ngài đã giữ lại vào trong thân xác vinh hiển của Ngài khi sống lại và chắc chắn những dấu chỉ này còn hiển trị mãi mãi trên Nước Trời.
 
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel Jesus warns us that Christians will be liable to pains and injuries, as he was. It is all part of the unique discipleship that is required of each one of us as Christians. Jesus does not alter the rules to make life easier for us now than it was for the apostles. He continues to send us out like lambs in the midst of wolves. Once we take a definite stand, support an unpopular cause or stand for the truth when it hurts the selfish interests of others, then we will begin to collect our scars for Christ.
            When we receive scars for being models of Christian living, let us keep in mind that Jesus, the greatest model of all times, was literally scarred from head to foot. The marks of the nails and spear became his best proof of identification when he appeared to his disciples after his Resurrection. He cherished his wounds so dearly that he transferred them to his glorified body and undoubtedly still displays them in Heaven today.
            As for ourselves, what scars do we have to show for our years of Christian living? As it is only natural for a professional boxer to be scarred as he battles his opponents, so too, it is only natural if for a Christian, to be scarred, since true Christian living is a lifelong battle defending Christian principles against injustices and the forces of evil.

Lễ nhớ các Thiên Thần Bản Mệnh, ngày 2 tháng 10

Lễ nhớ các Thiên Thần Bản Mệnh, ngày 2 tháng 10
“Các con hãy coi chừng, đừng khinh rẻ một ai trong những kẻ bé mọn này, vì Thầy bảo các con, thiên thần của chúng trên trời hằng chiêm ngưỡng thánh nhan Cha Thầy, Ðấng ngự trên trời". (Mt 18:10)
Lạy Cha trên trời, chúng con cảm tạ Cha đã ban cho chúng con thiên thần hộ mệnh. Chúng con mong một ngày nào đó được gặp các ngài trên thiên đàng. Các ngài bảo vệ chúng con và đem lại những cảm hứng tốt đẹp cho chúng con. Xin cho chúng con luôn lắng nghe và ngoan ngoãn nghe theo tiếng gọi của các ngài.
Thưa quý ông bà anh chị em, Khi chúng ta chiêm ngắm vẻ đẹp công trình sáng tạo của Thiên Chúa và vị trí của chúng ta trong đó, chúng ta không nên quên vẻ đẹp và vai trò của các thiên thần. Hôm nay, chúng ta mừng lễ tưởng niệm các Thiên Thần Bản Mệnh. Chúng ta ngợi khen Thiên Chúa và tạ ơn Người đã ban cho mỗi người chúng ta một thiên thần. Sách Giáo lý Công giáo dạy rằng: “Từ khởi đầu cho đến khi chết, cuộc sống con người được bao bọc bởi sự chăm sóc và chuyển cầu của các thiên thần. Bên cạnh mỗi tín hữu, có một thiên thần bảo vệ và mục tử dẫn dắt họ đến sự sống” (GLHTCG, 336).
Thiên Thần Bản Mệnh của chúng ta đã được ban cho thẩm quyền và quyền năng. Đồng thời, không một thiên thần nào, dù tốt hay xấu, có thể ép buộc chúng ta làm điều gì trái với ý muốn của mình. Thiên thần tốt trình bày những điều tốt lành cho tâm trí chúng ta; thiên thần xấu xa trình bày điều xấu đội lốt điều tốt.
Thánh vịnh hôm nay nhắc lại rằng Thiên Chúa đã ban cho mỗi thiên thần tốt sự hiểu biết về chúng ta. Với sự hiểu biết này, các ngài có thể bảo vệ chúng ta trên mọi nẻo đường. Các ngài có thể hướng dẫn chúng ta vào con đường cứu độ và bình an.
Nhưng cuối cùng, chính chúng ta là người lựa chọn điều tốt hay điều xấu; Chúng ta là những người lựa chọn hành động như những người con tự do của Chúa hoặc lạm dụng sự tự do của mình bằng cách chọn điều ác.
 Khi lắng nghe thiên thần hộ mệnh, chúng ta được đảm bảo về sự bảo vệ của Chúa khỏi kẻ thù và kẻ thù của chúng ta.
Kiến thức của chúng ta về các thiên thần rất chưa hoàn thiện. Ở trần gian, chúng ta chỉ có thể phân biệt họ một cách tổng quát. Trên thiên đàng, chúng ta sẽ biết họ một cách rõ ràng. Chúng ta sẽ thấy mối quan hệ của họ với Chúa và cách họ hành động để thực hiện kế hoạch yêu thương của Chúa.
Dựa trên Kinh thánh, Thánh truyền và Thần học, chín dàn hợp xướng thiên thần được phân biệt. Chín dàn hợp xướng này, được tổ chức thành ba nhóm, mỗi nhóm ba người, là sự phản ánh của Chúa Ba Ngôi: ba dàn hợp xướng đầu tiên gần gũi nhất với Chúa và chiêm ngưỡng Ngài cùng mục đích sáng tạo của Ngài; ba dàn hợp xướng tiếp theo suy ngẫm về những gì cần làm để đạt được mục tiêu này; ba dàn hợp xướng cuối cùng áp dụng kiến ​​thức này vào các tác động của Chúa.
Trong số những thiên thần thực sự áp dụng kiến ​​thức này, các Lãnh thần được cho là nắm giữ vị trí cao nhất. Vai trò của họ được so sánh với vai trò của các tướng lĩnh và sĩ quan trong quân đội. Tuy nhiên, các thiên thần hộ mệnh của chúng ta thuộc về dàn hợp xướng thấp nhất, bởi vì họ là những người thực hiện những gì cần phải làm. Việc chúng ta tôn kính các Thiên Thần Hộ Mệnh hôm nay để tỏ lòng biết ơn, vì chúng ta có một Đấng bảo vệ trên trời, Đấng soi sáng, bảo vệ, dẫn dắt và cầu bầu cho chúng ta.
Việc chiêm ngưỡng công trình sáng tạo của Thiên Chúa, cả hữu hình lẫn vô hình, khiến chúng ta tràn ngập sự kinh ngạc và kính sợ. bởi vì có những điều chúng ta sẽ thấy trên thiên đàng vượt quá trí tưởng tượng của chúng ta và đẹp hơn bất cứ điều gì trên trái đất này.
Cuối cùng, chúng ta tràn đầy hy vọng, vì chúng ta biết rằng lịch sử thế giới nằm trong tay Thiên Chúa và các đạo binh trên trời đang làm việc không mệt mỏi để hoàn thành kế hoạch nhân từ và yêu thương của Ngài.
Trong Phúc Âm, Chúa Giêsu đã dạy. Ngài dạy các môn đệ rằng sự vĩ đại trong Nước Trời không giống như sự vĩ đại trong vương quốc trần gian. Nếu nhìn sự vật theo quan điểm thế gian, chúng ta thường đo lường sự vĩ đại bằng sức mạnh, sự giàu có, vẻ đẹp hình thể và thành tựu. Tuy nhiên, Chúa Giê-su không chỉ vào Caesar hay một người giàu có quyền lực để chứng minh ai là vĩ đại.
Thay vào đó, Ngài chỉ vào một đứa trẻ để chỉ ra sự vĩ đại tâm linh đích thực.  Vậy làm thế nào chúng ta có thể trở nên giống như trẻ nhỏ? Khi nhìn thấy một đứa trẻ, chúng ta thấy chúng phụ thuộc rất nhiều vào cha mẹ và người giám hộ. Chúng thường là những đứa trẻ ngây thơ, đơn sơ, khiêm ntoosn, tràn đầy niềm vui và tiếng cười. Liệu chúng ta có phụ thuộc vào Cha của chúng ta trên trời như một đứa trẻ không?
Lạy Chúa Giê-su, Chúa hiền lành và khiêm nhường trong lòng. Xin giúp chúng con biết học cách khiêm nhường và đơn sơ như một đứa trẻ ngây thơ. Ma quỷ thích làm mọi thứ phức tạp để lừa dối chúngcon. Xin Chúa giúp chúng con cắt đứt sự lừa dối và yêu Chúa bằng một tấm lòng trọn vẹn. Amen
 
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, October 2
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”  Matthew 18:10
When we contemplate the beauty of God's creation and our place in it, we should not forget the beauty and role of the angels. Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. We praise God and thank him for assigning an angel to each one of us. In the Catechism, we read: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of the angels. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life” (CCC, 336). Our Guardian Angel has been granted authority and power. At the same time, no angel, good or evil, can force us to do something against our will. Good angels present good things to our minds; evil angels present evil disguised as good. Today’s psalm recalls that God has given knowledge to each good angel about us. With this knowledge, they can guard us in all of our ways. They can direct us into the way of salvation and peace. But in the end, we are the ones who choose good or evil; we are the ones who choose either to act as free children of God or to abuse our freedom by choosing evil. When we listen to our guardian angel, we are assured of God's protection from our enemies and foes.
2. The Choirs of Angels: Our knowledge of the angels is very imperfect. Here on earth, we can only distinguish them in a general way. In heaven, we will know them distinctly. We will see their relation to God and how they have acted to bring about God's loving plan. Based on Scripture, Sacred Tradition and Sacred Theology distinguish nine choirs of angels. These nine choirs, organized in three sets of three, are a reflection of the Trinity: the first three choirs are closest to God and contemplate him and the goal of his creation; the next three choirs consider what is to be done to reach this goal; the last three choirs apply this knowledge to God’s effects. Of those angels who practically apply this knowledge, the Principalities are said to hold the highest place. Their role is compared to that of generals and officers in battle. Our guardian angels, however, belong to the lowest choir, because they are the ones who carry out what is to be done. Our veneration of the Holy Guardian Angels today fills us with gratitude, for we have a heavenly protector who enlightens us, defends us, guides us, and intercedes for us. The contemplation of God’s creation, both visible and invisible, fills us with wonder and awe – for there are things we will see in heaven which surpass our imagination and are more beautiful than anything here on earth. Lastly, we are filled with hope, for we know that the history of the world is in God’s hands and that the heavenly hosts work tirelessly to accomplish God’s merciful and loving plan.
3. Teaching the People: In the First Reading, we hear of Ezra and Nehemiah, along with the Levites, teaching and explaining the Law of Moses to the people of Judah. In the Gospel, Jesus also teaches. He teaches his disciples that greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is not like greatness in an earthly kingdom. If we view things from a worldly perspective, we tend to measure greatness in terms of strength, wealth, physical beauty, and achievement. Jesus, however, does not point to Caesar or to a wealthy person of power to show who is great. Rather, he points to a child to indicate true spiritual greatness. How, then, do we turn and become like children? When we see a child, we see how they depend so much on their parents and guardians. They are often innocent, simple, humble, and full of joy and laughter. Am I dependent, like a child, upon my Heavenly Father?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are meek and humble of heart. Help me to learn how to be humble and simple like an innocent child. The devil likes to complicate things in an effort to deceive me. Help me cut through the deception and love you with an undivided heart.
 
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, October 2
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”  Matthew 18:10
The reality of angels is fascinating to most people, especially to children. The Guardian Angels, in particular, are often pictured in sacred art as walking hand-in-hand with children. And though this is true, they also walk hand-in-hand with each one of us throughout our lives. This is their sacred duty given to them by God. In quoting Saint Basil, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the existence of Guardian Angels by saying: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life’” (#336).
Imagine, in an earthly sense, that you had a personal bodyguard to look after you day and night throughout your life. Perhaps this evokes two different sentiments. First, it would most certainly comfort you when there is imminent danger around. You would know you are not alone and that you would be kept safe from physical harm. Another sentiment it may invoke is that of a loss of personal privacy. If someone were watching over you, day and night, you would always be aware of their watchful eye. Everything you said and did would be noticed. For some, this may not always be welcome. Why? Because this means they see all you do, including your sin. Fear of judgment, the loss of personal privacy and the like may be difficult to accept.
But now imagine that this “bodyguard” is one who offers no judgment, acts with perfect love for you, keeps confidentiality with perfection and cares only for your well-being. Though it may be hard to imagine that such a person could exist, that person does exist in the person of your guardian angel.
Your guardian angel is real, has a keen and powerful intellect, has a will perfectly united with the will of God, and was created for the single purpose of protecting you and leading you into the fulfillment of God’s will. When you sin and stray, your guardian angel’s only concern is to guide you back to God. When you are fearful or in trouble, your guardian angel’s only care is to protect you and fill you with God’s peace and courage. And though God could have provided you with all of these graces directly, without the mediation of an angel, He chose to do so through the mediation of your personal guardian angel. Only in Heaven will we fully understand the profound depth of love, protection, and care given to us by these angelic beings.
Reflect, today, upon the intimate knowledge that your guardian angel has of you. As you ponder this reality, rejoice that someone knows you so well and loves you with a perfect love. This angel of yours not only loves you perfectly but also has been entrusted with great power from God to protect you and shepherd you to the fulfillment of your life mission. Prayerfully acknowledge the great gift that your guardian angel is to you and entrust yourself more fully to this angelic mediation.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. Guardian angel, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ kính Thiên Thần bản Mệnh. Oct 2
Qua Kinh thánh chúng ta có đầy đủ các ví dụ về cách các thiên thần đóng vai trò là sứ giả và người bảo vệ con người chúng ta. Khi ông Phêrô bị xích trong tù và bị canh giữ cẩn mật, thiên thần đã hiện ra đánh thức ông ta vào nửa đêm, tháo xiềng xích và đưa ông ra khỏi nhà tù một cách an toàn, vượt qua nhiều trạm lính canh và qua những cánh cổng khóa chặt. Khi ông Phêrô nhận ra mình không nằm mơ, ông đã thốt lên: "Bây giờ tôi đã tin chắc rằng Chúa đã sai thiên sứ của Ngài đến và giải cứu tôi" (Công vụ 12:11). Khi Đaniel bị ném vào hang của bầy sư tử đói, thiên thần đã bảo vệ ông khỏi bị các con sư tử đói hãm hại (Đaniel 6:22).
            Thánh Basil (329-379 sau Công nguyên) nói, "Bên cạnh mỗi tín hữu là một thiên thần như người bảo vệ và chăn dắt người đó trong cuộc sống." Các thiên thần phục vụ Chúa Giêsu sau khi Ngài bị cám dỗ trong đồng vắng và trong cơn hấp hối trong Vườn Ghếtsêmani (Lu-ca 22:43). Các thiên sứ sẽ hiện diện khi Chúa Kitô trở lại trong ngày sau hết, trong ngày đó các thiên thần bản mệnh sẽ báo cáo phúc trình lên Chúa trong giờ phán xét của Ngài (Mat 25:31). Các thiên thần cho chúng ta thấy rằng vũ trụ mà Chúa tạo ra này không chỉ là vật chất.
            Các thiên thần sa ngã (Jude 6; 2 Phêrô 2: 4; Khải huyền 12: 9), được mô tả trong Kinh thánh là ác thần hoặc là ma quỷ (Mk 5:13; Mat 25:41), chúng tìm kiếm cám dỗ và hủy diệt linh hồn của chúng ta (1 Phêrô 5: 8) . Nếu chúng không thể thuyết phục được chúng ta từ bỏ đức tin và lòng trung thành của chúng ta đối với Đức Kitô, thì chúng sẽ cố gắng cám dỗ chúng ta không sống theo ý muốn của Thiên Chúa bằng cách đánh lạc hướng chúng ta bằng những thứ vật chất làm hoa mắt thịt con người chúng ta và khiến chúng ta thờ ơ với những điều răn của Thiên Chúa.
            Thiên Chúa ban cho chúng ta thiên thần của Ngài để giúp đỡ có được vũ khí linh thiêng làm lá chắn đức tin và tấm giáp công bình (Êphêsô 6: 1-11) để chống lại ma quỷ và sự dối trá của chúng. Nhờ ân sủng của Chúa Thánh Thần, chúng ta cũng tham gia với các ca đoàn thiên thần trên trời để hát ngợi khen Thiên Chúa.
            Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Chúa là nơi nương tựa và sức mạnh của chúng con. Chúng con cầu xin Chúa giúp chúng con biết chạy đến bàn tay hướng dẫn của Mẹ Maria và sự giúp đỡ của các thiên thần trong việc bảo vệ chúng con khỏi tất cả những sự cám dỗ của ma quỷ. Xin Chúa ban cho chúng con sức mạnh của ý chí và lòng dũng cảm để từ chối những gì là xấu xa và biết chọn những gì là tốt cho linh hồn và cuộc sống mai sau.
 
Meditation: 10-2 The Holy Guardian Angels
            Scripture is full of examples of how the angels serve as messengers and protectors. When Peter was chained in prison and kept under guard, an angel woke him in middle of the night, released his chains, and brought him safely out of prison, past several guards and through locked gates. When Peter realized he wasn't dreaming, he exclaimed: "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me" (Acts 12:11). When Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, an angel protected him from harm (Daniel 6:22).
            St. Basil the Great (329-379 AD) said, "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness and during his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). The angels will be present at Christ's return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgment (Matthew 25:31). The angels show us that this universe which God created is not just materialistic.
            The fallen angels (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelations 12:9), described in Scripture as evil spirits or devils (Mark 5:13; Matthew 25:41), seek our destruction (see 1 Peter 5:8). If they cannot persuade us to disown our faith and loyalty to Christ, they will attempt to divert us from doing the will of God by distracting us with good things that weigh us down or make us indifferent towards the things of God.
            God gives us the help of his angelic hosts and he gives us spiritual weapons, the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness (see Ephesians 6:1-11), to resist the devil and his lies. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we, too, join with the angelic choirs of heaven in singing the praises of God. Do you thank the Lord for his guidance and protection?
            Lord Jesus, you are our refuge and strength. May I always know your guiding hand and the help of your angels in protecting me from all that is evil. Give me strength of will and courage to refuse what is evil and to choose what is good.
 
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Opening Prayer: Lord, I know that, as today’s psalm says, seeking you is the path to reviving my heart: “… you who seek God, may your hearts revive!” I believe that you are here present with me now, eagerly and lovingly wanting to revive my heart, to fill me with courage, to nourish the good desires that you planted within me long ago. I truly seek you, Lord. I seek to know you better, so that I can love you better, so that I can follow you better. Revive my heart, O Lord! 
Encountering Christ:
Some Spiritual Allies: Angels are purely spiritual beings. They can influence the material world and interact with it, but they are not material beings. This purely spiritual nature is symbolically represented in art by depicting them with wings. But since they are immaterial, popular culture in our secularized world doesn’t pay angels much mind. They can’t be studied in a laboratory. For a materialistic culture like ours, that makes them irrelevant, if not nonexistent. And yet, today Jesus speaks explicitly about angels as playing a constant and central role in our lives. Each of us has at least one guardian angel who watches over us even while staying always in God the Father’s presence. All around us these unseen spiritual allies work mysteriously but tirelessly to protect and guide us as we make our way through life’s difficulties and temptations. They are true persons united to us through their fidelity to God, committed to serving Christ’s Kingdom and glorifying God by helping us along our Christian journey. Today of all days we should thank God for the gift of our guardian angels, and we should thank our guardian angels for being faithful to God’s love instead of joining the devil and his fallen angels in their fruitless rebellion against the Lord.
Childlike Simplicity: Any time Jesus begins a statement with, “Amen, I say to you,” he is inviting us to pay special attention; he is making a solemn proclamation. In today’s Gospel, this proclamation came in the wake of his disciples’ squabbles about ambition and rank in Christ’s Kingdom. Jesus intervened in the discussion by turning the tables. For Jesus, true greatness is found not in energetic striving to climb the ladder of success, but in humility, in childlike simplicity: ..unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. How hard it is for us to release our striving! How hard it is for us to accept and enjoy what the Lord provides for us each day without needlessly fretting about things outside our control! How hard it is for us to be content with simply knowing and embracing God’s will moment by moment! Instead of living in the peace of childlike trust in God’s perfect providence, we doubt and worry and demand and complain and dwell in the turbulence of unnecessary anxiety. Jesus wants us to release those attitudes and lean with childlike confidence on his infinite goodness. Let us do so, following Baruch’s admonition from the first reading: As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him…
Learning from St. Germaine: A little-known saint brings together the two themes of today’s liturgy: grateful faith in our guardian angels and childlike confidence in God’s providence. St. Germaine of Pibrac died at the young age of twenty-two, in France in 1601. She came from a poor family and lost her mother as an infant. Her stepmother made her sleep in the barn to make room in the house for her own children, and then sent her out to work as a shepherdess when she was just nine years old. For a girl with poor health and a crippled hand, shepherding wasn’t an easy job, but Germaine took advantage of it as best she could. She made a little rosary for herself out of a knotted string to help her pray while she worked, and she dedicated what little free time she had to teach the younger children of the town their catechism. Her faith drove all she did, and her confidence in God was the anchor of her life. In fact, she was so committed to leaning on God that she never missed Mass, even if the bell for Mass rang after she was already in the fields with the sheep. On those occasions, she would leave her shepherd’s crook there in the ground, charge her guardian angel with caring for the flock and go off to worship the Lord. She never lost a sheep. When her young body was exhumed during a restoration of the local church, forty years after her death, it was found incorrupt, confirming the sanctity that had already shown itself through miracles during her teens. Perhaps we have something to learn from this peasant girl of the sixteenth century whose faith spawned wisdom and courage well beyond her years.
Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord, you know my heart. You know how deeply I desire to trust you fully, wildly, joyfully. I know that the fulfillment I yearn for will not come from anxious ambition and fretful striving. It will come from living an ever-deeper communion with you, from throwing myself into your arms and rejoicing in being loved and chosen by you. I want to live in the peace and the meaning of your Kingdom; teach me to live with the childlike simplicity you made as a condition of entering that Kingdom. Angel sent by God to guide me; be my light and walk beside me; be my guardian and protect me; on the path of life direct me.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 26 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 26 Thường Niên
Trong bài đọc Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy những người muốn theo Chúa Kitô, Họ đã có được sự cảm xúc và sự thúc đẩy qua những lời giáo huấn và chính cuộc sống của Chúa Giêsu và họ đã theo Ngài và làm môn đệ của Ngài. Thật không may, trong khi họ muốn theo Chúa Kitô, những họ vẫn còn có điều kiện: "Trước hết, tôi phải chôn cha tôi"; "trước tiên, hãy để tôi nói lời vài tạm biệt chia tay với gia đình tôi." Ý chí của Họ đã bị cản trở bởi thứ vật chất, tình cảm bên ngoài đã dính liền mà không thể dứt khoát, hoặc là những nghĩa vụ mà họ nghĩ là quan trọng hơn. Chúa Kitô đã cho chúng ta thấy rằng đã thực sự theo Chúa Kitô thì không có gì quan trọng hơn nữa, và không thể để cho bất cứ một điều kiện nào được tiên quyết, "Hãy để kẻ chết chôn kẻ chết; Còn anh, anh hãy đi loan báo triều đại của (Nước) Thiên Chúa"; "Ai đã ra tay cầm cày, mà còn ngoái lại phía sau, thì không thích hợp với Nước Thiên Chúa."
            Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện để xin Chúa Giêsu, người anh em của chúng ta, ban cho chúng ta những ân sủng này qua lòng rộng lượng chủa Chúa để chúng ta có can đảm để đáp lại ơn gọi này. Xin Chúa có thể soi sáng cho chúng ta biết ơn, trân trọng những hồng ân mà Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta và để cúng ta luôn biết tìm kiếm kho báu vĩnh viễn trong Nước Chúa.
 
Reflection:
     In the Gospel reading we see people who wished to follow Christ. They were touched and moved by Jesus' preaching and life to follow him and be his disciples. Unfortunately, while they wished to follow Christ, they were willing to do so under certain conditions: "first, I want to bury my father"; "first, let me say goodbye to my family." They were hindered by other attachments or by what to them were more important obligations.
     Christ points out that the following of Christ was truly demanding and allowed no pre-conditions, "Let the dead bury the dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God"; "Whoever puts his hand on the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."
     The Church has declared 2014 as the "Year of the Laity." The Church reminds and encourages the laity who make up the great majority of the Church to fully live out their vocations as members of Christ's Church and followers of Christ. The Church reminds all of the primacy of our call to be "Christians" and to be "Christ-like."
     Let us pray to Jesus, our brother, for the gift of generosity and courage to answer this call. May he enlighten us to gratefully appreciate the many gifts given to us and to always seek for treasures which last forever. May we learn to use and value whatever we have always looking forward to the kingdom of heaven. May we learn to be generous in our response to Christ.
 
Wednesday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him,  “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Luke 9:57–58
At first, this appears to be an unusual response from our Lord. This person appeared to be committing himself to follow Jesus wherever Jesus led. But rather than complimenting the would-be follower, Jesus indicates that there is nowhere for this man to follow Him. Instead, he would have to follow Him into the unknown. Why would Jesus say this? Did He not want the man to follow Him?
One thing that this passage teaches us is that Jesus was able to read the souls and the intentions of those whom He encountered. Apparently, what the man said was not exactly his true intention. In commenting upon this passage, several Church Fathers point out that the man said what he said not out of a deep desire to follow Christ, but so that he would look good in the eyes of those around Jesus. Jesus knew his true intention, and therefore told the man that if he wanted to follow Him, he would have to follow Him into the unknown. Jesus then spoke to two others about following Him, and each time He challenged them to follow Him without reservation.
The call to follow our Lord is absolute. We cannot halfheartedly follow Him. We cannot follow Him for selfish reasons. The choice to follow our Lord begins with Him calling to us interiorly. We must hear His clear voice and invitation. The invitation we will receive will be one that asks everything of us. Jesus will never call us to give half of our lives to Him, or even most of our lives to Him. His call is one that demands everything. By demanding everything from us, our Lord is actually giving everything to us. We are only made whole when we give everything to Him and follow Him without reserve. This is the starting point.
The choice to follow Jesus will also be done in a certain secrecy. It’s not that we try to hide our choice to follow Him; rather, we must follow Him with the right intentions. We do not do so because we want others to praise us, admire us, or look up to us. We do not do so to boost our spiritual ego. We follow Him because we have heard Him call and have chosen to respond to that call in the way we are called. Therefore, every choice to follow Jesus must begin in the secrecy of our interior life of prayer. Once our commitment is firmly established, it will often become visible to others, but that must never be a motivating factor.
Once we are firmly committed to follow Christ, there must be no turning back. Jesus concludes today’s Gospel by saying, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” The choice to follow Christ requires a death to certain things in our lives. As our journey moves forward, there will be temptations to return to our old ways.
We will remember the delights of past sins, feel the draw to other paths, and might even experience the demand of absolute fidelity to be too much. These experiences must be continuously rejected as temptations and lies. We must never look back to what we gave up and must always look forward to that which our Lord is calling us. Second-guessing our choice to follow Jesus will be a very real temptation at times; therefore, our resolve must never waver.
Reflect, today, upon the depth of your own decision to follow Jesus. First, consider whether or not you have heard this radical and absolute call echo within the depths of your soul. Only there, in the secrecy of your interior life, will you hear God speak. Second, consider your motivations for following Jesus. Do you do so to look good in the eyes of others? Or do you do so out of love of God? Third, consider whether your commitment is total. It is not enough to give most of your life to Christ; He demands everything. Finally, ponder also the fact that there will be many temptations along the way to return to your former sinful way of life. Allow your resolve to eliminate those temptations and continuously recommit yourself to the journey to which you have been called.
My demanding Lord, You have called me to a radical commitment of my entire life to follow You. I hear Your voice and choose to say “yes” to Your invitation. Please free me from all selfish motives in life, and give me the resolve I need to follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wenesday 26th Sunday Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I choose this day to follow your Son wherever he goes. I will proclaim your Kingdom in my words and actions. I will continue to work in your vineyard without looking back and produce the good fruit of love, joy, peace, and mercy.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Following Jesus on the Way: In the Gospel, Jesus has begun his final journey to Jerusalem, where he will accomplish his new exodus. As the disciples journey with Jesus along the way, Jesus encounters three different people and teaches on discipleship three times. “The individuals’ final responses are not given, leaving the dialogues open-ended. The effect is to invite readers – other (potential) followers – to apply the sayings to their lives” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 196). The first encounter leads to the teaching that following Jesus as a disciple involves sacrifice and enduring hardships, including the renunciation of a comfortable home life. The second encounter teaches that we cannot delay our response to God’s call through Jesus. “Even family obligations have to be put in proper perspective and at times set aside” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 197). The third encounter teaches that the commitment to Jesus is greater than any other commitment. “Those who follow him must do so unconditionally” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 198). Just as the plowing of a field demands the farmer’s full attention, so also entering into God’s reign demands our full attention and absolute commitment (see Martin, Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 282).
2. The Figure of Nehemiah: The First Reading introduces us to the figure of Nehemiah. He was the “cup-bearer,” and trusted advisor to the Persian ruler Artaxerxes. The Book of Nehemiah, chapters 1-7, describes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Chapters 8-13recount the covenant renewal led by the priest-scribe Ezra and the cup-bearer Nehemiah. The First Reading tells us that, in 445 B.C., Nehemiah approached Artaxerxes and asked for his blessing to return to his people in Jerusalem and help restore the city. Artaxerxes readily agreed and sent official letters with him to ensure safe passage back to Judea. Artaxerxes not only sent a supply of lumber with Nehemiah but also appointed him as the governor of the Persian province of Judea (Nehemiah 5:14), a position he would hold for 12 years, from 445 to 433 B.C. The work of Nehemiah in Judea and Jerusalem began thirteen years after Ezra’s initial reform. “Nehemiah himself was a leader of the first rank. He was a strong and wise personality who knew how to mobilize those around him into swift and determined action” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 694). Nehemiah is also a man of God. His life was characterized by prayer and humility. Unlike Ezra, who was a priest, Nehemiah was a layman and civil administrator. “Still this did not prevent God from using him as an effective instrument to bring his people into closer alignment with his will. Nehemiah used his political position for the great advantage of God’s people by enculturating the Torah and applying its standards to Jewish life. It is a testimony to his religious and patriotic zeal that he achieved so much in a community that was slouching toward apathy and growing weak in its faith” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 694).
3. The Little Way of Saint Thérèse: Our saint, today, is Saint Thérèse. She is a Doctor of the Church who advocated the “little way” as a path to holiness. It means trusting in God’s love and abandoning oneself to God’s care like a small child. It emphasizes recognizing and accepting one's own weaknesses and imperfections, not as obstacles, but as ways to be open to God's grace. The Little Way involves doing ordinary, everyday tasks with great love and attention to God, serving others, and practicing virtues like humility and gratitude. The core of Thérèse’s message is the mystery of God as merciful Love. She experienced being the Father’s adoptive child in Jesus. “Through spiritual childhood, one experiences that everything comes from God, returns to him and abides in him, for the salvation of all, in a mystery of merciful love. Such is the doctrinal message taught and lived by this Saint” (Francis, Divini amoris scientia, 8). In addition to spiritual childhood, some key principles of the “Little way” are: 1) embracing your weakness, imperfection, and failings, trusting that God’s love is still present and working through these imperfections; 2) trusting that God’s merciful love will fulfill your desire for holiness and union with God; 3) understanding that true holiness depends not on your worthiness, but on God’s infinite love and desire to work through you; and 4) finding joy in the ordinary, simple, everyday actions by performing them with great care, attention, and love.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me the little way to holiness. I have tried so many paths to grow in holiness. When I see progress, I am tempted to fall into pride. When I advance, I am tempted to compare myself to others. Teach me to imitate you and become meek and humble of heart.
 
Wenesday 26th Sunday Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: In you, Lord, I find all my joy and happiness. How could I offend you by chasing after fleeting success and lifeless trophies? I believe in you because you are truth itself. I hope in you because you are faithful to your promises. I love you because you have loved me first. I am a sinner; nevertheless, you have given me so many blessings. I humbly thank you.
Petition: Let me willingly accept the cost of following in your footsteps
1. Hidden Expenses: A would-be disciple of Jesus' boasts that he will follow Our Lord anywhere, whatever the sacrifice. Jesus' response makes us wonder whether the fellow understood what he would be getting into. Following Christ is demanding — and not always glamorous. We might dream of doing great things for Christ, but then find the day-to-day struggle distasteful ("the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head"). Unglamorous challenges take many forms. A new wife might discover, to her chagrin, that her husband can't handle finances. Or a parent with high hopes learns that a child has a learning disability that will limit her ability to excel. Or a husband takes a higher-paying job to support his family, only to find his new boss is a tyrant. Or a teen suffers ridicule at public school for her modest clothes. All these trials can be the cost of following Christ. What price am I willing to pay?
2. Family Ties: Christ tries to dissuade another would-be follower from "burying his father." The man was probably settling his father's estate and getting too involved in family finances. Our Lord wanted him to cut with all that immediately and get on with the work of the Kingdom. Too often, money matters distract us from doing what Christ wants. No wonder St. Paul warns, "The love of money is the root of all evils" (1 Timothy 6:10). Is money holding me back in my relationship with Christ? Am I working longer hours than I need to just for money?
3. Long Goodbye: The moment of decision had arrived. But instead of joining Jesus' camp, the would-be disciple felt the tug of family ties. As followers of Christ, we have to be willing to make a fundamental option for Christ — an option that by necessity excludes other paths. Does this sound hard? It should sound familiar. Think of the young woman who says yes to a proposal of marriage. She does so assuming that her beloved has long broken off other romantic relationships. Or take the student who decides to go out for the soccer team at school. He rules out spending hours of practice on the basketball court. By extension, if we want to follow Christ, why do we fritter away hours in activities that have nothing to do with our faith or the Church? Are there things I need to weed out of my life?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me focus my energies better on you and what you are asking of me. Let me not be distracted by activities or material possessions or even relationships that aren't helping my spiritual life.