Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 34
Thường Niên
Trong
bài Tin Mừng
hôm nay, chúng ta được mời gọi mạnh dạn
đứng lên để làm
chứng cho Thiên Chúa. Trong thời đại của
chúng ta ngày
nay, chúng ta hầu như không còn nghe thấy có những người bị ném vào hầm cho sư tử ăn thịt, hay bị giết vì đức tin vào Chúa
Giêsu Kitô. Lịch sử của Giáo
hội Việt Nam cho chúng
ta biết là rất nhiều người Việt Nam ở trong những thế kỷ từ 17 đến 20 đã phải
từ bỏ mạng sống của
họ vì thập giá hay vì danh Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Đấy là những vị
tử đạo thực sự. Ngày này, những người
tử đạo thật sự là những người có lòng tin mạnh mẽ vào sự thật, chân lý và dám đứng lên để bảo vệ cho nền hoà
bình và chân lý với lòng dũng cảm và niềm tin, hạnh phúc và hòa bình, họ dám chấp nhận một thực tế phũ
phàng cho cuộc sống của họ. Nhiều gia đình có thể bị phân chia vì sự khác biệt về
niềm tin, nhưng những người làm
chứng cho tình yêu của Thiên Chúa, sẽ đem tình yêu đó chiếu toả đến những
người khác với một tình yêu vô vị lợi và không có điều kiện .
Trong thời điểm hiện tại, Làm thế nào chúng
ta có thể làm chứng cho tình yêu của Thiên Chúa trong
cuộc sống của chúng ta? Làm
bổn phận công dân, đóng thuế một cách đầy đủ. Tham dự thánh lễ ngày Chủ nhật hàng tuần. Hãy tìm hiếu và học hỏi lời Chúa. Hãy tôn
trọng sự sống của con người từ lúc mới được thụ thai cho đến khi chết một cách
tự nhiên, Không chung sống, “gần gũi” với người khác phá (không quan hệ tình dục) trước khi hôn phối, hoặc dùng thuốc ngừa thai, mặc dù mọi người khác chung quang đang làm điều đó. Mọi người có thể cười và nhạo bắng chúng ta khi chúng ta mặc những bộ quần áo kín đáo,
không hở hang như những các cô gái trong thời buổi hôm nay. Hãy vâng lời cha mẹ, thầy cô giáo, các linh mục và những
người quyền thế. Tóm
tăt là chúng ta hãy cố gắng tuân theo các điều răn của Chúa dạy và yêu thương nhau
như Chúa Kitô đã yêu thương chúng ta. "Lạy Chúa Giêsu Kitô, bởi
cái chết của Chúa trên thập tự
giá, Chúa đã chuộc tội chúng con và đã cứu chuộc toàn thế giới. Xin Chúa khỏa lấp tâm hồn chúng con với niềm
hy vọng để mang lại niềm vui, lòng can đảm, và
sự táo bạo để chứng kiến chân
lý, sự thật về tình yêu của Chúa đã dành cho những
người tội lỗi như chúng con được chiến thắng những quyền lực của tội lỗi, Satan, và sự chết. "
Reflection:
Today's Gospel is inviting us strongly to bear witness to
God. In this day and age, we hardly hear of people being fed to the lions
or slaughtered because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The history of the
primitive church tells us of so many accounts of people who gave up their lives
in the name of Jesus Christ. These are the real martyrs. The true kind of
martyr who believes strongly in the truth and stands up to it, with courage and
faith, happily and peacefully accepting the reality of his/her life. Families
may be divided because of differences of beliefs but the one who bears witness
to the love of God, radiates this love so much so that he/she can love
unconditionally the other person.
How can we be witnesses in this present time to the love of God in
our lives? Pay taxes correctly. Go to mass on Sunday. Be studious.
Be Pro-life. Say no to pre-marital sex or to drugs even if everyone is doing
it. People may laugh at you saying you are too modest in dressing because you
are wearing a skirt that is knee-length when all other girls are wearing skirts
one foot above the knees. Be obedient to your parents, to the teachers,
to the priests and those in authority. In short obey the commandments and love
one another as Christ has loved us.
Wednesday 34th
Ordinary Time
“Remember,
you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a
wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or
refute.” Luke 21:14–15
This line is embedded in today’s Gospel in which Jesus makes
it clear that His followers will be persecuted. Many of them will be seized,
sent to prison, hated and even be put to death. For some, this will even happen
at the hands of their own family. But Jesus tells them this to prepare them and
to let them know that these persecutions will enable them to give testimony to
Jesus. The Gospel passage above explains how they are to do this. First of all,
giving “testimony” especially means they are to be a witness to Christ. And one
of the best ways such a witness is fulfilled is through the various forms of
martyrdom. To be a martyr is to be a witness. And those who suffer persecution
for the sake of Christ, and then respond to that persecution in accord with the
wisdom and inspiration of Jesus, are true martyrs. It’s helpful to note that if
one is persecuted and responds with anger or returns the violence in accord
with their own irrational will, then they are no martyr. They simply become
what they have received. They become angry and bitter people. Being a martyr
requires both unjust treatment and a response to that mistreatment in accord
with God’s will. For that reason, though persecution is never initiated by God,
it does offer the Christian an opportunity to deeply conform themself to Christ
by responding as He dictates.
Jesus
says that responding to persecution requires that we not prepare a defense
beforehand. In part, this is because there is great temptation one experiences
when persecuted by another. It is very understandable that when a person
experiences persecution in any way, they will encounter anger and be tempted to
fight back in a way that is uncharitable and only furthers the disorder.
Responding to persecution in accord with the will of God requires great
attentiveness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, great humility, and
unwavering charity directed at the one doing the persecution. Therefore, Jesus
makes the promise that He will be with you in such situations and will give you
“a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or
refute.” What a grace! But this grace is only available to those who rely
completely upon Christ, and not upon their own disordered passions and
emotions.
Reflect, today, upon this promise from Jesus. Some will
encounter little persecution in their lives at various times. But others will
encounter severe persecution in various ways, even from their family. Reflect
upon any ways that you have experienced the unjust treatment of another and
then reflect upon your response. Were you able to immediately forgive? Were you
able to set aside your anger, wounded pride and desire for revenge? Were you
able to keep your eyes on Christ and rejoice that you have been found worthy to
share in the ridicule, persecutions and sufferings that Jesus endured? Pray
that you will always be open to the grace of this promise of Jesus so that you
will always respond to everyone in accord with the wisdom of God.
My persecuted Lord, though You were perfect in every way,
You endured much cruelty in Your earthly life. The injustice You endured is
beyond our comprehension. But Your response to such persecution was perfect.
You were able to transform all ill-treatment into grace and mercy, offered
especially for those who mistreated You. Give me the grace I need to imitate
Your perfect response and to always rely upon Your wisdom and guidance alone.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 34th Ordinary Time 2025
Opening
Prayer: Lord
God, help me to endure the persecution and trials in my life that you have
mysteriously permitted. Enlighten my mind to give true testimony to you and
your Son. May I be inspired by your Spirit of Wisdom to know what to say and
not say, and how to say it.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
Persecution of Jesus’ Disciples: In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that,
during the time leading up to Jerusalem’s fall in A.D. 70, they will be
persecuted by civil and religious authorities. This persecution, narrated to
some degree in the Acts of the Apostles, will give the disciples the
opportunity to give testimony to Jesus. The persecution will even divide
families, such that family members will even hand them over to the authorities.
“Jesus demands heroic allegiance that may drive a wedge between family members
(Luke 14:26). Whether martyred or persecuted, the faithful will ‘gain’ their
lives (Luke 1:19) by laying them down for Christ (Luke 9:24)” (Ignatius
Catholic Study Bible, 1872). By being hated in this life on account of
Jesus’ name, Jesus’ disciples will receive the blessing of a great reward in
heaven: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult
you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and
leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For
their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way” (Luke 6:22-23).
2.
Sustained by God during Persecution: The Gospel today tells us that, as followers
of God, we will be persecuted. Persecution is a way for us to share in Christ's
sufferings. We are not to worry about what exactly we will say if and when we
are on trial, for no human wisdom can compare to divine wisdom. As well, amid
persecution, our faithful actions will be stronger than our words. Ultimately,
no persecution can truly harm us. As Jesus says, “Do not fear those who can
kill the body, but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). Sustained and
strengthened by God’s grace, we will be saved. God only asks for our faithful
collaboration, for our filial trust, and for our steadfast love.
3. The Judgment of
Belshazzar: The First Reading is taken all this week from the Book of
Daniel. Up to this point in the book, Daniel has successfully interpreted two
dreams for King Nebuchadnezzar. Today, we read that Daniel correctly interprets
the meaning of the mysterious writing on the wall for the crown prince
Belshazzar. The words written by the mysterious hand on the wall agreed with
Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of a statue: The Babylonian Kingdom would be given to
another kingdom, to that of the Persians. And this happened in 539 B.C. A
lesson that we can draw out for our lives is that the prideful, like
Belshazzar, will be cast down from their thrones, and that the lowly will be
lifted up. In this sense, the three words on the wall also apply to us. Mene (numbered)
– the number of our days is known to God, and one day we will be judged. Tekel (weighed)
– we will be found wanting if we have lived a life centered on ourselves and a
life centered on earthly pleasures. We will not be found wanting if we entrust
ourselves in our lowliness to the mercy of God. Peres (divided)
– the prideful will be shut out of God's kingdom, while the humble will be
given the Kingdom of God.
Conversing
with Christ: Lord
Jesus, you know the number of my days, how I will be judged when they come to
an end, and what my definitive lot will be. Help me always to be prepared for
my encounter with you and work always with your grace to do what is right and
just.
Wednesday 34th Ordinary Time 2024
Opening
Prayer: Lord
God, help me to endure the persecution and trials in my life that you have
mysteriously permitted. Enlighten my mind to give true testimony to you and
your Son. May I be inspired by your Spirit of Wisdom to know what to say and
not say, and how to say it.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
Persecution of Jesus’ Disciples: In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that,
during the time leading up to Jerusalem’s fall in A.D. 70, they will be
persecuted by civil and religious authorities. This persecution, narrated to
some degree in the Acts of the Apostles, will give the disciples the
opportunity to give testimony to Jesus. The persecution will even divide
families such that family members will even hand them over to the authorities.
“Jesus demands heroic allegiance that may drive a wedge between family members
(Luke 14:26). Whether martyred or persecuted, the faithful will ‘gain’ their
lives (Luke 1:19) by laying them down for Christ (Luke 9:24)” (Ignatius
Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 147). By being hated in this life on
account of Jesus’ name, Jesus’ disciples will receive the blessing of a great
reward in heaven: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude
and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in
heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way” (Luke
6:22-23).
2. Victory Over the
Beast: Like the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation often employs
the symbolic number “seven.” The First Reading opens with a vision of seven
angels readying to pour out the seven bowls of wrath, understood as the last
plagues. Earlier, John contemplated the war, international conflict, famine,
pestilence, persecution, and earthquakes unleashed by the breaking of the seven
seals (Revelation 6:1-8:1) and the sounding of the seven trumpets (Revelation
8:1-11:15). The three sets of seven are not a linear succession of twenty-one
events, but rather similar events retold three times. In a way, the
catastrophic events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem are also events
– war, famine, persecution, earthquakes, etc. – that will occur throughout
time, and are events that will mark the time leading up to the end of the
world. In particular, John contemplates the saints who were victorious despite
the attacks of the demonic dragon, which represents Satan, and the sea beast,
which represents the Gentile powers who persecuted the Church. In fact, the
number “666,” to which the First Reading refers, symbolizes the Roman Emperor
Nero Caesar. In his vision, John sees that the “martyrs attacked by the dragon
and the sea beast reign victorious through the blood of the Lamb” (Ignatius
Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 511).
3.
They Sang the Song of Moses: The Christian martyrs in the Book of
Revelation sing a new Song of Moses. The original “Song of Moses” was sung by
the Israelites during the first Exodus, when they were victorious over the
Egyptians. It is found in Exodus 15:1-18. The song commemorates Israel’s
deliverance and Egypt’s destruction. “It is a hymn of praise [to the Lord], who
is hailed as Savior (15:2), Warrior (15:3), Redeemer (15:13), and King (15:18)”
(Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Exodus, 36). There are echoes of the
original song in the new song: Here, the saints celebrate a new Exodus from the
sin and slavery of the world. “It is appropriate for a new song of the sea to
be sung in Revelation 15 once the dragon [which symbolizes Satan] and the beast
of the sea [which symbolizes evil Gentile powers] are defeated” (Barber, Coming
Soon, 188). The martyrs and all of God’s holy people who have remained
faithful unto death in the great tribulation and trial sing God’s praises. John
sees them worshipping in heaven before the end of history. “Their song
celebrates the deliverance of those among the nations who will get come to
worship (Revelation 15:4) and celebrates God’s triumph over his adversaries
that is about to unfold through the angels with the seven last plagues. It is
called the song of the Lamb because it is about the victory achieved through
the blood of the Lamb, who ransomed human beings for God (Revelation 5:9; see
also 12:11)” (Williamson, Revelation, 256).
Conversing
with Christ: Lord
Jesus, grant me a share in your wisdom. Strengthen me to persevere and fight
the good fight. Do not let the enemy overcome me or let my steps stray from the
path that leads to eternal life with you.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba 34 Thường Niên
(Luca 21: 5-11)
Trong
khi chúng
ta suy nghĩ về đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng
ta có thể nhận ra những gì
đang xảy ra ở ngay đây trong
thế giới hiện
tại của chúng ta hôm nay. Chúng
ta thực sự đang ở trong một thời điểm hết
sức khó
khăn của thế giới này: chiến
tranh, đói kém, động đất, bão lụt và những cơn khủng hoảng bệnh dịch mới. Những sự kiện này đã
gây cho chúng ta sự lo sợ, nhưng có lẽ
Chúa muốn dùng những dữ kiện này với một mục
đích đơn thuần là thức tỉnh
con người chúng
ta hơn là để dọa chúng ta. Trên thực tế, Chúa nói
với chúng ta là không nên sợ hãi. Chúng ta cần phải giữ vững niềm tin của chúng ta để chúng ta không thể bị lừa dối bởi thế
giới xác thịt này một cách dễ dàng
Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã quá rõ ràng việc
này vì thệ Ngài mời gọi chúng ta theo ngài và
tránh xa đường lồi sai lầm của ma quỷ, có nghĩa là chống lại tình yêu và lòng bác ái, các tiên tri giả sẽ xuất hiện để đánh lừa chúng ta. để
chúng ta chối từ thập giá của Chúa Kitô ở trong
những sự cám dỗ của thế giớ hiện tại
với những công
trình đồ sộ, những món quà phong phú là sự giàu có mà thế giới
có thể cho chúng ta. Vì vậy, Chúa Giêsu Kitô
đã chỉ cho
chúng ta thấy rõ thực tế về sự phá hủy đền thờ Jeruasalem.
Các Thánh Tử Đạo ViệtNam, cha ông chúng ta đã coi những
thứ vật chất của thế này là tất cả là hư không, và sự vinh quang trở của thế giới này
đã trở nên vô ích cho những người đặt
niềm tin vào con người và tất cả vào những sự phát triển và bành
trướng của thế
gian này. Biểu tượng của
người Kitô hữu chúng ta là những nhành lá cây vạn tuế (Dừa lá) vì cành là này có thể sống tươi
lâu dài trong bất
cứ ở thời tiết
nào và cây
này lúc nào cũng thấy như màu xanh lá cây.
Cành lá vạn tuế này tượng trưng cho đức tin của
chúng ta.
Đức
Tin của cha ông chúng ta là các thánh tử đạo VN đã để lại, vì các ngài đã chịu được những sự tấn công của thế tục, một lòng giữ các điều răn của Chúa dù phải chịu những hy sinh, đau khổ và chịu chết, để chịu án phạt
của thế gian vì sự công chính. Nhờ đó mà các ngài đã
giúp cho chúng ta con cái của các ngài có thể thận trọng để được
trưởng thành trong lương tâm và nhờ đó chúng ta có thề hướng đi
theo con đường mà mà các Thánh đã mở sẵn cho chúng ta. Chúng ta cần phải chạy thật khỏe với sức mạnh
của Chúa Thánh Thần đã ban cho chúng
ta trong gìờ phút cuối để
chúng ta có thế chiến thắng được những sự cám dỗ của trần thế như cha ông chúng
ta là các thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam đã chiến thắng trong giờ sau hết.
My
Reflection Tuesday 34th Ordinary Time (Luke 21:5-11)
As
we reflect on today’s Gospel passages, We may recognize what is happening here
today in our world. We are indeed in troubled times. Just listen to the new in
TV, read the newspapers or read the internet; we would know what's going on in
the world: wars, famines, earthquakes, typhoon and new kind of diseases. These
events may frighten us, but they serve a purpose of merely trying to awaken us
than to frighten us, in fact, the Lord tells us not to be afraid. We need to
keep our faith firmly in place in order not to be easily deceived by the world.
Jesus Christ is quite clear in asking us
not to follow those who will be "anti-Christ." Anti-Christ means to
be anti-love and charity, the false prophets will deceive us to deny the cross
of Christ, and dwell in the fine stonework and rich gifts that the world may
offer. So Jesus Christ breaks to us the reality that the temple and the world
will not last. All is vanity, vain glory for those who put their trust in man
and all his worldly extensions. The symbol of the Christian is the palm tree which
can last in any weather and remains green. It means faith can withstand the
onslaught of secularization, keeping clear the commandments of the Lord and
maintaining a sound judgment with prudence and a mature conscience to guide our
paths. We need to run the good race with
the strength of the Holy Spirit until the very end.
Tuesday
34th Ordinary time While
some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones
and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here—the days will come
when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown
down.” Luke 21:5–6
In a literal way, this prophecy of our Lord came true. In 70
A.D., the Temple upon which they were commenting was destroyed. After
prophesying this, Jesus then goes on to warn the disciples that there will be
many confusions that will come. There will be false prophets, wars and
insurrections, powerful earthquakes, famines, plagues, “and awesome sights and
mighty signs will come from the sky.” Why does Jesus prophesy all of these
things?
The answer was simple. He was not trying to scare them. He
was not simply trying to satisfy their curiosity. Instead, He was warning them
and preparing us all so that we do not become misled or terrified when they
come. He says, “See that you not be deceived” and “do not be terrified.” NAs
the old saying goes, “Life is not a bowl of cherries.” While we live in this
fallen world, chaos, confusion, deception, abuse, scandal, conflict and the
like will be all around us. And when we do come face-to-face with any such
difficulty, there is a temptation to fear, anger and despair. Be it family
conflicts, civil unrest or even divisions within the Church itself, God wants
us to remain at peace and to trust Him always.
Take Jesus’ own life as an example. He was arrested, falsely
accused, sentenced to death and crucified. And through it all, He remained at
peace, knowing that His suffering would become the very source of new life. God
can use all things for good for those who love and serve Him.
Reflect, today, upon the undeniable fact that your life will
involve difficulty. Sometimes that difficulty is self-imposed as a result of
your sin, and sometimes it is unjustly imposed on account of the sin of
another. Truth be told, we should only be concerned about our own sin. If other
challenges come your way that are out of your control, then use those
challenges as opportunities to trust. Entrust all things to God, every
suffering, every persecution, every tragedy, every struggle, everything. If God
the Father could bring about the greatest good ever known through the brutal
murder of His own divine Son, then He can certainly do the same with all that
you offer to Him in trust. Trust at all times and in all circumstances, and our
all-powerful Lord will bring good from everything.
My most powerful Lord, You warned us of the many hardships
that would come our way before Your glorious return. You did so to help prepare
us and to strengthen us in those moments of testing. Please give me the grace I
need to always trust in You and to surrender over to You every cross I carry. I
do believe, dear Lord, that You can bring good from everything, even those
things that are most difficult in life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday
34th Ordinary time 2025
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, do not let me be
deceived by the evil one. Teach me to read the signs of the times and be always
prepared to meet you. I long for your embrace that will welcome me into your
heavenly dwelling.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
The Signs of Tribulation: In
the Gospel of Luke, Jesus foretold the demise of the Temple. Naturally, the
people who heard this prophecy asked Jesus when it would happen and what signs
would precede the destruction of the Temple. Jesus first speaks about the signs
and later, in Luke 21:32, gives them a time frame (within a generation or 40
years). The signs of the time of tribulation will include false messiahs, wars,
insurrections, international strife, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and
celestial signs in the sky. Jesus urges his disciples not to be deceived by the
false prophets and messiahs and not to be terrified during the tribulation. The
signs Jesus predicted all came to pass before A.D. 70. There was a famine in
A.D. 45-49 during the reign of Claudius, there were messianic pretenders, the
Jewish revolt (insurrection) against Rome began in A.D. 66, and there was
turmoil in the Empire after the death of Nero in A.D. 68. In the Lord’s Prayer,
Jesus taught his followers to pray especially for mercy during the time of
tribulation: “Lead us not into temptation,” “Do not subject us to the test.”
2.
The Kingdoms of Gold and Silver: In
the Gospel, Jesus speaks of nations and kingdoms rising against one another in
the years leading up to the fall of Jerusalem. There is a similar theme in the
First Reading. Daniel was an exile in Babylon and was called in by King
Nebuchadnezzar to reveal both the king’s vision and its meaning. The King saw a
great statue made of four metals. The head was pure gold, the chest and arms
were silver, the belly and thighs were made of bronze, and the legs were made
of iron, with the feet being a mixture of iron and clay tile. When Daniel
interprets the dream, he tells the king of Babylon that he is the head of gold.
But his kingdom will come to an end and be replaced by an inferior kingdom, the
kingdom of silver. This will be the Medo-Persian empire, which conquered
Babylon in 539 B.C. Persia, led by Cyrus the Great, defeated the Babylonian
army at the Battle of Opis and took the city of Babylon peacefully.
3.
The Kingdoms of Bronze and Iron: Daniel
interprets the bronze in the statue as a third kingdom, “which shall rule over
the whole earth.” This is a reference to the Greek empire, led by Alexander the
Great, who conquered the world at breakneck speed. His empire stretched from
Greek to northwestern India, covering about 2 million square miles. It was the
largest of the ancient world. Alexander began his conquest of the Persian
Empire in 334 B.C. and ruled until his death in 323 B.C. at the age of thirty.
The fourth kingdom is “strong as iron,” and will subdue all the other kingdoms.
But it will also be a divided kingdom, strong like iron, yet fragile like clay
tile. This corresponds to the Roman Empire, which began its conquest of the
Greeks in 214 B.C. with the First Macedonian War and completed its conquest in
146 B.C with the Battle of Corinth. The Roman Empire was strong due to its
military might, but it was fragile because of internal divisions. During the
time of the Roman Empire, Daniel prophesied that “the God of heaven will set up
a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people.”
This Kingdom of God will stand forever. This is the Kingdom that Jesus
inaugurated through his ministry, preaching, passion, death, and resurrection.
The destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its Temple, prophesied by Jesus,
signifies the end of the Old Covenant and the bringing about of its fulfillment
in the New Covenant.
Conversing
with Christ: Lord Jesus, you will come in
glory to judge the living and the dead. I pray that when I stand before you, I
am judged as good wheat and not darnel or chaff. You have sowed good seed in my
heart, and I want it to flourish into a bountiful harvest of good works for
your Kingdom.
Tuesday
34th Ordinary time 2024
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, do not let me be
deceived by the evil one. Teach me to read the signs of the times and be always
prepared to meet you. I long for your embrace that will welcome me into your
heavenly dwelling.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
The Signs of Tribulation: In
the Gospel of Luke, Jesus foretold the demise of the Temple. Naturally, the
people who heard this prophecy asked Jesus when it would happen and what signs
would precede the destruction of the Temple. Jesus first speaks about the signs
and later, in Luke 21:32, gives them a time frame (within a generation or 40
years). The signs of the time of tribulation will include false messiahs, wars,
insurrections, international strife, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and
celestial signs in the sky. Jesus urges his disciples not to be deceived by the
false prophets and messiahs and not to be terrified during the tribulation. The
signs Jesus predicted all came to pass before A.D. 70. There was a famine in
A.D. 45-49 during the reign of Claudius, there were messianic pretenders, the
Jewish revolt (insurrection) against Rome began in A.D. 66, and there was
turmoil in the Empire after the death of Nero in A.D. 68. In the Lord’s Prayer,
Jesus taught his followers to pray especially for mercy during the time of
tribulation: “Lead us not into temptation,” “Do not subject us to the test.”
2. The Harvest of the Son of Man: In the Book
of Revelation, we contemplate how Christ’s judgment, symbolized by the casting
of his sickle, is carried out by the angels. John sees the Son of Man, Jesus
Christ, wearing a golden crown, which represents his kingship and victory, and
holding a sickle in his hand. The sickle was a tool for harvesting grain. It
signals judgment and the end of an age. In Matthew’s Gospel, in the Parable of
the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), wheat symbolizes the righteous,
and weeds symbolize the unrighteous. Both are cut down together and then
separated. The righteous will be vindicated and welcomed into the eternal
dwelling of God, while the unrighteous will be judged and tossed into the
eternal fire.
3.
The Lord Comes to Judge the Earth: In
the Book of Revelation, the first angel harvests the wheat, a symbol of the
saints, who are gathered like sheaves and stored in a granary. The second angel
is sent out by the Son of Man to sever the sinners like grapes from the vine.
The judgment, symbolized as a harvest of grain and grapes, evokes a prophecy
from Joel 3:13. In Joel’s prophecy, the nations who threatened Jerusalem were
judged. Here, in the Book of Revelation, Jerusalem itself is judged, and this
is described by John as the destruction of a wine press or vineyard. The grapes
were thrown into the “great wine press of God’s fury” and crushed. This
represents especially the flow of blood from the slaughter of those who died in
the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The siege and destruction of Jerusalem
is an event that foretells the battle between good and evil throughout the
centuries but points forward to the catastrophic events that will lead up to
the end of time and the final judgment by the Son of Man, who will come in
glory on the clouds of heaven.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you will come in glory to judge the living
and the dead. I pray that when I stand before you, I am judged as good wheat
and not darnel or chaff. You have sowed good seed in my heart, and I want it to
flourish into a bountiful harvest of good works for your Kingdom.
Suy Niệm Các Thánh Tử Đạo ViệtNam,
Tin Mừng Thứ Hai, Tuần 34 Thường Niên Luke 21:1-4
cha ông chúng ta đã coi những thứ vật chất của thế này là tất cả
là hư không, và sự vinh quang trở của thế giới này đã trở nên vô ích cho những
người đặt niềm tin vào con người và tất cả vào những sự phát triển và bành
trướng của thế gian này. Biểu tượng của người Kitô hữu chúng ta là những nhành
lá cây vạn tuế (Dừa lá) vì cành là này có thể sống tươi lâu dài trong bất cứ ở
thời tiết nào và cây này lúc nào cũng thấy như màu xanh lá cây. Cành lá vạn tuế
này tượng trưng cho đức tin của chúng ta.
Đức Tin của cha ông chúng ta là các thánh tử
đạo VN đã để lại, vì các ngài đã chịu được những sự tấn công của thế tục, một
lòng giữ các điều răn của Chúa dù phải chịu những hy sinh, đau khổ và chịu
chết, để chịu án phạt của thế gian vì sự công chính. Nhờ đó mà các ngài đã giúp
cho chúng ta con cái của các ngài có thể thận trọng để được trưởng thành trong
lương tâm và nhờ đó chúng ta có thề hướng đi theo con đường mà mà các Thánh đã
mở sẵn cho chúng ta. Chúng ta cần phải chạy thật khỏe với sức mạnh của Chúa
Thánh Thần đã ban cho chúng ta trong gìờ phút cuối để chúng ta có thế chiến
thắng được những sự cám dỗ của trần thế như cha ông chúng ta là các thánh Tử
Đạo Việt Nam đã chiến thắng trong giờ sau hết.
Nov 24- Saint Andrew Dung Lac & Companion
The sufferings we undergo are not irrelevant
to the witness we give concerning Jesus Christ. We all tend to look beyond a
speaker’s words to his actions, his way of life. We ask ourselves if the way he
lives lends credibility to his message.
In
today’s Gospel, Jesus says explicitly that persecutions and imprisonments will
lead to our giving testimony. we celebrate the Vietnamese Martyrs today. The Vatican
estimates the number of Vietnamese martyrs at between 130,000 and 300,000.
Saint John Paul II canonize those whose names are known and unknown, giving
them a single feast day.
The Vietnamese Martyrs fall into
several groupings, those of
the Dominican and Jesuit missionary era of the 17 &18th
century and those killed in the politically inspired persecutions of the 19th
century.
On
June 19, 1988 Pope St John Paul 2 Canonized 117
Vietnamese martyrs, this group including 96 Vietnamese, 11 Spanish Dominicans,
and 10 French members. And in March,
2000 Pope John Paul II beatified the first Vietnamese martyr, A young
Vietnamese named Andrew of Phú Yên.
During
the persecution, the tortures of French missionaries underwent
are considered by the Vatican to be among the worst in the history of Christian
martyrdom. The torturers hacked off limbs joint by joint, tore flesh with red
hot thongs,
and used drugs to enslave the minds of the victims. Christians at the time were
branded on the face with the words Sinister and families and villages
which subscribed to Christianity were obliterated.
The first Martyr in Vietnam was Andrew who came
from the province of Phú Yên, in Vietnam, no one knew his last name so the
church calls him Adrew PhuYen.
He was baptized in 1641 when he was about 15
years old. After a year of further formation, that he became a catechist
and dedicated assistant to father
Alexander de Rhodes, a Jesuit
missionary.
Before
the end of July 1644, the King of Vietnam wanted to stop the expansion of
Christianity in the land. Father De Rhodes was asked to leave the country
After
Fr. De Rhodes left the king’s official sent soldiers to
Fr. de Rhodes' house in search of any catechist, but all the catechists had left on a mission. They only found young Andrew at
home; They tortured
him, beat Him,
bound him and transferred him to the Governor's palace.
On 25
July 1644 Andrew was taken to the Mandarin or king’s official, who tried in various ways to make Andrew deny his faith". But he responded that he was a Christian and also a catechist, he can not deny
his faith and can not made a bad exemple for those he taught. He said he is ready to undergo
any suffering rather than abandoning the law that he
professed.
Indignant
at Andrew's inflexibility, the Mandarin ordered him to be taken to prison. The young Andrew was so serene and joyous at
being able to suffer for Christ.
People who came to see him were
asked to pray that God might give him the grace to be faithful to the end and
to "respond with fullness of love to the infinite love of his Lord, who
gave his life for men, by giving his own life". A day later, Andrew was taken to the Governor's public audience,
where he was sentenced to death.
In the
afternoon, a captain led Andrew down the to the place of execution, a
field outside the city. Father De Rhodes, and many
Portuguese and Vietnamese Christians, and even pagans followed the procession
and witnessed the killing.
Andrew
exhorted the Christians to remain firm in their faith, not to be saddened by
his death, and to pray for him so he could be faithful to the end. He was executed with some blows
of a lance and, finally, when he was about to be beheaded, he cried out the
name of Jesus in a loud voice. Andrew accepted the sacrifice of his life for
the faith and love of Christ. He died at 19 years of age.
In
March, 2000 Pope John Paul II beatified the first Vietnamese martyr, A young
Vietnamese named Andrew of Phú Yên
Tuần 34 Thường Niên Luke 21:1-4
Một
món quà mà cho đi với một tấm lòng hận thù hoặc cho đi để phô trưng cái sự
giàu có hay sự rộng rãi của mình thì món quà sẽ không còn cái giá trị nào của
nó nữa. Tuy nhiên, một món quà cho đi với tình thương, với một tinh thần quảng
đại và hy sinh, thì đó chính là món quà quý giá. Dù cho món quá đó nhiều hay ít
không có quan trọng nhiều bằng cách cho của người cho. Người góa phụ nghèo có
thể giữ lại đồng tiền xu của mình để mua một ít gạo nấu cơm cho cả nhà ăn,
nhưng bà ấy đã cho đi tất cả những gì bà ấy có! Chính cả sự sống của bà và gia
đình, Chúa Giêsu đã khen ngợi người bà góa này măc dầu bà ấy chỉ cúng chỉ có
một xu cho đền thờ, Nhưng chúng ta biết đó là một khoản tiền đáng kể cho cuộc
sống hàng ngày của bà ta, bởi vì đó là tất cả những gì bà ta có. Những gì chúng
ta đóng góp, hay bố thí có thể là rất ít so với những người khác, nhưng nếu
chúng ta đặt hết tất cả những gì chúng ta có vào hành động của Chúa, Thì vấn đề
nhiều hay ít sẽ không còn là vấn đề nữa, Thiên Chúa biết mọi sự và Ngài có thể
biến đổi món quá nhỏ bé thành món quà hữu dụng và những việc đó đã nằm
ngoài tầm tay và sự toan tính của chúng ta.
Lòng tốt của bà góa là một bài học tốt cho chúng ta là những môn đệ của Chúa
Kitô. Chúng ta có thể sống quảng đại, như những người giàu có, bỏ những đồng
tiền vàng vào hộp tiền (Lc 21:01). Tuy nhiên, số tiền lớn mà chúng ta dâng hiến
vào đền thờ sẽ không có giá trị nếu chúng ta chỉ cho Chúa "những đống tiền
dư thừa, những đồng tiền lẻ mà chúng ta có trong túi quần, túi áo", Cho mà
không có tinh thần yêu thương, tự hiến, hay cho mà "
không"cho hết chính bản thân mình. Thánh Augustinô nói: “Họ
đã quan sát cái lòng hảo tâm "tuyệt vời" từ những người giàu có và họ
ca ngợi những người đó và trong cùng lúc, họ có thể nhìn thấy
bà quả phụ này, nhưng đã có ai để ý đến hai đồng tiền xu.?
Ngưởi đàn bà goá đã cho Thiên Chúa tất cả những gì bà ấy có bằng với cả trái
tim của mình. Bà không có tiền của vật chất, những bà đã dâng lên Chuá tât cả
tâm hồn, và trái tím của bà, vì bà đã có Thiên Chúa trong trái tim của bà. Đó
là việc tốt cần nên bắt chước hơn. Chúng ta nên hãy rộng lượng với
Thiên Chúa và Ngài sẽ ban cho chúng ta nhiều hơn những gì chúng ta đã cho đi.
Meditation: "She put in all that she had"
Do
you know the joy of selfless giving and love for others? True love doesn't
calculate - it spends lavishly! Jesus drove this point home to his disciples
while sitting in the temple and observing people offering their tithes. Jesus
praised a poor widow who gave the smallest of coins in contrast with the rich
who gave greater sums. How can someone in poverty give more than someone who
has ample means? Jesus' answer is very simple - love is more precious than gold
or wealth!
Jesus taught that real giving must
come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses
its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and
sacrifice, is precious. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much
as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but
instead she recklessly gave away all she had! Jesus praised someone who gave
barely a penny - how insignificant a sum - because it was everything she had,
her whole living.
What we have to offer may look very
small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, no
matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what
is beyond our reckoning. Do you give out of love and gratitude for what God has
already given to you?
"Lord
Jesus, your love knows no bounds and you give without measure. All that I have
comes from you. May I give freely and generously in gratitude for all that you
have given to me. Take my life and all that I possess - my gifts, talents, time
and resources - and use them as you see fit for your glory."
Monday
34th Ordinary time
“I
tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others
have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty,
has offered her whole livelihood.” Luke 21:3–4
We must all see ourselves as this poor widow by offering our
“whole livelihood” to Christ. Everything we have is a gift from God, and it
must be offered back to God, sacrificially, as our gift to Him. The material
offering made by this poor widow was two small coins worth very little. The
truth is that even if you were the richest person in the world and donated all
that you had to God, it would greatly pale in comparison to the gift given to
us by our Lord. We are all poor in the big picture of God’s grace and His
Kingdom. The most any one of us can offer is symbolized by these two small
coins.
As you look at your own life, how willing are you to give
everything you have to our Lord for His glory and service? The only appropriate
“offering” we are called to give to our Lord is the “sacrifice” of our entire
life. This spiritual truth is something very difficult for those who are very
wealthy in the things of this world. Material wealth offers an easy way to live
in comfort. Money can provide every modern convenience, entertainment, fun,
worldly security and much of what this world has to offer. But money cannot buy
fulfillment. It cannot satisfy us in the truest sense. This is why many people
who live very luxurious lives are not truly happy.
Happiness is found in sacrifice. Specifically, it is found
in sacrificial love by which we dedicate everything we are and all that we have
to the sole purpose of the glory of God and the furtherment of His Kingdom.
Sadly, when one is rich in the things of this world, it is easy to think that
offering a portion of their wealth, such as a tithe, means that they can keep
and use the rest any way they want. But that’s not true. Giving of ourselves
completely to God and to His service does not necessarily mean that we donate
all of our money to the Church. But it does mean that we offer everything to
God. For many, when this complete offering is done every day, God will lead
them to use their material resources for the raising of their family, to take
care of their basic needs, and, at times, to even enjoy various comforts in
life. But the real question is whether or not you truly live as though all you
have and all you are is God’s and is to be used for His glory and the
furtherment of His will.
Reflect, today, upon this poor widow. She was greatly
blessed to have very little. This made it easier for her to remain detached
from money and other forms of material wealth. And in that detachment, she gave
all to God. She entrusted all to Him, and Jesus noticed and praised her.
Reflect upon our Lord’s reaction to you and to the offering of your life to
Him. If you are holding back from our Lord, then use the witness of this poor
widow to inspire you to daily dedicate everything to the service of God in
accord with His holy will.
My wealthy Lord, Your riches are all that matter in life.
You bestow the riches of eternal salvation and countless other graces upon
those who have given all to You. I do give my life to You, dear Lord. I give
all that I have and all that I am. Please receive the offering of my life and
use me in accord with Your holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Monday
34th Ordinary time:
Scripture: Luke 21:1-4
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, I offer my entire
life to you. Receive all that I am, purify it with your grace. Accept it as a
pleasing sacrifice. Lord, I trust in you. Deliver me from all evil today.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
The Value of Two Small Coins: Jesus
sees everything. He saw the wealthy and the poor widow. Jesus saw beyond their
appearances and saw their hearts and deepest intentions. He saw the intentions
of those who wanted to be seen and praised for their generosity and those who
gave with a humble heart. Jesus does not measure or judge a person by their
bank account. In fact, according to Jesus’ math, two small coins – two lepta –
can be worth more than great sums of wealth. In Jesus’ day, a lepton was the
least valuable coin: one hundred twenty-eight bronze lepta equaled a day’s
wage, i.e., a silver denarius. Jesus pointed out that the wealthy were making
offerings to God from their surplus (from their leftovers), but that the poor
widow offered her entire life or livelihood. It is reminiscent of the
difference between the sacrifices of Cain and Abel. Cain offered some fruit to
God but not the first fruits. Abel, by contrast, offered God the best, the
firstborn from the flock, and the fat portions (Genesis 4:3-5). By pointing out
the widow and her total offering, Jesus was not encouraging reckless or
imprudent abandon in giving away what we have. But he pointed out a model of
self-giving to God and filial trust in God’s care.
2.
The Book of Daniel: The First
Reading was taken from the Book of Daniel, the fourth major prophet in the
Bible. The first major prophet, Isaiah, covers the fall of the Northern Kingdom
of Israel. Jeremiah, the second major prophet, covers the fall of the Southern
Kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel, the third major prophet,
also covers the fall of Jerusalem, but is in exile in Babylon. This week, we
will read from Daniel, a prophet exiled in Babylon who had very detailed
prophecies about how history would unfold until the coming of the Messiah and
Son of Man. Daniel was unique in how specific his prophecies were. Not only did
he foretell how many empires would rise and fall until the establishment of the
Kingdom of God, but he even gave a timeline of 490 years (see Daniel 9:24-25).
Each of the four empires will be characterized as a metal in a statue and as a
beast arising from the sea. When Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man”
and speaks often about the Kingdom of God in the Gospel, his listeners must
have recalled the prophecies of Daniel.
3.
Undefiled and Faithful in Exile: The
Book of Daniel opens with several young men, some from the nobility of Judah,
in exile in Babylon. They were chosen to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s royal
court. Nebuchadnezzar had all their names changed. Daniel, which means “God is
my judge,” was changed to “Belteshazzar,” which means “Bel – a Babylonian god –
protects his life.” Hananiah, which means “YHWH is gracious,” was changed to
“Shadrach, “which means “Command of Aku – the moon god.” Mishael, which means
“Who is like God,” was changed to “Meshach,” Who is like Aku.” And Azariah,
which means “YWHW has helped,” was changed to “Abednego,” which means “Servant
of Nebo – the god of writing.” The name changes symbolize how the young men
were all tempted to abandon their faith in the Lord and serve false gods. This
temptation is also seen in the unclean food they were offered. Yet, despite
being surrounded by impure things and sin in a pagan nation, they maintained
their purity and remained faithful to God. The young men not only survived, but
they thrived. They were stronger, healthier, and wiser than all those around
them.
Conversing
with Christ: Lord Jesus, gaze upon me
today, look at my actions, and render your judgment. Bring out where I
struggled, where I was selfish, where I loved, and where I was generous.
Monday
34th Ordinary time 2024
Opening
Prayer: Lord God, I give all that I am
to you. I offer you everything I do today as a loving sacrifice. I hope that,
united to your Son’s offering, it becomes a pleasing sacrifice of praise. I
thank you for releasing me from the debt of sin and granting me true freedom as
your child.
Encountering
the Word of God
1.
The Value of Two Small Coins: Jesus
sees everything. He saw the wealthy and the poor widow. Jesus saw beyond their
appearances and saw their hearts and deepest intentions. He saw the intentions
of those who wanted to be seen and praised for their generosity and those who
gave with a humble heart. Jesus does not measure or judge a person by their
bank account. In fact, according to Jesus’ math, two small coins – two lepta –
can be worth more than great sums of wealth. In Jesus’ day, a lepton was the
least valuable coin: one hundred twenty-eight bronze lepta equaled a day’s
wage, i.e., a silver denarius. Jesus pointed out that the wealthy were making
offerings to God from their surplus (from their leftovers), but that the poor
widow offered her entire life or livelihood. It is reminiscent of the
difference between the sacrifices of Cain and Abel. Cain offered some fruit to
God but not the first fruits. Abel, by contrast, offered God the best, the
firstborn from the flock, and the fat portions (Genesis 4:3-5). By pointing out
the widow and her total offering, Jesus was not encouraging reckless or
imprudent abandon in giving away what we have. But he pointed out a model of
self-giving to God and filial trust in God’s care.
2. They Were Singing a New Song: In the Book
of Revelation, John has just contemplated the persecution of the Church by the
red dragon, a symbol of Satan, the sea beast, a symbol of corrupt Gentile
powers like Rome, and the land beast, a symbol of false religious authorities.
When John saw the 144,000 in heaven, he saw the righteous remnant that was
saved during the time of tribulation. “The vision reminds the reader that,
though Jerusalem has become wicked, not all from Israel will be condemned. The
reader is reminded that not all have bowed to the beast and received his image.
Some are marked with the sign of the Lamb” (Barber, Coming Soon,
178). The righteous remnant gathered on Mt. Zion and sang a new song. “Just as
Moses led Israel in singing a song of praise to God after delivering them
through the Red Sea, so now the saints sing a song of praise as they enter into
the true Promised Land of heaven” (Barber, Coming Soon, 179).
3.
They Have Been Redeemed: Unlike
those who followed the beast (Revelation 13:3) and were marked on their
foreheads with 666, the number of the beast (Revelation 13:16-17), the
righteous remnant follow the Lamb and have been marked with the name of God the
Father on their foreheads. John highlights that the faithful followers of the
Lamb of God have been redeemed. This recalls that, for centuries, Israel was in
the debt of sin and awaited God to ransom or redeem them from this debt and its
consequences. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is our redeemer, for he has
paid the price to release us from the debt we incurred through sin and from our
slavery of sin. Jesus has redeemed us at the expense of his own blood. His
sacrificial death truly atoned for our sins. The 144,000 John contemplates are
like the 24 elders (royal presbyters) who offered their lives as a priestly
sacrifice to God. These saints are also called the “first fruits:” “In the Old
Testament the first fruits were to be an offering to the Lord (cf. Exodus
34:26). These who ‘have been redeemed’ have offered themselves to God as a
sacrificial offering” (Barber, Coming Soon, 180).
Conversing
with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my
redeemer. You are my brother, my kinsman, who paid the ultimate price to
release me from the debt and slavery of sin. You are the Lamb of God who was
sacrificed for my sins. I thank you, I praise you, and I adore you.
Monday
34th Ordinary time
Opening Prayer: Dear
God, I love you because you notice little details, like a poor widow offering
two small coins. I know that you see and cherish all of my good deeds too. It
makes me want to love and serve you even more. Please give me the grace to do
so!
Encountering Christ:
Complete Love: There is a sense of finality in the poor woman’s meager
donation. She had something, and now she has nothing and it would seem her life
is about to end. We are now in the last week of the liturgical year, when we
read of the end times in Luke 21. And it all begins with this poor widow
donating her fortune to God. We are like that woman; we are poor and seemingly
insignificant in world history. Our names will be forgotten, like hers was. And
yet what she did for God has never been forgotten. Scripture presents her as
the epitome of love and devotion, for she followed the first commandment and
loved the Lord her God with all her heart, mind, and soul.
Not Much, but All: Jesus often makes statements which can be maddening to
those with a worldly mentality. He said, “She has put in more than all the
rest.” The worldling says, “But it simply isn’t true! She put in only two
coins, entirely irrelevant to the treasury needs.” Jesus is trying to open us
up to a deeper reality: The Father does not measure our self-donation in
worldly terms but he does ask us to offer him everything we have. May we have
the courage to give everything to the Lord, as did this poor woman.
I Choose All: What
happened to the widow the day after she gave God her last two coins? Did she
die of want and exposure? The Gospel doesn’t say. Wasn’t it rash of her to give
away everything she owned? Yes, it was rash. But the saints remind us that love
is daring, rash, and sometimes even foolish. When discerning her path in life,
St. Thérèse of Lisieux said, “I choose all.” The worldling says, “You can’t
choose all, that’s foolish.” May we be fools for Christ!
Conversing with Christ: Jesus Christ, you loved me so much that you gave me all
you had by dying on the cross. From the poverty of your humanity, you offered
your whole self to your Heavenly Father. You learned obedience through what you
suffered and so became the fount of salvation for all who believe in you. Teach
me to understand this logic of love so dear to your heart.
My REFLECTION MONDAY, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
In
the first reading from the book of Revelation, we see the Lamb in glory,
surrounded by one hundred and forty-four thousand elected faithfuls. The Book of
Revelation is filled with puzzling symbols. It was written during a time of
suffering and persecution of the followers of Jesus and was intended to
reassure the faithful of the final triumph of Christ. In the end, God wins! One hundred and
forty-four thousand; multiples of 12, the number of the tribes of Israel; is a
symbolic number meant to signify wholeness and completeness.
God’s final plan
is all-embracing and perfect. As we try to follow the way of Christ in our
daily lives, we can take heart that we are among the faithful. In the Gospel reading Jesus praises the great sacrifice and
generosity of the poor widow who contributed 2 small coins to the Temple as he
said to his disciples: "Truly, I
tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. For all gave an
offering from their plenty, but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to
live on." There are many people contributed to the Church and to
charitable causes generously, their generosity is commendable.
But today, what Jesus emphasized was how great the widow's
donation was compared to what she owned:
"She, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on." God asks us to be willing to give our
best, our all, to him and in service of him. In comparison, how generous are we
to others, to those in need? Do we give from our plenty? We can help others not only with money and
resources, but we also help others with our presence and time. The question is
how much of ourselves do we give for others?
Today, Jesus introduced a different way of evaluating gifts.
It was not the value of the gift that
was important but the sacrifice with which it was given. Jesus honored the
sacrifice of the poor. God calls on each
of us to faithfully give from a generous heart. Let’s ask our Lord Jesus help us to open our heart to him by giving
generously and faithfully.
