Suy Niệm: Trong đoạn Tin Mừng, Chúa dạy: hãy siêng năng học Lời Chúa để mình có một số kiến thức căn bản trong đối xử, trong cách sống. Trầm suy, cầu nguyện sẽ nhận ra khuyết điểm mà sống yêu thương tha thứ. Chẳng ai là vẹn toàn không bao giờ sai lỗi, nhưng có lễ mình còn phạm những sai lầm lớn lao hơn người khác. Vậy đừng đem tâm trạng bất toàn của mình phán đoán tâm trạng, hành vi người khác.
Cầu Nguyện: Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con biết mình, hiểu mình để dễ thông cảm, tha thứ lỗi lầm người khác. Chúa dạy sống bác ái với mọi người, ngay cả những người thù ghét, những người làm nhiều điều chống lại chúng con, cũng phải thông cảm, yêu thương tha thứ. Bài học Chúa dạy chúng con thật rõ ràng, nhưng ngu dốt, ích kỷ làm mờ lương tri chúng con. Xin Chúa thương soi sáng chỗ u mê, tăm tối của chúng con để chúng con biết sống theo đường Chúa dạy.
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Chúa Nhật 8 Thường Niên – năm C
Bài Ðọc I: Hc 27, 5-8 “Ðừng ca tụng người nào trước khi nghe người ấy nói”.
Trích sách Huấn Ca.
Khi người ta sàng, những rác rến còn lại thế nào, thì nết xấu của một người cũng xuất hiện trong lời nói kẻ ấy như vậy. Lò lửa thì nung luyện bình sành, còn gian nan thì thử những người công chính. Xem trái liền biết cây thế nào, thì nghe lời nói cũng biết tư tưởng lòng người như thể ấy. Ðừng ca tụng người nào trước khi nghe người ấy nói, vì lời nói là sự thử thách của con người. Đó là lời Chúa.
Ðáp Ca: Tv 91, 2-3. 13-14. 15-16 Ðáp: Lạy Chúa, thiện hảo thay việc khen ngợi Chúa! (x. c. 2a).
Xướng:
1) Thiện hảo thay việc khen ngợi Chúa,
và đàn ca danh Ngài, ôi Ðấng Tối Cao,
hầu loan truyền tình thương Ngài vào buổi sớm,
và lòng trung tín Ngài vào lúc ban đêm.
2) Người hiền đức như cây chà là nở hoa tươi tốt,
vươn mình lên như cây hương bá đất Liban.
Họ được vun trồng trong nhà Chúa,
trong hành lang nhà Thiên Chúa chúng tôi họ nở bông.
3) Ngay trong tuổi già họ còn sinh trái,
họ đầy nhựa sống và họ sống xanh tươi,
để họ loan truyền Chúa nhường bao công chính,
Chúa là Ðá Tảng của tôi, nơi Chúa chẳng có gian tà!
Bài Ðọc II: 1 Cr 15, 54-58 “Người đã ban cho chúng ta sự chiến thắng nhờ Ðức Giêsu Kitô”.
Trích thư thứ nhất của Thánh Phaolô Tông đồ gửi tín hữu Côrintô.
Anh em thân mến, khi xác hay chết này mặc lấy sự trường sinh, thì lúc ấy ứng nghiệm lời đã ghi chép rằng: “Sự chết đã tiêu tan trong chiến thắng”. “Hỡi tử thần, chiến thắng của ngươi ở đâu? Hỡi tử thần, nọc độc của ngươi ở đâu? Nọc độc của sự chết là tội, thế lực của tội là lề luật”. Cảm tạ ơn Thiên Chúa, Ðấng đã ban cho chúng ta chiến thắng nhờ Ðức Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta. Cho nên, hỡi anh em thân mến, anh em hãy ăn ở bền đỗ và đừng nao núng; hãy luôn luôn thăng tiến trong công trình của Chúa. Hãy biết rằng công lao khó nhọc của anh em không phải là uổng phí trong Chúa. Ðó là lời Chúa.
Alleluia: Lc 19, 38 Alleluia, alleluia! – Chúc tụng Ðức Vua, Ðấng nhân danh Chúa mà đến! Bình an trên trời và vinh quang trên các tầng trời. – Alleluia.
Phúc Âm: Lc 6, 39-45 “Miệng nói những điều đầy ứ trong lòng”.
Tin Mừng Chúa Giêsu Kitô theo Thánh Luca.
Khi ấy, Chúa Giêsu phán cùng các môn đệ dụ ngôn này: “Người mù có thể dẫn người mù được chăng? Cả hai lại không sa xuống hố ư? Môn đệ không trọng hơn Thầy: nếu môn đệ được giống như Thầy, thì kể là hoàn hảo rồi.
“Sao ngươi nhìn cái rác trong mắt anh em, còn cái đà trong chính mắt ngươi thì lại không thấy? Sao ngươi có thể nói với người anh em: ‘Này anh, hãy để tôi lấy cái rác trong con mắt anh’, trong khi chính ngươi không nhìn thấy cái đà trong mắt ngươi? Hỡi kẻ giả hình, hãy lấy cái đà ra khỏi mắt mình trước đã, rồi bấy giờ ngươi sẽ trông rõ để lấy cái rác khỏi mắt anh em ngươi.
“Không có cây nào tốt mà sinh trái xấu; và ngược lại, cũng không có cây nào xấu mà sinh trái tốt. Thật vậy, cứ xem trái thì biết cây. Người ta không hái được trái vả ở bụi gai, và cũng không hái được trái nho nơi cây dâu đất. Người hiền, bởi lòng tích chứa điều lành, nên phát xuất sự thiện; và kẻ dữ, bởi tích đầy lòng ác, nên phát xuất điều ác: vì lòng đầy, thì miệng mới nói ra”. Ðó là lời Chúa.
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Gospel LK 6:39-45
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
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Daily Reading & Meditation Sunday (March 3): “Do you not see the log in your own eye?“
Scripture: Luke 6:39-45
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 43 For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Meditation: Are you clear-sighted, especially in your perception of sin and the need for each of one of us to see ourselves correctly as God sees us – with our faults,weaknesses, and strengths? Jesus’ two parables about poor vision allude to the proverb: Without vision the people perish!(Proverbs 29:18) What can we learn from the illustration of a blind guide and a bad eye (the log in the eye)? A bad eye left untreated and a blind guide can cause a lot of trouble that will only end in misery and disaster for us! We can only help and teach others what we have learned and received from wise teachers and guides. And how can we help others overcome their faults if we are blinded by our own faults and misperceptions? We are all in need of a physician who can help us overcome the blind spots and failing of own sins, weaknesses, and ignorance.
Overcoming blind spots in our own lives
The Gospel of Luke was written by a disciple who was trained as a physician. Luke, with keen insight, portrays Jesus as the good physician and shepherd of souls who seeks out those who desire healing, pardon, and restoration of body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came to free us from the worst oppression possible – slavery to sin, fear, and condemnation. Like a gentle and skillful doctor, the Lord Jesus exposes the cancer of sin, evil, and oppression in our lives so we can be set free and restored to wholeness. A key step to healing and restoration requires that we first submit to the physician who can heal us. The Lord Jesus is our great Physician because he heals the whole person – soul and body, mind and heart – and restores us to abundant life both now and for the age to come in his everlasting kingdom.
Thinking the best of others
The Lord Jesus wants to heal and restore us to wholeness, not only for our own sake alone. He also wants us to be his instruments of healing, pardon, and restoration for others as well. What can hinder us from helping others draw near to Jesus the divine Physician? The Rabbis taught: “He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God.” How easy it is to misjudge others and how difficult it is to be impartial in giving good judgment. Our judgment of others is usually “off the mark” because we can’t see inside the other person, or we don’t have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself. A critical and judgmental spirit crushes rather than heals, oppresses rather than restores, repels rather than attracts. “Thinking the best of other people” is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty.
What you give to others will return to you
Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you (Mark 4:24). The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God’s mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity, forbearance, and kindness towards your neighbor.
Producing good fruit versus bad fruit in our lives
Why does Jesus set figs and grapes over against thorns and brambles (Luke 6:33-35)? The fig tree was the favorite of all trees for the people of Palestine. It symbolized fertility, peace, and prosperity. Grapes, likewise, produced wine, the symbol of joy. Thorns and brambles were only good for burning as fuel for the fire. There’s a proverbial saying that you know a tree by its fruit. Likewise a person will produce good or bad fruit depending on what is sown in the heart. Charles Read said: “Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Character, like fruit, doesn’t grow overnight. It takes a lifetime.
Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living – living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin.
How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit in our lives? By being true – true to God, his word, and the grace and help he gives us so we can turn away from evil and wrongdoing. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies everything we need to live as his disciples. The Lord strengthens us with the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit – with faith, hope and love, justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. And we grow in godly character through exercising the gifts and strength which God supplies. Do you want to bear good fruit in your daily life? Allow the Holy Spirit to train you in godliness and the wisdom to distinguish good fruit from bad fruit (1 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 5:14).
“O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for your name’s sake.” (Prayer of William Barclay, 1907-1978)
Psalm 92:1-2, 12-15
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord, they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bring forth fruit in old age, they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to show that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Seeing the speck in another’s eye, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
“The word hypocrite is aptly employed here (Luke 6:42, Matthew 7:5), since the denouncing of evils is best viewed as a matter only for upright persons of goodwill. When the wicked engage in it, they are like impersonators, masqueraders, hiding their real selves behind a mask, while they portray another’s character through the mask. The word hypocrites in fact signifies pretenders. Hence we ought especially to avoid that meddlesome class of pretenders who under the pretense of seeking advice undertake the censure of all kinds of vices. They are often moved by hatred and malice. Rather, whenever necessity compels one to reprove or rebuke another, we ought to proceed with godly discernment and caution. First of all, let us consider whether the other fault is such as we ourselves have never had or whether it is one that we have overcome. Then, if we have never had such a fault, let us remember that we are human and could have had it. But if we have had it and are rid of it now, let us remember our common frailty, in order that mercy, not hatred, may lead us to the giving of correction and admonition. In this way, whether the admonition occasions the amendment or the worsening of the one for whose sake we are offering it (for the result cannot be foreseen), we ourselves shall be made safe through singleness of eye. But if on reflection we find that we ourselves have the same fault as the one we are about to reprove, let us neither correct nor rebuke that one. Rather, let us bemoan the fault ourselves and induce that person to a similar concern, without asking him to submit to our correction.” (excerpt from Sermon on the Mount 2.19.64)
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