Bài giảng CN - Song ngữ (RẤT HAY)

Tiêu đề: Bài giảng CN - Song ngữ (RẤT HAY) Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:36 pm

We had better be careful about what we claim to be doing and saying "in Jesus’ name." We would be advised to be less dogmatic and strive to live more evident Christian lives – in his name. We would also do well to reflect on our own prejudices: religious, political, social, economic, racial, gender, etc. If we think we don’t have any, ask someone who loves us what they perceive as our prejudices. Then be prepared to be surprised.

Jesus reflects God for us. His teaching reveals a bigger picture of God than many of us have. Our God may be too small. Today’s gospel reflects a big open-handed God. So does our first reading. We see in the Book of Numbers that God wasn’t limited in bestowing some of the spirit given to Moses on just those 70 elders who got to the meeting tent on time. The absent Eldad and Medad also got their portion of the spirit and they too prophesied in the camp. God and God’s gifts are not just limited to official people, places and times. Joshua, Moses’ aide, like the disciples, has much to learn about God. Our "inner circle" doesn’t limit God’s presence and activity. People may not belong to our group or be loyal to us – but can still be touched by God. Moses and Jesus affirm God’s big heart and gracious, open hands.

Jesus’ reference to causing "these little ones" to sin may not have been a reference to children, but to those new to the faith – "these little ones who believe in me." New converts might still have a tentative foothold in the community and if they experience unseemly behavior on the part of the more seasoned members, the newest members ("the little ones") might stumble – even leave the community.

In many parishes I visit I meet newly baptized people who went through their preparation for baptism, or their return to the church, in the RCIA process. They frequently say what inspired and kept them in the process was the example of their sponsors and program directors. I’ve also met people who pulled out of the process because they felt like second-class citizens and weren’t treated hospitably. One woman said, "They treated us like children." Today would be a good day to pray for candidates in the RCIA and for their sponsors and teachers.

Jesus gets rather glum in the last section of the gospel today. He talks about cutting off the hand and foot or plucking out an eye. Ugh! But, to tell you the truth, when I was a kid I heard some of my Mediterranean-born uncles and aunts use such exaggerated language. It made for a colorful speech and we kids got the point. Jesus was middle eastern and seems to have used similar vivid and exaggerated language. We get the point too – don’t we?

Chúng ta hãy cẩn thận khi làm việc gì “nhân danh Chúa Giêsu”. Chúng ta nên tránh bớt việc dẫn chứng lời Kinh Thánh, và hãy cố gắng sống thật nếp sống của người Kitô Hữu vì danh Chúa Giêsu. Là Kitô Hữu chúng ta nên cố tránh những thành kiến về tôn giáo, chính trị, xã hội, kinh tế, màu da, phe phái v.v… Nếu nghỉ rằng chúng ta không có những thành kiến ấy, thì hảy hỏi ý kiến của những người đang yêu thương giúp đỡ chúng ta, và chúng ta hãy sẵn sàng đón nhận lời phê phán của họ.

Chúa Giêsu là hình ảnh Thiên Chúa đối với chúng ta. Lời dạy củavChúa Giêsu đem đến cho chúng ta một hình ảnh lớn lao về Thiên Chúa. Thiên Chúa theo ý nghĩ của chúng ta có thể còn hẹp hòi. Hình ảnh về Thiên Chúa được diễn tả trong Phúc âm hôm nay và sách Dân Số. Theo đó chúng ta thấy Thiên Chúa không bị giới hạn bởi việc ban Thần Khí xuống trên Mô-sê và cả trên 70 vị kỳ mục đã tề tựu trong lều trại. Mà cả 2 vị vắng mặt không ở trong trại Thiên Chúa vẫn cho Thần Khí đậu trên họ. Một người là En-đát và người kia là Mê-đát. Và hai người đó vẫn nói tiên tri trong trại. Giô-suê, tôi bộc của Mô-sê nói với Mô-sê “Thưa thầy, xin thầy ngăn cản họ”. Nhưng Mô-sê bảo “Anh ghen giùm ta sao?”. Đức Chúa và ơn huệ của Ngài không bị giới hạn bởi thời gian, số người và cộng đoàn. Vì thế, cả chúng ta nữa cũng vẫn được Chúa Giêsu thương đến, như xưa Mô-sê và Đức Chúa luôn rộng mở đón nhận kẻ vắng mặt.

Chúa Giêsu nói đến “những kẻ bé mọn” trong phúc âm phạm tội vì gương xấu. Chúa Giêsu không ám chỉ họ là trẻ con, nhưng Ngài có ý nói họ là những người mới được đức tin, họ là những tân tòng vừa bước chân vào cộng đoàn, và nếu họ gặp phải gương xấu của những người sống lâu trong cộng đoàn, họ có thể bỏ cộng đoàn, ra đi.

Tôi đã thăm nhiều giáo xứ, gặp nhiều tân tòng. Có những tân tòng còn trở lại học thêm giáo lý tân tòng, với lý do là vì họ thấy gương tốt của những người bảo trợ họ và những người lãnh đạo các dự án trong cộng đoàn. Tôi cũng gặp những tân tòng rút lui ra khỏi cộng đoàn vì họ cảm thấy họ không được tiếp đãi như những người cũ của cộng đoàn. Có một phụ nữ bảo tôi là vì họ cảm thấy người cũ đối đãi với họ như với trẻ con. Hôm nay cũng là dịp để chúng ta cầu nguyện cho những người đang học giáo lý tân tòng, cho các người bảo trợ và các người dạy giáo lý cho họ.

Phần cuối bài phúc âm hôm nay Chúa Giêsu hơi gắt gỏng. Ngài nói đến việc cắt tay, chân, và môi mắt. Nhưng sự thật, khi tôi còn nhỏ, tôi đã nghe các cô bác người gốc vùng biển Địa Trung Hải nói những lời gắt gỏng ấy. Chúng tôi còn nhỏ nhưng lời gắt gỏng ấy đã giúp chúng tôi đấy. Chúa Giêsu là gốc người vùng Địa Trung Hải, và Ngài cũng dùng lời nói gắt gỏng ấy để nhấn mạnh sự thật. Và nhờ đấy mà chúng ta hiểu Ngài, có phải vậy không?

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Jesus came to heal the sick and help the poor. If a doctor dedicates her life; giving of her free time; not charging indigent patients who don’t have health care; even providing free medication – but doesn’t explicitly invoke the name of Jesus – would she also come under Jesus’ banner – "For whoever is not against us is for us"? Mother Theresa thought if you gave a cup of water to a thirsty person out of love, you were in fact a follower of Jesus. While we don’t need to "baptize" every good non-believer for their works still, we can say they are living in a way Jesus would recognize and applaud.

But even people who profess to be Christian have trouble accepting Jesus’ teaching of tolerance. We Christians have gone so far as to wage violent wars against one another invoking Jesus’ name. In addition, the violent conquests of South and Central America were done by Christian nations from Europe, accompanied by clergy ready to baptize the natives forcibly brought to the font –after being tortured. What does professing Jesus’ name me for us? First of all it means living the life that Jesus lived. If we do, we will be able to drive out many demons in his name – the demons of intolerance, injustice, local strife, long-held grudges, poverty and a long list of other demons.

The context of today’s story suggests another approach. The disciples’ question and their concern for proper channels and procedures may also have been a distraction from the real issue at hand – once again – living life in Jesus’ name. In the chapter preceding today’s selection Peter has professed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Immediately Jesus makes his first prediction of his passion (8:31). He does the same just after today’s selection – another prediction of the passion (9:30-32). As if not hearing him at all, the disciples are caught arguing about "who was the most important" (9:34). Then they raise their concern about the unofficial exorcist they encountered. If they missed Jesus’ two predictions of his passion, they surely didn’t hear him say that any follower of his would have to deny self, take up their cross and follow in his steps (8:34).

Chúa Giêsu đến thế gian để chữa người bệnh và giúp người nghèo. Nếu có một bác sĩ muốn dùng thì giờ rỗi của mình để giúp các bệnh nhân không có bảo hiểm, cho thuốc miễn phí, nhưng bác sĩ đó không làm vì danh Chúa Giêsu, thì bác sĩ đó có được chấp nhận là người thuộc nhóm Giêsu không? Vì hễ “ai không chống đối ta thì người đó đứng về phe với ta”. Mẹ Teresa nói nếu người nào cho ai một cốc nước vì tình thương thì người đó là môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu. Trong khi chúng ta chưa kịp rửa tội cho những người tốt, thì chính những việc tốt họ đã làm, minh chứng là họ đã sống theo lời Chúa dạy và chính Chúa Giêsu hoan hỷ chấp nhận họ.

Nhưng ngay cả những người xưng danh là Kitô Hữu cũng khó lòng chấp nhận lời dạy của Chúa Giêsu về lòng rộng rãi. Có những Kitô Hữu quá khích chống đối nhau nhân danh Chúa Giêsu. Như ở Nam và Trung Mỹ có những nước Kitô Giáo ở Âu Châu đem quân đội và các giáo sĩ qua để buộc các dân địa phương phải theo đạo, đánh đập rồi bắt họ chịu phép rửa tội. Vậy việc tuyên xưng đức tin nơi Chúa Giêsu là gì? Trước tiên có nghĩa là sống theo đường lối của Ngài. Nếu chúng ta làm được như vậy, chúng ta có thể trừ quỷ vì danh thánh Ngài. Đó là những quỷ thiếu khoan dung, quỷ bất công, quỷ keo kiệt, quỷ hận thù, quỷ đói nghèo và biết bao nhiêu quỷ khác nữa.

Phúc âm hôm nay còn mang ý nghĩa khác nữa. Các môn đệ hỏi Chúa Giêsu, và đặt vấn đề những người khác trừ quỷ vì danh Chúa Giêsu. Họ đã quen việc sống theo đường lối Chúa Giêsu. Đoạn trước bài phúc âm đọc hôm nay trình bày việc Thánh Phêrô tuyên xưng Chúa Giêsu là Đấng Mê-sia. Và ngay sau đó Chúa Giêsu nói đến việc Ngài sẽ chịu thương khó (Mc 8:31). Và ngay sau bài phúc âm đọc ngày hôm nay Chúa Giêsu cũng làm như vậy. Chúa Giêsu nói trước việc Ngài sẽ chịu thương khó (Mc. 9:30-32). Các môn đệ hình như đã không nghe lời Chúa Giêsu nói, các ông luôn tranh biện vói nhau để xem “ai là người lớn nhất” (9:34). Sau đó các ông lo ngại là có người lấy danh Chúa Giêsu mà trừ quỷ. Rõ là các ông chẳng nghe Chúa Giêsu nói gì về việc người môn đệ muốn theo Chúa Giêsu phải “từ bỏ chính mình, vác thập giá mình mà theo Ngài”. (8:34)

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Jesus knows the consequences of sin for the community. One person might sin, but it’s the whole community that suffers. He’s calling us to take charge of our lives and make whatever changes we have to in order to live his life. It can feel like cutting off a part of ourselves when we: try to break a harmful habit we’ve had for a long time; simplify our lives so we can have more time for others; reduce our material excesses so as to help those who have less; focus less on ourselves so we can be more attentive to those immediately around us; open our eyes and ears to the larger world of the poor; reduce our wasteful use of our earth’s resources, etc.

Making significant changes in our lives can feel like major surgery or, as Jesus puts it, like chopping off a hand or foot or plucking out an eye. Who wants to do that! We do, if we have heard Jesus’ invitation to follow him. And we can because at this Eucharist we are again being offered transforming grace.

Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP

Chúa Giêsu biết sự tai hại của tội trong cộng đoàn. Một người phạm tội nhưng tất cả cộng đoàn đau khổ. Chúa Giêsu mời gọi chúng ta hãy có tinh thần trách nhiệm trong lối sống. Và nên sửa đổi đời sống chúng ta theo lối sống của Ngài. Sửa đổi có thể làm cho chúng ta thấy như bị cắt bỏ một cái gì: từ bỏ một thói quen xấu để sống đơn giản hầu có thì giờ lo cho kẻ khác; từ bỏ thói tiêu xài hoang phí để giúp kẻ thiếu thốn; từ bỏ việc chăm chút cho chính mình để có thể quan tâm đến những người chung quanh; hãy mở mắt và lắng nghe thế giới bên ngoài của những người nghèo khó; từ bỏ thói phá hoại môi trường thiên nhiên v.v…

Mỗi khi chúng ta thay đổi lối sống, chính là lúc chúng ta trải qua một cuộc giải phẫn lớn, như Chúa Giêsu đã nói. đến chặt chân, hay tay, hay môi mắt. Đâu có ai muốn như vậy phải không? Nhưng nếu chúng ta muốn, hãy lãnh nhận lời mời gọi của Chúa Giêsu để sống theo Ngài. Và hôm nay nhờ bí tích Thánh Thê, chúng ta lại được mời gọi lần nữa và được ban ơn để từ bỏ mọi sự theo Chúa Giêsu.

Lm. Jude Siciliano, OP

Chuyển ngữ FX Trọng Yên, OP

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