TRÁI TIM MẸ:  NƠI CON NƯƠNG NÁU - ĐƯỜNG ĐẾN VỚI CHÚA

"Chúa Giêsu muốn dùng con để làm cho Mẹ được nhận biết và yêu mến"

Sep 29, 2008 –  Monday of 26th Week in Ordinary Time       DAILY LITURGICAL/THEME MEDITATION: "You will see heaven opened and the angels of God" UNIVERSAL CHURCH/WORLD EVENT(S): On John Paul I SAINT OF THE DAY Michael, Gabriel and Raphael  GENERAL MARIOLOGY Protestant Reformers Defend Perpetual Virginity DIVINE MERCY Silence In My Heart  TEACHING/TESTIMONY/CONVICTION: Overcoming Loneliness   Monthly Index

DAILY LITURGICAL MEDITATION

Monday (9/29):  "You will see heaven opened and the angels of God" Scripture: John 1:47-51  (alternate reading: Luke 9:46-50) 47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Meditation: What would you give to see beyond the visible – to "see heaven opened and the angels of God"? When Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus, Jesus did the unthinkable! He brought revelation to Nathaniel – revelation of how God sees each of us individually in the deepest recesses of our hearts where no visible eye can perceive the deepest thoughts and longings we have for peace, happiness, and spiritual fulfillment. Nathaniel was very startled that Jesus knew him so intimately even before Nathaniel had the opportunity to meet Jesus. Jesus knew Nathaniel's deepest thoughts and his hunger and longing  for God. What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanial "under the fig tree"? For the people of Israel, the fig tree was a symbol of God's blessing and peace.  It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool place to retreat and pray. It is very likely that Nathanial had been thinking about God "under the fig tree" and reflecting on God's promise to give his people Israel a savior who would free them from oppression. Perhaps he dozed off for a midday nap and dreamt of God's kindgom like Jacob had dreamt when God gave him a vision of a great ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Nathaniel recognized that Jesus truly was the Messiah and the Lord of heaven and earth because Jesus offered him the greatest gift which only God can give – the gift of friendship with God and free access to God's throne in heaven. What does Jesus mean when he says "you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"? One of the most remarkable revelations recorded in the bible is the dream of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-17). God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host and showed him the throne of heaven and promised Jacob that he and descendants would dwell with the living God. Who are the angels and why do they intervene between heaven and earth? The scriptures tell us the angels are God's servants and messengers. "They are the mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word" (Psalm 103:20). The angels belong to Christ and were created for and through him (Colossians 1:16).  The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of the role of the angels in God's plan of salvation: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14) The angels are not only messengers but protectors and guardians as well. “For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all yours ways” (Psalm 91:11). We are not alone in our struggle against sin and evil in the world. The armies of heaven fight for us and with us in the spiritual battle for our hearts, minds, and wills. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to God and to his way of peace and happiness?    Jesus' response to Nathanial's new faith is the promise that Jesus himself will be the "ladder which unites earth with heaven". Jesus proclaims that he is the fulfillment of the promise made to the Patriarch Jacob and his descendants. Jesus is the true ladder or stairway to heaven. In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth – God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Jesus' death on the cross where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see and believe the heavenly reality with the "eyes of faith"? "Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, you have opened the way to heaven for us. As you revealed yourself to your beloved patriarchs and apostles, so reveal yourself to me that I may glorify you in my daily life. May I always find joy in your presence and never lose sight of the kingdom of heaven." Psalm 138: 1-5 1  I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2  I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted above everything your name and your word. 3. On the day I called, you answered me, my strength of soul you increased. 4  All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heards the words of your mouth; 5  and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.   RETURN TO TOP

UNIVERSAL CHURCH/WORL EVENTS

On John Paul I "Humility Can Be Considered His Spiritual Legacy"   CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave before praying the Angelus with the crowds gathered in the courtyard of the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters! Today the liturgy proposes to us the Gospel parable of the two sons whom the father sent out to work in his vineyard. One of them immediately says yes, but then does not go; the other at first refuses, but then, repenting, follows his father’s wishes. With this parable Jesus emphasizes his predilection for sinners who convert, and he teaches us that humility is essential for welcoming the gift of salvation. St. Paul, too, in the passage from the Letter to the Philippians that we meditate on today, calls for humility. “Do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory,” he writes, “but humbly regard others as superior to you” (Philippians 2:3). These are Christ’s own sentiments, he who laid aside divine glory for love of us, became man and lowered himself even to dying on the cross (cf. Philippians 2:5-8). The Greek verb that is used here, “ekenôsen,” literally means that he “emptied himself” and places the profound humility and infinite love of Jesus, the humble Servant par excellence, in a clear light. Reflecting on these biblical texts, I immediately thought of Pope John Paul I, the 30th anniversary of whose death is today. He chose Charles Borromeo’s motto as his own episcopal motto: “Humilitas”: a single word that synthesizes what is essential in Christian life and indicates the indispensable virtue of those who are called to the service of authority in the Church. In one of the four general audiences of his very brief pontificate he said, among other things, in that tone that distinguished him: “I will just recommend one virtue so dear to the Lord. He said, ‘Learn from me who am meek and humble of heart.’ … Even if you have done great things, say: ‘We are useless servants.’ Alternatively, the tendency in all of us is rather the contrary: to show off” (General Audience of Sept. 6, 1978). Humility can be considered his spiritual legacy. Because of this virtue of his, 33 days were enough for Pope Luciani to enter into the hearts of the people. In his speeches he used examples taken from concrete life, from his memories of family life and from popular wisdom. His simplicity was a vehicle of a solid and rich teaching that, thanks to the gift of an exceptional memory and great culture, he adorned with numerous references to ecclesiastical and secular writers. He was thus an incomparable catechist, in the line of Pius X, his fellow countryman and predecessor in the See of St. Mark and then in the see of St. Peter. “We must feel small before God,” he said in the same audience. And added: “I am not ashamed to feel like a child before his mother; one believes in one's mother; I believe in the Lord, in what he has revealed to me.” These words display the whole breadth of his faith. As we thank God for having given him to the Church and to the world, let us treasure his example, exerting ourselves to cultivate his humility, which made him capable of talking to everyone, especially the little and so-called distant. For these intentions let us call upon Mary Most Holy, humble handmaiden of the Lord. [After the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted the pilgrims in several languages. In Italian, he said:] Summer has come to an end and I will return to the Vatican the day after tomorrow. I thank the Lord for all the gifts he has bestowed upon me during this time. I think especially of World Youth Day in Sydney, the period of rest in Bressanone, the visit to Sardinia and the apostolic trip to Paris and Lourdes; and I think of the possibility of sojourning here in this house, where I am better able to rest and work during the hottest months. An affectionate greeting to the community of Castel Gandolfo, with a heartfelt thank you to the bishop, the mayor and the various police departments. Thanks to everyone and goodbye!   RETURN TO TOP

DAILY LITURGICAL SAINT

September 29, 2008 Michael, Gabriel and Raphael  Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named. Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century. Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah. Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune. The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's. Comment: Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly. Quote: "The question of how many angels could dance on the point of a pin no longer is absurd in molecular physics, with its discovery of how broad that point actually is, and what part invisible electronic 'messengers' play in the dance of life" (Lewis Mumford). RETURN TO TOP

GENERAL MARIOLOGY

Protestant Reformers Defend Perpetual Virginity By Fr. Mateo         Not only is Our Lady's Perpetual Virginity a solemn dogma of the Catholic Church, but it was also a position defended by the major Protestant Reformers, including Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli. "Fr. Mateo" (a pen name for a Catholic priest who is an emeritus professor of New Testament Greek) presents an outstanding apologetic defense of Our Lady's Perpetual Virginity, with a particular emphasis on its biblical foundations. Fr. Mateo responds to the erroneous attacks of CRI, or the Christian Research Institute, an Evangelical ministry headquartered in southern California, which specializes in attacking Catholic, and particularly Marian, doctrines. – Ed. By Mary's perpetual virginity we mean that she was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of her Son and for the rest of her life. CRI notes that this doctrine was "a subject of intense debate as late as the fourth century." (1) It alleges that "belief in Mary's perpetual virginity eventually won out thanks to the rise of asceticism and monasticism." (2) CRI is in error here. There is no evidence whatever for this opinion. Anthologies of patristic spirituality prove that Jesus Christ, not Mary, was the ideal of virginity held up to monks and nuns from the beginning. John Cassian in his treatise On the Eight Vices (A.D. 425) writes, "If we are really eager ... to struggle lawfully and to be crowned (2 Tim. 2:5) for overcoming the impure spirit of un-chastity, we should not trust in our own strength, but in the help of our Master, God." The earliest accounts of monks and their lifestyle—like Athanasius' life of Anthony and Benedict's rule—give us Jesus, not Mary, as the monastic exemplar. It is the same with religious rules in later centuries. For example, the Thirty-First Congregation of the Jesuit Order (1965) declares, "The profession of chastity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven . . . shows wonderfully at work in the Church the surpassing greatness of the force of Christ the King and the boundless power of the Holy Spirit." (3) Certainly, Mary is important to all Catholics and in particular to those "who follow the Lamb wherever he goes, for they are virgins" (Rev. 14:4). It is ironic that, in its zeal to attack our Lady, CRI gives her more credit as a spark plug for monasticism than Catholics do. CRI confuses things further by raising a triad of questions which are irrelevant to the issue of Mary's perpetual virginity: 1. Is celibacy a higher state than marriage? 2. Is asceticism a biblical tradition? 3. Does the gospel teach celibacy? CRI answers "no" to all these questions, thus exemplifying what Max Thurian, when still a Calvinist, called "the anti-ascetic or anti-monastic reaction found in a certain type of Protestantism." (4) Paul writes that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24). Our Lord teaches us that, to be his disciples, we must take up our cross every day (Luke 9:23). We hear him telling a would-be disciple that the Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head (Matt. 8:20), thus promising the man a lifetime of insecurity and discomfort. Elijah in the Old Testament (1 Kgs. 17:1-7) and John the Baptist in the New (Matt. 3:4) are examples of an ascetical lifestyle. Even a cursory reading of the New Testament proves asceticism as Christian and, to some degree, a means to salvation. (5) What about celibacy in the Bible? Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul—these are examples of celibacy no Christian should undervalue. Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life" (Luke 18:29-30). With a flash of that rigorous honesty that often makes us wince, Jesus teaches us that "not all can accept this word, but only those to whom it is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it" (Matt. 19:11-12). But does the Bible's teaching on asceticism and celibacy diminish marriage? Specifically, does Mary's vocation to perpetual virginity imply disrespect toward her own marriage? No. Catholics regard marriage as a lofty vocation, elevated by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament of the New Covenant (Mark 14:4-9, John 2:1-10). Indeed, the indestructible bond between husband and wife is so awesomely holy that it is comparable only to the bond which unites Christ our Head to his Body the Church (Eph. 5:23-32). Now we turn to CRI's specific objections to Mary's lifelong virginity. Elliott Miller asserts that Mary and Joseph had normal marital relations after the birth of Jesus, adducing as proofs Matthew 1:18, "before they lived together, she was found with child," and 1:25, "he had no relations with her until she bore a son." (6) These texts do not support CRI's contention. In Greek, prin, "before," and heos, "until," do not imply a reversal of situation upon completion of the "before/until" clause. Notice these examples: 1. "Come down before my child dies" (John 4:49)— yet the child did not die even after Jesus came down. 2. "Until I arrive, attend to reading, exhortation, and teaching" (1 Tim. 4:13)—but Timothy did not give up these activities after Paul arrived. Other non-inferential "until" texts the reader may wish to examine are Romans 8:22, 1 Corinthians 15:25, Ephesians 4:13, 1 Timothy 6:14, and Revelation 2:25-26. In short, Matthew 1:18 and 1:25 prove nothing against Mary's perpetual virginity. (to be continued)    RETURN TO TOP

DIVINE MERCY

Dairy from St. Faustina On Silence, Solitude Silence In My Heart When I see that the burden is beyond my strength, I do not consider or analyze it or probe into it, but I run like a child to the Heart of Jesus and say only one word to Him: "You can do all things." And then I keep silent, because I know that Jesus Himself will intervene in the matter, and as for me, instead of tormenting myself, I use that time to love Him (Diary, 1033). I strive for silence in my heart amidst the greatest sufferings, and I protect myself against all attacks with the shield of Your Name (Diary, 1040). RETURN TO TOP

CATHOLIC  TEACHING/CONVICTION/TESTIMONY

Overcoming Loneliness by Ky Nguyen M ost of us are familiar with the experience of loneliness. As much as we dislike it, loneliness is a part of growth and change as we face various situations in our life. Each of us is different and therefore, we will also feel lonely under different conditions. Loneliness, as I think we all can realize from experience, is not necessarily being alone. There are times when we are alone for an entire day but it doesn't make us feel lonely. On the other hand, sometimes we are attending a party at a friend's house with dozens of people present, but inside, there seems to be an inescapable feeling of loneliness. We may also have a similar feeling even though we are sitting in a college class with two hundred other students, or among fifty thousand people at a football game. Loneliness is not a pleasant feeling. When I feel lonely, I am aware that I am very disconnected from my surrounding, my family and friends. I feel like there is something about me that others cannot understand and my friends are not there to attend to my needs like they should. Sometimes, I even begin to feel that there is something about me that turns people off, makes me unlikable, and makes me not worth others' time. While loneliness does seem at times inescapable, it is a condition that we can overcome if we examine what loneliness is about and find ways to stop it from consuming our life. First, it is necessary that we turn away from the misconceptions about loneliness. Many of us often view loneliness as a sign of weakness or lack of maturity. We feel that if we were strong, we would never suffer the feeling of helplessness that comes with loneliness. Second, loneliness is often misconceived as a sign that there is something inherently wrong with us. This feeling is intensified when we see other people our age having the time of their life. We are then led to question about what is wrong with us that prevents us from being able to enjoy life like our peers do. Third, when feeling lonely, we automatically think that we are the only one who feels this way. It is precisely this feeling that causes us to feel more disconnected with our surroundings. In fact, loneliness is not an extremely rare condition and at any one time, chances are many people are going through the same problem as we are. There are many negative effects resulting from pervasive loneliness. First, we will tend to perceive ourselves in a negative way, whether it is physical appearance or academic performance. Everything becomes seen in a negative light. Second, we may blame ourselves for feeling the way we do and mistakenly conclude that no one likes us. Third, we may become passive and refrain from participating in social or academic activities. Instead, we expect that others recognize our need and attempt to include us in what they are doing. If this need is not met, we may become angry, withdrawn, and further isolated from other activities. Fourth, we have greater difficulty in taking social risks, in asserting ourselves, in making phone calls to initiate social contact, in introducing ourselves to others, in participating in groups, and in enjoying ourselves at parties. Fifth, we will have less skill in talking about ourselves, less skill in responding to others, and a greater tendency to approach social encounters with cynicism and mistrust. Beside those listed above, there are many other effects that come with loneliness if the feeling is not overcome. When feeling lonely, we must tell ourselves that this is not a defect and that the feeling can be easily overcome and changed. The only person that can change the situation, however, is the person who is feeling lonely. There is not much that others can do to help if the individual does not first take the initiative to change his own situation. Loneliness, as we should realize, is an important signal that perhaps important needs in ourselves are not being met. We all have needs, and the trick is for us to reflect on our own situation and identify the specific needs in our lives. Perhaps it is a need for a close friendship with someone. Perhaps it is a need for a close relationship with family members. Perhaps it is a need to develop some talents that we have. Or it may be also a need to feel more confidently about who we are and what we do. Having identified the needs in our life, we can then take concrete steps to fulfill these needs. If it is a need for closer friends, there are various things we can do. We may seek out situations that enable us to meet new people. For example, at school, we may search out for student organizations that interest us. At church, we may find new friends in participating in a church choir, in a prayer group, or on a group retreat. In these places, people are generally open and welcoming to new members. We may be surprised to find how friendly people can be. Second, we may take on activities that truly interest us. For example, if we like photography, chances are, we will be able to meet other people in a photography club with whom we have many things in common and can exchange conversations. In all these situations, however, it is important that we learn to be assertive. We can practice being assertive by saying hello to a student in class whom we don't know, or start a conversation with a stranger on the bus, or get involved in discussions in class. Being assertive also means taking initiative in meeting people to whom we are attracted. At a party, if we see someone interesting, we cannot simply sit in the corner and expect that person to come say hello. We may have to wait all night before anything happens, if it happens at all. Make eye contact, smile, or better yet, walk over and say "hello." One of the things that is difficult for people trying to overcome loneliness is trying not to judge others. Oftentimes, we judge new people on the basis of past relationships. What we must do, instead, is try to see each person from a fresh perspective. Give every new person a chance by slowly getting to know them. It is not healthy to impose our own expectations on others, or rush into intimate friendships by sharing too much about ourselves or asking the other person to share more than they want to. The process must be allowed to develop naturally and comfortably. Loneliness can be minimized if we also take steps to develop ourselves. First, it is important that we follow habits of good nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. Second, use our free time to get to know ourselves. Look at this time as an opportunity to develop independence and to learn to take care of our own emotional needs. Third, use our free time to enjoy ourselves rather than just existing until we will be with others. We are who we are when we alone and not just when we are in the company of others. Avoid merely vegetating (sitting around being bored, doing nothing). Deal with the situation actively by recognizing that there are many creative and enjoyable ways to use our alone time. Fourth, whenever possible, use what we have enjoyed in the past to help us decide how to enjoy our alone time now. In summary, we must not define ourselves as lonely people. No matter how bad we feel, loneliness will diminish or even disappear when we focus attention and energy on needs we can currently meet and when we learn to develop new ways to meet our other needs. Loneliness is a very natural part of life, especially for us as young people who are going through drastic emotional changes of growing up and discovering new things in life. Loneliness happens when we move from junior high to high school, and from high school to college. During these times of changes, we will discover many difficulties and this may lead us to feel lonely. But we must remember that in all these situations, we have two choices: either to let the feeling of loneliness make us paralyzed, or work so that we can make ourselves happy and confident people. The second choice is obviously the better one!   RETURN TO TOP

Monthly Index              General Archive 2008 General Archive 2007 General Archive 2006 General Archive 2005 General Archive 2004

Hits since 3/16/2004 Màn điện toán toàn cầu của Thiếu Nhi Fatima được bắt đầu với trang Main từ ngày 9/12/1999, nhưng mãi tới Mùa Hè 2001 mới tạm xong, cuối cùng đã được chỉnh trang về cả hình thức lẫn nội dung từ mùa hè năm 2002, để rồi chính thức tái ra mắt vào ngày 25/3/2003 cho đến nay.   TNFatima.org do Thiếu Nhi Fatima chủ trương và thực hiện Mọi ý kiến đóng góp xin gửi về Webmaster