Thương

"Thế rồi anh ta đứng lên đi về cùng cha." (Lc 15)


Henri Nouwen suggests that the Beatitudes offer us “the simplest route for the journey home, back into the house of [our] Father”.
How do you understand the portrait of a child of God, as painted by the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12? Some biblical research into the context and meaning of the words Jesus used here may well provide some powerful insights into our journey home.


Freedom from Judging, Freedom for mercy
We spend an enormous amount of energy making up our minds about other people. Not a day goes by without somebody doing or saying something that evokes in us the need to form an opinion about him or her. We hear a lot, see a lot, and know a lot. The feeling that we have to sort it all out in our minds and make judgments about it can be quite oppressive.
The desert fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one. Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we will experience an immense inner freedom. Once we are free from judging, we will be also free for mercy. Let's remember Jesus' words: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged" (Matthew 7:1).

Lạy Chúa, con là kẻ tội lỗi. Xin thương xót con!