Mar 20 2021

First reading Jeremiah 11:18-20

‘Let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten’

The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’

But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence,

who probe the loins and heart,

let me see the vengeance you will take on them,

for I have committed my cause to you.

Responsorial Psalm 7:2-3,9-12

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

From my pursuer save me and rescue me,

lest he tear me to pieces like a lion

and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

Give judgement for me, Lord; I am just

and innocent of heart.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked!

Make the just stand firm,

you who test mind and heart,

O just God!

God is the shield that protects me,

who saves the upright of heart.

God is a just judge

slow to anger;

but he threatens the wicked every day.

Gospel John 7:40-52

The Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without hearing him

Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.

The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’

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20th March 2021 Saturday 4th Week of Lent

Reflection
Jeremiah 11:18-20, John 7:40-52

“The courage of Nicodemus”
Jesus was a controversial figure among the Jewish people. Some respected Him as a prophet and the Christ. The majority of the Jewish authorities refused to regard as such and condemned Jesus as a man who led people astray and so He needed to be stopped. There is a character mentioned in the gospel passage, Nicodemus. He was a leading Pharisee, who went against his peers and stood up for Jesus. By asking the important question: ‘But surely our Law does not allow us to pass judgement on anyone without first giving him a hearing and discovering what he is doing?’, he was criticised by the others.

We too can be like the Pharisees in the gospel who make a judgment against someone, without knowing the full truth and without trying to understand him/her. Jesus invites us to have an open mind and heart to look at others with compassion. We are also invited to have the courage of Nicodemus and dare to have our own opinions about our faith and stand up for what is true, instead of simply following what others say and do. Let Jesus, who is THE voice of Truth, speak to us today!

Questions for reflection:
Do I tend to judge others? Do I have the courage to stand up for Jesus today?

20 hb Mac 2021 Hari Sabtu Minggu Prapaska Ke – 4

Renungan
Yeremia 11:18-20, Yohanes 7:40-52

“Keberanian Nikodemus”

Yesus adalah tokoh kontroversi di kalangan orang-orang Yahudi. Beberapa orang menghormati Dia sebagai nabi dan Kristus. Sebahagian besar pihak berkuasa Yahudi menolak tanggapan tersebut dan mengutuk Yesus sebagai orang yang menyesatkan dan oleh kerana itu Dia perlu dihentikan. Terdapat watak yang disebut dalam petikan injil iaitu Nikodemus. Dia adalah seorang Farisi terkemuka yang menentang rakan-rakannya dan mengikuti Yesus. Dia dikritik kerana bertanyakan soalan yang sangat penting: ‘Apakah hukum Taurat kita menghukum seseorang seseorang sebelum ia didengar dan sebelum orang mengetahui apa yang telah diperbuatnya?’

Kita juga dapat menjadi seperti orang-orang Farisi dalam injil yang membuat penilaian terhadap seseorang tanpa mengetahui kebenaran sepenuhnya dan tanpa berusaha untuk memahaminya. Yesus menjemput kita untuk memiliki minda dan hati terbuka untuk melihat orang lain dengan belas kasihan. Kita juga dijemput untuk mempunyai keberanian seperti Nikodemus dan berani memiliki pendapat kita sendiri mengenai iman kita dan mempertahankan kebenaran, bukannya dengan hanya mengikuti apa yang diperkatakan oleh orang lain. Biarkan Yesus, yang merupakan Suara Kebenaran, berbicara kepada kita hari ini!

Soalan renungan:
Adakah saya cenderung menghakimi orang lain? Adakah saya mempunyai keberanian untuk membela Yesus hari ini?

20 Mac 2021, Orou Koonom Minggu’ Kaapat Prapaska

Jirimia 11:18-20; Juanis 7:40-52

I Nikodimus ondo’ baani
I Jisus noyo pagansangan ra gino ngai’ ulun Jaudi. Mokoondo’ mangurumat Riso koson ra nabi am Kristus. Masuang tingganai ulun Jaudi mangimpai raginio am magulas ri Jisus ondo’ maningganai ra ulun ondo’ nakalayau am ginio boo ra polonggoon Io. Mokoondo’ babaal ru ulun ralalom pambasaan no, i Nikodimus. Io ti sangulun tingganai Parisi, ondo’ nanumbalik anggal ra Parisi no am saung ri Jisus. Sabap ra mangkuot ra pangkuatan maatang: “Kaa’ maaru’ no Ukum ri Musa kalo mangiou ritakau mangukum ra sasangulun ru kalo poyo morongog ragu nano am niayuk mapandayan takau atan binaal nano?”, nangiis boo ulun ra bokon no riso.
Itakau pana mabuli masauk koson ra ulun-ulun Parisi ralalom ru Injil ondo’ lalayau ra ulun bokon, ra kalo nakapandai ra katapatan sotopot no am ra kalo mangkinam makarati’ ra ulun no. Mangkimait i Jisus ritakau koson mokoondo’ ra maukab pangkaraan am guang magilong ra ulun bokon pabayaan ra guang makaasi’. Itakau niayuk kimaitin mokoondo’ ra kinabaani ri Nikodimus am makakau’ ra mokoondo’ ra galama’ ra pangkaraan ra kaintapatan takau am maya’ ra atan ondo’ motopot, kaa’ intor ra magibaya’ ra atan raguon am baalon ru ulun bokon. Polosoon noyo i Jisus ondo’ bolos ru Katapatan, mindagu ritakau ra orou raiti’!

Pangkuatan ra paguagin:
Bambal aku kia mangukum ra ulun bokon? Baani aku kia koson mikang sabap ri Jisus ra orou raiti’?

20-03-2021 Hari Enam Minggu Lent Ka-4.

Renungan
Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-52

“Pemerani Nikodemus”
Jesus siko orang ti enda dikerindu orang bansa Judah. Sekeda bebasa ka Iya ti nyadi nabi sereta Kristus. Tang mayuh ari pemesai pengarap bansa Judah nulak Iya lalu ngakim Jesus orang ti nesat ka mensia mayuh nya kebuah Iya patut ditagang. Bisi siko orang ti disebut ba bacha Injil saritu, Nikodemus. Iya siko ari orang Parisi ti dikelala bala mayuh, iya ngenan ka Jesus. Enggau tanya iya ti munyi tu: “Kati Adat kitai ngasuh kitai ngakim orang sebedau kitai mendingka iya lalu mansik utai ti dikereja iya?” iya mega enda dikerindu mensia mayuh.

Kitai ulij nyadi baka orang Parisi ti ngakim orang bukai, enggai nemu pemendar sereta enggai mereti ka orang nya. Jesus ngangau kitai awak ngembuan runding ti tebuka sereta ati ti meda orang bukai enggau penyiru. Kitai dikangau awak berani baka Nikodemus sereta berani ngembuan penemu pasal pengarap lalu ngenan ka utai ti betol, ukai semina nitih ka jako orang aja. Awak Jesus, ti sada nyawa Pemendar, bejako ngagai kitai saritu.

Kati ka nya aku bisi deka ngakim orang?kati ka nya aku berani ngenan ka Jesus saritu?

2021年3月20日四旬期第四週星期六

省思
《耶十一:18-20》
《若七:40-52》

“尼苛德摩的勇气”
耶稣在犹太人里是有争论性的人物。有些人说祂是先知，有这人说祂是基督。多数犹太人的权威人士都拒绝承认天主并污蔑祂领导人们误入歧途，所以必须阻止祂。在福音里有提到这位人物，尼苛德摩。他是位法利塞人，他反抗同伴，为耶稣站出来。他问了个重要的问题:
“我们的法律允許不经審问和调查，就定人的罪嗎？”他被其他人批判。
我们也像福音里的法利塞人，在还没了解真相并且不要了解他人就对他人做出批判。耶稣邀我们拥有一颗开放的心以怜悯的心接纳他人。我们也被邀约要有尼苛德摩的勇气并且大胆的对自己的信德有坚持并且为真理而站起来，而不是道听途说。今天，就让，耶稣，真理的声音，对我们说话吧！

省思题:
我是否意图批判他人？今天，我是否有勇气为耶稣而站出来？