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In This Issue
Parish Notes
Diocesan Events
Last Sunday's Sermon
Letter from Afghanistan
Tin Tức Sinh Họat.
Đại Ý Kinh Văn

Upcoming Events

 

Friday, Sept 21

 

Scouts in church,  

6 PM-8 PM 

 

 Saturday, Sept 22

 

Clean-up Day, 9-1

(Rain date:  Saturday, Sept 29, 9-1)  

 

Sunday, Sept 23

 

Region VIII potluck.  Meet our new Suffragan Bishop.  At the Falls Church Episcopal, 2:30 PM.   

 

Tuesday, Sept 25

 

Fall Festival Planning Meeting, 7:00 PM, in the Lounge 

 

Sunday, Sept. 30

 

Bless the Animals, 4:00 PM 

 

Sunday, Oct. 7

 

Guest Preacher and Celebrant:  The Rev. Dr. Richard Jones 

 

Saturday, Oct. 13

 

Community Fall Festival, 9:30 AM ~ 2:30 PM.  (Rain date:  Oct. 20th)

 

Saturday, Oct 27

 

Anna Chanu's Girl Scout Gold Award project, in church, 8 AM ~ 12 PM 

 

Sunday, Oct 28

 

Holy Baptism -- Christian Benjamin

 

Thursday, Nov. 22 

 

Thanksgiving Day Service, 10:30 AM

Potluck after church

 

Sunday, Dec. 2

 

First Sunday of Advent

 

Sunday, Dec. 9  

 

Bishop Johnston's Visitation, 10:30 AM,

Potluck 

 

Wednesday, Dec. 19 

 

Blue Christmas Service, 7:30 PM 

 

Sunday, Dec. 23  

 

Greening the church

 

Monday, Dec. 24

 

Christmas Eve  

Services TBA 

   

Birthdays

 September

23   Mark Los

23   Hannah Knowles

24   Deani Coker

28   William Houston

29   Justice Lebo

30   Michael Spinelli

 

October

2   Charles Hiller

4   Nghia Nguyen

6   Catherine Leonard

6     Muahmong Vang

12   Jean Wetrich

14   Hong Van Phan

16   Joe Hiller

17   Natalie Dang-Ellis

17   Jorden Benjamin

22   Emmeline Pizzola

22   Matthew Pizzola

22   Tess Miller

23   Paul Los, Jr.

27   Victoria Coker-

        Gunter 

28   Harriette Benjamin

30   Carolyn  

       Gawarecki 

31   Margaret Mills

 

Our Prayer List

We remember in our prayer:

 

 

Maria Ash, Harry Benson, Kari Boeskov, Mary Anne Bogie, Hoang Thi Ngoc Bich, Mary Carper, Thomas Cascella, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Donald DeVaughn, Michael Dickinson, Loretta Dougherty, The Edsall Family, Mary Farmer, The Faubion Family, Nance Finegan, Luis Garay, Thomas Garner, Anne Goodwin, Jean Graham, Katie Grosse, Nick Giuliani, Katherine Hafele, Anne & Thomas Edsall, Margaret Ellis Harris, Eldon Paul Henry, Betty and Bill Henderson, Alek Hensley, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Mary Isibel, Lindsay Johns, Gray and Bob Johnson, Jamie Kaplon, Robert Kelley, Quinn Kimball, Jeffry King, Susan Lawrence, Joe Magrogan, Colleen Mavrikas, Kylee Mei and her families, Margaret Mills, Evelyn Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, Joann Piper, Faith Poole, William Ross, Bill Sitler, Irene Skowron, Josh Smithers, Candi Stewart, Barbara Stefl, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, Steven Talbert, George Thomas, Clara Torres, George Torres, Thelma Trout, Nhon Thanh Vo Michael Weekes, Warren Weinstein, The Westfall Family, Paula Wiech, Meredith Wiech, Donna Wolfe, Peter Kosutic.


     

We pray for all US personnel serving overseas, especially Garway Thomas and Cate Johnson.

 

We pray also for the orphans and those who care for them at Abba Home in Pakistan, and for all orphans in the world.  

____ 

 

Note: If you have a loved one or friend who needs prayer please call the church and leave a message at 703-532-5656, or write to Tinh+ at

stpats3241@gmail.com  or call him at 703-405-9571.  Also, should a name need be removed from the list, please let Tinh+ know promptly, and give the reason. 

 

 

Saint Patrick's Ministers 

The Ministers of Saint Patrick's Church are the People of this Parish

 

supported by

 

The Reverend  

Tinh Trang Huynh, Rector

 

The Reverend

Toua Vang,  

Seminarian Deacon   

 

Ms. Mariko Hiller,  

Music Director

 

Ms. Rachel Burgess,

Nursery Care

 

We serve our Lord as part of the Diocese of Virginia

 

led by

our chief pastors

 

The Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Bishop

 

The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff

Bishop Suffragan 

 

and  

The Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick,

Assistant Bishop 

The Vision of St. Patrick's

Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care, called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim Christ's love to the world.

The Baptismal Font 

About St. Patrick's Church

Saint Patrick's was founded in 1953 as a mission church from the Falls Church.  The congregation met for the first time on January 3, 1954 in the cafeteria of the Graham Road School.  The building was completed in 1956.  Members of St. Pat's have been known for their involvement in outreach ministries since the very early days of the parish.  In 1995, Saint Patrick's became an Anglo-Vietnamese church, a mission of the Diocese of Virginia, and has become more and more multicultural.  In January of 2012, Saint Patrick's full parish status was restored and recognized at the 217th Annual Council meeting of the Diocese.   Some of us say that St. Pat's is like a window through which we can see God's love.  Other parishioners suggest St. Pat's is a "safe haven" for all who seek peace, a quiet place for those who want to find rest.  Many in the congregation mention caring is what makes St. Patrick's special to them.  Our vision statement reflects what we are in our hearts:  St. Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim Christ's love to the world."

Saint Patrick's

Website 

 

You are invited to visit our website.  Please click here .
Previous Issues of the Epistle
Please click here if you wish to see the previous issues of The Epistle

St. Patrick's Organized for Missions and Ministry 

 

Vestry Committee:  Senior Warden:  Tom Auld;  Junior Warden:  Vivian Benjamin; Registrar:  Winnie Lebo; Treasurer:  Kathy Oliver;  Other members of the Vestry:   Victoria Kennedy, Jocelyne Miller, Pierre Chanu, Chris Nicholson.

 

GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Altar Guild: Lois Cascella;  Bell Choir: Mariko Hiller; Church Office:  Lois Cascella;  Offering Counters: Bob Cascella; Youth Ministry:  Maggie Spinelli; Region VIII Representative: Felix Spinelli;  Diocesan Council Delegate: Amelia Nicholson; St. Margaret's Circle:  Ann Nelson;  Telephone Chain: Alice King; Feed the Homeless:  Amelia Nicholson; Odeon Chamber Music Series:  Mariko Hiller; Westlawn Elementary School:  Winnie Lebo; Falls Church Community Services: Catherine Dubas; Hypothermia Shelter Program:  Felix Spinelli;  Church Women United:  Amelia Nicholson. The Epistle Newsletter Editors: Winnie Lebo and Cindy Rhoad; Flea Market: Chris Nicholson 



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September 20, 2012

Parish Notes

broomstickParish Clean-up Day.  This Saturday, September 22nd, we will take care of our house of worship.  We will need a lot of help.  Please join us.  Bring your work gloves! 


"Region VIII" Potluck Picnic will be held at the Falls Church on Sunday, September 23 at 2:30 p.m.  All are invited to participate.  Please bring food.  Come and meet our new Bishop Suffragan, the Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, and people from the other churches of Region VIII.

 

Our Fall Community Festival is coming!  We need your help!   Please come to the  meeting to plan for the Fall Community Festival at church on Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 PM.   

       This year's festival will include car trunk sales, an antique car show, clothing, white elephant items, food and games.   The Festival will be held on Saturday, October 13th, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Chris Nicholson will be our leader for this event; Kathy Oliver will head the food section; and the scouts will offer games.  

Car Show 1          You can bring your items for sale, pay $20.00 for the parking spot,  sell them from your car trunk and keep your money.   Keep all your left-over items or donate them to a non-profit organization that comes after the event.                 

            Saint Patrick's will have a white elephant table, to sell donated items and collect money for the church.  Donations are welcome, but please do not bring them before October 13th.  Please  bring them as you come to the Festival.  Please do not bring furniture!!!

        We will need a lot of help to make this event a success.  Chris Nicholson has set up an online sign-up page to make the organizing quick and easy.  We need people to assist Kathy in the food section -- soup, barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.  We need people to help Winnie Lebo with clothing;  we need people to help with the trunk sale put up and take down;  we need people who can carry tables out and put them back; and we need people to put up signs on the streets.  Please just click on the link http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044DA4AF29A02-fall/4908392 and fill in your name.  Thank you so much!       

 

- On Sunday, September 30th, we will bless the animals at 4 PM.  We will read scriptures and sing hymns, and the priest will lay a hand on those wishing to receive the blessing.   This year we celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi a week early.  Many other Episcopal churches bless the animals on October 7th.  Francis believed that the light of God was perfectly reflected in all of nature, and that His essence is best revealed in the unconditional love, companionship and devotion of our pets.   Bring your friends!     

Dog Collar   

-  You can help Westlawn Elementary School by earning Giant for Westlawn credit points for the school each time you shop at Giant Food Store, from October 5th to March 28th.  This does not cost you anything.  Log on to www.giantfood.com/aplus to register your Giant card online, and enter the school's ID # 01923.  Westlawn will receive a check at the end of the "Giant A+ School Rewards Program."

Bishop Johnston
-  Our diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Shannon S. Johnston, will visit Saint Patrick's on Sunday, December 9th, and he will be Preacher and Celebrant at the 10:30 AM service.  Please mark your calendar.

Parish Youth Ministry  (PYM) Events

  

PYM 8th Grade Weekend @ Shrine Mont (Oct 5-7):

$150 per participant (scholarships available).

http://www.thediocese.net/Events/EventView.asp?EventID=1788 

 

PYM Fall Youth Day of Service @ Aquia Church in Stafford. October 27th, 10AM - 2PM.

Open to all youth 6th through 12th grade. $15 per participant.

http://www.thediocese.net/Events/eventView.asp?EventID=1858 

 

PYM 6th & 7th Grade Weekend @ Shrine Mont (Nov9-11):

$150 per participant (scholarships available).

http://www.thediocese.net/Events/eventView.asp?EventID=1789 

 

If you have any questions about PYM and would like to learn more please visit the "PYM 101" page: http://diovayouth.wordpress.com/pym-101/.

 

Diocesan Events 

  • The Stewardship of Creation Conference is next Saturday, September 29 at St. Stephen's, Richmond. Conference speakers will include experts in public policy, preservation of agricultural land, water and energy resources, and challenges and opportunities to alleviate global food insecurity. Explore these issues and learn more about how we can respond as a church community.     
  • The Bishop's Fall Clergy Retreat will take place October 15-17 at Shrine Mont. Joining participants as speaker will be Suzanne Farnham, co-author of the book Keeping in Tune with God: Listening Hearts Discernment for Clergy. Learn more and register now!     
  • The Committee on Aging will sponsor the 2012 Fall Camp at Shrine Mont October 22-25, with keynote speaker Philip Gulley; chaplain the Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith; and singer/storyteller Ed Kilbourne. Learn more and download a registration form
  • The Fall New Clergy Orientation will take place at the diocesan offices in Richmond October 23. Learn more and register.   
  • Registration is now open for the Treasurer's & Business Manager's Conference, October 25 at Christ Church, Spotsylvania. Participants will discuss lay pension plans, the denominational health plan, clergy payroll and more.  
  • The Diocese of Virginia and Shrine Mont invite you to talk about the future of our camps. By coming together as a diocese, we provide a vital ministry for our children's formation. By coming together, we will better plan for our children's future at camp. Please be a part of this process by attending one of these events:
    • September 25, Holy Comforter, Vienna, 7-8:30 p.m.
    • October 2, Church of Our Saviour, Charlottesville, 6:30-8 p.m.
    • October 9, Trinity, Fredericksburg, 7-8:30 p.m.
    • October 11, Immanuel on the Hill, Alexandria, 7:30-9 p.m.
    • October 18, St. Stephen's, Culpeper, 7-8:30 p.m.
    • October 23, Christ Church, Winchester, 7-8:30 p.m.
    • October 29, St. John's, West Point, 4:30-6 p.m.
    • October 30, Grace, Kilmarnock, 4:30-6 p.m.   

 

Last Sunday's Sermon  

 

Proper 19 - Year B - September 16, 2012

Text: Isaiah 50:4-9; Ps. 116:1-8; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

Tinh Huynh+ 

----------------------------

 

In the Name of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

-------

 

Tinh+      In the collect for today we prayed that the Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts.  Isn't this a prayer for wisdom?  The hymn that we sang today began with the phrase, "Take up your cross, the Savior said."   This sounds like a lot of pain. (1)   

       While the collect speaks of the control of the heart, today's lessons speak of the control of the tongue.  Keeping the mouth shut can be painful.   

      I came from a culture that does not allow children to talk back to parents.  When I was growing up, my mouth used to bring pain to my face.  Many people of the earlier generations believed that a slap to the face can fix the tongue, and they called it education.  Today we call it child abuse, an egregious passed-on sinful mistake.  

       For years I did not realize that I had hidden wounds, the wounds of the heart, with my own childhood experience.   All of us are wounded, in one way or another.  Angry words can originate from a wounded heart.  Words spoken in anger can hurt.

       Words can even kill.

       James, in today's Second Reading, says, "The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity... the tongue is a fire... no one can tame the tongue."

------------------

       Last Sunday, we spoke about embracing powerlessness as we discussed the story of Jesus healing the deaf and dumb man.  Today, we found the following words from the Book of Isaiah: "The Lord has given me the tongue of a teacher ... The Lord opened my ears to listen as those who are taught."

        Listening is important.  We may have involved ourselves too much in what we hear daily.  Oftentimes we forget that anger abounds in this world. How many months have we been spending time listening to the discussions and arguments surrounding this year's election?   The things of this world are distracting us, turning our attention away from the cross that Jesus speaks about.

        Isaiah listens.  He is aware of what happens around him, and yet he listens spiritually. He listens to the voice of the Spirit.  By listening, he realizes that God is always beside him amidst trouble.  Because he listened as an attentive learner, the LORD gave him the wisdom he needs when he speaks, and courage when he faces adversity.  

-----------       

      There is nothing innovative in James' teaching about the tongue:  he borrowed it from Judaism.  Issues concerning the human tongue are discussed in every culture.  Were James to live in our time, wouldn't he also mention emailing and Facebook?  Once you click "Send," you can't take your words back. 

      Peter, in the gospel story, would love today's smart phones and computers.  Everybody loves power and instant satisfaction.  Peter was hot-tempered, and he often spoke without thinking -- uncontrolled words come from a wounded heart.  Jesus' strong words to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!", might have opened his eyes and ears, enabling him to see and listen into the inner life of himself.   Then comes the call of Jesus: "Take up the cross and follow me."   This is the call for endurance, forgiveness and generosity -- none of these is without pain.  

------------           

      The control of the tongue comes from the silence of the heart.  The heart is silent when it is aware of its own pains and knows where it belongs.   

       Jesus knew his identity -- the Son of God, the beloved.   Yet he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"  Did he care about what the world thinks of him?  No.  He wanted to lead them to the next question, "Who do you say that I am?"   He wanted Peter and his friends to know that God is standing in the midst of them, and that they should let the Messiah occupy the center of their lives.  As they encountered the Messiah, they should no longer define themselves with anything they might have had in this world, be it possession, status, fame or race.  Instead, they should define themselves as beloved children of God, and the only thing to listen for is the voice of the Spirit that affirms their belovedness. 

       The Messiah, in Peter's mind, is the hero who will be liberating the oppressed and claiming the glorious victory, so that the whole world will stand up and give him the applause he deserves.  By contrast, the Messiah in Jesus' mind is one who will be carrying the cross and will be raised up from death, embracing his belovedness. 

       Jesus wants us, as children of God, to embrace our pain and claim our belovedness, because that is the only way to calmness and peace.   Only by claiming our belovedness can we take up the cross.  In Christ there is a solution for the tongue.  He can bind our wounds and restore our hearts, if we are attentive to his voice.  

       May the Holy Spirit in all things direct and rule our hearts, bringing us the healing of the heart, and therefore the healing of the tongue.

           Amen.  

 

_________________

 

(1) "Teach me the wisdom that is born amidst pain." J. Philip Newell,
Celtic Benediction, 29

 

Letter from Afghanistan                       By Garway Thomas   

 
                                              September 16, 2012

Greetings from Kabul,

Garway Thomas       I hope all is well with each of you and you are enjoying your weekend.  I am doing well. We have been very busy lately. These are challenging and trying times in Afghanistan.  I was reminded again of how things that happen back in the States can shape our lives here in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan.  That the actions of a few intolerant individuals, exercising their freedom of speech, can inflame, incite, demean, criticize and insult the religion of others. 
      I pondered the following questions:  Does it make one a better Christian to insult/criticize the beliefs of others that are contrary to my own beliefs?  In pointing out what some considered to be the flaws of other religions, what does one intend to achieve? If one truly believes in freedom of speech, who gives anyone the right to question religious teachings, or doctrines that billions
of others freely choose to believe?  I am shocked at the senseless violence we have seen in much of the Muslim World.  I am living in that World right now.  Hopefully, I will hear back from some of you on your thoughts to those questions.
       According to the news report (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19614911 ), the Taliban claimed responsibility for a major attack on one of our bases in Helmand Province on Friday. That attack resulted in 2 soldiers killed in action (KIA) and a couple wounded in action (WIA).  Two days before that, 2 British soldiers were KIA. Today (Saturday), 4 soldiers were
killed by members of the Afghan security forces, in what is termed as "Green on Blue" attack. In the first attack on the base, the Taliban claimed the attack was in retaliation for the anti Islam film on YouTube. The green on blue attacks are the most troubling and they are steadily increasing.  How are you going to ask a 19 year old private in the Army, with all of his cultural biases, to trust an Afghan to go out on a patrol and not turn his weapon on that private? While I am no longer in the Infantry and leading a platoon out in the field, I am bothered by these green on blue incidents. They are very demoralizing.
I have tried to put myself in the place of those young platoon leaders trying to comfort and convince their men after one of those attacks, to carry on with the mission. Please pray for the protection of the service members of the entire coalition whose duties involve daily interaction with our Afghan partners.
       The temperature is decreasing daily. Some folks are walking around in their jackets already. The mornings are around the high 50s and low 60s.  I don't know if Afghanistan has much of a Fall season. I haven't seen the leaves falling from the trees yet. As much as I don't like
snow, maybe, just maybe, snow can start falling a little early this year in order to thwart the plans of those who wish to stay in the 4th Century.
       According to my official going  back home clock, I have 80 days, 1938 hours, 116300 minutes, until I back am boarding a flight to Kaiserslautern, Germany.
       As always, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate all the emails, cards and packages. Thank you!!  Take care and be safe. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Until next week, so long from Kabul!
       Sincerely,

       Garway Thomas
       <gfingo12@gmail.com>

 

Tin Tức Sinh Họat    

  

Parish Clean-up Day.  Thứ bảy tuần nầy, ngày 22/9/12, là ngày làm sạch sẽ Nhà Thờ. Xin quư anh chị em đến giúp. Từ 9 giờ sáng tới 1 giờ trưa. Nếu anh chị em có găng tay, xin mang theo.

 

- Vào ngày Chúa Nhật, 23/9/12, sẽ có một bữa ăn potluck và picnic do Region VIII tổ chức tại nhà thờ The Falls Church, lúc 2 giờ 30 chiều. Kính mời quư anh chị em tham dự. Trong dịp nầy quư vị sẽ gặp vị Giám Mục Phụ Tá mới của Giáo Phận, Mục Sư Susan Goff.   Đây cu~ng là dịp gặp các thành viên của 6 nhà thờ Episcopal khác trong vùng. Region VIII gồm có St. Patrick's, St. Alban's, St. Barnabas, Santa Maria, Holy Cross Korean và St. Paul's.


-  Kính mời quư anh chị em đến họp vào ngày thứ ba, 25/9/12, lúc 7 giờ tối để tổ chức Community Fall Festival. Hội chợ năm nay sẽ gồm có car trunk sale, clothing, food, và các tṛ chơi, tổ chức vào ngày 13/10/12, từ 9:30 AM tới 2:30 AM. Ông Chris Nicholson sẽ làm trưởng ban tổ chức, Bà Kathy Oliver phụ trách phần ẩm thực, và các em hướng đạo sinh hướng dẫn tṛ chơi. Quư vị có đồ cu~ mới muốn bán th́ hăy tham dự mục "car trunk sale," nghĩa là trả $20.00 cho một chỗ đậu xe, mở trunk ra bán đồ. Bán bao nhiêu giữ tiền cho ḿnh bấy nhiêu, đến cuối ngày đóng trunk xe lại và đem hết đồ không bán được về nhà.

            Nhà thờ cu~ng sẽ có một bàn bán đồ cu~ do tín hữu tặng. Xin đừng mang những món đồ tặng trước ngày 13/10/12. Xin mang theo khi quư vị đến hội chợ. Xin đừng mang furniture bàn ghế tới nhà thờ

            Chúng ta sẽ cần nhiều người giúp. Xin quư vị ghi danh trên phiếu t́nh nguyện giúp Festival, ở pḥng narthex.

 

- Vào ngày Chúa Nhật, 30/9/12, sẽ có lễ chúc phước cho các thú vật, lúc 4 giờ chiều. Trong lễ chúng ta sẽ hát thánh ca, đọc các đoạn Kinh Thánh, cầu nguyện, và Mục Sư sẽ đặt tay chúc phước cho các thú vật được mang đến đại diện cho tất cả các loài trên thế giới. Lễ nầy nhằm vào dịp Ngày của Thánh Phan-xi-cô, là người khởi xướng niềm tin rằng ánh sáng của Thiên Chúa được phản chiếu một cách toàn hảo trong muôn loài thọ tạo, và bản chất của Ngài hiển hiện rơ nhất nơi các con vật chúng ta nuôi trong nhà, đó là t́nh thương vô điều kiện, t́nh bạn đồng hành và sự chân thành tận hiến. Xin mang "bạn" của quư vị đến.

 

- Giám Mục Shannon Johnston sẽ thăm nhà thờ Thánh Patrick vào Chúa Nhật 9/12/2012, lúc 10 giờ 30 sáng. Xin quư vị ghi vào lịch.

 

Đại Ư Kinh Văn Chúa Nhật Vừa Qua

Chúa Nhật, 16 tháng 9, 2012

Kinh Văn:  Êsai 50:4-9; Gia-Cơ 3:1-12; Thi Thiên 116:1-8;  Mác 8:7-23                                              MS Tỉnh+  

-------------

Trong lời cầu nguyện cho hôm nay chúng ta xin Thánh Linh hướng dẫn và cai trị tấm ḷng ḿnh.  Phải chăng đó cu~ng là xin cai trị cái lưỡi?

            Trong các môn đệ Đức Giêsu có ông Phierơ là người nóng tính bộp chộp hơn cả. Phierơ không dấu được cảm xúc; nói mà không suy nghĩ.  Theo truyện trong Phúc Âm Mác, Đức Giêsu hỏi thử các môn đệ xem họ có nhận ra Ngài là ai; các môn đệ lừng khừng không biết trả lời thế nào, Phierơ nói ngay: "Thầy là Chúa Cứu Thế." Thật là quư hóa, v́ trong ḷng Phierơ đă nhận ra điều đó. Ông đă được đi bên cạnh Chúa Trời và nhận biết Chúa, trong lúc những người khác không nhận ra.   Song ngay sau đó, khi Đức Giêsu nói về sự thương khó Ngài sẽ chịu, Phierơ lại nổi giận, kéo Ngài sang một bên để rầy Chúa về chuyện đó. Chắc là ông ta làm dữ lắm, v́ lúc nổi giận th́ không c̣n nghĩ ngợi ǵ cả.

            Gia Cơ viết cho các tín hữu thuôc thế kỷ thứ nhất;   ông nói rằng cái lưỡi rất là nguy hiểm. Cái lưỡi thật nhỏ, song nó giống cái bánh lái tầu thủy, có thể làm nên chuyện lớn, và có thể gây gẫy đổ cho cả đời người. Người Việt ta có câu: "Cái miệng hại cái thân." Xin quư vị đọc lại toàn bài trong đoạn Kinh Thánh Thứ Nh́ của hôm nay, thơ Gia Cơ, đoạn 3 từ câu 1 đến câu 12. Gia cơ nói rằng chúng ta phải hết sức cẩn thận về lời nói, cùng một cái lưỡi không thể ngợi khen Chúa rồi lại phát xuất lời độc hại cho ai.

            Chúa sinh mỗi người một khác. Có người ít nói. Có người nói nhiều. Có những người khi ta gặp th́ muốn nói chuyện lâu; nhưng cu~ng có những người ta không muốn gặp v́ họ nói quá nhiều, hay là nói hành người khác, hoặc là khoe khoang, hoặc phàn nàn đủ thứ. Có người lại nói quá nhiều về Chúa, và lúc nào cu~ng có lời khuyên về những chuyện ta đă biết.

            Chắc chắn chúng ta không muốn có tính bộp chộp như Phierơ. Ai cu~ng muốn có sự khôn ngoan trong lời nói. Nhiều khi chúng ta thấy rơ là nín lặng th́ khó hơn là phát ngôn. Khi giận mà xổ ra một hồi la hét th́ chắc là sướng, c̣n giữ im lặng th́ thấy khổ - khổ như vác thánh giá.

            Trong bài đọc Kinh Thánh Thứ Nhất cho hôm nay, tiên tri Êsai nói rằng nhờ ơn Chúa ông có thể nói năng như một môn đệ của Ngài, để ông "biết lựa lời nâng đỡ ai ră rời kiệt sức." Nhờ ơn Chúa, ông có đủ sức mạnh

để không cưỡng lại khi bị phỉ nhổ đánh đập. Ông biết Chúa ở kề bên, và ông đă lắng tai nghe Lời Chúa. Nhờ lắng tai nghe tiếng Chúa mà ông có thể giữ được lời nói ḿnh.

            Chữ "lắng tai" trong sách Êsaia rất quan trọng. Khi một người lắng tai nghe ai nói th́ người đó giữ im lặng, không nói. Trong một cuôc đàm thoại, hoặc trong một buổi họp, nếu cả hai người cùng nói, hoặc nhiều người nói cùng một lúc, th́ không ai nghe ai được, và không ai học được

điều ǵ. Muốn cầm giữ lưỡi ḿnh th́ ta trước hết phải lắng nghe. Rơ ràng, ông Phierơ đă chẳng lắng nghe Đức Giêsu; chính v́ vậy mà ông phản ứng không giữ được cái lưỡi.

            Chúng ta lắng nghe như thế nào?

            Trước hết chúng ta phải đi ngược vào nội tâm và ôn lại quăng đời ḿnh từ khi c̣n thơ ấu. Thông thường chúng ta không dám đối diện với những vết thương cu~ chưa lành, và với thực trạng cô đơn của ḿnh. Trong khi Phierơ không dám đối diện với thực trạng đau khổ của đời ḿnh, ch́m đắm trong cái hào quang được ở bên cạnh Giêsu đầy quyền năng, th́ Đức Giêsu chỉ nói về thập tự giá mà Ngài đang tiến đến.

            Chúng ta phải lắng nghe cho đến lúc ḿnh tin quyết rằng trên đời chỉ có Thiên Chúa là bạn tâm giao, và hiểu rằng không một ai khác có thể cất đi sự cô đơn của ḿnh.

            Lắng nghe cu~ng là sự tự đối chất - tự hỏi ḿnh về lời nói và hành động trong các trường hợp khác nhau. Có khi nào ta làm một chuyện ǵ hay nói điều ǵ v́ trong thâm tâm mong được người khác khen ngợi hay chấp nhận?

            Lắng nghe là nh́n thấy cái bất an nội tâm của ḿnh, để cầu nguyện xin Chúa ban b́nh an và trú ẩn trong Chúa. Tác giả Thi Thiên 116, bài thơ mà chúng ta đọc hôm nay, đă t́m được nơi an trú trong Chúa. Ông nói, "Ḷng tôi yêu mến Chúa, v́ Chúa đă nghe tiếng tôi khẩn nài; Người lại lắng tai mỗi khi tôi kêu cầu... tôi yếu đuối, Người đă cứu tôi."

            Lắng nghe là một tiến tŕnh tập luyện. Càng lắng nghe, ta lại càng quen yên lặng. Ông Gia Cơ nói: "Ai không vấp phạm trong lời nói là người toàn hảo." Ta hăy trở lại câu cầu nguyện cho hôm nay để suy gẫm.

 

May God bless and keep you, and may God grant us peace. 

 

The Rev. Tinh T. Huynh

Rector of Saint Patrick's Church