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In This Issue
Parish Notes
Photos of Last Sunday's Dinner
Letter from the Bishop
The Propers
Sermon
Đại Ý Kinh Văn

Upcoming Events


Mar 28-30

 

Grade 7-8 PYM Weekend at Shrine Mont 

 

Saturday, March 29

 

Feed the Homeless at Bailey's Crossroads Shelter, 9:30 AM

 

Sunday, March 30:

 

Lenten Forum:  St. Timothy's Mission at Pine Ridge -- with trailer from "Dakota 38", 12 PM   

 

Saturday, April 5

 

Pollinator Garden Day, 9 AM - 2 PM 

 

Sunday, April 6:

 

Forum on Transition, 12 PM  

 

Saturday, April 12

 

Pollinator Garden Day,  

9 AM - 2 PM 

      

Sunday, April 13

 

Palm Sunday

 

Thursday, Apil 17

 

Maundy Thursday service, 7:30 PM

 

Friday, April 18

 

Good Friday services, at 12 Noon and 7:30 PM

 

Sunday, April 20

EASTER DAY service at 10:30 AM 

 

Sunday, April 27

 

Baptism of Catherine Adams, 10:30 AM

 

Pancake after church  

 

Odeon Concert, 4 PM

 

Friday, May 2

 

Majorie Lee's Piano Student Recital, 6:00 PM   

 

Saturday, May 3

 

Feed the Homeless at Bailey's Crossroads Shelter, 9:30 AM  

 

Trinity School Music Program, 6:30 PM  

 

Sunday, May 4

 

Forum after church: Pollinator Garden

 

Sunday, May 11

(Mother's Day)

 

Baptism of Margot Miller

 

Saturday, May 17

 

Yard Sale, 9-2

 

Sunday, May 18

 

Celebration of Westlawn Ministry -- Potluck 

Altar at Easter 2013      

Birthdays

March

27   Bob Cascella (today!) 

28   Keith Gardner

31   Jennifer Phan

31   Gisela Johnson-Harbers

 

April

5    Douglas Payne, Jr.

8    Philip Nicholson

10    Joseph Dubas

11    Anna Chanu

17    Hong Nguyen

17    Audette Frazer

19    Savannah Frizzell

21    Cheryl Gardner

22    Amy Phan

23    James E. Ellis IV

24    Lindsay Gardner

27    Pat Gardner

28    Carolyn Auld

30    Cate Johnson

 

Our Prayer List

We remember in our prayer:

 

Cathy Anderson, Dee Bailey, Kari Boeskov, Brandon, Jane Chapman, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Michael Dickinson,  Loretta Dougherty, Nance Finegan, Luis Garay, Carolyn Gawarecki, Louise Gibney, Jean Graham, Katherine Hafele, Margaret Ellis Harris, Alek Hensley, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Mary Isibel, Lindsay Johns, Gray Johnson, Jamie Kaplon, Geoff Kent, Quinn Kimball, Alice King, Peter Kosutic, Susan Lawrence, Bruce Lineker, Lois Magrogan, Evelyn Morgan, Danielle Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Mary Esther Obremskey, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, William Ross, Fern Shuck, Irene Skowron, Josh Smithers, Inez Stanton, Candi Stewart, Patrick Stefl, Barbara Stefl, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, George Thomas, Elizabeth Trigg, Tammy Vanphung, Michael Weekes, Warren Weinstein, The Crowley Family, The Westfall Family, Meredith Wiech, Bernard Williams, Rudy Zimpel.

               ____ 

 

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

 

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.

   

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 

 

SAINT PATRICK'S ORGANIZED

FOR MISSIONS AND MINISTRY

 
Vestry Committee:
Senior Warden: Kathy Oliver; Junior Warden:  Bill Houston;
Registrar: Winnie Lebo;
Treasurer:  Kathy Oliver; 

Other members of the Vestry:   Elisabeth Nguyen, Milton Thomas, Amelia Nicholson, Victoria Kennedy, Ann Nelson. 

 

GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Altar Guild:  Lois Cascella;  
Bell Choir:  Mariko Hiller; 
Sunday Service Bulletin:  Diem Nguyen, Steve Lebo;
Offering Counters:  Bob Cascella; Diocesan Council Delegate: Bill Houston (Kathy Oliver, alternate delegate);
St. Margaret's Circle:  Ann Nelson; Telephone Chain:
Alice King; Feed the Homeless:  Elisabeth Nguyen;
Odeon Chamber Music Series:  Mariko Hiller;
Westlawn Elementary School:  Winnie Lebo;
Falls Church Community Services: Catherine Dubas;
Hypothermia Shelter Program:  Hao Nguyen; 
The Epistle Newsletter Editors: Winnie Lebo and Cindy Rhoad; Flea Market:
Chris Nicholson; Prison Ministry: Nancy Burch;
Meals-on-Wheels: Amelia Nicholson;Sunrise/Bluemont:
Michael Knowles   

 

 

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March 27, 2014
 Parish Notes

-  On Sunday, March 30, our Lenten series will feature Tina Pinkard from St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Herndon.  She has been visiting the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota for the past fourteen years as a volunteer.  Come hear about the problems and promises of the Lakota Indians, and Jay and Victoria Parrotta's special connection to the Lakota nation.


-  Would you like to participate in the furniture ministry of the Falls Church Community Service? 
FCS volunteers pick up and deliver donated household items for distribution to those in need in our Falls Church area.  They work either on Saturday or on Sunday afternoon.  If you would like to participate in this good work, please let Tinh+ or Catherine Dubas know. 

  - "Together We Can Make A Difference."  Let us fill the cart with items for the needy in the Falls Church area and take them to FCS at Knox Presbyterian Church on Palm Sunday after church.  Most needed are:  paper products (toilet tissue, paper towels, disposable diapers and wipes), coffee, rice, jelly, canned fruits (not pineapple), and vegetable oil.

  - Would you like to offer flowers in "memory of a loved one" or as an "offering of thanksgiving" at Easter?  Cost is $12, payable to the Altar Guild.  There is a form that comes in the Sunday leaflet, but you can also call and leave a message at 703-532-5656, or send an email to stpats3241@gmail.com.  Checks should be made payable to the "Altar Guild of Saint Patrick's," earmarked "Easter Flowers," and mailed to Saint Patrick's Church, 3241 Brush Dr., Falls Church, Virginia, 22042, or dropped in the alms basin during worship.

Feed the Homeless 4 Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Feed The Homeless at Bailey's Crossroad this Saturday, March 29th, at 9:30 AM.  Please contact Liz at elisabethnguyen@gmail.com if you wish to lend a hand or to make cupcakes.  Donations of money for the purpose are welcome.  Please make your check payable to Saint Patrick's Church with "Feed The Homeless" on the memo line. 

-  Please pray for our youth attending the 6th & 7th PYM Weekend at Shrine Mont, March 28-30:  Kate Burgess and Marie Van Beek.  Gladys and Robert Van Beek will be their chaperones at the event.  The date for the 8th Grade event is May 16-18, and Senior High November 7-9. For any PYM information, please speak with our Bobby Dubas.

Happy Birthday to Bob Cascella!

-  Volunteers are need for the installation of St. Patrick's  Pollinator Garden.  Please join us in breaking the ground and planting needed vegetation, on  
Saturday, April 5th and Saturday, April 12th, 9-2 pm. Volunteers please bring your work gloves, water bottle and sunscreen.  Please RSVP by dropping an e-mail for Lois Cascella at loiscascella@hotmail.com, or call her at  703-560-7579.

- Love Life -- Lent 2014http://ssje.org/ssje/lovelife/  Sign up to receive short, daily video from the Brothers of the Society of Saint John The Evangelist that delve deeply into the gospel that shapes their community life.

-  Copies of the Lenten Journey Calendar are still available in the narthex!  Please take one home and enjoy the suggestions for the rest of your journey through Lent.  For today, March 27th, the calendar suggests, "Since Lent is a time to prepare for baptism, review the promises made in baptism, page 304 of the Book of Common Prayer."
 

Photos of Last Sunday's Dinner 

Many thanks to Liz Nguyen and to those who assisted her for the delicious meal with the Feed-the-Homeless menu, on Sunday, March 23rd.  On this occasion, Kuni Kuek, 20, surprised us with her visit from Michigan.  In 1999, Saint Patrick's sponsored her family as refugees from the Sudan.  Kuni was 4 years old at that time, and she came with her mother Aker Ryak and brother Chol Kuek.  The dinner raised more than $400.00 for the Feed-the-Homeless Fund.  After dining we gathered for Compline.  It was an enjoyable and meaningful evening at church.

Those who work in the kitchen

Kuni Kuek and her St. Pat's friends
 
Group picture following Compline

A Letter from the Bishop  

3/10/2014

Dear Diocesan Family,

     Today is an important day for our Diocese. We finally can say, with great thankfulness, that the Diocese of Virginia no longer is involved in property litigation. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied the Falls Church CANA's petition. That means The Falls Church Episcopal is free to continue to worship and grow in its home church buildings.

     Although today marks an official and much anticipated end to the litigation, it also marks a beginning. We will now be able to focus fully our attentions on the many truly exciting ministries all over our Diocese. I pray that those in the CANA congregations will join us in turning this fresh page.

     It is most appropriate that this decision comes at this time, following January's Annual Council, where we gathered under the theme, "Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve." In the spirit of renewal I have felt all over the Diocese, I invite you to join me and your brothers and sisters in 182 congregations as we explore new ways to awake our collective souls; as we take a fresh look at our shared ministries; as we stretch every nerve, beyond our comfort zones; and as we breathe new life into the mission we do together in the name of Jesus Christ.

     Our Dayspring team already has been making great headway in identifying sources of renewed energy and vision involving those properties that have been returned to us as a result of the litigation. I have no doubt that this spirit of renewal will be enhanced by today's decision. Please join us on this missional journey that will stretch and inspire us as we find new ways to connect our faith community to the needs of the world.

      On this special day, I would like to recognize the clergy and lay leaders of The Falls Church Episcopal, a congregation that has continued to grow in love throughout this prolonged legal process. As always, our prayers remain with all of those affected by the litigation - brothers and sisters who now have the precious opportunity for a new beginning.

 

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston
Bishop of Virginia

The Propers 

Sunday, March 30, 2014
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent 

Texts: 

 

Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14;

John 9:1-13, 28-41

  

Collect:   

GRACIOUS FATHER, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:  Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Last Sunday's Sermon  

Lent 3 - Year A - March 23, 2014

Text:  John 4:5-15, 19-26, 39-42

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

 

Many people say that a passage in the Bible can come with new meanings  each time it is read.
That is true.
Sometimes you find new insights when you read between the lines.

Sometimes the passage surprises you with things said and things not said.

As Christians, we believe that God's Word can inspire us through the Holy Spirit. 

The gospel story for today is about the Samaritan woman, but it actually speaks about Christ.
--------------------------
For two thousand years, Christians have been pondering the questions,
"Who is Jesus?"
and, if he is the one for us to follow,
"What is he about?"
-----------------------
Four years ago, I went to New York for a church meeting.
The bus was delayed,
and rush hour traffic in New York was so bad,
that when I found my way to the retreat house it was 8 PM.

House of the Redeemer, NY
The church house was huge, and its doors were locked at that time.
I stood in the dark at a strange place.
I was tired and feeling a little insecure.
Then I saw a sign on the iron fence, which read,
"House of the Redeemer."
"Ah, Yes."  I said to myself. "I've come to the right place.
I will have shelter for the night."
--------------------
The sign "House of the Redeemer" reminded me of the faith that I grew up with.
The word "Redeemer" reminds me of where I belong.
The Heavenly Father, the Creator, is also the Redeemer.
I believe that He is always near,
and that He knows me well.
Is it true that we are blessed because we believe?
-----------------
The Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus in the story we read today was a "nobody."
First, she belonged to an ethnic group that was despised by the Jews;
and second, she was low even in her own society.
There was not even a name for her in the story.
Preachers often describe her as a whore,
and many commentators keep guessing her "sins,"
based on the mentioning of how many husbands she had.
Yet the text itself does not say anything about her as being sinful.
She might have outlived her husbands,
and might have remarried each time a husband died.
The husband, whom she had at the time she spoke with Jesus,
might not be hers to keep for the rest of her life.
Imagine how miserable her life was,
and how poor she was,
materially as well as spiritually.
The jar that she carried may be the only thing of value that she possessed.

The water from the well will certainly satisfy the needs of her family.
Yet Jesus knew the woman.
He had seen her at the well before he came to meet her.
She is a Samaritan,
an "outsider."
------------------
Jews and Samaritans hated each other.
In Year 9 AD,
during the Jewish Feast of the Unleavened Bread,
the Samaritans came into Jerusalem in secret,
and they scattered human bones in the Jewish temple.
------------
In Year 50 CE, some Jews were murdered
and the blame was upon the Samaritans.
Strong men of Jerusalem went to the Samaritan villages,
where they burned all the houses
and killed all the Samaritans they could find,
men and women, young and old.  (1)
---------------------
Notice the woman's attitude when she first met Jesus, a Jew,
"Why do you come to me to ask for a drink?"
In other words, "I don't want to have anything to do with you."
------------------
Is this really because of the animosity between Jews and Samaritans?
Maybe Jesus approached her at a wrong time?
Or maybe she was just an angry person.
She had a lot of wounds in her life.
The worst of them might have been the pain of rejection.
We all thirst for acceptance and for love.
Many of us suffer from self-rejection,
thirsting for the applause and approval of the world. (2)
-------------------
There are two realms that one must choose to belong to:
the realm of darkness and the realm of light.
There is the Holy Spirit that opens the eyes of those yearning
to see the truth.
There is God's love that satisfies all the human needs  --
the peace that the world cannot give.
---------------
As the story goes, Jesus speaks of what happened in her life.  The mentioning of her situation surprises her and touched her spiritual thirst.
The Samaritan woman finally realizes
that the stranger who came to her is not just a male Jew.
She says to Jesus,
"Sir, I see that you are a prophet."
The word "see," in the Gospel of John, means "believe."
To see is to believe.
Grace happens when one finds him/herself able to believe.
By believing, one is moved from the realm of darkness into the realm of light,
from eternal death to eternal life.
------------------
Then the woman mentions what she has learned about the Messiah,
and Jesus says,
"I am He, the one who is speaking to you."
In the original version of the Gospel,
Jesus says, "I AM."  (Not "I am He.")       
-------------
In the Old Testament Book of Exodus,
Moses heard God calling him from the burning bush.
Moses asked for God's Name.
The reply was, "I AM."
"I AM" is the identity of God.
Jesus is more than a prophet.
He is the I AM.
--------------
God himself has come to her.
The I AM has been standing beside her.
He is the LIGHT, and He speaks with her tenderly.
God himself is her Redeemer and Savior.
This Jesus the Christ is God, and He is the Savior of all people --
Jews and Samaritans,
black and white,
yellow and red.

All along, the woman had always thought of herself as a "nobody."
She might have even hated herself.
Yet at the encountering with Christ,
she comes to know that in God's eye she is somebody.
God loves her, and that is enough for her.
The Messiah told her everything she did,
and yet he accepted her anyway.  (3)
Her thirst has been quenched.
---------------------
The Samaritan woman represents us.
God knows all about what we did,
but his love for us never changes.
God does not demand perfection.
Paul says in today's Second Reading that
we are justified by faith,
and by believing we may have peace with God through Christ.
Christ is our shelter.
All we have to do is
to accept God's acceptance of us. (4)
----------------------
Isn't that wonderful?
----------------------
Yet God's love does not come without challenges.
First we must renounce evil.
And then there is a command to love the way he loves us.
Can we love someone without demanding perfection?
Can we love and forgive someone
even if we know of what he or she has done?
There is the call for us to believe and come to the Light,
and to thirst for the Spirit,
and to love the way Jesus loves.
The water He gives quenches our thirst for ever.
Amen.

_________________

(1) See http://renewpartnerships.org/articles/jewish-cb/

(2) See Henri J. M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved -- Spiritual Living in a Secular World.
(3) Anna Carter Florence, Feasting on the Word, Year A, Volume 2, Page 97.
(4) Ward B. Ewing, Feasting on the Word, Year A, Volume 2, Page 90.  Quoting from Paul Tillich's writing, "We are accepted by God although being unacceptable according to the criterion of the law, and all we must do is accept this acceptance."

 

Bài Ging Chúa Nhật Tuần Trước  

 

Chúa Nht Th Ba ca Mùa Thng Hi -- 23 tháng 3, 2014

Kinh Văn:  Gioan 4:5-15, 19-26, 39-42

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

 

Nhiều tín hữu Kitô-giáo nói rằng  

mỗi khi đọc lại một đoạn Kinh Thánh  

th́ cảm nhận những ư nghĩa mới cho ḿnh.

Điều đó có.

Có thể là hiểu kinh văn sâu xa hơn  

khi "đọc giữa những gịng chữ"  

(theo lối diễn tả trong Anh Ngữ),  

nghĩa là đọc được tư tưởng của người viết,  

hay là niềm tin của những độc giả của thời xa xưa.

Cu~ng có thể là khám phá một vài chi tiết  

trước đây ḿnh không để ư,  

hoặc là  thắc mắc  

tại sao tác giả bỏ qua một điều nào đó.

Truyn tích Phúc Âm hôm nay  

là truyn v mt ph n dân Samari,

song chủ yếu lại là v Đc Ki-tô.

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

Suốt hai ngàn năm qua,  

tín hữu Kitô-giáo suy nghĩ nhiều về câu hỏi:

"Giêsu là ai?"

và, nếu Giêsu là đấng ḿnh phải theo,

th́ ḿnh phải theo Người như thế nào?

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

  House of the Redeemer, New York 

 

 

Vài năm trước đây tôi đi New York  

để họp chuyn nhà thờ.

Xe buưt tới trễ,  

và đường ở New York vào giờ tan sở đông nghẹt.

Khi tới được nhà nguyện,  

là nơi có chỗ ở và hội họp, th́ đă 8 giờ tối.

Ngôi nhà thật lớn,  

đường phố tối om và vắng tanh, cửa khóa.

Tôi đứng trong bóng tối ở một nơi xa lạ,

mệt mỏi và hơi bất an.

Song tôi chợt nh́n thấy một cái biển trên hàng rào sắt,

đề chữ "House of the Redeemer." (Nhà của Cứu Chúa).

Tôi mừng, nghĩ "Ô, đây rồi.

Ḿnh đến đúng chỗ.

Đêm nay có chỗ ngủ."

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

Ḍng chữ "Nhà của Chúa" mang tôi về niềm tin  

đă học từ nhỏ.

Chữ "Redeemer" (Đấng Cứu Chuộc)  

khiến tôi nhớ tôi thuộc về ai.

Cha Thiên Thượng,  

Tạo Hóa của muôn loài,  

lại là Đấng Cứu Chuộc.

Ngài luôn ở gần,  

và Ngài biết tôi tỏ tường.

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

Người phụ nữ sắc tộc Samari gặp Đức Giêsu hôm ấy không được ai coi trọng.

Thứ nhất, bà nầy thuộc giống dân  

mà người Do Thái khinh khi.

Thứ hai, ngay cả làng xóm Samari  

cu~ng không coi bà ra ǵ.

Người viết truyện cu~ng không nêu được tên của bà.

Nhiều người giảng đạo Ki-tô-giáo

liệt bà vào phường điếm đĩ,

và nhiều người giải kinh cứ đoán bà nhiều "tội"

v́ truyện kể rằng bà có nhiều đời chồng.

Song tác giả không hề nói rằng bà là người tội lỗi.

Có thể là bà sống dai hơn mầy ông chồng vắn số,  

vào thời chưa có thuốc men.

Người chồng mà bà đang ở với,  

vào lúc bà gặp Đức Giêsu,  

chưa chắc đă sống được trọn đời với bà.

Thử tưởng tượng sống như thế đau khổ biết mấy.

Rơ ràng, đây là người hết sức nghèo khổ.

Nghèo cả vật chất lẫn tinh thần.

Cái ṿ nước bà đội trên đầu rất có thể  

là tài sản quư nhất trong nhà.

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

Đức Giêsu biết rơ bà nầy,  

trước khi bà thấy Chúa.

Chúa cố ư đến để hỏi chuyện.

Nhưng người trong cảnh khánh tận  

không ngờ Ngài là Đấng Cứu Độ Trần Gian.

Cách nói của bà  

khi gặp ông Do Thái nầy  

không mấy lịch sự.

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

Người Do Thái và người Samari  

ghét nhau không đội trời chung.

Bên nầy không bao giờ đạp chân  

vào miền đất của bên kia.

Năm 9 tây lịch,  

đang mùa Lễ Bánh Không Men của người Do Thái,

một nhóm đàn ông Samari lẻn vào thành Giê Ru Sa Lem,

mang xương người và sọ người bỏ rải rác trong Đền Thờ,

nơi người Do Thái coi là tôn nghiêm hơn hết.

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

Vào năm 50 tây lịch, ở miền Ga Li Lê  

có một người Do Thái bị giết,

và dân ở đó đổ tội cho người Samari.

Thế là đàn ông Do Thái ở Giê Ru Sa Lem  

bỏ ngang chuyện đ́nh đám của một mùa hội tết,  

hung hăn xông vào các làng Samari,  

đốt nhà, giết tất cả,  

bất kể đàn ông, đàn bà hay con nít.

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

Nếu chúng ta sống ở Palestine vào thời Đức Giêsu,  

chúng ta sẽ hiểu sự khó chịu của người đàn bà Samari  

khi Đức Giêsu đến gợi chuyện bên giếng:

"Ủa, sao ông lại xin tôi cho nước uống?"

Ngụ ư: "Mời ông đi chỗ khác."

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

Thái độ nầy có phải v́ mối hiềm khích giữa người Do Thái và dân Samari?

Chắc là Đức Giêsu hỏi không đúng lúc?

Hay là bà nầy cáu kỉnh v́ trong đời có nhiều vết thương?

Bà nầy có nhiều chuyện buồn trong đời.

Có thể đau nhất là bị người ta ruồng bỏ.

Chúng ta đều khao khát được người khác chấp nhận,

và chúng ta khao khát t́nh thương.

Nhiều người trong chúng ta tự ruồng bỏ ḿnh,

chạy theo tiếng vỗ tay tán thưởng hay cái gật đầu chấp nhận của đời.

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

Phúc Âm Giăng nói rơ về hai miền ta phải chọn:

cơi tối tăm và miền sáng láng.

Có Chúa Thánh Thần mở mắt cho người khao khát chân lư.

Có t́nh thương của Thiên Chúa làm thỏa măn nhu cầu tâm linh --

tức là sự b́nh an mà đời không cho được.

   

Trong cuc đàm thoi, 

Đc Giêsu nêu ra ni khao khát ca bà ny, và cui cùng

bà nhn ra rng Đc Giêsu là Đng Cu Thế.

Bà nói:

"Thưa Ngài, tôi thy Ngài là mt v ngôn s."

Ch "thy," trong Phúc Âm Giăng, nghĩa là "tin."

Phưc hnh biết my nếu ai đó có th tin.

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Khi bà nói v Đng Cu Thế, Đc Giêsu đáp:

"Chính Ta là Đng y, là Đng đang nói vi bà."

Trong nguyên bn Hy Lp, nếu dch sang tiếng Anh,

câu Chúa nói không phi là "I am he," mà là "I AM."

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"I AM" là danh hiu ca Chúa Tri.

Bà chc hn biết truyn ông Mai-sen trong Kinh Cu Ước.

Mai-sen nghe Chúa gi lănh đo dân Do Thái thoát ách nô l Ai Cp.

Ông xin được biết tên ca Chúa Tri, đ nói cho dân biết mà theo.

Chúa tr li:  "I AM."

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Bà đă đi din vi Chúa Tri.

Chúa đă đến vi mt con người bn cùng.

Ngài là S SÁNG, đang nói chuyn vi bà mt cách êm du.

Chính Giêsu Ki-tô ny là Đng Chuc Ti đ cu mi sc dân --

Do Thái, Samari, da trng, da đen, da đ, da vàng.

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Trước đó bà ny nghĩ rng ḿnh không ra chi c.

Có th là bà t ghét ḿnh.

Nhưng sau khi gp Đc Ki-tô, bà mi biết rng trưc mt Chúa

ḿnh cu~ng có giá tr như mi người khác.

Chúa yêu bà, và bà không c̣n cn chi na.

Tha nguyn.  Không c̣n chi khao khát na.

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Giêsu đă nói hết tt c điu bà đă làm trong đi,

song Người vn chp nhn bà.

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Ngưi ph n Samari là tiêu biu v chúng ta.

Chúa biết tt c nhng điu chúng ta đă làm,

song t́nh thương ca Ngài đi vi chúng ta không h thay đi.

Chúa không buc chúng ta phi toàn ho.

Thánh Phao Lô viết trong đon Kinh Văn đc hôm nay

nói rng chúng ta được Chúa coi là công chính v́ có nim tin.

Qua Đc Ki-tô chúng ta được ḥa thun vi Đc Chúa Tri.

Chúng ta có th t́m được nơi an trú trong t́nh thương và s tha th ca Ngài.

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Chúng ta có th cho rng Chúa không th nào chp nhn ḿnh.

Song chúng ta ch cn tin nhn s chp nhn ca Chúa cho ḿnh.

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Quư hóa thay!

Song trong t́nh thương Chúa có s thách thc.

Th nht là ḿnh phi chng li điu ác.

Th hai là ḿnh phi thương người như Chúa thương ḿnh.

Ḿnh có th thương mà không đ̣i hi ngưi phi toàn ho?

Ḿnh có th tha th h mc dù biết điu h đă làm?

 

Chúa gi chúng ta đến vi S Sáng,

khát khao Đc Thánh Thn,

và thương yêu, y như Đc Giêsu đă yêu thương. 

Ung th "nước" Ngài cho th́ không bao gi khát na.

Amen.

 

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

 

The Rev. Tinh T. Huynh

Rector of Saint Patrick's Church