1ST CORINTHIANS 15: 1 – 8

I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

The Word of the Lord.

 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM   
Psalm 19: 2 – 3, 4 – 5 (R.) 5a

R/. Their sound goes forth through all the earth.
Or: 
Alleluia.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
Day unto day conveys the message,
and night unto night imparts the knowledge. R.

No speech, no word, whose voice goes unheeded;
their sound goes forth through all the earth,
their message to the utmost bounds of the world. R.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 14: 6b, 9c

Alleluia.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; Philip, he who has seen me has seen the Father.
Alleluia.

 
GOSPEL
“Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me?”
JOHN 14: 6 – 14

At that time: Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Chishanu 3 Chivabvu – May;

Zuvaguru raFiripi naJemusi
Vapositori

Chiverengo chokutanga: 1 VaKorinde 15,1-8

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde
1 Hama dzangu, ndingade kukuyeuchidzai Shoko
Rakanaka randakakuparidzai ramakagamuchirawo,
ramumire naro 2 rinokuponesai kana mukaribatisisa; kusatoti makatenda mariri pasina.
3 Ndakakugamuchidzai sechinhu chikuru kwazvo
chokutanga chandakanga ndakagamuchirawo,
chokuti Kristu akafira zvitadzo zvedu sokutaura
kunoita Magwaro Matsvene, 4 uye kuti akavigwa akamutswa nezuva retatu sokutaura kwamagwaro
matsvene, 5 uye kuti akazviratidza kuna Kefasi,
ndokuzozviratidzawo kuna vane gumi navairi.
6Akazozviratidza kune vehama vanopfuura mazana
mashanu panguva imwecheteyo. Vazhinji vavo
vachiri vapenyu kunyange zvazvo vamwe vakafa.
7 Akazozviratidza kuna Jemusi, ndokuzotevera
kuvapositori vose. 8Pokupedzisira, sokune munhu
akazvarwa nguva yake isati yasvika, akazviratidzawo
kwandiri.
Shoko raMwari.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira: Nziyo 19,1-2.3-4. (D – 4)

(D) – Mazwi avo anosvika kwakaperera nyika.
1Matenga anoparidza mbiri yaMwari,
ziendanakuenda rinodura pachena mabasa
aMwari.
2Zuva roga roga rinotaura kusvika kune
rimwe, nousiku humwe hunosvitsa
kunohumwe ruzivo irworwu. – (D)
3Hapana kutaura kana mashoko, kana izwi rawo
rinonzwika.
4Asi izwi rawo rinosvika pasi pose,
mazwi avo anosvika kwakaperera nyika,
akaitira zuva musha maari. – (D)

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Johani 14,6b+9c

Areruya, Areruya
Tenzi anoti: Ndini nzira,
nechokwadi, noupenyu.
Inga wani akaona ini akaona Baba.” Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka:
Johani 14,6-14

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naJohani
6 Jesu akati kuna Tomasi,
“Ndini nzira, nechokwadi, noupenyu.
Hapana anosvika kuna Baba asina kuuya
nokwandiri.
7Dai maindiziva maizivawo Baba vangu,
asi kubvira zvino mava kuvaziva uye
makavaona.”
8Firipi akati,
“Tenzi tiratidzei Baba tinobva tagutsikana.”
9 Jesu akati kwaari,
“Nhai Firipi, ko zvandagarazve nguva ndefu
yakadai nemi,
nanhasi wose haundizivi?
Inga wani akaona ini akaona Baba.
Zvino ungagoti seiko tiratidzei Baba?
10 Haudaviri here kuti ndiri muna Baba,
uye kuti Baba vari mandiri Zvandinotaura kwamuri hazvisi zvomusoro
wangu, asi kuti Baba vanogara mandiri,
ndivo vanenge vachiita mabasa avo.
11Nditendei kuti ini ndiri muna Baba,
uye kuti Baba vari mandiri, kana kuti
nditendei nokuda kwamabasa pachawo.
12Zvechokwadi chokwadi ndinoti kwamuri,
anotenda mandiri achaitawo mabasa
andinoita,
uye achaita mabasa akatokura kupinda aya,
nokuti ndava kuenda kuna Baba.
13 Chiri chose chamunokumbira muzita rangu,
ndichachiita
kuti Baba varumbidzwe muMwanakomana.
14Kana mukakumbira chii zvacho muzita
rangu, ini ndichachiita.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi
FRIDAY, MAY 3RD 2024.

FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER YEAR B.

FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES.

FIRST READING
The Lord appeared to James, then to all the Apostles.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: Do You Not Know Me?
Friday, May 3, 2024

Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8–9)

Today’s liturgical feast is in honor of two of the Apostles, Philip and James the Lesser. Little is known about James other than that he was chosen by our Lord for the apostolic ministry and that we have one of his letters, which is contained in the New Testament. James eventually went to Jerusalem and led the Church for a few decades until he was stoned to death as a martyr. Philip preached in Greece, Phrygia and Syria. He and Saint Bartholomew were thought to have been crucified upside down. Philip preached upside down from the cross until his death.

In the Gospel for today’s Mass, we are presented with an encounter that Philip had with Jesus. Though this encounter appears to be a rebuke of Philip by Jesus, it’s a rebuke that is quite heartfelt. Jesus says, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?” Jesus did, indeed, spend much time with His disciples. They stayed together, ate together, traveled together and spent much time talking with each other. Therefore, Jesus’ comments to Philip emanated from His real and lived personal relationship with Philip.

Take the first part of that statement to begin with. “Have I been with you so long…” Imagine Jesus saying this to you. Is this something He would be able to say to you? Is it true that you do spend much time with Him? Do you spend time reading the Gospels, speaking to Him from the depths of your heart, conversing with Him, praying to Him and listening to His gentle voice?

But Jesus goes on: “…and you still do not know me…?” This is a humble truth that is important to admit. It is true that even those who have a very deep and transforming life of prayer do not know our Lord deeply enough. There is no limit to the transformation that can take place in our lives when we know Jesus personally.

Jesus’ statement goes on: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” So the next question is this: “Do you know the Father?” Do you know the Father’s love, His care for you, His perfect will? Though the Father and the Son are united as one God, They are still distinct Persons, and we must, therefore, work to establish a relationship of love with each one of them.

As initially mentioned, the comments from Jesus are a gentle rebuke of love to Philip, and He wants to speak this same gentle rebuke to you. But it’s a rebuke of love meant to encourage you to get to know Him better. It’s an invitation to personalize your relationship with Jesus and the Father in a real and concrete way. Do you know Him? Do you know the Son of God? Do you know the Father in Heaven?

Reflect, today, upon these loving questions of our Lord as if they were spoken to you. Let His words encourage you to get to know Him more deeply. Pray for your relationship to become more personal and transforming. And as you get to know our Lord more intimately, know that it is also the Father in Heaven Whom you are getting to know.

PRAYER:
My divine and personal Lord, it is the deepest desire of Your Sacred Heart to know me and to love me. Fill my heart with this same desire so that I will not only know You, dear Lord, but also the Father in Heaven. Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your perfect love and pray that I may open myself to that love more fully each and every day. Saints Philip and James, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.