ACTS 16: 1 – 10

In those days: Paul came to Derbe and to Lystra a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Word of the Lord.

 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 100: 1 – 2, 3 and 5 (R.) 1

R/. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Or:
Alleluia.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. R.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us; we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock. R.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. R.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Colossians 3: 1

Alleluia.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world.”
JOHN 15: 18 – 21

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: The Hatred of the World
May 4, 2024

Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” (John 15:18–19)

This is a sobering thought: “the world hates you.” That is, if you are among those who have been taken by our Lord out of the world. In that case, Jesus says that the world will hate you.

No one wants to be hated. No one wants to experience the wrath, persecution, attacks, or ridicule of another. Hatred is ugly, painful and difficult to endure. But that is part of the nature of hate. It’s not only a form of persecution, it’s also a form of manipulation. Hate is an attack upon another by which the hater seeks to inflict injury and to manipulate them to change and conform to their will. The secular and unchristian “world” wants to win you over and away from God. Jesus offers this teaching, in part, to prepare us so that when we do experience hatred from the world, we will not be affected by it nor manipulated to turn from Him. Therefore, this teaching is a revelation of much mercy from our Lord.

Remember that Jesus spoke of three enemies of our soul. The flesh, the devil and the world. In this Gospel passage, to “belong to the world” means that a person allows themself to be negatively influenced by the countless lies embedded within the world. The secular media, pop-culture, biased opinions, social pressures, false images of happiness and the like seek to constantly misguide us and draw us in. We are regularly tempted to believe that fulfillment is found in money, our physical appearance, the recognition of our accomplishments and much more. The world tells us that our opinions must conform to the secular values of the age—and if they don’t, then we are judgmental, close-minded extremists and should be shunned and “canceled” or silenced.

These worldly temptations and pressures are real, and, for that reason, Jesus’ words are freeing. They free us from the manipulations and deceptions we will experience when we live our faith openly for all to see. When we do so, we will be hated by the world. But knowing that provides peace of heart when it happens.

Reflect, today, upon these powerful and consoling words of Jesus. If you do not experience any form of hatred from the world, then this should be a concern and the cause for reflection. And if you do experience some form of hatred, know that our Lord prepared you for this and offers you His strength and courage to endure it with joy. In the end, all that matters is what our Lord thinks—and nothing else. In the end, if you experience hatred by the world in any form, know that this makes you more like Christ Himself.

PRAYER:
My persecuted Lord, You endured the hatred and ridicule of many who were engulfed by the false values of the world. I pray that I may share not only in Your life of love and mercy but also in Your strength during the times that I also endure the world’s hatred. I commit myself to You and pray that You continually take me out of the world and bring me close to Yourself. Jesus, I trust in You.

4 Chivabvu – May: Vhiki yechishanu yenguva
yePasika – Mugovera

Chiverengo chokutanga: Mabasa 16,1-10
Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku
raMabasa Avapositori
Pauro akasvika kuDhebhe nokuRisitira. Ikoko
kwaiva nomumwe mudzidzi ainzi Timoti, mwana
womumwe mudzimai wechiJudha aiva mutendi, asi baba vake vaiva muGiriki. Vehama vokuRisitira
nevokuIkoniumu vaitaura zvakanaka nezvake.
Pauro aida kuti Timoti afambe pamwechete naye,
nezvo akamutora akamudzingisa pamusana
pavaJudha vakanga vari munzvimbo idzodzo,
nokuti vose vaiziva kuti baba vake vaiva muGiriki.
Pavaipfuura nomumaguta vaivaturira zvakanga
zvasungwa navapositori navakuru vakuru, vaiva
kuJerusaremu kuti vatevedze. Naizvozvo, masa-
ngano akasimbiswa muchitendero uye vatendi
vaiwanda zuva nezuva.
Vakaenda nokunyika yeFirigia neGaratia,
pavakanga varambidzwa naMweya Mutsvene
kuparidza shoko kuAsia. Pavakasvika pakatarisana
neMisia, vakaedza kupinda muBhitinia asi Mweya
waJesu hauna kuvabvumira. 8 Nezvo vakapfuura
nepedyo peMisia vakadzika kuTiroasi. 9 Usiku,
Pauro akaona chiratidzo chomunhu wokuMase-
dhonia akamira achimuteterera achiti, “Uyai
kuMasedhonia muzotibatsira.”
10 Paakaona chiratidzo ichocho, takabva taro-
ngedzera kuenda kuMasedhonia. Takanga taziva
kuti Mwari akanga atidaidza kundoparidza Shoko
Rakanaka kwavari.
Shoko raTenzi.
Rwiyo rwokutsinhira: Nziyo 100,1b-2.3.5. (D – 1)
(D) – Pururudzirai TENZI imi nyika dzose.
1 Pururudzirai TENZI imi nyika dzose,
2 shandirai TENZI, norufaro, uyai pamberi pake
muchiimba.
(D) – Pururudzirai TENZI imi nyika dzose.
3 Zvizivei kuti TENZI ndiMwari, ndiye akatisika,
uye kuti tiri vake.
Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.
(D) – Pururudzirai TENZI imi nyika dzose.
5 TENZI akanaka, mwoyochena wake hauperi,
kutendeka kwake kunosvika kuzvizvarwa
nezvizvarwa.
(D) – Pururudzirai TENZI imi nyika dzose.
Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka: VaKorose 3,1
Areruya, Areruya. Kana makamuka
pamwechete naKristu,
tsvakai zviri kumusoro kuna Kristu kwaagere
kurudyi rwaMwari. Areruya

Shoko Rakanaka: Johani 15,18-21
Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa
naJohani
Jesu akati kuvadzidzi vake,
“Kana pasi pachikuvengai, zivai kuti
pakandivengawo pasati pakuvengai imi. Dai muri vapasi pano,
pasi pangadai pachitokudai savanhu vapo.
Asi pamusana pokuti hamusi vapasi pano,
uye nokuti ndakakutsaurai kubva pasi pano,
ndokusaka pasi pachikuvengai.
Rangarirai izwi randakutaurirai, rokuti
muranda haasiri mukuru pana tenzi wake.
Kana vakandionesa nhamo, vachakuonesaiwo
nhamo.
Kana vakachengeta izwi rangu
vachachengetawo renyu.
Zvose izvozvi vachazviita kwamuri pamusana
pangu, nokuti akandituma havamuzivi.”

Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.