ACTS 16: 11 – 15.

Setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days; and on the sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to listen to what was said by Paul. And when she was baptised, with her household, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 149: 1bc – 2, 3 – 4, 5 – 6a and 9bc (R.)  4a

R/. The Lord takes delight in his people.

Or:

Alleluia.

Sing a new song to the Lord,

his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;

let Sion’s children exult in their king. R.

Let them praise his name with dancing,

and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people;

he crowns the poor with salvation. R.

Let the faithful exult in glory,

and rejoice as they take their rest.

Let the praise of God be in their mouths.

This is an honour for all his faithful. R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 15: 26b, 27a

Alleluia.

The Spirit of truth will bear witness to me, says the Lord; and you also are witnesses.

 Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The Spirit of truth will bear witness to me.”

JOHN 15: 26 – 16: 4a

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Counsellor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

*6 Chivabvu – May; Vhiki yechitanhatu

yenguva yePasika – Muvhuro*

Chiverengo chokutanga: Mabasa 16,11-15

_Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku

raMabasa Avapositori_

 Takatangisa rwendo rwedu nechikepe kubva

kuTiroasi tikananga kuSamotirasi chaiko. Ramangwana acho takaenda kuNeaporisi. Takabva

ikoko tikaenda kuFiripi guta guru renyika yeMasedhonia, nyika yaiva pasi penyika yeRoma. Takagara

muguta iroro kwamazuva.

 Pazuva reSabata, takaenda kunze kwesuo guru

kumahombekombe erwizi kwataifunga kuti kunzvi-

mbo yokunamatira. Takagara pasi tikataura nama-

dzimai akanga aungana. Mumwe waavo vakati-

nzwa aiva mudzimai ainzi Ridhia, weguta reTiatira,

aitengesa machira oruvara rwehute ainge ari

munamati waMwari. Tenzi akazarura mwoyo wake

kuti atirimuke mwoyo kune zvaitaurwa naPauro.

Paakaombekwa pamwechete nemhuri yake, akatiteterera achiti, “Kana maona kuti ndakatendeka

kuna Tenzi, uyai kumba kwangu muzogara.”

Takasvika pokutobvuma.

Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:

Nziyo 149,1-2.3-4.5+6a+9b. (D – 4)

(D) – TENZI anofadzwa navanhu vake.

Imbirai TENZI rumbo rutsva,

murumbidzei mugungano ravakarurama.

2 Isiraeri ngaifare noMusiki wayo;

vana veZioni ngavafare naMambo wavo.

(D) – TENZI anofadzwa navanhu vake.

3 Ngavarumbidze zita rake vachitamba,

vachiridza tambureni nezvipendani, 4 nokuti TENZI anofadzwa navanhu vake,

anokudza varombo nokuita kuti vakunde.

(D) – TENZI anofadzwa navanhu vake.

5 Vakarurama ngavapembere kukurira.

Ngavaimbe norufaro vari mumasofa avo.

6 Ngavapururudze namagure pahuro,

Iyi ndiyo mbiri yavakarurama vake vose.

(D) – TENZI anofadzwa navanhu vake.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka: Johani

15,26b.27a

Areruya, Areruya. Ndizvo zvinotaura Tenzi,

“Mweya wechokwadi achandipupurira, kana

imiwo muri zvapupu zvangu.” Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Johani 15,26-16,4a

_Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa

naJohani_

Jesu akati kuvadzidzi vake,

 “Mubatsiri kana auya, wandichatuma kwamuri

achibva kuna Baba, iyeyo Mweya Wechokwadi

anobva muna Baba; iye achandipupurira.

 Kana imiwo muri zvapupu,

nokuti makanga muineni kubvira pakutanga.

 Ndataura zvose izvi kwamuri kuti murege

kurasika.

 Vachakudzingai mumasinagogu. Chokwadi, chokwadi, nguva iri kuuya yokuti

anokuurayai achafunga kuti ari kutoitira

Mwari.

 Vachaita izvozvo nokuti havana kuziva Baba

kana kuziva ini.

 Asi ndataura izvi kwamuri kuti kana nguva

yazvo yosvika, muyeuke kuti

ndakambokutaurirai nezvazvo.”

Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Giving Testimony

May 6, 2024

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26–27)

Jesus informs His disciples that “the Spirit of truth” will come and that the Spirit, as well as the disciples, will “testify” to Him. When Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples, they would not have comprehended what He meant. Since these words are prophetic in nature, they are words spoken that were to come to fulfillment and, then, once fulfilled, the words would be understood. So what does Jesus mean?

When we look at the Acts of the Apostles and read about the early Church, it is clear that something incredibly transforming took place after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Up until that time, the disciples and other followers of Jesus had faith, but they were also fearful. They communicated with those others who believed, but did so in secret and with fear. But as soon as Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, descended upon them, the Apostles began to be used by God to powerfully proclaim the Gospel without fear and with great effect upon many. It was this experience of the disciples of our Lord, being filled with the Holy Spirit, to which Jesus was referring.

After Jesus died, and perhaps even more so after Jesus ascended into Heaven, it is likely that some of His disciples immediately concluded that the new movement Jesus started was now over. They could have never conceived of the idea that what Jesus started was only beginning. They could have never conceived of the fact that soon they would share in the beginning of the Church, proclaim the Gospel with courage and power, see the conversion of countless lives, witness the ongoing forgiveness of sins, and ultimately give their lives in imitation of our Lord. These disciples had no idea just what awaited them with the coming of the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. What was awaiting them was their sharing in the ability to “testify” to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. They soon realized that Jesus was actually more alive than ever and that He was now going forth to convert souls by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the instrumentality of all of His new disciples.

The same is true in our lives today. It is far too common for Christians to simply believe in Jesus personally, but then fail to wholeheartedly give testimony to Him by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It is far too common for followers of Christ to act more like the disciples prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Too often, Christians keep the Gospel to themselves, fearful of giving testimony by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflect, today, upon these prophetic words of Jesus. Though these words were initially spoken to the Twelve, Jesus also speaks these words to you today. He wants you, too, to be a witness to Him, giving testimony to others so that they will come to believe. Reflect upon how well you fulfill this prophetic calling. Where you are lacking, pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life so that God can reach many hearts through you.

PRAYER:

Most glorious Jesus, You promised to send upon Your disciples and also upon me the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and Spirit of Truth. Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my life and offer myself to You without reserve to be used to give testimony to the Truth. Please do use me, my God, and touch many lives through me. Jesus, I trust in You.