ACTS 4: 32 – 35

The company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not any one needy among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need

The Word of the Lord.
 
 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM  
Psalm 118: 2 – 4, 15c – 16b, 17 – 18, 22 – 24 (R.) 1

R/. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.
Or:
Alleluia.

Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His mercy endures forever.” R/.

“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty deeds;
his right hand is exalted.
The Lord’s right hand has done mighty deeds.”
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord punished me, punished me severely,
but did not hand me over to death. R/.

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the Lord has this been done,
a marvel in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice in it and be glad. R/.

 
SECOND READING
“Whatever is born of God overcomes the world.”
1ST JOHN 5 : 1 – 7

Beloved: Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the one begotten by him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

The Word of the Lord.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 20: 29

Alleluia.
You believed, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Eight days later Jesus came.”
JOHN 20: 19 – 31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The Gospel of the Lord

Svondo 7 Kubvumbi – April;

Svondo yechipiri yoMwaka woKumuka kwaJesu muvafi – B

Svondo yeTsitsi dzaMwari

Chiverengo chokutanga:
Mabasa 4,32-35

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku raMabasa Avapositori
32 Chikwata chevaitenda vaya vaitenda vakanga
vaine mwoyo mumwechete, uye hapana aiti chake ndechake. Zvinhu zvavo zvaiva zvavo vose. 33Vapo￾sitori vakapupurira zvokumuka kwaTenzi Jesu
nesimba guru, uye nyasha huru dzaiva pavari vose.
34 Pakati pavo pakanga pasina ane chaaishaya,
nokuti avo vainge vaine minda kana dzimba dzavo
vaizvitengesa, 35 vachiuya nemari yacho vachizoiisa
mumaoko avapositori, zvichizogoverwa kuvanhu
maererano nezvaidiwa nomunhu.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 118,2-4.13-15.22-24. (D – 1)

(D) – Tendai TENZI nokuti wakanaka, mwoyochena wake hauperi narini.
2 Isiraeri ngaiti, “Mwoyochena wake hauperi
narini.”
3 Imba yokwaAroni ngaiti,
“Mwoyochena wake hauperi narini.”
4Vanotya TENZI ngavati,
“Mwoyochena wake hauperi narini.”
(D) – Tendai TENZI nokuti wakanaka, mwoyochena wake hauperi narini.
13 Ndakasundidzirwa zvine simba, zvokutoda
kuwa, asi TENZI akandibatsira.
14 TENZI ndiye simba rangu norumbo rwangu,
ndiye akava ruponeso rwangu. 15 Heyo mheterwa nemipururu yokupururudzira
kukunda zvinonzwika, mumatendhe avarurami.
Simba rorudyi rwaTENZI rakaita zvinogara
zvakadaro.
(D) – Tendai TENZI nokuti wakanaka, mwoyochena wake hauperi narini.
22Dombo rakarambwa navavaki,
ndiro rakazova dombo guru rapakona.
23Uku kuita kwaTENZI, chinhu chinoshamisa.
24 Iri ndiro zuva rakaitwa naTENZI,
ngatifarei kwazvo tipembere mariri.
(D) – Tendai TENZI nokuti wakanaka, mwoyochena wake hauperi narini.

Chiverengo chechipiri:
1 Johani 5,1-6

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaJohani
Vadikanwi,
1Munhu wose anotenda kuti Jesu ndiye Kristu,
mwana waMwari. Munhu anoda mubereki,
anodawo mwana waanobereka.
2Chatinoziva nacho kuti tinoda vana vaMwari,
kuda Mwari, nokuteerera mitemo yake.
3 Kuda Mwari kunoreva kuchengeta mitemo
yake, uye mitemo yake hairemi 4nokuti mwana
wose, waMwari anokunda nyika. Chinhu chinokunda pasi ndechichi,
chitendero chedu.
5Ndiani anokunda pasi kana asiri uyo anotenda
kuti Jesu Mwanakomana waMwari.
6 Jesu Kristu ndiye akauya nemvura neropa,
kwete nemvura chete asi nemvura neropa.
Mweya ndiye chapupu, nokuti Mweya ndiye
chokwadi.
Shoko raTenzi.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Johani 20,29

Areruya, Areruya. Tomasi: “Watenda
nokuti wandiona nhai? Vakakomborerwa
zvavo vanotenda, ivo vasina kundiona.”
Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Johani 20,19-31

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naJohani
9Manheru ezuva rakarero, zuva rokutanga revhiki,
Jesu akauya mumba maiva navadzidzi. Izvozvo
makonhi amavakanga vari, akanga akaiswa zvihuri
pamusana pokutya vaJudha.
Akasvikomira pakati pavo akati kwavari, “Rugare
ngaruve nemi.” 20 Paakataura izvi akavaratidza
maoko ake naparutivi pake. Vadzidzi vakabva
vafara pavakaona Tenzi. 21 Jesu akavatizve, “Rugare ngaruve nemi!
Sokundituma kwakaita Baba,
neni ndinokutumaiwo saizvozvo.”
22Paakapedza kutaura izvi, akafemera pavari akati
kwavari,
“Gamuchirai Mweya Mutsvene.
23Kana mukaregerera vanhu zvitadzo zvavo,
zvinobva zvaregererwa.
Kana mukaramba kuvaregerera,
havaregererwi.”
24 Tomasi, mumwe wavanegumi navaviri, ainzi
Mapatya, akanga asinavo pakauya Jesu. 25 Ipapo
vamwe vadzidzi vakamutaurira kuti, “Taona
Tenzi.” Asi iye akavati, “Kana ndisina kutoona
mavanga ezvipikiri mumaoko ake, ndikapinza
munwe wangu mumavanga iwayo, ndikapinzawo
chanza changu parutivi pake, handitendi.”
26 Mushure memazuva masere vadzidzi vake
vakanga vari mumba muyazve, uye Tomasi akanga
ainavo. Makonhi akanga akapfigwa, Jesu akauya
akamira pakati pavo akati kwavari, “Rugare
ngaruve nemi.” 27 Akabva ati kuna Tomasi, “Uya
upinze munwe wako umu uone maoko angu.
Tambanudza ruoko rwako upinze parutivi pangu.
Usave munhu asingatendi, asi anotenda.” 28Tomasi
akamupindura achiti, “Ndimi Tenzi wangu
naMwari wangu.” 29 Jesu akati kwaari, “Watenda nokuti wandiona nhai?
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vanotenda, ivo vasina
kundiona.”
30 Jesu akaita zvimwe zviratidzo zvizhinji vadzidzi
vake vachiona, zvisina kunyorwa mubhuku rino
iri. 31 Izvi zvakanyorwa kuti mudavire kuti Jesu
ndiye Mesia, Mwanakomana waMwari, uyewo kuti
nokutenda ikoko muve noupenyu muzita rake.
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

REFLECTION: Eternal Contemplation of God’s Mercy
April 7, 2024

Saint Faustina writes in her Diary:

“My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the First Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy” (Diary #699).

What will it be like to contemplate the love and mercy of God for all eternity? To some, this might not at first seem that appealing. Won’t it become boring if all we do for all eternity is contemplate God’s mercy? If that is a question that resonates with you, then the reason this idea initially lacks appeal is because you cannot fathom how fulfilling and glorious this will be. Jesus said, “My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.”

God willed that this Sunday, the eighth day of the Octave of Easter, be celebrated as the Feast of Mercy. By placing this Feast on the last day of the Octave of Easter, God is telling us that the message of this Feast reveals the ultimate purpose of our lives. Easter is the culmination of the perfect plan of redemption. And Divine Mercy Sunday is the culmination of that perfect plan. Therefore, nothing is more important than trying to understand the message this Feast presents.

By analogy, if you were given a new car but never drove it, the car would be of no use. Or if you won the lottery and the money simply sat in your account unused, what’s the benefit? Or if you were gravely ill and were given a medicine that would cure that illness but you never took it, then you would remain ill. So also, if we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but never allow the Mercy that is given by that act to transform us, then we have missed the point. The Divine Mercy is the point of life. It’s the only thing worth seeking. It’s the only source of satisfaction and fulfillment. It’s the only cure for our ills. It’s the only source of true riches. In three short words: It Is Everything!

When Jesus says that our eternity will be spent contemplating His Mercy, He doesn’t only mean that this is something we will do after we die. True, the fullness of the revelation of His Mercy will be set before us when we enter into the Beatific Vision and contemplate God forever. But “eternity” includes today. It includes the here and now. Therefore, our contemplation of The Divine Mercy must be the single most important goal in our life today. When it is, everything else in life will fall into place in support of this goal.

In order to make the contemplation of The Divine Mercy the most important goal of your life, you must begin to understand it. That’s why we were given this special day, this most solemn Feast of Mercy. Therefore, use this day as an opportunity to deepen your contemplation of this Gift. Begin by reading about God’s Mercy as it was revealed to us through Saint Faustina. Try to spend time reading Jesus’ words, His explanations, descriptions and revelations about His Mercy. As you do, if you find that it remains incomprehensible, don’t worry. It is incomprehensible! However, since Jesus promised us that our eternity would be spent in contemplation of His Mercy, then we must believe that the more deeply we enter into that contemplation now, the more glorious our lives will become. If we can truly taste of this Mercy, gain a small glimpse of its grandeur, and comprehend even a small aspect of its meaning, then we will truly find much satisfaction in this endeavor.

Reflect, today, upon The Divine Mercy. As you do, humble yourself through prayer by admitting to God and to yourself that His Mercy is beyond what you will ever comprehend. Do this in prayer. Reading about God’s Mercy is important, but it will only be through prayer that we begin our contemplation. And it will only be through this contemplation that we will begin to live the central purpose of our lives.

PRAYER:
Glorious Divine Mercy, pour down upon me; open my mind to Your depth and breadth. Help me to begin to contemplate You in Your fullness so that I can begin my eternity with You now. My loving Savior, You have revealed so much about Your Mercy. May I not only learn about this Gift but also receive it into my life. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Prayer for Trust in The Divine Mercy of God

Most merciful Jesus,

I turn to You in my need.

You are worthy of my complete trust.

You are faithful in all things.

When my life is filled with confusion, give me clarity and faith.

When I am tempted to despair, fill my soul with hope.

Most merciful Jesus,

I trust You in all things.

I trust in Your perfect plan for my life.

I trust You when I cannot comprehend Your divine will.

I trust You when all feels lost.

Jesus, I trust You more than I trust myself.

Most merciful Jesus,

You are all-knowing.

Nothing is beyond Your sight.

You are all-loving.

Nothing in my life is beyond Your concern.

You are all-powerful.

Nothing is beyond Your grace.

Most merciful Jesus,

I trust in You,

I trust in You,

I trust in You.

May I trust You always and in all things.

May I daily surrender to Your Divine Mercy.

Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,

Pray for us as we turn to you in our need.

Amen.