ACTS 19: 1 – 8

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptised?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptised with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God.

The Word of the Lord.

 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm  68: 2 – 3, 4 – 5ac, 6 – 7ab  (R.) 33a

R. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Or:
Alleluia.

Let God arise; let his foes be scattered.
Let those who hate him flee from his face.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
like wax that melts before the fire,
so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God. R.

But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God;
they shall exult with glad rejoicing.
O sing to God; make music to his name.
The Lord is his name. R.

Father of orphans, defender of widows:
such is God in his holy place.
God gives the desolate a home to dwell in;
he leads the prisoners forth into prosperity. 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
“Be of good cheer I have overcome the world.”
JOHN 16: 29 – 33

At that time: The disciples said to Jesus, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: Peace? Or the World?
May 13, 2024

“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

What did Jesus tell His disciples that produced the “peace” of which He spoke? He is especially referring to His entire Last Supper Discourse from which we have been reading. The words spoken throughout this discourse are meant to give the disciples, and us, “courage” and the ability to conquer the trouble imposed upon us by the world.

Throughout Jesus’ discourse, He especially points to the unity He has with His Father and the fact that if we stay united with Jesus, we will also be united to the Father. He spoke of Himself being the vine and us the branches who must remain firmly attached to Jesus. He spoke of this being possible only by the coming power of the Holy Spirit Whom He will send. And He spoke of the hatred that the world has for all who remain firmly grounded in the Truth. Therefore, if you are one who seeks to remain deeply rooted in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit and separated from the deceptions of the secular and un-Christian world, then Jesus is clearly speaking to you.

In this passage above, Jesus identifies one gift that will help us on this journey. This particular gift is the gift of His peace. Peace is the ability to remain calm and focused in the midst of any and every “trouble” we encounter. The trouble that Christians will especially face are the various persecutions of the world when we live in accord with the Truth. And though there are many moral truths presented clearly by our faith that the world attacks, there are also other forms of troubles we will encounter within the world today.

One of the most manifest troubles inflicted upon many by the world comes in the form of constant visual, auditory and mental stimulation. Our world is a noisy world. Modern electronics, the mass media, commercials, radio, Internet, social media and so many other parts of our daily life have the subtle effect of distracting us, stimulating us and stealing away the peace of Christ.

Consider, for example, the idea of entering into the silence of a retreat for a day, or two, or longer. How would you handle turning off your smartphone, tablet, computer, television and radio for an extended period of time? Would you go through a form of withdrawal? Many today would indeed find this difficult. And the reason for this is that the “peace” of which Jesus speaks is slowly dwindling in the lives of many. Instead of God’s peace, we are filled with constant noise, commotion and activity. This is the “world” attacking us and stealing the peace God wants to bestow.

Reflect, today, upon the exceptionally important truth—that Jesus wants you to know His peace in your heart. And He wants that peace to sustain you. Reflect upon the interior battle that may take place within you between the world and the peace of Christ. Who is winning that battle for your soul? Is there more of the world or more of the peace of Christ reigning within you? Seek out the peace that only Jesus gives, and, as you discover His peace, you will also discover the source of that peace: Jesus Himself.

PRAYER:
Lord of all peace, You have called us out of the world so that Your peace will abide within us, sustaining us, giving us courage, wisdom and strength. I open my life to You, dear Lord, and pray that the many distractions and commotions imposed upon me by the world will begin to cease. May I always hear Your gentle voice and follow You to the place of silent repose found only in You. Jesus, I trust in You.

Muvhuro 13 Chivabvu – May;

Vhiki yechinomwe yenguva yePasika

Chiverengo chokutanga:Mabasa 19,1-8

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku raMabasa Avapositori
Pauro akasvika kuEfesusi. Ikoko akawana vamwe
vadzidzi.
Akavati, “Makagamuchira Mweya Mutsvene here
pamakadavira?” Ivo vakati, “Kwete. Hatina kana
kutombonzwa kuti kuna Mweya Mutsvene.” Akavati, “Ko, zvino makaombekwa noruombeko
rwupi?” Ivo vakati, “Noruombeko rwaJohani.”
Pauro akati, “Johani aiombeka noruombeko
rwokuti vanhu vapinduke achitaurira vanhu kuti
vatende muno uyo akanga achauya mushure make,
achireva Jesu.”
Pavakanzwa izvi vakaombekwa muzita raTenzi
Jesu. Pauro paakaisa maoko ake pavari, Mweya
Mutsvene akaburukira pavari. Vakataura nendimi
vakaporofita. Pamwechete vakanga vari varume
gumi navaviri.
Aipota achipinda musinagogu; kwemwedzi mitatu
aitaura asingatyi, achidzidzisa zvokuti vabvume
zvoumambo hwaMwari.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 68,1-6. (D – 32)

(D) – Imbirai Mwari imi nyika dzapasi, imbirai muchirumbidza TENZI.
Mwari ngaasimuke vavengi vake vaparadzwe.
Vanomuvenga ngavatize pamberi pake.
Sokuvhuvhutwa kunoitwa utsi, vatinheiwo.
Sokunyongodeka kunoita namo pamoto;
vakaipa ngavapararewo pamberi paMwari.
(D) – Imbirai Mwari imi nyika dzapasi, imbirai muchirumbidza TENZI
Vakarurama ngavafare pamberi penyu;
Ngavafarisise kwazvo norufaro.
Imbirai Mwari, muimbirei muchirumbidza
zita rake, zita rake ndiYahweh.
(D) – Imbirai Mwari imi nyika dzapasi, imbirai muchirumbidza TENZI.
Mwari, munzvimbo yake inoera,
ndiBaba wenherera, nomudziviriri
wechirikadzi.
6 Mwari anopa vasina chavanacho, musha
wokugara, anoburitsa vasungwa achivaendesa
mukugarika.
(D) – Imbirai Mwari imi nyika dzapasi, imbirai muchirumbidza TENZI.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
VaKorose 3,1

Areruya, Areruya Kana makamuka pamwechete naKristu, tsvakai zviri kumusoro kuna
Kristu kwaagere kurudyi rwaMwari. Areruya

Shoko Rakanaka: Johani 16,29-33

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naJohani
Vadzidzi vakati kuna Jesu,
“Hamuchionaka! Mavakutaura zviri pachena
kwete namadimikira.
Zvino tava kuziva kuti munoziva zvose uye kuti hamumiriri kuti munhu atange
akubvunzai; nezvo tava kutenda kuti makabva
kuna Mwari.”
Jesu akavapindura achiti,
“Zvino mava kutenda nhai?
Nguva iri kuuya, uye yatosvika pamuchati
mwarara, mumwe nomumwe achienda kwake,
muchindisiya ndiri ndoga, asi ndinenge
ndisiri ndoga nokuti Baba vaneni.
Ndakutaurirai izvi kuti muwane rugare
mandiri.
Pasi pano muchava namatambudziko,
asi tsungai mwoyo ndakakunda pasi.”

Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi