ACTS 12: 24 – 13: 5a

In those days: The word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark. Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.

The Word of the Lord

 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Psalm 67: 2 – 3, 5, 6 and 8 (R.) 4

R/. Let the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you!
Or:
Alleluia.

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your salvation. R/.

Let the nations be glad and shout for joy,
with uprightness you rule the peoples;
you guide the nations on earth. R/.

Let the peoples praise you,
O God; let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
that all the ends of the earth may revere him. R/.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 8: 12

Alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord; he who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia.

 
GOSPEL
“I have come as light into the world.”
JOHN 12: 44 – 50

At that time: Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
 
Chitatu 24 Kubvumbi – April;

Vhiki yechina yenguva yePasika

Chiverengo chokutanga:
Mabasa 12,24-13,5a

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku raMabasa Avapositori
Shoko raMwari rakaramba richikura richiwanda.
25 Bhanabhasi naSauro vakadzoka vachibva
kuJerusaremu pavakapedza zvavakanga vafambira,
vakauya naJohani aiva nerimwe zita rainzi Mako.
1 Musangano rokuAndiyoku, maiva navaporofita
navadzidzisi vaiti Bhanabhasi, naSimeoni ainzi
Mutema, kouya Rusiasi wokuSairini naManaeni
(akarerwa naHerodhi mutetiraki) naSauro.
2 Pavainamata Tenzi uye vachitsanya, Mweya
Mutsvene akati nditsaurirei Bhanabhasi naSauro
kuti vaite basa randavasarudzira. 3 Mushure
mokutsanya nokunamata, vakaisa maoko avo
pavari vakavaendesa.
4 Sokutumwa kwavakaitwa naMweya Mutsvene
vakadzika kuSerusia. Vakazobva ikoko vakaenda
kuSaipurasi nengarava. 5Pavakasvika kuSaramisi
vakaparidza Shoko raMwari mumasinagogu
avaJudha.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira: Nziyo 67,1-2.4.6-7. (D – 3)

(D) – Vanhu ngavakurumbidzei Mwari, vanhu vose ngavakurumbidzei.
1 Mwari ngaatinzwire nyasha atikomborere
apenyese uso hwake patiri.
2Kuti nzira yenyu izivikanwe pasi.
Marudzi ose avanhu, azive simba renyu
rokuponesa.
(D) – Vanhu ngavakurumbidzei Mwari, vanhu vose ngavakurumbidzei.
4Marudzi ose ngaafare aimbe norufaro;
nokuti munotonga vanhu noruenzaniso,
muchitungamirira marudzi avanhu panyika.
(D) – Vanhu ngavakurumbidzei Mwari, vanhu vose ngavakurumbidzei.
6Nyika yakabereka mukoho wayo.
7Mwari atikomborera;
ngaatyiwe kusvikira kwose kwakagumira nyika.
(D) – Vanhu ngavakurumbidzei Mwari, vanhu vose ngavakurumbidzei.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Johani 8,12

Areruya, Areruya. Tenzi anoti: “Ndini mwenje wapasi, anonditevera haafambi murima,
achave nechiedza choupenyu.” Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Johani 12,44-50

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naJohani
44 Jesu akadaidzira achiti,
“Anodavira mandiri haadaviri mandiri, asi
muna iye akandituma.
45 Uyo anondiona, anoona iye akandituma.
46 Ndakauya sechiedza pasi pano kuti,
ani naani anotenda mandiri arege kugara
murima.
47 Ani naaniwo anonzwa zvandinotaura
asingazvichengete,
handimupi mhosva nokuti handina kuuya
kuzopa pasi mhosva,
asi kuzoponesa pasi.
48 Anondiramba, uye asingagamuchiri
zvandinotaura ane anomutonga.
Zvandakataura izvozvo, ndizvo zvichamutonga
pazuva remhedziso.
49 Nokuti handina kutaura zvomusoro wangu.
Baba vakandituma,
ndivo vakanditemera zvandinofanira kutaura
nezvandinofanira kureva.
50 Ndinozivawo kuti mutemo wavo, ndiwo
upenyu husingaperi,
saka zvandinotaura, ndinotaura sokuudzwa
kwandakaitwa naBaba.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: The Oneness of God
April 24, 2024

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.” (John 12:44–45)

Note that Jesus’ words in the above quoted passage start by stating that “Jesus cried out…” This intentional addition by the Gospel writer adds emphasis to this statement. Jesus didn’t just “say” these words, He “cried out.” For that reason, we should be extra attentive to these words and allow them to speak to us all the more.

This Gospel passage takes place during the week prior to Jesus’ Passion. He entered Jerusalem triumphantly and, then, throughout the week, spoke to various groups of people while the Pharisees plotted against Him. The emotions were tense, and Jesus spoke with greater and greater vigor and clarity. He spoke about His pending death, the unbelief of many, and His oneness with the Father in Heaven. At one point during the week, as Jesus was speaking of His oneness with the Father, the voice of the Father spoke audibly for all to hear. Jesus had just said, “Father, glorify your name.” And then the Father spoke, saying, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” Some thought it was thunder and others thought it was an angel. But it was the Father in Heaven.

This context is useful when reflecting upon today’s Gospel. Jesus passionately wants us to know that if we have faith in Him, then we also have faith in the Father, because the Father and He are one. Of course, this teaching on the oneness of God is nothing new to us today—we should all be very familiar with the teaching on the Most Holy Trinity. But in many ways, this teaching on the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit must be seen as new and pondered anew every day.

Imagine Jesus speaking to you, personally, and with great vigor, about His unity with the Father. Consider carefully how deeply He desires that you understand this divine mystery of Their oneness. Allow yourself to sense how much Jesus wants you to understand Who He is in relation to His Father.

Prayerfully understanding the Trinity teaches us much, not only about Who God is but about who we are. We are called to share in the oneness of God by becoming united with Them through love. The early Church Fathers often spoke of our calling to be “divinized,” that is, to share in the divine life of God. And though this is a mystery beyond complete comprehension, it’s a mystery that Jesus deeply desires us to prayerfully ponder.

Reflect, today, upon the passion in the heart of Jesus to reveal to you Who He is in relation to the Father. Be open to a deeper understanding of this divine truth. And as you open yourself to this revelation, allow God to also reveal to you His desire to draw you into Their holy life of unity. This is your calling. This is the reason Jesus came to earth. He came to draw us into the very life of God. Believe it with much passion and conviction.

PRAYER:
My passionate Lord, You spoke long ago about Your oneness with the Father in Heaven. You speak again, today, to me, about this glorious truth. Draw me in, dear Lord, not only to the great mystery of Your oneness with the Father but also to the mystery of Your calling to me to share in Your life. I accept this invitation and pray that I become more fully one with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Most Holy Trinity, I trust in You.