PiCHA:mji wa Nazareti,Jangwa la Yudea, Megido, kabuli la Yesu na mti aliopanda Zakayo

Mji wa Nazareti ukionekana hapo juu,Mat 2:23, watu wengi walikuwa wakulima, Yesu na Josefu walikuwa maseremala, hivyo ilikuwa rahisi kufahamika. Jangwa la Yudea, linatukumbusha safari ya waisrael, Kujaribiwa kwa Yesu na maisha ya Yohana kuna wakati alikaa Jangwani.
MEGIDO,Armageddoni mahali ambapo vita ya mwisho itapiganwa, this is real, bible haijaficha kitu.
Hili kaburi la Yesu hata sasa yapo
mti aliopanda Zakayo wakati anataka kumwona Yesu ''live'' Yesu lipoingia nyumbani mwa Zakayo akasema ''wokovu umeingia nyumbani mwa Zakayo''

Tafakari ya Neno: Onesha kitambulisho chako!

Kwa kawaida mwanachama wa chama au kikundi chochote kile anakuwa na kitambulisho maalumu na anaona fahari kutangaza sera za chama au za kikundi chake. Leo tutakiona kitambulisho cha Kristu mfufuka anachotakiwa kukivaa mfuasi wake. Injili ya leo inaeleza awamu mbili ambazo Yesu mfufuka anakutana na wanafunzi wake.

 Awamu ya kwanza ilikuwa jioni ya siku ile aliyofufuka (Jumapili), “Ikawa jioni, siku ile ya kwanza ya juma, pale walipokuwapo wanafunzi, milango imefungwa kwa hofu ya Wayahudi.” 
 Awamu ya pili ilikuwa siku nane baadaye. Katika awamu zote mbili kikundi hiki kidogo cha wanafunzi kilijitenga na kujifungia ndani ya chumba kwa hofu ya Wayahudi.
Mandhari hii inawakilisha hali halisi ya mahusiano yaliyoko kati ya vyama na vikundi vingi, ambapo wanachama wake hujifungia katika ulimwengu wa itikadi zao tu na kuwaogopa walio nje kama wapinzani.  Hapo inazuka hofu inayomgeuza mtu hadi kuwa wa siasa kali, yaani kukereketwa kunapitiliza mipaka. Kama mkereketwa huyo ni mkristo basi atajifungia katika akili na utashi wake bila kutaka majadiliano na yeyote asiyefuata itikadi za dini yake. Mtu wa aina hiyo atanadisha sera za imani yake kwa kupandisha majini na kupaza sauti, hata kuwadhulumu wengine. Hizo ni alama wazi za hofu iliopitiliza.
Katika historia ya Ukristo, kumewahi kuwa na vipindi vya hofu kama hiyo. Kumekuwa na hofu ya elimu ya sayansi, kwamba ingeweza kuharibu imani ya kikristo. Kadhalika hofu ya elimu ya mambo ya kale na teknolojia hasa ya nadharia ya mvuvumko iliyoonekana kupingana na nadharia ya uumbaji. Kanisa likahofu kuwa ulimwengu huo ungeangamiza na kuharibu dini ya kikristo. Kumbe mkristo hatakiwi kuuhofu ukweli, kwani akili ya binadamu imeumbwa na Mungu ili kuujua na kutafuta ukweli.

Yesu alitangaza Injili ya ukweli na akataka ukweli wa Injili uenee ulimwenguni.“Ninyi mkikaa katika neno langu, mmekuwa wanafunzi wangu kweli kweli; tena mtaifahamu kweli, nayo hiyo kweli itawaweka huru.” (Yoh 8:30-31).
Kujitenga na kujifungia ndani ni hofu itokanayo na kutojua kitambulisho cha Yesu Kristo mfufuka. Hofu iliyosababishwa na kutomjua Kristo mfufuka kwamba maisha yake ya upendo na huruma yasingeweza kufa tu basi, bali yanadumu milele. Katika mazingira ya hofu, Yesu ajitokeza katikati ya wanafunzi wake na kuwaonesha kitambulisho vyake. “Akaja Yesu, akasimama katikati, akawaambia, Amani iwe kwenu. Naye akiisha kusema hayo, akawaonesha mikono yake na ubavu wake.” Kitambulisho cha mfufuka ni mikono na ubavu wake. Mikono iliyotobolewa misumari na kusulubiwa ni alama ya nguvu. “Mkono wa kuume wa Bwana umetenda makuu.” (Zab 118:15).
Kwa hiyo, Yesu anaonesha mikono aliyotumia kutenda matendo ya huruma kama vile kuwaponya wakoma, kuwaponya vipofu na viziwi, kumwokoa Petro alipotaka kuzama majini, kuwabeba watoto, mikono iliyoosha miguu ya mitume nk. Kitambulisho hiki cha Yesu chatakiwa kiwe cha kila mbatizwa, yaani kutumikia na kutenda matendo ya huruma. Kadhalika ubavuni ilikotoka damu na maji baada ya kuchomwa moyo uliojaa upendo na huruma. Mkristo asukumwe na moyo wa huruma na upendo katika kutumikia na kutenda mema.

Mapato ya Yesu kuwa katikati yao,“Wanafunzi walifurahi kumwona Bwana.” Hapa wanafunzi wanayo furaha ya kweli anapokutana na kuona kuona vitambulisho vya aliyetoa maisha yake kwa ajili wengine. Hivi wafuasi wa Kristu wanafurahi kukutana na yule anayefahamu uzuri wa kutoa maisha kwa ajili ya wengine. Baada ya kufurahiana huko, Yesu anawaingiza wanafunzi wake katika ufuasi.“Yesu anawatuma mitume wake akasema: Kama Baba alivyonituma mimi nami nawatuma ninyi. Kisha akawavuvia na kusema: Pokeeni roho mtakatifu.” Kuvuvia ni kuingiza roho, yaani kutia nguvu ya Mungu ndani ya mitume. Zawadi ya nguvu za Mungu iliyomfanya Yesu kuleta maisha duniani sasa wanashirikishwa wote na kutumwa kwenda ulimwenguni bila hofu kama kondoo kati ya mbwa mwitu. Wanaagizwa, “Wowote mtakaowasamehe wamesahemewa, wale mtakaowafungia watakuwa wamefungiwa” yaani kila mmoja anao wajibu wa kuwatoa watu toka njia mbovu ya dhambi na kuwaongoza katika njia iliyo sawa inayoelekea kwenye utakatifu wa maisha!
Baada ya mitume kuingizwa uanachama wa kundi la Kristu, sasa awamu ya pili inahusu kupewa vitambulisho wafuasi wengine tuliobaki. Ndiyo maana katika awamu hii tunaambiwa ilikuwa ni siku nane baadaye. Maana yake siku ya kwanza baada ya kwisha siku saba rasmi za uumbaji, Sasa hufuata maisha ya kawaida ya binadamu. Sisi waanzaji wenye mashaka tunawakilishwa na Tomaso. “Baada ya siku nane, wanafunzi wake walikuwamo ndani tena, na Tomaso aitwaye Pacha pamoja nao. Akaja Yesu, na milango imefungwa, akasimama katikati yao.” 
Tomaso anaitwa Pacha (Didimo) maana yake mawingu. Kwa hiyo huo ni mwito kwetu wa kujitambua kuwa ni mawingi au pacha wa Tomaso. Tunafanana na Tomaso katika mahusiano yetu na Yesu. Yaonekana Tomaso hakuuogopa ulimwengu kama wale mitume waliojifungia chumbani. Aidha isieleweke kwamba alikuwa mpinzani na Yesu. Tomaso hakuwa mpinzani wala hakuwa na hofu ya Wayahudi bali alipeta tu nje. Lakini kwa vyovyote alifanana na mitume katika kuona mashaka juu ya ufufuko. Hali ambayo mara nyingi Yesu anawagombeza mitume kwa kutokusadiki kwao (Marko). Tomaso alianza kulifanya kosa hilo kwa kujitenga na jumuiya yake. Hivyo ndivyo inavyotokea katika maisha ya kila siku katika vikundi mbalimbali.
Hebu tuone ni katika kipengele gani mkristu ni mawingi au pacha, yaani analingana na kutokulingana na Tomaso aitwaye Pacha (Didimo). Pacha asiyelingana na Tomaso Didimo ni yule aliyejitenga na jumuiya yake na kuwadharau wote waliomo humo kuwa hawafai. Huyo ni sawa na anayehama chama cha siasa na kukidharau wakati kimlea na kumkuza hadi kufikia ujiko alionao kwa sasa!. Mwanachama wa kweli ni yule anayebaki imara katika chama hata kama baadhi ya wanajumuyia wake wana makwazo, kwa sababu kuna sera na mambo mema yaliyomo humo; ni mtu anayethubutu kuleta mageuzi kwa kubaki ndani ya chama!
Ndivyo inavyotokea katika Ukristo, kuna wale wanaoasi dini na kujiunga na dini nyingine kwa sababu tu wanajisikia kukatishwa tamaa kutokana na makwazo yanayofanyika humo, kama vile mfumo mbovu wa uongozi, utajiri uliokithiri au kanisa kushindwa kutoa majibu sahihi kwa maswali na shida mbalimbali za waamini. Kumbe, pacha anayelingana na Tomaso ni yule baada ya kuona makwazo hayo, hata kama anashawishika kujitenga na ukristu kwa muda ili kuona ukweli utakaoibuka kutokana na muda unavyopita lakini anarudi tena. Mtu huyo anafanana na yule anayekwepa moshi ili kuweza kuona vizuri ukweli ulipo.
Tomaso hakuasi kundi, ndiyo maana anarudi kundini kuhakikisha kwa akili yake kama upepo umebadilika. Hapo ndipo anapokosa imani pale anapotaka kuuelewa tena kwa kugusa ufufuko wa Kristo. Ufufuko wa wafu hauwezi kufahamika kwa akili ya kibinadamu. Tomaso hakufahamu kwamba binadamu tunayo mang’amuzi ya kimwili tu, kumbe ukweli na mang’amuzi yaliyo ndani ya kaburi unajulikana na yule tu aliye ndani ya vuguvugu zake, yaani mfu peke yake kwani “Adhabu ya kaburi aijuaye maiti.” Kumbe siri ya kaburi anaijua Yesu peke yake mwenye mang’amuzi ya ya kufa na kufufuka. Kwa njia ya Mungu peke yake binadamu tunaweza kuuelewa ufufuko.
Kwa hiyo Pacha wetu Tomaso kama binadamu asingeweza kupata jibu alilolitegemea. Ndiyo maana Kristo mfufuka akamtaka asiendelee kutosadiki bali awe na imani na kusadiki. “Wewe, kwa kuwa umeniona, umesadiki; wa heri wale wasioona wakasadiki.” Mapato yake, Tomaso akabaki tu kuinamisha kichwa na kusema: “Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu.” Inatosha kwetu kujua kwamba kitambulisho cha mfuasi wa kweli wa Kristo Mfufuka ni mikono inayohudumia na moyo (ubavu) alama ya upendo. Leo tunafundisha kutafakari fumbo hili la ufufuko tunapotenda matendo ya huruma. Tunapokuwa na mashaka tumwige pacha wetu Tomaso na kusali: “Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu.”

Wosia wa kitume: "Furaha ya Upendo" kuzinduliwa tarehe 8 Aprili 2016

"Amoris Laetitia" "Furaha ya Upendo" ndani ya familia ni Wosia wa kitume utakaozinduliwa hapo tarehe 8 Aprili 2016, tayari waamini kutangaza na kushuhudia Injili ya familia!  

 

Padre Federico Lombardi Msemaji mkuu wa Vatican, Alhamisi tarehe 31 Machi 2016 ametangaza rasmi kwamba, Waraka wa Wosia wa Kitume wa Baba Mtakatifu Francisko kuhusu Injili ya familia, utazinduliwa rasmi hapo tarehe 8 Aprili 2016. Waraka huu unajulikana kwa lugha ya Kilatini kama “Amoris Laetitia” “Furaha ya Upendo” ndani ya familia. Waraka huu ni matunda ya maadhimisho ya Sinodi mbili za Maaskofu kuhusu familia. Sinodi ya kwanza iliadhimishwa kunako mwaka 2014 na awamu ya pili kunako mwaka 2015, kuonesha jinsi ambavyo Kanisa linatoa uzito wa juu kabisa  kuhusu wito na utume wa familia ndani ya Kanisa na ulimwengu mamboleo!

Uzinduzi wa Wosia wa kichungaji wa Baba Mtakatifu Francisko “Amoris Laetitia” “Furaha ya upendo” ndani ya familia utafanywa na Kardinali Lorenzo Baldisseri, Katibu mkuu wa Sinodi za Maaskofu; Kardinali Christoph Shonborn, Askofu mkuu wa Vienna pamoja na Professa Francesco Miano na mkewe Professa Giusephina De Simone.

Utafiti: Watu wanene 'ndio wengi duniani'

Utafiti mpya umeonesha watu wazima wengi duniani ni wanene kupita kiasi na kwamba hakuna matumaini ya kufikia lengo la kupunguza idadi ya watu wanene duniani.

Wanasayansi waliofanya utafiti huo ambao walitoka Chuo cha Imperial cha London, wakiandika katika jarida la kimatibabu la Lancet la Uingereza, wanasema miongo minne iliyopita, kuwa na uzani wa chini kupita kiasi lilikuwa tatizo kubwa kuliko unene.
Wanasema idadi ya wanaume wanene imeongezeka mara tatu, nayo ya wanawake ikaongezeka mara dufu.
Profesa Majid Ezzat, aliyeongoza utafiti huo, anasema ni kana kwamba kuna "mkurupuko wa unene".
Wanasayansi hao wanaonya kwamba tatizo hilo ni kubwa sana kiasi kwamba haliwezi kutatuliwa kupitia njia za kawaida za matibabu au kutenga maeneo ya kuendeshea baiskeli.

 wanandoa wanene Duniani ni awa.

Baada ya kuchunguza takwimu kutoka nchi 186, watafiti hao walibaini kwamba idadi ya watu wanene duniani imeongezeka kutoka 105 milioni mwaka 1975 hadi 641 milioni mwaka 2014.

Idadi ya watu walio na uzani wa chini ya kuwango imeongezeka kutoka 330 milioni hadi 462 milioni katika kipindi hicho.
Viwango vya unene miongoni mwa wanaume kilipanda kutoka 3.2% mwaka 1975 hadi 10.8%, na miongoni mwa wanawake viwango vya unene vilipanda kutoka 6.4 % mwaka 1975 hadi 14.9%.
Hii ina maana kulikuwa na wanaume wanene 266 milioni na wanawake wanene 375 milioni mwaka 2014.

Batarokota: Uibilisi zimetutenga na huruma ya Mungu

 Batarokota wa pili kushoto akiwa na rafiki zake 

 

MSANII wa Bongo Fleva na nyimbo asili ya Kitanzania, Paskal Linda ‘Batarokota’, amesema kukithiri kwa matumizi ya dawa za kulevya, utoaji mimba, ufisadi, choyo, dhuruma, kutosamehana katika jamii zinazo tuzunguka kunatukosesha na huruma ya Mungu.

“Mimi binafsi nashindwa kuelewa kwanini jamii inayotuzunguka tunajitumbukiza kwenye matumizi ya dawa za kulevya, utoaji mimba, utumiaji dawa wa kuzuia mimba, utumiaji wa kondomu,  ufisadi, choyo, dhuruma,uuaji, uzinzi, uasherati,  na kila siku tunafanya lakini tumeshindwa kumrudia Mungu wa huruma kwa kuomba toba kwa Mungu wa huruma, inabidi tupigane kwa pamoja kwa nguvu moja kukataa uibilisi kwa kutumia hata mitandao ya facebook, blogu,tovuti twitter, au kutumiana sms za mafundisho kwa simu, huku tukishirikishana sisi kwa sisi kumuomba Mungu toba kila siku na upendo wake wa Kimungu  ili uwe nasi” alisema Batarokota.

Batarokota akizungumza leo na mwandishi wa blogu hii leo asubuhi baada ya kuudhuria misa katika kanisa la St Josephine Bakhita Oilcom nane nane Morogoro,  aliongeza kwa wanajamii ya Mungu na watoto wa baba mmoja,  wana nafasi kubwa kwa kutumia mitandao kukemea uovu na mambo yasiyo kuwa na utukufu wa Mungu.

“Kinachotakiwa kwa sasa, wanajamii wote tumie fursa za kushirikishana kwa njia ya mitandao ya kijamii kutangaza habari njema, siyo kujiingiza katika matumizi au uuzaji wa dawa za kulevya,utoaji mimba, uchoyo, ulevi wa chakula, pombe na madaraka, ’’ alifafanua Batarokota.

Batarokota hataki sherehe za ‘birthday’

MOROGORO,TANZANIA.

MSANII wa bongo fleva na mkali wa kurap kwa lugha 31 Batarokota, amesema tangu alipofariki mke wake mpendwa mwaka 2005 kwa ajali ya gari kugonga treni, amesema tangu 2006 hana mpango wa kusherehekea siku yake ya kuzaliwa.

Msanii huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 42, amedai hana sababu ya kuisherehekea siku hiyo kwa kuwa atakuwa na machungu ya kumkumbuka mke wake wa mwanzo kwa kuwa ndie alikuwa akimwandalia kila kitu kama keki, chakula, nguo, na sehemu za sherehe nk. Batarokota anatarajia kufikisha miaka 42 Aprili 14 mwaka huu, siku hiyo ataifanya maalumu kwa ajili ya kusali na kuwaombea marehemu wote walikuwanae katika sherehe zake za kuzaliwa hapo mwanza kama mke wake Marehemu Saula Kapama, shemeji yake Patricia Kapama, Babu yake Zachalia Kapoja, Bibi yake Zachalia Kaboja, Dada yake mpendwa Happy Linda, Mwanae Ruth Linda na wengine wengi ambao wametangulia mbele ya haki.

“Tangu mke  wangu Mama Ngw`bis aliyofariki sijawahi kufanya sherehe ya kuzaliwa kwangu kwa kuwa najisikia vibaya, nakumbuka miaka ya nyuma nilikuwa nafanya hivyo nikiwa na mke,mtoto, na marafiki zangu mara zote na ndiyo maana nimeshindwa kufanya peke yangu kwa kipindi chote.
“Wiki ijayo nitakuwa natimiza miaka 42, hivyo nimeona ni vizuri siku hiyo kuitumia kwa kumkumbuka watu wote wapendwa, ila sina mpango wa kusherehekea tena,” aliandika Bataokota kwenye akaunti ya Instagram baada ya baadhi ya makampuni yakitaka kufanya sherehe ya kukumbuka kuzaliwa kwake.

Neyo, Diamondi, Batarokota kutumbuiza Jembeka Festival 2016!

Siku ya kumbukumbu ya kukumbuka ajali ya MV Bukoba tareehe 21/05/2016 katika jijini la mawe Mwanza (Rocky City)  kutakuwa na burudani kabambe sana itakayo wakutanisha wasanii wengi wa ndani na nje ya Tanzania kama Neyo, Diamond, Batarokota na wasanii wengine kibao katika show inayotambulika kama Jembeka Festival 2016 chini ya udhamini wa JEMBEKA na VODACOM show ihi iliyopangwa kufanyika katika uwanja wa CCM Kirumba Mwanza.

Mshikamano wa upendo na Wakristo huko Mashariki ya Kati!

Ijumaa kuu Kanisa linakumbuka mateso na kifo cha Kristo Msalabani, chemchemi ya upendo na huruma ya Mungu kwa waja wake! - REUTERS

Kardinali Leonardo Sandri, Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Kipapa kwa ajili ya Makanisa ya Mashariki anasema kuna haja ya kujenga na kudumisha utamaduni wa watu kukutana na kusaidiana ili kuondokana na mantiki ya ubinafsi na kuta za utengano ambazo hazina mashiko wala tija kwa watu wanaoishi huko Mashariki ya Kati. Misaada inayotolewa na Jumuiya ya Kimataifa haina budi kuwafikia walengwa huko: Mashariki ya Kati hasa Syria na Iraq. 

The Passion of the Christ Worthy Is The Lamb

Daily Reading for Friday, March 25th, 2016

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Reading 1, Isaiah 52:13--53:12

¹³ Look, my servant will prosper, will grow great, will rise to great heights.
¹⁴ As many people were aghast at him -- he was so inhumanly disfigured that he no longer looked like a man-
¹⁵ so many nations will be astonished and kings will stay tight-lipped before him, seeing what had never been told them, learning what they had not heard before.
¹ Who has given credence to what we have heard? And who has seen in it a revelation of Yahweh's arm?
² Like a sapling he grew up before him, like a root in arid ground. He had no form or charm to attract us, no beauty to win our hearts;
³ he was despised, the lowest of men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard.
⁴ Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing, ours the sorrows he was carrying, while we thought of him as someone being punished and struck with affliction by God;
⁵ whereas he was being wounded for our rebellions, crushed because of our guilt; the punishment reconciling us fell on him, and we have been healed by his bruises.
⁶ We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and Yahweh brought the acts of rebellion of all of us to bear on him.
⁷ Ill-treated and afflicted, he never opened his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep dumb before its shearers he never opened his mouth.
⁸ Forcibly, after sentence, he was taken. Which of his contemporaries was concerned at his having been cut off from the land of the living, at his having been struck dead for his people's rebellion?
⁹ He was given a grave with the wicked, and his tomb is with the rich, although he had done no violence, had spoken no deceit.
¹⁰ It was Yahweh's good pleasure to crush him with pain; if he gives his life as a sin offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his life, and through him Yahweh's good pleasure will be done.
¹¹ After the ordeal he has endured, he will see the light and be content. By his knowledge, the upright one, my servant will justify many by taking their guilt on himself.
¹² Hence I shall give him a portion with the many, and he will share the booty with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and for being counted as one of the rebellious, whereas he was bearing the sin of many and interceding for the rebellious.

---

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25

² turn your ear to me, make haste. Be for me a rock-fastness, a fortified citadel to save me.
⁶ you hate those who serve useless idols; but my trust is in Yahweh:
¹² I have no more place in their hearts than a corpse, or something lost.
¹³ All I hear is slander -- terror wherever I turn -- as they plot together against me, scheming to take my life.
¹⁵ every moment of my life is in your hands, rescue me from the clutches of my foes who pursue me;
¹⁶ let your face shine on your servant, save me in your faithful love.
¹⁷ I call on you, Yahweh, so let disgrace fall not on me, but on the wicked. Let them go down to Sheol in silence,

---

Gospel, John 18:1--19:42

¹ After he had said all this, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron valley where there was a garden into which he went with his disciples.
² Judas the traitor knew the place also, since Jesus had often met his disciples there,
³ so Judas brought the cohort to this place together with guards sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees, all with lanterns and torches and weapons.
⁴ Knowing everything that was to happen to him, Jesus came forward and said, 'Who are you looking for?'
⁵ They answered, 'Jesus the Nazarene.' He said, 'I am he.' Now Judas the traitor was standing among them.
⁶ When Jesus said to them, 'I am he,' they moved back and fell on the ground.
⁷ He asked them a second time, 'Who are you looking for?' They said, 'Jesus the Nazarene.'
⁸ Jesus replied, 'I have told you that I am he. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.'
⁹ This was to fulfil the words he had spoken, 'Not one of those you gave me have I lost.'
¹⁰ Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword back in its scabbard; am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?'
¹² The cohort and its tribune and the Jewish guards seized Jesus and bound him.
¹³ They took him first to Annas, because Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had counselled the Jews, 'It is better for one man to die for the people.'
¹⁵ Simon Peter, with another disciple, followed Jesus. This disciple, who was known to the high priest, went with Jesus into the high priest's palace,
¹⁶ but Peter stayed outside the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the door-keeper and brought Peter in.
¹⁷ The girl on duty at the door said to Peter, 'Aren't you another of that man's disciples?' He answered, 'I am not.'
¹⁸ Now it was cold, and the servants and guards had lit a charcoal fire and were standing there warming themselves; so Peter stood there too, warming himself with the others.
¹⁹ The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
²⁰ Jesus answered, 'I have spoken openly for all the world to hear; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple where all the Jews meet together; I have said nothing in secret.
²¹ Why ask me? Ask my hearers what I taught; they know what I said.'
²² At these words, one of the guards standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face, saying, 'Is that the way you answer the high priest?'
²³ Jesus replied, 'If there is some offence in what I said, point it out; but if not, why do you strike me?'
²⁴ Then Annas sent him, bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
²⁵ As Simon Peter stood there warming himself, someone said to him, 'Aren't you another of his disciples?' He denied it saying, 'I am not.'
²⁶ One of the high priest's servants, a relation of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, 'Didn't I see you in the garden with him?'
²⁷ Again Peter denied it; and at once a cock crowed.
²⁸ They then led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was now morning. They did not go into the Praetorium themselves to avoid becoming defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
²⁹ So Pilate came outside to them and said, 'What charge do you bring against this man?' They replied,
³⁰ 'If he were not a criminal, we should not have handed him over to you.'
³¹ Pilate said, 'Take him yourselves, and try him by your own Law.' The Jews answered, 'We are not allowed to put anyone to death.'
³² This was to fulfil the words Jesus had spoken indicating the way he was going to die.
³³ So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him and asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
³⁴ Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others said it to you about me?'
³⁵ Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?'
³⁶ Jesus replied, 'Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.'
³⁷ Pilate said, 'So, then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.'
³⁸ 'Truth?' said Pilate. 'What is that?' And so saying he went out again to the Jews and said, 'I find no case against him.
³⁹ But according to a custom of yours I should release one prisoner at the Passover; would you like me, then, to release for you the king of the Jews?'
⁴⁰ At this they shouted, 'Not this man,' they said, 'but Barabbas.' Barabbas was a bandit.
¹ Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged;
² and after this, the soldiers twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on his head and dressed him in a purple robe.
³ They kept coming up to him and saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' and slapping him in the face.
⁴ Pilate came outside again and said to them, 'Look, I am going to bring him out to you to let you see that I find no case against him.'
⁵ Jesus then came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said, 'Here is the man.'
⁶ When they saw him, the chief priests and the guards shouted, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' Pilate said, 'Take him yourselves and crucify him: I find no case against him.'
⁷ The Jews replied, 'We have a Law, and according to that Law he ought to be put to death, because he has claimed to be Son of God.'
⁸ When Pilate heard them say this his fears increased.
⁹ Re-entering the Praetorium, he said to Jesus, 'Where do you come from?' But Jesus made no answer.
¹⁰ Pilate then said to him, 'Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely you know I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?'
¹¹ Jesus replied, 'You would have no power over me at all if it had not been given you from above; that is why the man who handed me over to you has the greater guilt.'
¹² From that moment Pilate was anxious to set him free, but the Jews shouted, 'If you set him free you are no friend of Caesar's; anyone who makes himself king is defying Caesar.'
¹³ Hearing these words, Pilate had Jesus brought out, and seated him on the chair of judgement at a place called the Pavement, in Hebrew Gabbatha.
¹⁴ It was the Day of Preparation, about the sixth hour. 'Here is your king,' said Pilate to the Jews.
¹⁵ But they shouted, 'Away with him, away with him, crucify him.' Pilate said, 'Shall I crucify your king?' The chief priests answered, 'We have no king except Caesar.'
¹⁶ So at that Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. They then took charge of Jesus,
¹⁷ and carrying his own cross he went out to the Place of the Skull or, as it is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,
¹⁸ where they crucified him with two others, one on either side, Jesus being in the middle.
¹⁹ Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross; it ran: 'Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews'.
²⁰ This notice was read by many of the Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the writing was in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.
²¹ So the Jewish chief priests said to Pilate, 'You should not write "King of the Jews", but that the man said, "I am King of the Jews". '
²² Pilate answered, 'What I have written, I have written.'
²³ When the soldiers had finished crucifying Jesus they took his clothing and divided it into four shares, one for each soldier. His undergarment was seamless, woven in one piece from neck to hem;
²⁴ so they said to one another, 'Instead of tearing it, let's throw dice to decide who is to have it.' In this way the words of scripture were fulfilled: They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothes. That is what the soldiers did.
²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
²⁶ Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'
²⁷ Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
²⁸ After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed and, so that the scripture should be completely fulfilled, he said: I am thirsty.
²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there; so, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick, they held it up to his mouth.
³⁰ After Jesus had taken the wine he said, 'It is fulfilled'; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.
³¹ It was the Day of Preparation, and to avoid the bodies' remaining on the cross during the Sabbath -- since that Sabbath was a day of special solemnity -- the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away.
³² Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other.
³³ When they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs
³⁴ one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.
³⁵ This is the evidence of one who saw it -- true evidence, and he knows that what he says is true -- and he gives it so that you may believe as well.
³⁶ Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture: Not one bone of his will be broken;
³⁷ and again, in another place scripture says: They will look to the one whom they have pierced.
³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus -- though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews -- asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission, so they came and took it away.
³⁹ Nicodemus came as well -- the same one who had first come to Jesus at night-time -- and he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.
⁴⁰ They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, following the Jewish burial custom.
⁴¹ At the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in this garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been buried.
⁴² Since it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

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Reading 2, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

¹⁴ Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must hold firm to our profession of faith.
¹⁵ For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but has been put to the test in exactly the same way as ourselves, apart from sin.
¹⁶ Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help.
⁷ During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, with loud cries and with tears, to the one who had the power to save him from death, and, winning a hearing by his reverence,
⁸ he learnt obedience, Son though he was, through his sufferings;
⁹ when he had been perfected, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation

Baba Mtakatifu aosha miguu ya waislamu

Mkuu wa kanisa katoliki duniani Papa Francis ameosha miguu ya wahamiaji waislamu mjini Rome katika tukio la unyenyekevu linaloambatana na itikadi ya kuanza kwa msimu wa Pasaka.Papa Francis alitembela makao ya wahamiaji, mjini Roma na kuendesha misa ya kuanza kwa msimu wa pasaka.
Ziara yake katika kituo hicho cha kutathmini uhalali wa wahamiaji cha (Castelnuovo di Porto), inawadia huku uhasama na taharuki ikienea kote barani ulaya kuhusiana na kuwepo kwa wahamiaji waislamu hususan kufuatia mauaji ya Paris mwezi Novemba na ya hivi punde huko Brussels Ubelgiji.
Papa Francis alikashifu mauaji yaliyotokea Ufaransa na Ubelgiji akisema kuwa hizo ni njama za watu wenye kiu cha kumwaga damu ya binadamu.
Kiongozi huyo wa kanisa katoliki duniani alilaumu mtazamo wa watuhumiwa hao kuhusu maafa waliyosababisha.
Aidha papa mtakatifu aliwashauri watu wa dini tofauti duniani kuishi kwa amani.
''Haijalishi iwapo tunaimani tofauti la muhimu kwetu sote ni tuishi kwa amani sisi ni ndugu alisema papa mtakatifu.

Uhaba wa dawa unavyowatesa wagonjwa wa saratani

KUNA changamoto nyingi ambazo wagonjwa wa saratani wanakutana nazo hasa kwa wanawake ambao wana saratani ya titi.
Changamoto hizo zimesababisha wagonjwa hao kukata tamaa ya kuendelea na matibabu na kuamua kukatisha dozi na kurudi majumbani mwao.
Hali hiyo hutokea baada ya kuchoka kuhangaika kutafuta fedha za kumudu gharama za dawa huku wakizidi kunyanyasika wakiwa ugenini kwa kuja hospitali ya Ocean Road (ORCI) ambayo inashughulikia tiba na uchunguzi wa ugonjwa huo.
Changamoto kubwa ambayo waathirika wengi wanaomba kusaidiwa ni pamoja na upatikanaji wa dawa aina ya Chemotherapy ambayo hupewa kama tiba katika hospitali hiyo.
Akizungumza hivi karibuni wakati wa uzinduzi wa Chama cha Matumaini ya Mwanamke, mmoja wa wagonjwa hao, Bihuda Shaiza, anasema huwa wanaambiwa dawa hizo ni bure lakini wanapoziulizia mara nyingi huambiwa zimeisha hivyo hulazimika kununua kwenye maduka ya nje ambako huuzwa ghali.
“Nimelipia dozi hiyo mzunguko wa kwanza kwa shida sana kwa gharama ya Sh 200,000 baada ya kuambiwa dawa hiyo haipatikani hospitalini, hapa nilipo sijui dozi ya pili na ya tatu nitaipata vipi,”anasema Shaiza.

Batarokota: Tusimsimange Chid Benz mitandaoni

MKURUGENZI wa Batarokota Daily Gospel Newz pia msanii wa nyimbo za bongo fleva nchini Tanzania, Paskal Linda ‘Batarokota ’, amewataka wadau wa muziki, wasanii na Watanzania kwa ujumla kuacha kumsimanga msanii, Chid Benz ambaye ameathirika na matumizi ya dawa za kulevya kwa kuwa ni mambo yanayoweza kumtokea mtu yeyote.

Batarokota alisema kwa sasa msanii huyo yupo mikono salama chini yake akiwa chini ya uangalizi wa kituo cha Life And Hope Rehabilitation Organization, kilichopo Ukuni huko Bagamoyo akipambana kuachana na matumizi ya dawa za kulevya.

Batarokota alisema yeye kama mdau wa muziki wa Bongo Fleva na  anasaidia wasanii wengi ili wapate mafanikio kupitia muziki na kwenye matatizo pia anawasaidia.
“Nimechukua jukumu la kumsaidia Chid Benz, naomba Watanzania tumuombee aweze kupona na si kumchafua kupitia mitandao,” alieleza Batarokota.

Busu la Papa Francis lamponya uvimbe mtoto

PHILADELPHIA, Marekani

KIONGOZI wa Kanisa Katoliki Duniani, Papa Francis, anasadikiwa kufanya muujiza baada ya kumbusu mtoto mwenye umri wa mwaka mmoja aliyekuwa akisumbuliwa na maradhi ya uvimbe kwenye ubongo.
Muujiza huo unadaiwa kufanywa na Papa, wakati wa ziara yake katika Jimbo la Philadelphia, nchini Marekani, Septemba mwaka jana 2015.
Vyombo vya habari nchini Marekani tayari vimefanya mahojiano na wazazi wa mtoto huyo anayeitwa Gianna Masciantonio na kukiri baada ya Papa kumbusu mtoto huyo uvimbe huo umepotea.
Uvimbe wa Gianna ilisemekana hauwezi kutibika, hasa baada ya kufanyiwa operesheni nane na hata kupewa matibabu mengi  ya mionzi (chemotherapy),  akiwa na umri wa miezi 15 tu  katika hospitali ya watoto ya Philadelphia.
Tayari madaktari walikwishatoa ripoti yao kwamba hataweza kupona na zaidi wakimpa miezi kadhaa tu ya kuishi.

JINSI WALIVYOMFIKIA PAPA

Wazazi wa mtoto huyo, Joey Masciantonio na Kristen waliarifiwa juu ya ujio wa Papa katika jimbo wanaloishi la Philadelphia na rafiki yao ambaye ni wakala wa FBI, Donny Asper.
Wakala huyo wa FBI alikuwa amepewa jukumu la kuimarisha ulinzi akiwa na maofisa wenzake zaidi ya 100 katika ziara hiyo ya Papa.
Inaelezwa wakala huyo wa FBI aliwaelekeza wazazi hao kufika haraka iwezekanavyo karibu na eneo la kihistoria la James S. Byrne, ambako Papa alikuwa akitarajiwa kupita baada ya kuhutubia katika ukumbi wa Uhuru.
Joey na familia yake walifika katika eneo hilo na baba huyo wa mtoto anasema alimnyanyua juu Gianna ili maofisa wa Polisi na mawakala wa FBI waweze kumuona kama alivyoelekezwa na  Asper.
Pamoja na kwamba mama wa mtoto huyo, Kristen, alikuwa akitamani binti yake huyo kukutana na Papa, lakini wakala huyo wa FBI ndiye aliyehakikisha Joey, mkewe pamoja na watoto wao wawili wanafanikiwa kupita mbele kumuona kiongozi huyo wa kiroho ambaye alimbusu Gianna kichwani na kisha kumshika kama ishara ya kumbariki.

WANACHOSEMA WAZAZI
Kwa mujibu wa mahojiano yaliyofanyika wiki iliyopita kati ya kituo cha NBC-News na wazazi wa mtoto huyo ambao wote ni waumini wa Kanisa Katoliki, uvimbe uliokuwa ukimsumbua ni kama umekwisha kabisa.
Baba wa mtoto huyo, Joey anasema: “Ni kama alikuwa akisubiri kifo…mimi ni baba ambaye nilikuwa sitaki kumuona Papa.”
Joey anaelezea tukio la binti yake, Gianna kukutana na Papa ni kama muujiza ambao hakutarajia ungetokea.
Joey ameliambia Daily News kwamba alikuwa na wasiwasi mkubwa juu ya mfumo wa kinga wa binti yake, ambao tayari ulikuwa umedhoofika kwa matibabu ya mionzi na  kwa sababu hiyo alipinga binti yake kwenda kwenye mkusanyiko wa watu, hatua ambayo ingesababisha  hali yake kutetereka zaidi.
Lakini anasema madaktari ndio waliomtia moyo kwenda kumuona Papa.
Kwa mujibu wa mtandao wa PhillyVoice.com, uvimbe huo ulitokana na seli za damu kushambulia shina la ubongo wiki chache tu baada ya kuzaliwa.
Ugonjwa huo unadaiwa kuathiri kila mwaka watoto chini ya watano nchini Marekani.

Nyota wa muziki Malawi afariki dunia

NYASA, MALAWI

MSANII wa muziki wa injili nchini Malawi, Grace Chinga, amefariki dunia juzi kutokana na kusumbuliwa na maumivu ya kichwa.

Rafiki wa karibu wa familia ya marehemu Grace, Pasta Chris Suya, akiongea na blogu hii kwa njia ya simu juzi  la nchini humo kwamba, mwanamuziki huyo alikimbizwa hospitalini baada ya kulalamikia maumivu makali ya kichwa.

“Tulipokea simu kwamba alikuwa anasumbuliwa na maumivu makali ya kichwa na tukakimbia hadi kwake kwa mwendo wa saa moja, baada ya kufika tulimpeleka hospitali ya Queens Elizabeth lakini alifariki dunia,” alisema Suya.
Katika akaunti ya facebook ya marehemu Grace, siku chache zilizopita alitangaza kwamba anatarajia kuachia albamu yake mpya hivi karibuni lakini ndoto hizo zimezimika.

Daily Reading for Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 HD

Daily Reading for Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

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Reading 1, Isaiah 49:1-6

¹ Coasts and islands, listen to me, pay attention, distant peoples. Yahweh called me when I was in the womb, before my birth he had pronounced my name.
² He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow and concealed me in his quiver.
³ He said to me, 'Israel, you are my servant, through whom I shall manifest my glory.'
⁴ But I said, 'My toil has been futile, I have exhausted myself for nothing, to no purpose.' Yet all the while my cause was with Yahweh and my reward with my God.
⁵ And now Yahweh has spoken, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and to re-unite Israel to him;-I shall be honoured in Yahweh's eyes, and my God has been my strength.-
⁶ He said, 'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I shall make you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach the remotest parts of earth.'

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17

¹ In you, Yahweh, I take refuge, I shall never be put to shame.
² In your saving justice rescue me, deliver me, listen to me and save me.
³ Be a sheltering rock for me, always accessible; you have determined to save me, for you are my rock, my fortress.
⁴ My God, rescue me from the clutches of the wicked, from the grasp of the rogue and the ruthless.
⁵ For you are my hope, Lord, my trust, Yahweh, since boyhood.
⁶ On you I have relied since my birth, since my mother's womb you have been my portion, the constant theme of my praise.
¹⁵ My lips shall proclaim your saving justice, your saving power all day long.
¹⁷ God, you have taught me from boyhood, and I am still proclaiming your marvels.

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Gospel, John 13:21-33, 36-38

²¹ Having said this, Jesus was deeply disturbed and declared, 'In all truth I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.'
²² The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he meant.
²³ The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus;
²⁴ Simon Peter signed to him and said, 'Ask who it is he means,'
²⁵ so leaning back close to Jesus' chest he said, 'Who is it, Lord?'
²⁶ Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I give the piece of bread that I dip in the dish.' And when he had dipped the piece of bread he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
²⁷ At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, 'What you are going to do, do quickly.'
²⁸ None of the others at table understood why he said this.
²⁹ Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, 'Buy what we need for the festival,' or telling him to give something to the poor.
³⁰ As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. It was night.
³¹ When he had gone, Jesus said: Now has the Son of man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified.
³² If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.
³³ Little children, I shall be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come.
³⁶ Simon Peter said, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus replied, 'Now you cannot follow me where I am going, but later you shall follow me.'
³⁷ Peter said to him, 'Why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.'
³⁸ 'Lay down your life for me?' answered Jesus. 'In all truth I tell you, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.'

Matendo ya huruma na toba ya kweli!

Mwilisheni matendo ya huruma: kiroho na kimwili katika maisha yenu ya kila siku! - RV

Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Tanzania katika ujumbe wake wa Kwaresima kwa Mwaka 2016 linatafakari kwa kina na mapana kuhusu huruma ya Mungu; ufunuo wa huruma ya Mungu kwa mwanadamu; Kanisa na huruma ya Mungu. Leo katika Makala ya Hazina Yetu, Idhaa ya Kiswahili ya Radio Vatican inaendelea kukushirikisha kuhusu matendo ya huruma: kiroho na kimwili; umuhimu wa toba ya kweli, Bikira Maria Mwenyehuruma na hatimaye, hitimisho la Ujumbe wa Kwaresima kutoka kwa Maaskofu Katoliki Tanzania.

 

Matendo ya huruma

“Iweni na huruma, kama Baba yenu alivyo na huruma”. Kristo Bwana wetu anatufundisha na kututaka kuwatendea wanadamu wote kwa mapendo na huruma. “Kama Baba yenu”. Hiki ndicho kipimo. Mungu ndiye kipimo cha upendo na huruma ambao wanadamu wanaalikwa kuudhihirisha katika maisha yako. Tunapowatendea wenzetu matendo ya huruma tunamtendea Kristo mwenyewe anayetueleza uwepo wake kwao. “Kadiri mlivyomtendea mmojawapo wa hao ndugu zangu walio wadogo, mlinitenda mimi (Rej. Mt 25:40). Mapendo na huruma yakikristo si ya vionjo bali ya hitaji. Mungu anatupenda sisi si kwa sababu tunavutia, bali tunavutia kwa sababu anatupenda na kutuhurumia daima (Rej. Kum 6:5, Law 19:8). Hivi tunapopendana kuhurumia jirani zetu, tunawafanya wavutie na kupendeza na tunaufanya uumbaji uvikwe kwa sura yake ya uhalisia wa awali inayovutia.

Mapendo kwa jirani yana msingi wake katika kumpenda Mungu. Ndiyo maana Yesu anasisitiza kuwa, kumpenda Mungu kuende sambamba na kumpenda jirani (Rej. Mt 22:39). Jirani ni mtu yeyote, mhitaji. Mfano wa Msamaria mwema unasisitiza fundisho hilo (Rej. Lk 10:25-37). Na sheria yote na manabii inategemea amri hiyo ya Mapendo (Rej. Mt 22:40). Kumpenda Mungu ina maana pia kupenda vyote vinavyopendwa na Mungu. “Kwahiyo, huruma kwa masikini na wagonjwa, vilevile matendo ya huruma ya ujima, yenye lengo la kupunguza kila aina ya dhiki za wanadamu, yanaheshimiwa na Kanisa kwa namna ya pekee… Utendaji wa huruma leo waweza kuwaelekea watu wote kabisa na mahitaji yao, na lazima uwe wa namna hiyo. Kila mahali wapo watu wenye kukosa chakula, na kinywaji, mavazi, makao, madawa, kazi na elimu, na vifaa vinavyohitajika ili kuweza kuishi maisha yaliyo kweli ya kiutu. Wapo wanaohangaika katika dhiki au kwa sababu ya kukosa afya, wanaoteseka mbali na makwao au walio kifungoni, na hapo mapendo ya Kikristo lazima yawatafute na kuwapata, kuwaliwaza kwa uangalizi mkarimu na kuwainua kwa kuwapatia msaada.” 

Tunapenda basi kuwakumbusha tena mafundisho ya Kanisa letu juu yamatendo ya huruma ya mwili na ya roho. Mapokeo ya Kanisa letu yanatufundisha juu ya matendo saba ya mwili, ambayo Kanisa limechota toka Maandiko Matakatifu (Rej. Mt 25:36; Tobit 1:17).

(i) Kuwalisha wenye njaa

(ii) Kuwanywesha wenye kiu

(iii) Kuwavika wasio na nguo

(iv) Kuwakaribisha wasio na makazi

(v) Kuwatembelea wagonjwa

(vi) Kuwatembelea wafungwa

(vii) Kuwazika wafu.

Tukifanya hivyo, huruma ya Mungu itakuwa wazi kwetu na kwao. “Katika parokia zetu, jumuiya zetu, vyama vyetu vya Kitume na vikundi, katika maana kwamba popote alipo Mkristo; kila mmoja apate chemchemi ya huruma.” Kusoma, kutafakari na kusikiliza Neno la Mungu ni msaada mkubwa katika kutembea kwenye njia ya huruma. Pamoja na matendo hayo ya huruma ya mwili mapokeo ya Kanisa yanatufundisha pia kutenda matendo ya huruma ya roho yanayotupeleka kuwajibika katika:

(i) Kuwashauri wenye mashaka

(ii) Kuwafundisha wasiojua

(iii) Kuwafariji wenye huzuni

(iv) Kuonya wakosefu

(v) Kusamehe makosa

(vi) Kuvumilia wasumbufu

(vii) Kuombea wazima na wafu

Jamii yetu inajumuisha watu wenye uwezo mkubwa na wenye uwezo mdogo. Wengine ni wazee, watoto, wagonjwa na walemavu, n.k. Tunawahimiza walio na uwezo kuwasaidia wasio na uwezo. Haya ni makundi ya watu wanaotuzunguka kila siku na huu ni uhalisia wa maisha. Tujifunze kumwona Yesu katika wahitaji hawa na tutambue kuwa kila tunapowahudumia tunakuwa tunaliboresha hekalu la Roho Mtakatifu. Tukitumie kipindi cha Kwaresima mwaka huu kama fursa ya kujikumbusha mapokeo haya ya Kanisa na kiwe kipindi cha kuadhimisha na kung’amua huruma ya Mungu. Tukiyatenda matendo haya ya huruma tutakuwa tunadhihirisha huruma na upendo wa Mungu unaoendelezwa katika maisha yetu ya kila siku kupitia ukarimu wa kikristo. Huruma na upendo huenda pamoja.

Toba ya kweli

Mungu wetu ni mwingi wa huruma na mtakatifu. Ingawa anachukia dhambi, hamchukii mkosefu. Anatupokea kila tunaporudi kwake na kutubu. Tunawahimiza kuikimbilia Sakramenti ya Kitubio ili kila mkosefu anayetubu ajipatanishe na Mungu na Kanisa. Sakramenti ya Kitubio inatuwezesha kuugusa utukufu wa huruma ya Mungu. Toba ya kweli inatudai kujirekebisha na kubadilika, kuacha dhambi na kuepuka nafasi ya dhambi. Ili kupokelewa katika ufalme wa Mungu, mwanadamu ni lazima ageuke na kuachana na njia zake mbaya na kushikamana na tangazo la Yesu la ufalme wa Mungu. Hivyo toba ni dai la kwanza la Yesu kwa wale wanaotaka kushiriki katika utawala wa Mungu (Rej. Mt 21:28 – 32).

Toba ni nafasi ya kubadili hali na misimamo yetu mibovu; kama vile dhuluma, uonevu kwa wanyonge, mauaji na rushwa inayopoteza matumaini ya wanyonge. Tusikilize sauti za wanyonge na maisha yao, kwa haki na upendo. Tujue kuwa dhambi zetu hata zile nyepesi zinatuletea shida. Dhambi nyepesi zinadhoofi sha mapendo na kuzuia maendeleo ya kiroho katika zoezi la fadhila na maisha mema.Tuziungame nazo hizo pia! Tendo la upendo wenye huruma linakuwa na huruma kweli kweli, pale tunapojiridhisha na kujiaminisha kwamba wakati tunalitenda, vilevile, tunapokea huruma kutoka kwa watu wale tunaowatendea. Kama sifa hii ya kutoa na kupokea haipo,matendo yetu yatakuwa hayajastahili kuitwa matendo ya huruma; wala ule wongofu ambao Kristo alituonyesha kwa maneno na maisha yake, hata kufa msalabani, utakuwa haujakamilika; wala tutakuwa hatujashiriki katika chanzo cha ajabu cha upendo wenye huruma ambao yeye alitufunulia.”

SURA YA NNE: BIKIRA MARIA MAMA MWENYEHURUMA

Mapokeo ya Kanisa letu yanatupatia sala ya “Salamu Malkia”inatutafakarisha huruma ya Mungu kwa kumuangalia Mama yetu Bikira Maria, aliye tulizo katika mahangaiko yetu. Yeye aliepushwa na kila doa la dhambi; alikuwa wa kwanza kati ya wote na kwa namna ya pekee alifaidi ushindi ulioletwa na Kristo juu ya dhambi: alikingiwa kila doa la dhambi ya asili, na katika maisha yake yote ya hapa duniani, kwa neema ya pekee ya Mungu, hakutenda dhambi yoyote. Mama huyu alitumia vizuri uhuru wake akakubali kuwa Mama wa Mwana pekee wa Mungu, Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu. Kwa maisha yake amemwimbia Mungu sifa daima. Anatukumbusha pia kuwa huruma ya Mungu kwetu sisi wanadamu “hudumu kizazi hata kizazi” (Lk 1:50).

Mama Maria ameshiriki mpango wa ukombozi kwa kutustahilia uzima mpya wa Roho zetu. Maana “Bwana mwenyewe amekuja kumkomboa binadamu na kumtia nguvu akimwumba upya ndani yake na kumfukuza mkuu wa ulimwengu huu, aliyekuwa amemfunga katika utumwa wa dhambi.” Tunawahimizeni nyote kwa maombezi ya mama Bikira Maria kujibidisha kutenda mema ili kujijengea fadhila na kujipatia majina yenye sifa njema katika maisha. Tumuombe mama Bikira

Maria mwenye huruma awe msaada na mwombezi wetu katika juhudi zetu. Tujue kuwa Mama Bikira Maria ni mfano wetu wa namna ya kuwa mfuasi mwaminifu wa Kristo. Tuombe msaada wa maombezi ya Mama Bikira Maria ili tuweze kuwa wafuasi waaminifu wa kuonesha huruma ya Mungu kwa watu wote. Mtakatifu Bernardo anatuasa kumkimbilia Mama huyu akisema; “Ikiwa tunahofu kuikimbilia huruma ya Baba, tumgeukie Yesu Kristo aliyetwaa mwili wetu na Kaka yetu Mwenye Huruma. Na ikiwa kwa Yesu tunahofi a ukuu wa enzi ya Umungu wake, tunaweza kumkimbilia Maria Mama yetu na mtetezi wetu mwenye huruma, awasikilizae wanae kama Baba amsikilizavyo Mwana.”

HITIMISHO

Wapendwa Taifa la Mungu, kipindi cha Kwaresima ni cha kuitayarisha mioyo yetu kwa toba, kufunga, kusali, kutoa sadaka, na kutenda matendo mema ili kujiandaa kukumbuka Fumbo la Pasaka: yaani, mateso, kifo, na ufufuko wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.Tukumbuke pia kwa kushiriki msalaba wake, na kwa neema yake tutashirikishwa pia utukufu wa ufufuko wake. Ni kipindi cha kutafakari zaidi zawadi ya fumbo la ukombozi wetu na namna tunavyoshiriki upendo wa Kristo katika suala zima la ukombozi, kwa mjibu wa ubatizo wetu. Tuombe neema ili tujivike fadhila ya unyenyekevu tuweze kutenda vema na kiaminifu katika utumishi wetu. Yafaa tumwombe Mungu atujalie fadhila ya unyenyekevu ambayo inatusaidia kujitambua kuwa tu wadhambi na tukishajitambua hivyo yatupasa tufanye toba mara.Tunahitaji msaada wa Kristo aliye Bwana wetu mwenye huruma tukimkimbilia atusaidie. Tukaze nia ya kuishi kama watumishi wenye huruma.

Na Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Tanzania.