Sacraments of the Catholic Church

The liturgical life of the Catholic Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders.

The purpose of the sacraments is to make people holy, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to God; but being signs, they also have a teaching function. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and object, they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called "sacraments of faith." The sacraments impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them disposes the faithful most effectively to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God rightly, and to practice charity.

Worship is integral to our lives as Christians. When we engage in the prayer and ritual of the Church, we are formed as Church. Our sacramental rites are of primary importance while we are gathered.

The history of human salvation is the history of the way God came to men. The first step on this way was the bridging of the gulf separating God and man in the person of the one Mediator Jesus Christ and by his work of redemption. By means of his Church Christ makes his grace available to all. Only in this application of redemption to mankind is the redemptive action of Christ completed. The doctrine of the sacraments is the doctrine of the second part of God's way of salvation to us. It deals with the holy signs which Christ instituted as the vehicles of his grace.

The great mystery of the union in Christ of a human nature with the second Person of the Godhead is that the human actions and sufferings of Christ are divine actions and sufferings. The sacraments are a living continuation of this mystery. There are earthly, external signs here which, of themselves, could never acquire any supernatural significance, but the signs of the sacraments have been made by Christ into vehicles of his grace. They effect in men the grace for which Christ made them the sign.

So there are two fundamental ideas which constantly recur in the Church's teaching, on the sacraments. First there is the Church's concern for these instituted by Christ, their number, and their proper preservation and administration; then the grace which Christ has for all time linked with these signs and which is communicated by them.

The second is the effect of the sacraments. They are the signs of Christ's work; the effectiveness of Christ's continuing work in his Church cannot be dependent on man's inadequacy. A sacrament, administered properly in the way established by Christ and with the proper intention, gives the grace it signifies. It is effective not by reason of the power of intercession of priestly prayer nor on account of the worthiness of the recipient, but solely by the power of Christ. The power of Christ lives in the sacraments. The effect of the sacrament is independent of the sinfulness or unworthiness of the minister. The Church has never tolerated any subjective qualification of the objective effectiveness of the sacraments ex opere operato. This would ultimately be to conceive the way of salvation as being man's way to God and not God's way to man.

The Church Thus Teaches: There are seven sacraments. They were instituted by Christ and given to the Church to administer. They are necessary for salvation. The sacraments are the vehicles of grace which they convey. They are validly administered by the carrying out of the sign with the proper intention. Not all are equally qualified to administer all the sacraments. The validity of the sacrament is independent of the worthiness of the minister. Three sacraments imprint an indelible character.

Sacramentals are instituted by the Church and are effective by virtue of the Church's intercession. Institution and alteration of them is reserved to the Holy See.

Although it is not a sacrament, Christian Burial will be addressed in this section.

Baptism

Baptism, the first and fundamental sacrament and the gate to the other sacraments, is the purifying and sanctifying sacrament of rebirth. It is the means by which its recipients are incorporated into the church in a sacramental bond of unity.

Confirmation

By a signing with the gift of the Spirit, confirmation enriches the baptized with the Holy Spirit, binding them more perfectly to the Church, and strengthening them in their witness to Christ by word and deed and in their work to bring to its fullness the Body of Christ. Confirmation is conferred through anointing with chrism and the laying on of hands.

Eucharist

The Eucharist is the most august sacrament, in which Christ himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church constantly lives and grows. The Eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated over the centuries, is the summit and source of all Christian life and worship; it signifies and effects the unity of the people of God and achieves the building up of the Body of Christ.

As children reach the age of reason, generally around age seven, the Church extends to them an invitation to celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist. The initiation into the Christian community that took place at baptism is further extended by inviting children to enter fully into the heart of Christian faith through participation in the Eucharist.

Penance

Through penance, the faithful receive pardon through God's mercy for the sins they have committed. At the same time, they are reconciled with the Church community. The confession, or disclosure, of sins frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others.

Anointing of the Sick

Through the sacrament of anointing, Christ strengthens the faithful who are afflicted by illness, providing them with the strongest means of support. Jesus showed great concern for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick and commanded his followers to do the same. The celebration of this sacrament is an opportunity for the deepening of the faith of the community who are able to witness the faith and devotion of those being anointed.

Marriage

The Church has a rich tradition in its teaching on sacramental marriage and covenantal union. The Old Testament authors write of God making a covenant with the chosen people and promising them that they will never be forsaken. The New Testament authors write of Jesus as the new covenant and compare the relationship of Jesus with the Church to the relationship of a husband and wife. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.

Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests and deacons are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. The sacred rite by which orders are conferred is called ordination. The apostles were ordained by Jesus at the Last Supper so that others could share in his priesthood.

Christian Burial

The Church asks spiritual assistance for the departed, honors their bodies, and at the same time brings solace of hope to the living. The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. While proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessing to the Christian hope in the resurrection, the funeral rites also recall to all who take part in them God's mercy and judgement and meet the human need to turn always to God in times of crisis.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults includes the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, but also all of the rites of the catechumenate. The initiation of adults is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful.

Together with the catechumens, the faithful reflect upon the value of the paschal mystery, renew their own conversion, and by their example lead the catechumens to obey the Holy Spirit more generously.

Mauaji, uhusiano wa damu na uhusiano ndugu kisheria ni kati ya vizuizi vya ndoa ya Kikristo!

Mpendwa  kwa mara nyingine tena karibu katika kipindi chetu cha Kanisa la nyumbani. Katika vipindi vilivyopita tulianza kuvitazama vizuizi vya ndoa kwa sura nyepesi ya Kichungaji.

Tunasema tena: Lengo letu, ni kuyapa hadhi, uzuri na heshima kuu zaidi maisha ya ndoa na familia, ili kwamo Mungu atukuzwe na wanadamu watakaswe. Katika kikao chake pamoja na Makardinali, Baba Mtakatifu Francisco katika salaamu zake amewaomba Makardinali wote, kuzamisha mawazo yao katika kuweka mbele ukuu wa Sakramenti ya ndoa na uzuri wa familia.

Hadi sasa tumezungumzia vizuizi saba, yaani umri (kuwa chini ya umri unaokubalika kisheria), uhanithi (kukosa uwezo wa kushiriki tendo la ndoa), ndoa awali, utofauti wa imani, daraja takatifu, nadhiri hadhara ya useja katika Shirika la kitawa na kutoroshwa. Leo mpendwa, tunaendelea...!
Kizuizi cha NANE ni MAUAJI. Sheria Kan, namb. 1090 inakataa ndoa ya mmwagaji damu ili aweze kuoa. Kwa mfano, Ndg. Pori anampenda sana Mwitu. Lakini Mwitu amekwisha kuolewa na Bw. Kichaka. Pori anaamua kumuua Bw. Kichaka ambaye ni mume halali wa Mwitu, ili apate nafasi ya kumuoa Mwitu. Hicho ni kizuizi!

Au mama Ngedere amemchoka kabisa mumewe, badala yake anampenda sana Bw. Nyani na huyu Bw. Nyani yupo tayari kumuoa Mama Ngedere lakini kikwazo ni Bw. Ngedere. Mama Ngedere anaamua kutumia ukatiri wake aliorithi kutoka kwa shetani, anamuua mumewe kwa sumu au kwa kukodi majambazi au kwa kupanga ajali; ili awe huru kuolewa na Bw. Nyani. Au wewe unamuua mchumba wa fulani ili yule fulani akuoe wewe. HICHO NI KIZUIZI. NDOA HIYO ITANUKA DAMU KILA SIKU!!

Kizuizi cha TISA ni UHUSIANO DAMU. Sheria Kan, namb. 1091 inakataza kabisa ndoa kati ya ndugu wa damu daraja la kwanza na daraja la pili hadi ngazi ya nne. Mfano Baba hawezi kumuoa binti yake au mjukuu wake, au dada kuolewa na kaka yake. Pia mtu huwezi kuoa mtoto wa dada yako, au kumuoa dada ya baba yako mzazi. Haitegemewi kusikika kijana unataka kufunga ndoa na mama yako mzazi.

Maingiliano ya kindoa kati ya ndugu wa damu ni tatizo linalokua sana nyakati zetu hizi, kwa sababu za usiri mkubwa na uholela katika uzazi. Kijana na Binti ni watoto wa baba mmoja, ila hawajuani kwa sababu baba aliwazaa sehemu tofauti kwa siri. Taratibu zifuatwe vizuri ili kuona kweli wanaoingia katika agano hawaingii katika uharimu. Uchumba wa kuchunguzwa na matangazo ni kitu muhimu sana. ukisikia ndugu wa damu wanataka kufunga ndoa, ni kizuizi hicho, timua mbio kaseme kwa Paroko.

Kizuizi cha KUMI ni UHUSIANO-NDUGU KISHERIA. Sheria Kan, namb. 1092, tuifafanua kwa mifano zaidi. Maana iliyofichika ni kwamba, kwa kitendo cha kuoa na kuolewa, mume anajenga udugu wa karibu kabisa na ndugu wa mkewe, na mke anajenga udugu wa karibu na ndugu wa mumewe. Ikitokea mmoja anafariki, haitegemewi mama mfiwa aolewe na baba mkwe wake, au baba mfiwa akaoe mama mkwe wake ambaye ni mjane. Au hata ile ambayo hutendeka mahali pengi ya mtu kuamua kuoa mdogo wa marehemu mkewe, au mama anaolewa na mdogo wa marehemu mumewe. Au mtu unaamua tu kukurupua mke wa ndugu yake. Yohane Mbatizaji alimkataza Herode tabia ya aina hiyo. KIMSINGI SIO HALALI. IkitokeA hivyo, usiifiche hali hiyo, taratibu ya kichungaji ifuatwe, Baba Paroko anajua.

Tunaahirisha kipindi chetu kwa leo, tusikilizane tena wakati mwingine. Kutoka Radio Vatican,
Ni mimi Padre Pambo Martin Mkorwe OSB.

Maaskofu wa Hispania waanza hija ya kitume mjini Vatican

Kundi la kwanza la Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Hispania, Leo tarehe 24 Februari 2014 linaanza hija ya kitume inayofanyika mjini Vatican walau kila baada ya miaka mitano kadiri ya sheria za Kanisa. Kundi la kwanza linaundwa na Maaskofu 44, litapata nafasi ya kukutana na kuzungumza na Baba Mtakatifu pamoja na viongozi waandamizi kutoka Vatican.

Taarifa zinaonesha kwamba, kundi la pili litakutana na Baba Mtakatiofu Francisko kuanzia tarehe 3 hadi tarehe 8 Machi 2014. Baba Mtakatifu anatarajiwa kukutana na Maaskofu wote wa Hispania hapo tarehe 3 Machi 2014. Kwa mara ya mwisho, Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Hispania lilifanya hija yake ya kichungaji kunako mwaka 2005. Hata kama walihitimisha hija yao kadiri ya sheria za Kanisa, lakini hali ya Mwenyeheri Yohane Paulo wa Pili iliendelea kudhohofu sana.

Katika uongozi wa Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto XVI, Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Hispania halikupata nafasi ya kufanya hija ya kitume mjini Vatican. Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto XVI alibahatika kutembelea Hispania mara tatu wakati wa utume wake kama Khalifa wa Mtakatifu Petro. Mara ya kwanza ilikuwa ni Mwaka 2006 wakati wa Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Tano ya Familia Kimataifa iliyoadhimishwa mjini Valencia. Kunako mwaka 2010 Baba Mtakatifu Mstaafu Benedikto XVI alitembelea mjini Barcelona na Santiago de Compostella.

Vijana wengi wanaikumbuka hija ya kichungaji ya Baba Mtakatifu Mstaafu Benedikto XVI mjini Madrid wakati wa Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Vijana Duniani kwa Mwaka 2011, wakati vijana waliponyeeshewa na mvua kubwa na Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto akabaki pamoja nao! Adhimisho likaendelea kama ilivyopangwa kwa Kesha na Ibada ya Kuabudu Ekaristi Takatifu.

Daily Reading for Monday, February 24th, 2014

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Reading 1, James 3:13-18

¹³ Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
¹⁴ But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;
¹⁵ this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.
¹⁶ Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;
¹⁷ whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
¹⁸ The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15

⁸ The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.
⁹ The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever; the judgements of Yahweh are true, upright, every one,
¹⁰ more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.

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Gospel, Mark 9:14-29

¹⁴ As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them.
¹⁵ At once, when they saw him, the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him.
¹⁶ And he asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?'
¹⁷ A man answered him from the crowd, 'Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him,
¹⁸ and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to drive it out and they were unable to.'
¹⁹ In reply he said to them, 'Faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.'
²⁰ They brought the boy to him, and at once the spirit of dumbness threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth.
²¹ Jesus asked the father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' 'From childhood,' he said,
²² 'and it has often thrown him into fire and into water, in order to destroy him.
²³ But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.'
²⁴ 'If you can?' retorted Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who has faith.' At once the father of the boy cried out, 'I have faith. Help my lack of faith!'
²⁵ And when Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. 'Deaf and dumb spirit,' he said, 'I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.'
²⁶ Then it threw the boy into violent convulsions and came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, 'He is dead.'
²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand.
²⁸ When he had gone indoors, his disciples asked him when they were by themselves, 'Why were we unable to drive it out?'
²⁹ He answered, 'This is the kind that can be driven out only by prayer.'

St. John Theristus

Feastday: February 24
1049 - 1129

Benedictine monk, called Theristus or “Harvester.” He was of Calabrian lineage, born in Sicily. His mother was a slave of the Saracens. John escaped at a young age and became a monk.

Pope Francis: No to divisions between Christians

(Vatican Radio) Following the celebration of Mass on Sunday morning with the 19 new Cardinals, Pope Francis greeted the crowds in St. Peter’s Square gathered for the Angelus prayer. In his address to them he urged them to work for Christian unity avoiding all divisions, because he said: “a community does not belong to the preacher, but to Christ”. Commenting on the second Reading of the Day, the Pope said that since the times described by St. Paul, Christians were divided according to whoever was leading their community. But St Paul – Pope Francis said – explains that this way of thinking is wrong:“everything belongs to you Christ! Not to Paul, Apollos or Cephas; the world, life, death, the present and the future, everything is yours! For you belong to Christ, and Christ to God!” And the Pope said all Christian communities are born from this belonging: dioceses, parishes, associations, movements. And even although there may be differences – he added – through Baptism we all have the same dignity, we are children of God. Our dignity – the Pope said – is in Jesus Christ. And those who have received the ministry to guide, to preach, to administer the Sacraments, must not feel that they own special powers, that they are masters. “They must put themselves in the service of the community, helping it in its journey of holiness with joy”. The Church - said Pope Francis –“ entrusts the witness of this pastoral lifestyle to the new Cardinals”: “Yesterday’s Consistory and today’s Eucharistic Celebration have offered us a precious occasion to experience the Catholicity, the Universality of the Church which is well represented by the variegated origins of the members of the College of Cardinals, who are gathered in tight communion around the Successor of Peter”. And the Pope prayed that the Lord may grant these men the grace to work towards the unity of the Church, and to build this unity because – he said – unity is more important than conflict. “The unity of the Church is in Christ”. The Pope concluded his address with an appeal for prayers for the bishops, the cardinals and the Pope so that they may serve the People of God, because – he said – the vocation of a bishop, a cardinal, the Pope is to be a servant in the name of Christ. “Pray for us so that we may be good servants: good servants not good masters!”

رسالة البابا فرنسيس للأكاديمية البابوية من أجل الحياة

وجه البابا فرنسيس رسالة إلى الأكاديمية الحبرية من أجل الحياة في الذكرى العشرين لتأسيسها، ولمناسبة انعقاد جمعيتها العامة من العشرين وحتى الحادي والعشرين من الجاري. وقال الحبر الأعظم إن فكرنا يتجه، وبعرفان جميل، نحو الطوباوي يوحنا بولس الثاني الذي أنشأ هذه الأكاديمية، والرؤساء الذين عززوا نشاطها وجميع من يتعاون في رسالتها في العالم كله، ليتوقف بعدها عند عنوان الجمعية العامة "الشيخوخة والإعاقة"، وقال إنه موضوع آني جدا وعزيز على قلب الكنيسة، وأشار لهيمنة منطق اقتصادي في المجتمعات، يهمّش، ويقتل أحيانا، وأضاف أن ضحاياه كثيرون بدءا من المسنين، مسلطا الضوء على "ثقافة الاقصاء".

وتابع البابا رسالته للأكاديمية الحبرية من أجل الحياة مشيرا إلى أن الوضع الاجتماعي الديموغرافي للشيخوخة يُظهر لنا بوضوح تهميش المسن، لاسيما إذا كان مريضا ويحمل إعاقة، وشدد بالتالي على ضرورة تقديم المساعدة في العلاقات بين الأشخاص، وأكد أن الصحة قيمة مهمة لكنها لا تحدد قيمة الإنسان مشيرا إلى أن التهميش هو أخطر حرمان يعاني منه المسنون. وذكّر الحبر الأعظم بأن العائلة معلمة في التضامن، وقال: في كنف الأسرة نتعلّم أن فقدان الصحة ليس سببا لتهميش أي حياة بشرية، ونتعلّم عدم الوقوع في الفردانية والأنانية، فتصبح هكذا "الرعاية" أساسا للحياة الإنسانية، وتصرفا أخلاقيا يجب تعزيزه من خلال قيمتي الالتزام والتضامن.

أضاف البابا فرنسيس يقول إن شهادة العائلة تصبح أساسية أمام المجتمع كله للتأكيد مجددا على أهمية الشخص المسن كفرد في المجتمع له رسالة يتممها، وسلط الضوء على الإرشاد الرسولي "فرح الإنجيل" حول أهمية الإصغاء للشباب والمسنين، لأنهم رجاء الشعوب. وفي ختام رسالته للمشاركين في الجمعية العامة للأكاديمية البابوية من أجل الحياة، قال البابا فرنسيس إن المجتمع يقبل الحياة حقا عندما يعترف بأنها ثمينة حتى في الشيخوخة والإعاقة والأمراض الخطيرة وحين تنطفئ، وعندما يعلّم أن نرى في الشخص المريض والمتألم عطية للمجتمع بأسره، حضورا يحث على التضامن والمسؤولية. هذا ودعا البابا لمواصلة نشر إنجيل الحياة، موكلا الجميع إلى حماية مريم العذراء.

البابا فرنسيس: القداسة المسيحية هي ثمرة الطاعة لروح الله

ترأس قداسة البابا فرنسيس صباح اليوم الأحد القداس الإلهي في البازيليك الفاتيكانيّة عاونه فيه الكرادلة الجدد الذين نالوا القبعة والخاتم الكارديناليَّين من يد الحبر الأعظم يوم أمس السبت. ألقى الأب الأقدس خلال هذه الذبيحة الإلهية عظة استهلّها بالقول: "أعنّا أيها الإله السرمدي القدير على الإصغاء إلى أقوالك وتأمُّلها ليل نهار" تدعونا هذه الصلاة التي رفعناها في بداية الذبيحة الإلهية للتحلي بموقف أساسي: موقف الإصغاء للروح القدس الذي ينعش الكنيسة ويحركها. فبقوته الخالقة والمجددة يعضد الروح رجاء شعب الله في مسيرته في التاريخ، وكـ "بارقليط" يدعم شهادة المسيحيين. وفي هذه اللحظة ومع الكرادلة الجدد نريد أن نصغي إلى صوت الروح الذي يحدثنا عبر القراءات التي سمعناها.

في القراءة الأولى تتردد دعوة الرب لشعبه: "كونوا قِدِّيسين، لأَنِّي أَنا الرَّبَّ إِلهَكم قُدُّوس."(سفر الأحبار ١٩، ٢)، وفي الإنجيل يردد يسوع صداها قائلاً: "كونوا أَنتُم كامِلين، كما أَنَّ أَباكُمُ السَّماويَّ كامِل"(متى ٥، ٤٨). إن هذه الكلمات موجهة لنا جميعًا نحن تلاميذ الرب، وهي اليوم موجهة بشكل خاص لي ولكم يا إخوتي الكرادلة الأعزاء وخصوصًا لكم أنتم الذين إنضمَّيتُم أمس إلى مجمع الكرادلة. قد يبدو لنا التشبه بقداسة الله وكماله هدفًا يصعب تحقيقه، مع ذلك تقدم لنا القراءة الأولى والإنجيل أمثالاً ملموسةً ليصبح تصرف الله شريعة لتصرفنا. وإنما لنتذكر دائمًا أنه بدون الروح القدس لا معنى لمجهودنا! فالقداسة المسيحية ليست عملنا وإنما هي ثمرة الطاعة – الحرّة والمعاشة - لروح الله المثلث القداسة. يقول لنا سفر الأحبار: "لا تُبغِض أَخاكَ في قَلبِكَ   لا تنتقم ولا تحقد...وقريبك أحببه كنفسك..."(سفر الأحبار ١٩، ١٧-١٨). تُولد هذه المواقف من قداسة الله، فيما نحن مختلفين كليًّا، نحن أنانيّون ومتكبرون... ومع ذلك نحن ننجذب لصلاح الله وجماله ويمكن للروح القدس أن يطهرنا ويحولنا ويصوغنا يومًا بعد يوم. يكلمنا يسوع عن القداسة أيضًا في الإنجيل ويشرح لنا الشريعة الجديدة، شريعته، وذلك من خلال بعض التناقضات بين عدالة الكتبة والفريسيين الناقصة وسمو عدالة ملكوت الله. التناقض الأول في إنجيل اليوم يتمحور حول الانتقام:"سَمِعتُم أَنَّه قيل:"العَينُ بِالعَين والسِّنُّ بِالسِّنّ"، أما أنا فأقول لكم مَن لَطَمَكَ على خَدِّكَ الأَيمَن فاعرِض لهُ الآخَر" (متى ٥، ٣٨-٣٩). لا يجب علينا فقط ألا نرد بالشر على الشر الذي ارتكبه الآخر تجاهنا وإنما علينا أن نجتهد لنصنع الخير بسخاء.

أما التناقض الثاني فيشير إلى الأعداء:"سمعتم أنه قيل:"أحبِب قَريبَك “وأَبغِض عَدُوَّك، أما أنا فأقول لكم:"أَحِبُّوا أَعداءَكم وصَلُّوا مِن أَجلِ مُضطَهِديكُم"(متى ٥، ٤٣-٤٤). فيسوع يطلب من الذي يريد إتباعه أن يحب من لا يستحق الحب، دون مبادلة، ليملأ فراغات الحب الموجودة في القلوب، في العلاقات البشرية والعائلات، في الجماعات والعالم. فيسوع لم يأتي ليعلمنا آداب التصرف، وإنما ليخلصنا ويرشدنا إلى الطريق، طريق الخروج الوحيد من رمال الخطيئة المتحركة، وهذا الطريق هو الرحمة. فالقداسة ليست ترفًا أو تنعُّمًا وإنما هي ضرورة لخلاص العالم.

إخوتي الكرادلة الأعزاء، إن الرب يسوع وأمنا الكنيسة يطلبان منا أن نشهد بحماس أكبر لمواقف القداسة هذه، لأنه في هذا التفاني المجاني تكمن قداسة الكاردينال. وعليه لنحب أعداءنا، ولنبارك من يتحدث عنا بالسوء، لنحيّي بابتسامة من لا يستحق! لا نبحثن عن إظهار أنفسنا وإنما لنضع التواضع حيث التسلط ولننسى الاهانات التي نتعرض لها. لنسمح دائمًا لروح المسيح بأن يقودنا، فالمسيح قد ضحّى بنفسه على الصليب لنكون قنوات تفيض من خلالها محبته. هذا هو موقف الكاردينال وتصرفه. فالكاردينال يدخل في كنيسة روما وليس في بلاط ملكيّ، لنبتعد إذًا جميعًا ولنساعد بعضنا البعض في الابتعاد عن تصرفات البلاط: أي عن المؤامرات والثرثرة والتحزب والتفضيل، وليكن كلامنا كلام الإنجيل: "نعم، نعم، ولا، لا"، ومواقفنا مواقف التطويبات وحياتنا حياة القداسة.

يكلمنا الروح القدس اليوم أيضًا من خلال كلمات القديس بولس: "إنكم هيكل الله... هيكل الله مقدس وهذا الهيكل هو أنتم" (١ كور ٣، ١٦-١٧). في هذا الهيكل، الذي هو نحن، يُحتفل بليتورجية جوهريّة: ليتورجية الصلاح والمغفرة والخدمة، بكلمة واحدة بليتورجية المحبة. وهيكلنا هذا يُدنس إن أهملنا واجباتنا تجاه القريب، وعندما يجد أصغر إخوتنا مكانًا في قلبنا يجد الله فيه مكانًا أيضًا، وعندما يُترك الأخ خارجًا فنحن بهذا نرفض الله أيضًا.

وختم الأب الأقدس عظته بالقول: إخوتي الكرادلة الأعزاء، لنبقى متحدين بالمسيح وفيما بيننا! أسألكم أن تبقوا قريبين مني بالصلاة والمشورة والتعاون. وأنتم جميعًا: أساقفة وكهنة وشمامسة، مكرسون وعلمانيون اتحدوا في الصلاة من أجل الروح القدس ليكون مجمع الكرادلة مُتّقدًا دائمًا بنار المحبة الراعوية، ومليئًا بالقداسة من أجل خدمة الإنجيل ومساعدة الكنيسة على نشر محبة المسيح في العالم.

Viongozi wa Kanisa wamepewa dhamana ya kuwaongoza watu wa Mungu katika hija ya furaha na utakatifu wa maisha!

Ninyi nyote ni wa Kristo na Kristo ni wa Mungu ni maneno ya Mtakatifu Paulo kwa Wakorintho waliokuwa wamegawanyika na kuwataka kuachana na mawazo hayo potofu kwa kutambua kwamba, Mitume ni sehemu ya Jumuiya ya Waamini na Jumuiya nzima ni mali ya Kristo na wala si vinginevyo.

Majimbo, Parokia pamoja na vyama vyote vya kitume ndani ya Kanisa vina utu na heshima ile ile inayobubujika kutoka katika Sakramenti ya Ubatizo, inayowawezesha wote kujisikia kuwa ni Watoto wa Mungu na ndugu zake Kristo!

Hii ni sehemu ya tafakari iliyotolewa na Baba Mtakatifu Francisko wakati wa Sala ya Malaika wa Bwana, Jumapili iliyopita tarehe 23 Februari 2014 mara baada ya kuadhimisha Ibada ya Misa Takatifu na Makardinali kumi na tisa waliosimikwa wakati wa Maadhimisho ya Siku kuu ya Ukulu wa Mtakatifu Petro, Jumamosi iliyopita kwenye Kanisa kuu la Mtakatifu Petro mjini Vatican.

Baba Mtakatifu anasema, wale wote waliopokea daraja kwa ajili ya kuwaongoza watu wa Mungu, kuhubiri pamoja na kuadhimisha Mafumbo ya Kanisa, watambue kwamba, wamepewa dhamana ya kuwahudumia Watu wa Mungu, kwa kuwasaidia kufanya hija ya furaha na utakatifu wa maisha na kamwe si wamiliki wa dhamana hii kwa ajili ya mafao yao binafsi.

Baba Mtakatifu anasema, Mama Kanisa anawadhaminisha na kuwaalika Makardinali wapya kutolea ushuhuda amini katika maisha na shughuli zao za kichungaji. Ibada ya kuwasimika Makardinali wapya pamoja na adhimisho la Ibada y Misa Takatifu, jumapili iliyopita ni matukio yaliyoonesha Ukatoliki wa Kanisa la Kiulimwengu, kwa kuwa na Makardinali wanaowakilisha Makanisa mbali mbali mbali, wote wakimzunguka Khalifa wa Mtakatifu Petro kama kielelezo cha umoja na mshikamano wa Kanisa.

Baba Mtakatifu anawaalika Makardinali kushirikiana naye katika mchakato wa ujenzi wa umoja na mshikamano wa Kanisa kwani umoja ni muhimu zaidi kuliko kinzani na vita kwani umoja ni amri na utashi wa Kristo mwenyewe! Mambo mengine ni mapungufu ya binadamu ambayo kamwe hayapaswi kuendekezwa. Siku mbili za Mkutano wa Baraza la Makardinali imekuwa ni fursa ya kuimarisha: imani, umoja na mapendo kwa Kristo na Kanisa lake.

Baba Mtakatifu anawaalika waamini pamoja na watu wote wenye mapenzi mema, kuendelea kuwasindikiza Makardinali wapya kwa njia ya sala na sadaka zao, ili waweze kutekeleza dhamana kwa Jumuiya iliyokabidhiwa mikononi mwao na Mama Kanisa. Viongozi wa Kanisa wanahitaji kusindikizwa na sala ili kuweza kuwaongoza, kuwatakatifuza na kuwafundisha watu wa Mungu kwa ari na moyo mkuu.

Viongozi wa Kanisa ni wahudumu wa Kanisa na kwamba, familia yote ya Mungu inapaswa kutoa ushuhuda unaoonesha uaminifu wao kwa Kristo na Kanisa lake. Kwa pamoja wafanye hija ya kinabii kwa kutekeleza matamanio ya maisha ya kiroho yanayooneshwa na watu wa nyakati hizi.

St. Polycarp

Feastday: February 23

Imagine being able to sit at the feet of the apostles and hear their stories of life with Jesus from their own lips. Imagine walking with those who had walked with Jesus, seen him, and touched him. That was what Polycarp was able to do as a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist.

But being part of the second generation of Church leaders had challenges that the first generation could not teach about. What did you do when those eyewitnesses were gone? How do you carry on the correct teachings of Jesus? How do you answer new questions that never came up before?

With the apostles gone, heresies sprang up pretending to be true teaching, persecution was strong, and controversies arose over how to celebrate liturgy that Jesus never laid down rules for.

Polycarp, as a holy man and bishop of Smyrna, found there was only one answer -- to be true to the life of Jesus and imitate that life. Saint Ignatius of Antioch told Polycarp "your mind is grounded in God as on an immovable rock."

When faced with heresy, he showed the "candid face" that Ignatius admired and that imitated Jesus' response to the Pharisees. Marcion, the leader of the Marcionites who followed a dualistic heresy, confronted Polycarp and demanded respect by saying, "Recognize us, Polycarp." Polycarp responded, "I recognize you, yes, I recognize the son of Satan."

On the other hand when faced with Christian disagreements he was all forgiveness and respect. One of the controversies of the time came over the celebration of Easter. The East, where Polycarp was from, celebrated the Passover as the Passion of Christ followed by a Eucharist on the following day. The West celebrated Easter on the Sunday of the week following Passover. When Polycarp went to Rome to discuss the difference with Pope Anicetus, they could not agree on this issue. But they found no difference in their Christian beliefs. And Anicetus asked Polycarp to celebrate the Eucharist in his own papal chapel.

Polycarp faced persecution the way Christ did. His own church admired him for following the "gospel model" -- not chasing after martyrdom as some did, but avoiding it until it was God's will as Jesus did. They considered it "a sign of love to desire not to save oneself alone, but to save also all the Christian brothers and sisters."

One day, during a bloody martyrdom when Christians were attacked by wild animals in the arena, the crowd became so mad that they demanded more blood by crying, "Down with the atheists; let Polycarp be found." (They considered Christians "atheists" because they didn't believe in their pantheon of gods.) Since Polycarp was not only known as a leader but as someone holy "even before his grey hair appeared", this was a horrible demand.

Polycarp was calm but others persuaded him to leave the city and hide at a nearby farm. He spent his time in prayer for people he knew and for the Church. During his prayer he saw a vision of his pillow turned to fire and announced to his friends that the dream meant he would be burned alive.

As the search closed in, he moved to another farm, but the police discovered he was there by torturing two boys. He had a little warning since he was upstairs in the house but he decided to stay, saying, "God's will be done."

Then he went downstairs, talked to his captors and fed them a meal. All he asked of them was that they give him an hour to pray. He spent two hours praying for everyone he had every known and for the Church, "remembering all who had at any time come his way -- small folk and great folk, distinguished and undistinguished, and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world." Many of his captors started to wonder why they were arresting this holy, eighty-six-year-old bishop.

But that didn't stop them from taking him into the arena on the Sabbath. As he entered the arena, the crowd roared like the animals they cheered. Those around Polycarp heard a voice from heaven above the crowd, "Be brave, Polycarp, and act like a man."

The proconsul begged the eighty-six-year-old bishop to give in because of his age. "Say 'Away with the atheists'" the proconsul urged. Polycarp calmly turned to the face the crowd, looked straight at them, and said, "Away with the atheists." The proconsul continued to plead with him. When he asked Polycarp to swear by Caesar to save himself, Polycarp answered, "If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian." Finally, when all else failed the proconsul reminded Polycarp that he would be thrown to the wild animals unless he changed his mind. Polycarp answered, "Change of mind from better to worse is not a change allowed to us."

Because of Polycarp's lack of fear, the proconsul told him he would be burned alive but Polycarp knew that the fire that burned for an hour was better than eternal fire.

When he was tied up to be burned, Polycarp prayed, "Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. May I be received today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, among those who are in you presence, as you have prepared and foretold and fulfilled, God who is faithful and true. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen."

The fire was lit as Polycarp said Amen and then the eyewitnesses who reported said they saw a miracle. The fire burst up in an arch around Polycarp, the flames surrounding him like sails, and instead of being burned he seemed to glow like bread baking, or gold being melted in a furnace. When the captors saw he wasn't being burned, they stabbed him. The blood that flowed put the fire out.

The proconsul wouldn't let the Christians have the body because he was afraid they would worship Polycarp. The witnesses reported this with scorn for the lack of understanding of Christian faith: "They did not know that we can never abandon the innocent Christ who suffered on behalf of sinners for the salvation of those in this world." After the body was burned, they stole the bones in order to celebrate the memory of his martyrdom and prepare others for persecution. The date was about February 23, 156.

In His Footsteps:

When faced with challenges to your Christian life, try a version of Polycarp's prayer of martyrdom: "Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen."

Prayer:

Saint Polycarp, sometimes Christ seems so far away from us. Centuries have passed since he and the apostles walk the earth. Help us to see that he is close to us always and that we can keep him near by imitating his life as you did. Amen

 

from Wikipedia

Polycarp (Greek: Πολύκαρπος, Polýkarpos; AD 69–155) was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna.^[1] According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him.^[2] Polycarp is regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches.
It is recorded by Irenaeus, who heard him speak in his youth, and by Tertullian,^[3] that he had been a disciple of John the Apostle.^[4][5] Saint Jerome wrote that Polycarp was a disciple of John and that John had ordained him bishop of Smyrna.
The early tradition that expanded upon the Martyrdom to link Polycarp in competition and contrast with John the Apostle who, though many people had tried to kill him, was not martyred but died of old age after being exiled to the island of Patmos, is embodied in the Coptic language fragmentary papyri (the "Harris fragments") dating to the 3rd to 6th centuries.^[6] Frederick Weidmann, their editor, interprets the "Harris fragments" as Smyrnan hagiography addressing Smyrna-Ephesus church rivalries, which "develops the association of Polycarp and John to a degree unwitnessed, so far as we know, either before or since".^[7] The fragments echo the Martyrology, and diverge from it.
With Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp is regarded as one of three chief Apostolic Fathers. The sole surviving work attributed to his authorship is his Letter to the Philippians; it is first recorded by Irenaeus of Lyons.

Papa awahimiza viongozi wa kanisa kudumisha matumiani kwa watu wa Mungu

Jumapili 23 Februari, majira ya asubuhi , katika Kanisa Kuu la Mtakatifu Petro, Papa Francisko aliongoza maadhimisho ya Ibada ya Misa akiwa na Makardinali wapya na Makardinali wengine , kwa mujibu wa liturujia ya Jumapili ya V11 katika Kipindi cha kawaida. Ibada iliyo hudhuriwa na maefu ya waamini waliofika kuwapongeza Makardinali wapya toka sehemu mbalimbalimbali za dunia.

Katika homilia yake, Papa Francisko, aliitafakari sala ya utangulizi ya Ibada :“ Baba Mwenye Huruma , kwa msaada wako , daima tuwe makini kuisikia sauti ya Roho Mtakatifu" . 

Papa alisema, Sala hii ya ufunguzi wa Misa, inatukumbusha jambo msingi kwamba, ni wito wa kumsikiliza Roho Mtakatifu ambaye hulichagamsha na kuliongoza Kanisa. Kwa nguvu yake ya ubunifu na upya , Roho Mtakatifu daima hudumisha matumaini ya Watu wa Mungu, wanapo fanya hija katika njia ya historia yao , na kama Msaidizi , yeye daima huwaimarisha Wakristu katika kuwa mashaidi imara wa imani yao.

Papa alieleza na kusema wakati huo akiwa pamoja na Makardinali Wapya, ulikuwa ni wakati wa kusikiliza sauti ya Roho Mtakatifu anaye ongea nao kwa njia ya maandiko Matakatifu yaliyosomwa.

Papa baada ya kuyatafakari masomo , aliwakumbusha Makardinali kwamba, Bwana Yesu na Mama Kanisa, wanatoa mwaliko kwao, kushuhudia kwa bidii na hamasa zaidi katika nji hizi za utakatifu . Ni hasa katika zawadi hii kubwa ya majitolea binafsi, yanayotolewa kwa uhuru kamili, ambamo mna utakatifu wa kuwa Kardinali . Na kwamba kwa hadhi hii, wanapaswa kumpenda kila mmoja, hata wale wanaonekana kuwa maadui kwao, wanaolenga kuwafanyia mabaya , kuwapinga au kuwakaidi, wote ni kuwaslimia kwa tabasamu nzuri linalotokana ndani ya moyo wa msamaha,huruma na upendo wa kweli, hata kwa wale wanao fikiri hawastahili. Ni hatua ya kupinga kiburi kwa upole ; ni kuwa watu wa kusahau madharirisho na unyanyasaji wanaoweza kukumbana nao. Daima ni kuruhusu kuongozwa na Roho wa Kristo, aliye jitoa sadaka mwenyewe juu ya Msalaba, ili waweze kuwa njia kwa wengine pia , katika kuupata upendo wake, na kuwa miongozi mwa wafuasi wake.

Papa ameitaja hii kuwa ndiyo tabia ya Kardinali, ndiyo utendaji wa Kardinali. Kuitwa Kardinali katika Kanisa la Roma la Ulimwengu , si kuingia katika mahakama ya kifalme, lakini ni kujiunga katika huduma ya kina ya kusaidia wengine ili waepuke tabia mbovu na utendaji usiofaa unaochochewa na fitina, uvumi, magenge ya uovu upendeleo au kupendelewa.

Papa alieleza na kuomba lugha ya Makardinali na iwe lugha ya Injili, kusema ndiyo wakimaanisha kweli ndiyo , na hapana iwe na maana ya kweli ya hapana , na miendo na fikira zao iwe katika mtazamo wa Heri Takatifu kuwa njia yao utakatifu.
Papa alikamilisha hotuba yake kwa kuwasihi Makardinali wote kuwa wamoja katika Kristo na kati yao wenyewe kwa wenyewe. Na aliwaomba wasimsahau katika sala zao , na pia ushauri na wamsaada wao wa karibu katika kuliongoza Kansia la Ulimwengu. Vivyo hivyo alitoa mwaliko huo kwa Maaskofu, Mapadre , Mashemasi, watawa wake kwa wanaume, na walei, akisihi kuisihi pamoja na Roho Mtakatifu, na dekania ya Makardinali iweza daima kuwa na hamu zaidi na hamu ya upendo wa kichungaji uliojaa utakatifu, kwa ajili ya kutumikia Injili na kulisadia Kanisa kutoa miali ya mwanga wa Upendo wa Kristu katika dunia yetu.

Tamasha la Pasaka kuja kivingine

TAMASHA la Pasaka la mwaka huu litakalozinduliwa rasmi Aprili 20 jijini Dar es Salaam likibeba kaulimbiu ya ‘Tanzania Kwanza Haki Huinua Taifa’, litaendeshwa kwa staili mpya ya wadau wenyewe kuamua na kupanga. Hayo yalibainishwa jijini Dar es Salaam jana na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Msama Promotions, waandaaji wa tamasha, Alex Msama, akisema wapenzi wa muziki huo ndio watawachagua waimbaji hao kwa kutuma ujumbe mfupi kupitia namba 15327 kwa kutumia mitandao yote ya simu.
“Tamasha la mwaka huu linakuja kwa staili mpya, ambapo wapenzi wa muziki wa injili watakuwa na fursa ya kuwachagua wanamuziki watakaopenda waje kutoa burudani na mikoa litakapofanyika tamasha hilo, tofauti na miaka mingine na wale wote watakaopendekezwa tutawaleta kutoa burudani,” alisema Msama.

Wapentekoste washikana uchawi

SIKU moja baada ya Ikulu kuliumbua Baraza la Maaskofu wa Kipentekoste Tanzania (PCT) kwamba hawakuwasilisha majina ya uteuzi kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete, wameanza kushikana uchawi kumsaka aliyesababisha majina hayo kutofika Ikulu.
Hayo yamethibitishwa jana jijini Dar es Salaam na Mwenyekiti wa Ushirika wa Wachungaji wa Kanisa la Pentekoste Tanzania (PPFT), Askofu Pius Ikongo, alipokuwa akizungumza na Blogu hii.
Akizungumzia kuhusu tamko hilo la Ikulu, Askofu Ikongo alisema kuwa wanafanya uchunguzi kumnasa aliyesababisha kutofika majina hayo mezani kwa Rais Kikwete.

Daily Reading for Friday, February 21st, 2014

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Reading 1, James 2:14-24, 26

¹⁴ How does it help, my brothers, when someone who has never done a single good act claims to have faith? Will that faith bring salvation?
¹⁵ If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on,
¹⁶ and one of you says to them, 'I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,' without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that?
¹⁷ In the same way faith, if good deeds do not go with it, is quite dead.
¹⁸ But someone may say: So you have faith and I have good deeds? Show me this faith of yours without deeds, then! It is by my deeds that I will show you my faith.
¹⁹ You believe in the one God -- that is creditable enough, but even the demons have the same belief, and they tremble with fear.
²⁰ Fool! Would you not like to know that faith without deeds is useless?
²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by his deed, because he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
²² So you can see that his faith was working together with his deeds; his faith became perfect by what he did.
²³ In this way the scripture was fulfilled: Abraham put his faith in God, and this was considered as making him upright; and he received the name 'friend of God'.
²⁴ You see now that it is by deeds, and not only by believing, that someone is justified.
²⁶ As a body without a spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

¹ Alleluia! How blessed is anyone who fears Yahweh, who delights in his commandments!
² His descendants shall be powerful on earth, the race of the honest shall receive blessings:
³ Riches and wealth for his family; his uprightness stands firm for ever.
⁴ For the honest he shines as a lamp in the dark, generous, tender-hearted, and upright.
⁵ All goes well for one who lends generously, who is honest in all his dealing;
⁶ for all time to come he will not stumble, for all time to come the upright will be remembered.

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Gospel, Mark 8:34--9:1

³⁴ He called the people and his disciples to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.
³⁵ Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
³⁶ What gain, then, is it for anyone to win the whole world and forfeit his life?
³⁷ And indeed what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?
³⁸ For if anyone in this sinful and adulterous generation is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.'
¹ And he said to them, 'In truth I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.'

St. Severian

Feastday: February 21

Died: 452

Bishop and martyr. The bishop of Scythopolis in Galilee. He attended the Council of Chalcedon (451) and took part in the complete triumph of the orthodox Christian cause against the heretics of the era. On his return home he was assassinated by a group of heretics at the command of Emperor Theodosius II.

Tafakari ya Neno la Mungu, Jumapili ya Saba ya Kipindi cha Mwaka A wa Kanisa

Mpendwa karibu  kipindi cha tafakari masomo Dominika, ninakuletea ujumbe wa Neno la Mungu nikisema kuweni watakatifu kama Baba yenu aliye mbinguni. Huo ndo wito wa kila awaye yote anayetaka kupata wokovu yaani uzima wa milele. Tuko tayari Dominika ya VII ya mwaka A wa Kanisa.
Katika Somo la kwanza kutoka Kitabu cha Mambo ya Walawi, tunapata kuanza kusikia mwaliko wa kuwa watakatifu tukifuata mfano thabiti na wa uhakika yaani Mungu mwenyewe. Mungu anawasiliana na taifa lake kwa njia ya Musa akitaka wawe watakatifu kama yeye alivyo. Anasonga mbele akieleza kilichomo ndani ya safari ya utakatifu: kuachana na chuki, kukemea maovu yanayojiri katika jumuiya na majirani zetu na kuachana na kinyongo na kisirani katika maisha yako. Ili kutekeleza haya lazima kujitenga na dunia, kama iliyo maana ya utakatifu katika Agano la Kale (mkumbuke Mtakatifu Antonio Abate, mwanzilishi wa Umonaki).

Kwa hakika utakatifu ulikuwa na maana ya kuwekwa pembeni kwa ajili ya Mungu. Patakatifu pa patakatifu palimaanisha Mungu mwenyewe. Ni katika maana ileile, wakristu lazima wajitenga kiroho na chachu ya dunia yaani kuachana na maisha ya dhambi. Ndiyo kusema kukazia amri ya mapendo kwa jirani na si kujitenga na wapagani kama Waisraeli walivyokuwa wakifikiri. Ni kumpenda Mungu tukiambatana na wenye shida mbalimbali tukielekea wote mbinguni.

Mtume Paulo anapowaandikia Wakorinto anakazia ule utakatifu tuliokabidhiwa na Mungu. Anasema sisi ni hekalu la Roho Mtakatifu. Mpendwa, nikishasikia neno hilo mara moja mwaliko ni kutunza utakatifu ili niendelee kubaki Hekalu safi kwa ajili ya kumwabudia Mungu. Katika Ukorinto kulikuwa na ugomvi na ulitokana na tishio la kutopendana na hapa ndipo Mtume Paulo anakuja na fundisho kali akikemea uozo huo unaojitokeza katika sura ya utengano.

Katika Injili, Mwinjili Matayo, anaweka mbele yetu mausia ya Bwana kuhusu sheria ya kale. Bwana anataka mabadiliko ya uelewa wa sheria, ya kwamba ni kwa ajili ya kujenga umoja kwa watu na si kuangamiza. Anataka sheria izame katika utu zaidi kuliko mambo mengine na ilinde maisha, iliyo zawadi ya Mungu. Mpendwa mwanatafakari, Hata hivyo yatupasa kuelewa nini maana ya sheria za zamani, mfano Jicho kwa jicho au jino kwa jino!! Mara kadhaa tunatafsiri jambo hili kadiri ya maneno yalivyo kwa nje! Na hivi huleta maana potofu! Kwa hakika mwanzo wa sheria hii ulikuwa mzuri!

Maana yake nini! Ni kwamba kabla ya sheria hii mtu alipokuwa akitenda kosa fulani alikuwa analazimika kulipa fidia si kwa makosa yake tu bali hata kwa makosa mengine yasiyo yake. Na hivi ikawa ni mateso makubwa kwa watu, basi ikatungwa sheria ya jicho kwa jicho, yaani mtu alipie fidia ya makosa yake tu! Kumbe kukazaliwa namna mpya na ya haki katika kutawala na kuongoza haki katika Jumuiya. Ndiyo kusema hakukuwa na matumizi ya moja kwa moja yaani ya kuondoana macho au meno! Ndiyo kusema walitaka kufundisha ule uwiano kati ya kosa na adhabu .

Mpendwa mwanatafakari, Bwana anasema imeandikwa jicho kwa jicho kama njia ya kutenda, lakini mimi nasema epukeni magomvi, majibizano katika maisha yenu. Ni heri kuvumilia na kuachana na mwendelezo wa mapigano. Hataki kuondoa haki ila anataka kuwepo na upole na unyenyekevu wa moyo katika maisha ya watu wakitafuta haki, ili mbele ya taabu tupate kutunza umoja na utulivu katika jumuiya.

Bwana anafundisha kwa hakika, njia ya pekee ya kuondoa mnyololo wa fitina ni msamaha. Kwa maana mtu akikupiga na ukamsamehe mara moja hakuna nyongeza ya ukubwa wa mapigano, lakini kama ukijibu kwa mapigano basi nyongeza mara mbili ya shida katika jumuiya. Anazidi kukazia upendo hata kwa adui, na hii ndiyo namna ya kwenda kinyume na mantiki ya zamani kuhusu upendo.

Mpendwa, mantiki ya zamani na ya sasa kuhusu upendo ni ipi? Kwa hakika hapo zamani ilikuwa mpende akupendaye kinyume na mantiki ya Kristu katika Agano Jipya isemayo, mpende hata adui yako. Bwana haondoi ile ya kwanza bali anaiongezea nguvu na kuikamilisha. Mpendwa, yashike haya yote yaliyousiwa na Bwana na kuyaishi na hivi utakuwa mtakatifu kama Baba yetu aliye mbinguni.

Nikutakie furaha na matumaini katika kuishi sheria mpya, sheria ya Mungu itujengeayo uhuru na mshikamano na Kristo. Tumsifu Yesu Kristo.

Tafakari hii imeletwa kwako na Padre Richard Tiganya C.PP.S.

Ili kuimjua Yesu ni lazima kumfuata- Papa Francis

(Vatican) Kumjua Kristu ni kutembea nae katika utendaji wote wa kila siku na si kumfahamu kinadharia au kwa kusoma tu maandishi yake. Huo ulikuwa ni ujumbe wa Papa Francisko wakati wa Ibada ya Misa Alhamisi asubuhi katika Kanisa dogo la Mtakatifu Marta. Alieleza kwamba , kila siku Kristu hutuuliza "Yeye ni nani kwetu" , na inawezekana tu kutoa jibu kwa kuishi nae kama iilivyokuwa kwa wanafunzi.

Papa amesema Ukristu ni maisha ya mwanafunzi , kuliko maisha ya utafiti. Mkristu kuujua ukweli wa Yesu ni nani kwake, ni kuingia katika hija na kufuata nyayo za Mwalimu wa ushuhuda wazi , na uvumilivu katika yote, usaliti , udhoofu wa mwili na kupita katika mashinikizo mapya yenye mikingamo mikali. Papa Francisko alieleza na kutoa mfano wa Petro , ambaye katika Injili ya siku ilimwonyesha yote kwa wakati mmoja, kama shahidi shupavu , anayejibu maswali ya Yesu kwa Mitume , “Na ninyi je, mnasema mimi ni kwenu”? akijibu "Wewe ni Kristo" , na mara baadaye akawa kinyume chake, akamkana kama adui , na mara akipatwa na aibu , akaona anahitaji kukutana tena na Yesu, ambaye alikuwa tu ametangaz a mateso na kifo na ufufuko wake. Papa aliasa, mara nyingi ,Yesu anarudi kwetu na kutuuliza , “Mimi ni nani kwako” na tunampa jibu kama hilo la Petro, , Jibu tulilojifunza wakati wa Kateksimu , lakini jibu hilo halitoshi.

Papa aliendelea kufafanua kwamba, inaonekana kutoa jibu katika swali hilo tunaliliosikia ndani ya mioyo yetu , Yesu ni Nani kwatu, kwa yale ambayo tumeyasikia na kujifunza haitoshi. Wala kusoma na kuelewa peke yake haitoshi . Kumjua Yesu kweli , ni kutembea na Yesu katika njia yake, kama Mtume Petro alivyofanya ,baada ya kumkana, aliuona ukweli wa Yesu ni nani na kubadili mwenendeno wake . Petro alikwenda mbele na Yesu,alizona ishara alizofanya, aliona nguvu za Yesu, na kumkiri kuw andiye Kristu.

Petro , Papa Francisko aliendelea, aliomba msamaha kwa Yesu - na bado, baada ya ufufuo, aliulizwa na Yesu mara tatu katika mwambao wa ziwa Tiberia : " Wanipenda ?". Pengine, Papa alisema ,Yesu alitaka kuthibitisha upendo kamili wa Petro kwa Bwana wake , Petro alitokwa namachozi na kuona ea aibu wakati alipomkana mara tatu wakati wa mateso yake.

Papa anasema , ni kukutana kila siku na Bwana, kila siku ni kumshudia ushindi wetu na udhaifu wetu." Lakini , safari hii hatuwezi kuifanya wenyewe, tunamhitaji Roho Mtaktifu , aingilie kati , kama jambo muhimu.


Papa amehimiza, kumjua Yesu ni zawadi itokayo kwa Baba , ni Yeye anaye tufanikisha kumjua Yesu. Ni kazi ya Roho Mtakatifu, anaye fanya kazi hii kubwa. Hizi si kama juhudi za kibiashara au mashirikisho ya wafanyakazi , lakini ni Roho Mtakatifu, Mfanyakazi hodari ambaye daima huifanya kazi yake . Huifanya kazi hii ya kueleza fumbo la Yesu na kutupatia sisi maana ya Yesu ni nani kwetu. Papa aliomba tuyaweke mawazo yetu wakati ule wa Yesu akiwauliza mitume wake , Petro , Mitume ,tulisikie swali hilo a ndani ya mioyo yetu, “ Mimi ni nani kwako”? Na kama wafuasi wake na tumwomba Baba atujalie sisi sote, kumjua Kristo katika Roho Mtakatifu, ambaye atatupa jibu , la siri huu kuu , Yesu ni nai kwetu. .

Ulevi wa kupindukia ni chanzo cha majanga mengi duniani!

Zaidi ya watu millioni mbili na nusu hufariki dunia kila mwaka kutokana na ulevi wa kupindukia. Waathirika wakubwa wa janga hili la ulevi ni vijana kuanzia miaka kumi na mitano, hali ambayo inahatarisha usalama na ustawi wa maisha ya vijana hawa kwa siku za usoni kiasi kwamba, wanaweza kukosa dira na mwelekeo wa maisha.
Inasikitisha kuona kwamba, vijana wenye umri mdogo kabisa wanaathirika kwa unywaji wa pombe kupindukia. Ulevi ni kati ya mambo ambayo yanaendelea kuchangia magonjwa na vifo vya ghafla. Hii ndiyo maana wataalam wa masuala ya afya wanasema kwamba, ulevi wa kupindukia ni hatari kwa maisha ya binadamu, kwani pombe si maji wala “juice”.
Kutokana na changamoto hizi, Taasisi ya Kipapa ya Sayansi Jamii, hivi karibuni iliendesha warsha ya siku moja iliyoaunganisha wanasayansi na viongozi wa Kanisa ili kufanya tafakari ya kina kuhusu madhara ya ulevi wa kupindukia katika maisha ya vijana, jambo ambalo linapaswa kuwekewa mikakati maalum ya kichungaji, ili kuwasaidia vijana kuheshimu zawadi ya maisha yao binafsi na yale ya jirani zao.
Ulevi wa kupindukia ni tatizo linalopaswa kuvaliwa njuga kwa ajili ya ustawi na mafao ya mtu binafsi na Jumuiya kwa ujumla. Hii ndiyo kauli mbiu iliyofanyiwa kazi na wadau mbali mbali kutoka ndani na nje ya Vatican. Katika tafakari yake, Kardinali Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Rais wa Shirikisho la Mashirika ya Misaada ya Kanisa Katoliki Kimataifa, Caritas Internationalis, amekazia umuhimu wa kupambana na ulevi wa kupindukia kwa kujikita katika kanuni maadili na utu wema.
Ulevi ni jambo linaloathiri afya ya mtu, kiasi hata cha kumong’onyoa tunu msingi za kimaadili na utu wema, Ulevi umekuwa pia ni chanzo cha ajali nyingi barabarani pamoja na uharibifu mkubwa wa mali na miundo mbinu inayogharimu kiasi kikubwa cha fedha ya walipa kodi.
Takwimu zinaonesha kwamba, Bara la Ulaya linaongozwa kwa ulevi wa kupindukia. Inakadiriwa kwamba, kuna zaidi ya watu millioni kumi na tano wanaosumbuliwa na ugonjwa wa ulevi wa kupindukia. Katika kipindi cha miaka kumi iliyopita, hali ya ulevi Barani Ulaya hakuongezeka sana, pengine hii inatokana na kampeni zilizoendeshwa na wadau mbali mbali dhidi ya ulevi wa kupindukia. Kiasi cha Euro billioni 156 zinatumika kila mwaka kwa ajili ya kugharimia hasara zinazojitokeza kutokana na ulevi wa kupindukia.
Huduma kwa watu wanaosumbuliwa na ugonjwa waulevi wa kupindukia bado ni kidogo sana, kwani baadhi ya watu wanadhani huu si ugonjwa wa kupatiwa tiba bali ni starehe. Inawezekana kabisa kwa mlevi kuachana na tabia hii akizingatia masharti pamoja na kuendelea kupokea ushauri nasaha. Inasikitisha kuona kwamba, vileo ni kati ya bidhaa zinazoyaingizia mataifa mengi fedha ya kodi ya mapato. Lakini umefika wakati wa kuangalia pia afya na usalama wa maisha ya raia kwa kuweka mikakati ya kudhibiti tabia ya ulevi wa kupindukia.

Vizuizi vya ndoa!

Mpendwa mfuatiliaji wa blogu hii endelea kusoma  tuhekimishane kuhusu yale yahusuyo maisha ya ndoa na familia. Kwa vipindi kama hivi, Kanisa linaendelea kutekeleza wajibu wake wa kuwafundisha, kuwaombea na kuwasaidia wote walioitikia wito wa ndoa ili waweze kutekeleza vema malengo ya wito huo.

Katika kipindi hiki, tushirikishane juu ya vizuizi vya ndoa kadiri ya sheria ya Kanisa. Mpendwa mfuatiliaji, ili somo letu lisiwe zito masikioni, tutaichambua mada hii kwa mtazamo wa kichungaji zaidi. Tunaiweka kwa ufupi sana na kwa mifano mwepesi. Undani wake mwaweza kupata katika semina za ndoa. Kwa yale ambayo hayataweza kufafanulika vizuri hadharani hapa, tunawaalikeni nyote waendeeni Maparoko na Mapadre wetu, waulizeni nao watawahekimisha.

Mpendwa, kwa wale wenye kufuatilia mada hii katika Ngombo la Sheria za Kanisa, tafakari hii ina uhalali kwa nguvu sheria ya Kanisa, Kanuni namba 1083 – 1094. Hapo tunakuta vizuizi KUMI NA VIWILI. Kuna vizuizi ambavyo ni vya hadhara na vingine sio vya hadhara. Vipo vya kijamii na vingine ni vya kiroho. Kwaye anayetaka kuingia katika wito huo wa ndoa, kisha jua kwamba ana kizuizi, basi kitatuliwe kwa taratibu zinazokubalika.

Tunaposikia tangazo “UNGA NA MAJI WANATAKA KUFUNGA NDOA, TANGAZO LA KWANZA. Wanaojua kizuizi chochote wapashe habari katika ofisi ya Paroko, haya yafuatayo ndiyo ya kupeleka. Usipeleke habari isiyohusika, eti aah binti yule anakiburi huwa hanisalimii. Au aah yule bwana anajiona sana, mimi naona hata ndoa hiyo asifunge!! Wee, hivyo sio kizuizi kisheria. VIZUIZI VYENYEWE NI HIVI HAPA:-

Kizuizi cha kwanza ni UMRI. Sheria Kan, namb. 1083 inaelekeza kwamba, mwanaume anaweza kuoa akiwa na umri wa miaka 16, na binti anaweza kuolewa akiwa na umri wa miaka 14. Kanisa linaona umri huo kwa tamaduni nyingi, mtu anaweza kuchukua majukumu ya ndoa na kuhimili mikikimikiki ya ndoa na familia. Endapo wanandoa wana umri mdogo zaidi, kizuizi kipelekwe kwa Paroko. Hapa Kanisa limetamka tu umri wa chini. Kuhusu umri wa juu halijasema kitu na hicho sio kizuizi (Ila hali halisi itazamwe). Mtu asiseme, aah mbona mchumba mwenyewe amemzidi umri, au mbona wamepishana sana umri hawezi kumuoa. Hapana, wasiwe chini ya 16 na 14. Huko kwingine sio kizuizi.

Kizuizi cha pili ni UHANITHI. Sheria Kan, namb. 1084 inazingatia lengo la ndoa ‘kuzaa watoto’. Endapo mmoja hana uwezo wa tendo la ndoa (aweza kuwa mke au mume), huyo anazuiwa kwa sheria ya asili. Hiki ni kizuizi cha ndani, hakionekani usoni. Ni juu ya mtu binafsi kujijua.

Tutofautishe hapa kati ya kukosa uwezo wa kushiriki tendo la ndoa na kukosa uwezo wa kuzaa (utasa na ugumba). Utasa na ugumba, havizuii wala kutengua ndoa. Siku zetu hizi mang’amuzi ya kichungaji yanashuhudia kukithiri kwa tatizo la uhanithi kwa vijana wengi wa kike na wa kiume. Siku nyingine tutachambua sababu ya mkasa huu. Ukitambua kama fulani ana shida hii, basi hicho ni kizuizi, asiingie kwenye ndoa atatesa mwenzake. Lakini nyakati zetu sayansi ya tiba imekuwa sana ni vema watu kushughulikia afya zao mapema kama kuna matatizo.

Kizuizi cha tatu ni NDOA-AWALI. Sheria Kan, namb. 1085 inakataza mtu kuoa au kuolewa wakati alikwisha kufunga ndoa na ndoa ya kwanza bado ipo hai. Sasa, huweza kutokea mazingira kwamba wanandoa wametengana kwa taratibu za talaka za kiserikali. Kanisa bado linatambua na kuheshimu ile sakramenti; hivyo haliruhusu ndoa nyingine!

Changamoto ya nyakati zetu hizi, ambapo wadanganyifu ni wengi, mtu anafunga ndoa kona mmoja ya nchi, anamtoroka mwezi wake, anakwenda kona nyingine ya dunia anaoa au kuolewa huko wakati alikotoka ameacha mke au mume na watoto. Hilo agano la pili ni batili. Ukisikia ndoa inatangazwa ya mtu ambaye unajua aliwahi kuoa au kuolewa na mwenziwe yupo, kimbia kaseme, ni kizuizi hicho.

Kizuizi cha nne ni UTOFAUTI WA IMANI. Sheria Kan, namb. 1086, inaelekeza kwamba, iwapo mmoja ni Mwamini Mbatizwa Mkatoliki na mwingine sio, utofauti huo ni vema utatuliwe kwanza kadiri ya taratibu zetu. (Utofauti unaoelezwa hapa ni ule kati ya Mkatoliki na Mkristo asiye mkatoliki, au Mkatoliki na mwamimi wa dini nyinginezo). Taratibu msingi zifuatwe ili kweli iwe Sakramenti. Baba Paroko anajua cha kufanya.

Hadi hapa ndugu mzikilizaji wa Radio Vatican, tunaahirisha makala yetu kwa leo, Juma lijalo tutaendelea kuhekimishana kuhusu vizuizi vya ndoa ya Kikristo kwa kuangalia kuhusu maisha ya Daraja Takatifu, Utawa pamoja mtu kutoroshwa. 
Hadi wakati mwingine tena ni mimi Padre Pambo Martin Mkorwe, OSB.

Daily Reading for Thursday, February 20th, 2014

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Reading 1, James 2:1-9

¹ My brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord.
² Now suppose a man comes into your synagogue, well-dressed and with a gold ring on, and at the same time a poor man comes in, in shabby clothes,
³ and you take notice of the well-dressed man, and say, 'Come this way to the best seats'; then you tell the poor man, 'Stand over there' or 'You can sit on the floor by my foot-rest.'
⁴ In making this distinction among yourselves have you not used a corrupt standard?
⁵ Listen, my dear brothers: it was those who were poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.
⁶ You, on the other hand, have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who lord it over you?
⁷ Are not they the ones who drag you into court, who insult the honourable name which has been pronounced over you?
⁸ Well, the right thing to do is to keep the supreme Law of scripture: you will love your neighbour as yourself;
⁹ but as soon as you make class distinctions, you are committing sin and under condemnation for breaking the Law.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

² I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice.
³ Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together.
⁴ I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears.
⁵ Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame.
⁶ A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.

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Gospel, Mark 8:27-33

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say I am?'
²⁸ And they told him, 'John the Baptist, others Elijah, others again, one of the prophets.'
²⁹ 'But you,' he asked them, 'who do you say I am?' Peter spoke up and said to him, 'You are the Christ.'
³⁰ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
³¹ Then he began to teach them that the Son of man was destined to suffer grievously, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again;
³² and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter tried to rebuke him.
³³ But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God thinks, but as human beings do.'