Daily Reading for Thursday, October 1st, 2015

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Reading 1, Nehemiah 8:1-4, 5-6, 7-12

¹ all the people gathered as one man in the square in front of the Water Gate, and asked the scribe Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which Yahweh had prescribed for Israel.
² Accordingly, on the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women and all those old enough to understand.
³ In the square in front of the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and of those old enough to understand, he read from the book from dawn till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
⁴ The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose; beside him stood, on his right, Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; on his left, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
⁵ In full view of all the people -- since he stood higher than them all -- Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
⁶ Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, 'Amen! Amen!'; then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before Yahweh.
⁷ And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabab, Hanan, Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the Law to the people, while the people all kept their places.
⁸ Ezra read from the book of the Law of God, translating and giving the sense; so the reading was understood.
⁹ Then His Excellency Nehemiah and the priest-scribe Ezra and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people, 'Today is sacred to Yahweh your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.' For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.
¹⁰ He then said, 'You may go; eat what is rich, drink what is sweet and send a helping to the man who has nothing prepared. For today is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.'
¹¹ And the Levites calmed all the people down, saying, 'Keep quiet; this is a sacred day. Do not be sad.'
¹² Then all the people went off to eat and drink and give helpings away and enjoy themselves to the full, since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 11

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.
¹¹ Thus your servant is formed by them; observing them brings great reward.

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Gospel, Luke 10:1-12

¹ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting.
² And he said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to do his harvesting.
³ Start off now, but look, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
⁴ Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.
⁵ Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!"
⁶ And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.
⁷ Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.
⁸ Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you.
⁹ Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."
¹⁰ But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say,
¹¹ "We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near."
¹² I tell you, on the great Day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town.

Prayer of the Day for Thursday, October 1, 2015

A Prayer to Saint Therese De Lisieux for Guidance Govern by all Thy Wisdom, O Lord,
so that my soul may always be serving Thee as Thou dost
Will,
and not as I may choose.
Do not punish me, I beseech Thee,
by granting that which I wish
or ask if it offended Thy Love,
which would always live in me.
Let me die to myself,
so that I may love Thee.
Let me live to Thee,
Who art in Thyself,
the True Life.

Dear St. Therese,
guide me in your Little Way,
so that I may ascend to the heights and happiness of
Heaven.

St. Therese of Lisieux

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: October 1
Patron of the Missions
Birth: 1873
Death: 1897

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Generations of Catholics have admired this young saint, called her the "Little Flower", and found in her short life more inspiration for own lives than in volumes by theologians.
Yet Therese died when she was 24, after having lived as cloistered Carmelite for less than ten years. She never went on missions, never founded a religious order, never performed great works. The only book of hers, published after her death, was an brief edited version of her journal called "Story of a Soul." (Collections of her letters and restored versions of her journals have been published recently.) But within 28 years of her death, the public demand was so great that she was canonized.
Over the years, some modern Catholics have turned away from her because they associate her with over- sentimentalized piety and yet the message she has for us is still as compelling and simple as it was almost a century ago.
Therese was born in France in 1873, the pampered daughter of a mother who had wanted to be a saint and a father who had wanted to be monk. The two had gotten married but determined they would be celibate until a priest told them that was not how God wanted a marriage to work! They must have followed his advice very well because they had nine children. The five children who lived were all daughters who were close all their lives.
Tragedy and loss came quickly to Therese when her mother died of breast cancer when she was four and a half years old. Her sixteen year old sister Pauline became her second mother -- which made the second loss even worse when Pauline entered the Carmelite convent five years later. A few months later, Therese became so ill with a fever that people thought she was dying.
The worst part of it for Therese was all the people sitting around her bed staring at her like, she said, "a string of onions." When Therese saw her sisters praying to statue of Mary in her room, Therese also prayed. She saw Mary smile at her and suddenly she was cured. She tried to keep the grace of the cure secret but people found out and badgered her with questions about what Mary was wearing, what she looked like. When she refused to give in to their curiosity, they passed the story that she had made the whole thing up.
Without realizing it, by the time she was eleven years old she had developed the habit of mental prayer. She would find a place between her bed and the wall and in that solitude think about God, life, eternity.

Oktoba 25,2015 Tanzania tutavuna tulichopanda

Na Paskal Linda    http://batarokota.blogspot.com/

Kweli, aliyekubuhu katika uovu anaweza kumfunda mwana awe malaika? Au mwalimu juha wa mazuzu anaweza kuandaa na kutoa mwanafunzi gwiji? Jambazi anathubutu kumkemea kibaka?

 

Kweli fukara aliyejifahari katika hali yake anaweza kumuongoza mjasiriamali katika umaridadi wa kutafuta neema? 

 

Haya ni baadhi ya maswali wengi tumekuwa tunajiuliza kwa kutafakari mitihani inayotukabili. Maswali kama haya tumeyasikia yakiulizwa kwa namna mbalimbali katika semi, methali na hata vioja vya kisa mkasa. 

 

Uchaguzi huu pia una vioja vyake. Kutokana na uchu wa kusaka kura kuna mambo tunayashuhudia ambayo hakika yanaibua maswali mengi, tena sana.

 

Hivi karibuni mgombewa wa Chadema anayeungwa mkono na Ukawa, Edward Lowassa, ameshutumiwa na hasimu wake kwa kutoa ahadi ambayo inatafsiriwa kuingilia uhuru wa mahakama na kubashiria kuivunja katiba ya nchi. Mgombea huyo, pamoja na mambo mengine, aliahidi kumwachia huru mtu fulani aliyetiwa hatiani na mahakama wapo atachaguliwa kuwa Rais.

 

Naye mgombea wa CCM, Dk. John Magufuli, amekuwa akimwaga ahadi ambazo baadhi zinaelekea kuvunja sheria na haki za wengine. Miongoni mwake ni ahadi ya kunyang’anya watu mali zao au kuwapa wananchi faida ambayo huna mamlaka nayo. 

 

Kwa lugha za wachambuzi ni kwamba wagombea wa aina hii wanakosolewa kwa kutoa, bila haya, ahadi hewa wakati wakitambua fika kuwa unachokisema hatotenda. Hawa ndio aina ya watu waliokomaa kuturubuni watuongoze, sisi wananchi ambao tunasaka bado masihi wa kutuvusha kuelekea kwenye Tanzania tarajiwa, Tanzania yenye neema.

 

 Wapo miongoni mwetu waliohoji ombwe ama uhaba/ukavu wa uongozi nchini Tanzania. Tutakuaje na viongozi bomba kama desturi imekuwa kuongoza kwa njia ambazo ni za kihuni, yaani ambazo hazifikii wala kukidhi viwango vya ustaarabu?

Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Guardian Angel Prayer #2 (This is an old Guardian Angel Prayer)
O Holy Angel,
attendant of my wretched soul
and of mine afflicted life,
forsake me not, a sinner,
neither depart from me for mine inconstancy.
Give no place to the evil demon to subdue me
with the oppression of this mortal body;
but take me by my wretched and outstretched hand,
and lead me in the way of salvation.
Yea, O holy Angel of God,
the guardian and protector
of my hapless soul and body,
forgive me all things
whatsoever wherewith I have troubled thee,
all the days of my life,
and if I have sinned in anything this day.
Shelter me in this present night,
and keep me from every affront of the enemy,
lest I anger God by any sin;
and intercede with the Lord in my behalf,
that He might strengthen me in the fear of Him,
and make me a worthy servant of His goodness.

Amen

Daily Reading for Wednesday, September 30th, 2015

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Reading 1, Nehemiah 2:1-8

¹ In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, since I was in charge of the wine, I took the wine and offered it to the king. Now, he had never seen me looking depressed before.
² So the king said to me, 'Why are you looking depressed? You are not sick! This must be a sadness of the heart.' Thoroughly alarmed by this,
³ I said to the king, 'May the king live for ever! How can I not look depressed when the city where the tombs of my ancestors are lies in ruins and its gates have been burnt down?'
⁴ The king then said to me, 'What would you like me to do?' Praying to the God of heaven,
⁵ I said to the king, 'If the king approves and your servant enjoys your favour, send me to Judah, to the city of the tombs of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.'
⁶ The king -- with the queen sitting beside him-said, 'How long will your journey take, and when will you come back?' Once I had given him a definite time, the king approved my mission.
⁷ I then said to the king, 'If the king approves, may I be given orders for the governors of Transeuphrates to let me pass through on my way to Judah?
⁸ Also an order for Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, to supply me with timber for the beams of the gates of the citadel of the Temple, for the city walls and for the house which I am to occupy?' These the king granted me because the kindly hand of my God was over me.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

¹ By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept at the memory of Zion.
² On the poplars there we had hung up our harps.
³ For there our gaolers had asked us to sing them a song, our captors to make merry, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'
⁴ How could we sing a song of Yahweh on alien soil?
⁵ If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither!
⁶ May my tongue remain stuck to my palate if I do not keep you in mind, if I do not count Jerusalem the greatest of my joys.

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Gospel, Luke 9:57-62

⁵⁷ As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.'
⁵⁸ Jesus answered, 'Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.'
⁵⁹ Another to whom he said, 'Follow me,' replied, 'Let me go and bury my father first.'
⁶⁰ But he answered, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.'
⁶¹ Another said, 'I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good -- bye to my people at home.'
⁶² Jesus said to him, 'Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'

St. Jerome

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 30
Patron of Librarians
Birth: 331
Death: 420

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St. Jerome, who was born Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius, was the most learned of the Fathers of the Western Church. He was born about the year 342 at Stridonius, a small town at the head of the Adriatic, near the episcopal city of Aquileia. His father, a Christian, took care that his son was well instructed at home, then sent him to Rome, where the young man's teachers were the famous pagan grammarian Donatus and Victorinus, a Christian rhetorician. Jerome's native tongue was the Illyrian dialect, but at Rome he became fluent in Latin and Greek, and read the literatures of those languages with great pleasure. His aptitude for oratory was such that he may have considered law as a career. He acquired many worldly ideas, made little effort to check his pleasure-loving instincts, and lost much of the piety that had been instilled in him at home. Yet in spite of the pagan and hedonistic influences around him, Jerome was baptized by Pope Liberius in 360. He tells us that "it was my custom on Sundays to visit, with friends of my own age and tastes, the tombs of the martyrs and Apostles, going down into those subterranean galleries whose walls on both sides preserve the relics of the dead." Here he enjoyed deciphering the inscriptions.

Tafakari ya neno la Mungu Dominika ya 26 ya Mwaka B,

Na Paskal Linda

Mpendwa mwana wa Mungu,  katika kipindi tafakari Neno la Bwana, jioni hii tunatafakari Dominika ya 26 ya mwaka B wa Kanisa. Neno la Mungu latutaka kutambua kuwa Roho wa Mungu ni zawadi kwa ajili ya wote ilimradi mmoja anaitumia zawadi hiyo kadri ya mpango wa Mungu.

 
Katika somo la kwanza kutoka kitabu cha Hesabu, tunaona jinsi Mungu alivyowashukia wale ndugu 70 na wakatabiri kama ambavyo Musa alikuwa akishukiwa na Mungu. Si hao tu bali kulikuwa na watu wengine wawili ambao wao katika harakati za kwenda hemani ambapo daima Musa alikuwa akikutana na Mungu wao walibaki kambini pia nao wakashukiwa na roho wa Mungu na wakaanza kutabiri. Tendo hili liliwaudhi watu wengine ambao waliona daima lazima Mungu agawe roho wake pale kwenye hema tu na si kwingine! Mpendwa jambo la wivu ni la zamani sana kama ambavyo tunaona kwa tukio hili. Je leo jambo hili lipo? Kabisa na ni kweli kwamba katika zama zetu kuna baadhi yetu ambao huona kama Roho Mtakatifu ni kwa ajili yao tu! Yapo makundi katika Kanisa katoliki ambayo hujisikia kabisa kwamba yanaweza kumkumbatia Roho Mtakatifu na kumteka kwa ajili yao tu! Labda pia kwenye makanisa mengine! Mpendwa hili ni kosa la kiteolojia na pengine linapaswa kukemewa mara moja na viongozi wetu wa Kanisa kwa sababu limekuwa ni jambo linalohangaisha na kuleta usumbufu kwa jumuiya ya Kanisa.
Somo la pili, linatualika kutazama vema juu ya suala la kuwanyonya maskini na hasa katika suala zima la malipo baada ya kazi. Mt. Yakobo anasema madhulumu kwa walio maskini huleta kilio ambacho humfikia Mungu mara moja kama kilio cha damu ya Abeli kilivyomfikia Mungu haraka. Anawakumbusha matajiri kutumia utajiri wao kwa haki na zaidi kuimarisha maisha ya ustawi uliojaa uwiano sahihi. Mpendwa mwana wa Mungu, kama tunataka kweli kushika vema Injili ya Kristu yatupasa kufikiria vema namna ya kushikama na utajiri ili kisiwe kikwazo bali chombo kwa ajili ya ustawi na maendeleo ya watu.
Katika somo la Injili tunapata msaada wa kuweza kuelewa somo la kwanza ambapo tulisikia juu ya wivu kwa kuwa watu wawili ambao hawakuwa wameandamana na wale 70 pamoja na Musa nao walipata uwezo wa kutabiri. Ndiyo kusema mtu mmoja anatoa pepo kwa jina la Bwana lakini hayuko katika kundi la Mitume, na matokeo yake Yohane anamwambia Bwana kwamba walipomwona mtu huyu akitenda walimkataza asifanye shughuli hiyo ya kutoa pepo! Bwana anawajibu Mitume akisema hakuna ambaye atakuwa kinyume nami na kisha ataweza kutoa pepo kwa jina langu, kwa jinsi hiyo basi huyo yu upande wetu. Jambo la msingi ni kwamba mkuu wa shughuli nzima ya kitume ni Yesu Kristu na si Mitume kumbe yeye hugawa apendavyo karama zake. Roho Mtakatifu ni zawadi kwa wote hata wale ambao wako nje ya Kanisa linaloonekana, na hivi wanaotumia nguvu ya Kristu wanalisaidia Kanisa kusonga mbele katika shughuli ya wokovu.
Mpendwa sehemu ya pili ya Injili inazungumza na kutuasa juu ya ukarimu ambao Mt. Yakobo daima anasisitiza. Anawatayarishia heri wale wote watakaowakirimu Mitume wakiwa katika utume wa utangazaji wa Injili ya Bwana. Mpendwa , kazi ya kitume inaendelea na hivi wanaheri wale wote ambao wanaifanya kazi hiyo njema isonge mbele. Namna za kuifanya kazi ya kitume iende mbele ziko nyingi na mojawapo ikiwa kwa njia ya sala, kwa michango ya fedha na vitu, kuwahifadhi watumishi wa Kanisa mara kunapokuwa na hitaji kama vile nyumba, mfano parokia mpya inapofunguliwa.
Mpendwa, bado kuna hatua nyingine ya kutekeleza utume wa Kristu, nayo ni kuhakikisha huwi kikwazo au chanzo cha makwazo kwa jumuiya ya waamini, maana Bwana anasema atakayemkwaza mmojawapo wa wadogo hawa ni afadhali afungiwe jiwe na kutupwa katika kilindi cha maji marefu. Anazidi kusema kama kiungo kimojawapo cha mwili kinaleta chukizo basi ni vema kukiondoa na kubaki kilema kuliko kubaki mzima na ukapoteza uzima wa milele. Huu ni mwaliko wa kudumu kuhusu kazi ya kimisionari, na zaidi kazi ya wokovu inayodai utulivu na uvumilivu wa hali ya juu, kuweza kutafakari alama za nyakati tukiongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu.
Ninafurahi zaidi nikikutakia neema za Yesu mfufuka anayetukirimia Roho Mtakatifu kwa ajili ya wokovu wa watu na sifa kwa Mungu Baba.

Tumsifu Yesu Kristu.

TAFAKARI YA NENO LA MUNGU DOMINIKA YA 25 YA MWAKA B!

Na Paskal Linda
Ninakuletea ujumbe wa Neno la Mungu, Dominika ya 25 ya mwaka B wa Kanisa. Mama Kanisa anatufundisha wajibu wa Jumuiya kuwakumbatia maskini na walio wahitaji. Katika wimbo wa mwanzo Dominika ya 25, Bwana anasema mimi ni wokovu wa watu, na watu hawa wakinililia nitawaokoa katika taabu zao. Ndivyo basi Jumuiya ya Kikristu inavyopaswa kuwasikiliza na kuwakumbatia walio maskini.

Somo la kwanza linatoka katika kitabu cha Hekima ya Sulemani, na mwandishi anatupa bado sura ya mtumishi mwaminifu ambaye wanajamii wenzake wanamwonea wivu na wanaweka vitisho na vikwazo mbalimbali dhidi yake. Hata hivyo kwa kuwa ni mtumishi mwenye haki, yule aliyemtuma atamlinda mpaka mwisho. Kwa kuvumilia mateso katika upole na unyenyekevu anakuwa mfano kwa watesi wake na jumuiya nzima.  Mtumishi huyu anayetabiliwa na mwandishi wa kitabu cha Hekima anajitokeza katika sura ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu katika Agano Jipya.

Mpendwa mwanatafakari, jambo la mateso kwa waliowa kweli na watu wa haki katika mazingira ya leo linajitokeza bado na hivi je warudi nyuma au wasonge mbele katika kuvumilia magumu hayo? Kama Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu alivumilia mateso mpaka kufa, basi nasi tuliosafishwa katika Damu yake yatupasa kufuata nyayo zake mpaka mwisho.

Mtume Yakobo anaendela mbele kutufundisha juu ya maisha ya kila siku, leo anatupa Hekima itokayo juu kuwa kielelezo safi cha maisha ya mkristu. Anasema yeyote aifuataye Hekima hiyo atakuwa kinyume na machafuko na fitina katika maisha ya Jumuiya. Machafuko mbalimbali na hasa vita katika ulimwengu wa leo ni matunda ya tamaa za kimwili, na hivi Mt. Yakobo ataka tuzame zaidi katika Hekima ya kimungu itokayo juu, Hekima ambayo hutazama kwa upole na subira mambo yote na hasa kwa njia ya sala inayotangaza mapenzi ya Mungu. Anataka pia sala yetu iwe ni sala iliyojaa imani na tumaini na si tamaa za kimwili.

Katika somo la Injili, Mt Marko anatuonesha Yesu aliye katika utume na wakati huo anatoa katekesi kwa wanafunzi wake. Ni katika katekesi hiyo, Bwana anaendelea kukazia fundisho la kupokea kikombe cha mateso na kisha siku ya tatu kufufuka. Kwa kuwa Mitume bado wana mawazo ya Masiha mwenye nguvu za kivita hawasikilizi vema fundisho hili na badala yake wanajiuliza wao kwa wao, hivi mkubwa ni nani kati yetu! Wanafikiri juu ya vyeo katika ufalme wa Yesu Kristu Masiha!

Huu ni udhaifu na hasa waonesha kuwa hawajaelewa kitu!, hawajaelewa Bwana analenga wapi na njia gani anaifuata kwa ajili ya wokovu wa mwanadamu. Ni udhaifu unaokuja kwa sababu katika historia ya ulimwengu kulikuwa na matabaka, ambayo mpaka hivi leo yapo tele.

Kwa kuwa Bwana, daima ni mwenye huruma na mvumilivu atatulia na kisha atawafundisha nini maana ya kuwa Mtume, nini maana ya kuwa mkubwa katika Jumuiya, nini maana ya kuwa kiongozi. Ndiyo kusema ukubwa katika Jumuiya ya Kanisa, uongozi ni kutumikia na kuhudumu jumuiya katika mahitaji yake na hasa kutangaza Injili ya Bwana.  Mhudumu anatakiwa kuwapokea wale wote wanaohangaika katika jumuiya, walio kama watoto wadogo. Bwana anaweka picha ya watoto wadogo mbele yetu kwa sababu katika jumuiya ya Kiyahudi mtoto ingawa wanampenda lakini bado anasadikika kutokuwa safi kwa sababu hatunzi sheria na makatazo mbalimbali.

Mpendwa mwanatafakari, katika jumuiya zetu hivi leo, katika nchi zetu jambo la nani mkubwa limeshika kasi kubwa mno kiasi kwamba malumbano ni makubwa mno. Utasikia daima ugomvi kwa sababu ya madaraka katika nchi zetu. Leo basi Neno la Mungu latuambia tuachane na mambo ya kushikilia vyeo kama ndiyo mwisho wa maisha yetu bali kama njia ya kuwatumikia wengine kwa upendo na hekima ya kimungu. Ndiyo kusema kama hatutafanya hivyo tuko nje ya ukristu, tuko nje ya matarajio ya mataifa na jumuiya zilizotuweka katika mamlaka hayo.
Ninakutakia furaha na matumaini katika kushika mafundisho ya Bwana aliye Masiha mteswa lakini mshindi kwa ajili ya ukombozi wa ulimwengu.

Tumsifu Yesu Kristu.

Daily Reading for Monday, September 28th, 2015

Reading 1, Zechariah 8:1-8

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23

¹⁶ when Yahweh builds Zion anew, he will be seen in his glory;
¹⁷ he will turn to hear the prayer of the destitute, and will not treat their prayer with scorn.
¹⁸ This shall be put on record for a future generation, and a people yet to be born shall praise God:
¹⁹ Yahweh has leaned down from the heights of his sanctuary, has looked down from heaven to earth,
²⁰ to listen to the sighing of the captive, and set free those condemned to death,
²¹ to proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion, his praise in Jerusalem;
²² nations will gather together, and kingdoms to worship Yahweh.
²³ In my journeying my strength has failed on the way;

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Gospel, Luke 9:46-50

⁴⁶ An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.
⁴⁷ Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side
⁴⁸ and then he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.'
⁴⁹ John spoke up. 'Master,' he said, 'we saw someone driving out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.'
⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, 'You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.

Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Holy Archangel Who Strengthened Our Lord in His Agony I salute thee, holy Angel who didst comfort my Jesus in His agony, and with thee I praise the most holy Trinity for having chosen thee from among all the holy Angels to comfort and strengthen Him who is the comfort and strength of all that are in affliction. By the honor thou didst enjoy and by the obedience, humility and love wherewith thou didst assist the sacred Humanity of Jesus, my Savior, when He was fainting for very sorrow at seeing the sins of the world and especially my sins, I beseech thee to obtain for me perfect sorrow for my sins; deign to strengthen me In the afflictions that now overwhelm me, and in all the other trials, to which I shall be exposed henceforth and, in particular, when I find myself in my final agony. Amen.

St. Michael the Archangel

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 29
Patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness

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St. Michael the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.
Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness

Papa Francis: Jengeni maisha yenu katika upendo

Papa Francis katika Ibada ya misa Takatifu ya Mkutano wa Dunia wa Familia - ANSA

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Na Paskal Linda

 

JUZI Jumapili 27 Septemba,2015  Papa Francis ameadhimsha kilele cha Misa Takatifu katika Uwanja wa Benjamini Franklin Parkway huko Philadelphia katika Mkutano wa dunia wa Familia kwa mwaka 2015.Mkutano wa siku mbili umeunganisha maelfu ya wajumbe kutoka sehemu mbambali za dunia ambao waliwakilisha familia za nchi zao. Na katika Homelia ya Papa Francis iliwatia moyo wanafamilia kujenga maisha yao katika upendo na kuwakumbusha kwamba upendo wa Mungu ni kwa kila mmoja  .

Akichambua juu ya masomo ya siku Papa Francis alisema: Neno la Mungu la siku linaleta mshangao na kutoa picha yenye nguvu na kuchochea sura. Sura hizo ni changamoto kwetu, lakini zinatia shahuku yetu.Kwenye somo la kwanza Joshua alimwambia Musa ya kwamba watu wawili kati yetu wanatoa unabii, wakiongea maneno ya Mungu bila kutumwa. Na katika Injili Yohane anelezea juu ya wanafunzi waliomkataza  mtu aliyekuwa anafukuza mapepo kwa jina la Yesu.
Papa alisema kweli  huo unaleta mshangao; kwani Musa na Yesu wote wana uwezo wa kukemea. Yesu alikutana na vizingiti  kutoka kwa watu wake  ambao hawakupokea kile alichokuwa akisema na kufanya. Maneno yake yalipokelewa na watu wale walikuwa wazi na waaminifu na wa kweli katika imani ya wanaume na wanawake wengi ambao hawakuwa  sehemu yoyote  ya wateule wa Mungu.Aliongeza Papa ya kwamba wanafunzi katika sehemu yao walitenda kwa imani yao njema.
Lakini majaribu na mashaka yao yalikuwa kuhusu uhuru wa Mungu ambaye uwanyeshea mvua watu wote wanyoofu na wasio na haki (Mt 5:45), yaani wale wenye  urasimu , wenye madaraka na duru za ndani , wanaotishia ukweli wa imani na kwa hivyo ni lazima kwa nguvu kukataliwa.
Lakini Papa akabainisha ya kwamba Mara sisi tunapolitambua , tunaweza kuelewa kwanini maneno ya Yesu yalileta kashfa miongoni mwao. Ukweli wa Yesu haujali kashfa za kila kitu ambacho ujaribu kuvunja na kuharibu imani yetu katika kazi ya roho! Mapenzi ya baba  hayataisha kamwe ya  kuendelea na ukarimu wake wa kupanda .Yeye utawanya mbegu za uwepo  wake katika dunia yote , kwa maana upendo wake unasisitiza hivyo ya kwamba siyo sisi tuliyompenda Mungu bali kwamba Munga alitupenda yeye kwanza (Yn 4:10)
Upendo wake unatupqtia uhakika ya kwamba Mungu ametuchagua , na anatusubiri .Na hii ndiyo inawapa wanafunzi  wake kuhamasika , na kutoa huduma ya  kutenda mambo yaliyo mema yanayotekea kwa majirani zao wanao wazunguka. Kwani Mungua anataka watoto wake wote washiriki katika sikukuu ya Injili. Ni watu wangapi walioko pale katika madhimisho ya Familia; papa alisema: Hii peke yake ni jambo la unabii , ni aina ya miujiza katika dunia ya leo,  wote wanaweza kuwa manabii, wote wanaweza kufungulia miujiza ya upendo kwaajili ya familia zote za dunia, na hivyo kushinda kashfa nyembamba, upendo mdogo uliojifungia ndani yake yaani ubinafsi.

Mungu awalaze pema waliofariki Hijja Makka

Na Paskal Linda

KUNA taarifa za kusikitisha kuwa mahujaji watano kutoka Tanzania ni  miongoni mwa waliofariki katika tukio la mkanyagano kwenye Mji  Mtakatifu wa Makka, nchini Saudi Arabia.

 

Kwa ujumla, watu 717 wameripotiwa kufa na wengine zaidi ya 800  kujeruhiwa katika tukio hilo.

 

Taarifa iliyotolewa na Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa  Kimataifa jjuzi ilieleza kuwa Watanzania hao walifariki wakati  wakiendelea na ibada ya Hijja kwenye eneo la Mina, ndani ya Mji  Mtakatifu wa Makka.

 

Hakika, huu ni msiba mkubwa. Mimi Paskal Linda  naungana na Watanzania wengine  kuwapa pole wafiwa na pia kuwatakia kheri wote waliojeruhiwa ili  wapate nafuu haraka.

 

Ni imani yangu kuwa serikali yetu, kwa kushirikiana na  Saudi Arabia,  itaendelea kufanya kila linalowezekana ili taarifa kamili ziendelee  kupatikana kuhusiana hatima ya mahujaji wetu. Taarifa zilizopo ni  kwamba mwaka huu, Watanzania takriban 2,700 wamekwenda kutekeleza  ibada hiyo muhimu kwa kila Muislamu mwenye uwezo. Mbali na kwenda  kuhiji Makka, nguzo nyingine kati ya tano za Uislamu ni kutoa  shahada, kusimamisha swala, kutoa zaka na kufunga (swaumu) Ramadhani.

 

Sisi tunaamini kuwa muhimu zaidi kwa sasa ni kwa kila mmoja kuendelea  kuwaombea mahujaji wetu waliosalimika ili mwishowe warejee nchini  wakiwa bukheri wa afya.

 

Aidha, ni muhimu pia kuendelea kumuomba Mwenyezi Mungu ili awajaalie  pepo yenye daraja ya juu mahujaji wetu waliopatwa na umauti, hasa kwa  kutambua kuwa kilichowapeleka Makka siyo kitu kingine bali ni  kujinyenyekeza mbele za Allah (Mwenye Mungu) ili mwishowe wapate  radhi zake.

 

Katika kipindi hiki, ni imani yetu kuwa ndugu, jamaa na marafiki wa  marehemu watajitahidi kuwa na subira kadiri wawezavyo. Ni kwa sababu,  kwa mujibu wa mafundisho, kila nafsi itaonja umauti. Na hili  lililotokea ni sehemu ya mtihani ambao siri ya kufaulu kwake  kwategemea kiwango cha subira kwa kila mmoja wao. 

    

Pamoja na yote, tunaamini kuwa baada ya shughuli za uokoaji na  mazishi kukamilika, serikali ya Saudi Arabia itahakikisha kuwa  uchunguzi wa kina unafanyika ili mwishowe kubaini chanzo cha  mkanyagano na kuchukua hatua sahihi za kuzuia majanga ya aina hii.

 

Kinachotakiwa kuangaliwa na waandaaji ni taratibu za kutoa fursa kwa  kila hujaji kutekeleza ibada ya Hijja akiwa salama. Rekodi  zinaonyesha kuwa vifo vya aina hii vimewahi pia kutokea mara kadhaa  hapo kabla katika tukio hilo linalokutanisha watu wengi zaidi kwa  wakati mmoja duniani, huku mwaka huu likihusisha mahujaji takriban  milioni mbili. 

 

Kwa mfano, mwaka 1990 walikufa mahujaji 1,426, mwaka 1994 (watu 270)  na pia mwaka 2006 walikufa watu 360. Hali hii inapaswa kuzuiwa kwa  kupitia upya taratibu za kuwezesha waumini kutekeleza ibada hii  muhimu kwa kila Muislamu mwenye uwezo.

 

Mungu awalaze pema peponi mahujaji wote waliotangulia mbele ya haki, AMINA.

Daily Reading for Monday, September 28th, 2015

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Reading 1, Zechariah 8:1-8

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23

¹⁶ when Yahweh builds Zion anew, he will be seen in his glory;
¹⁷ he will turn to hear the prayer of the destitute, and will not treat their prayer with scorn.
¹⁸ This shall be put on record for a future generation, and a people yet to be born shall praise God:
¹⁹ Yahweh has leaned down from the heights of his sanctuary, has looked down from heaven to earth,
²⁰ to listen to the sighing of the captive, and set free those condemned to death,
²¹ to proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion, his praise in Jerusalem;
²² nations will gather together, and kingdoms to worship Yahweh.
²³ In my journeying my strength has failed on the way;

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Gospel, Luke 9:46-50

⁴⁶ An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.
⁴⁷ Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side
⁴⁸ and then he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.'
⁴⁹ John spoke up. 'Master,' he said, 'we saw someone driving out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.'
⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, 'You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.'

St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Short Cuts

Facts

Feastday: September 28
Beatified By: Pope John Paul II
Canonized By: Pope John Paul II

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Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino saint. He is also the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter. Born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600's, he was educated in the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished and educated person, especially at a time when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art. An adverse event made him leave the Philippines in 1636. When he was in his late twenties or early thirties, he became involved or was accused of being involved in a criminal case, the circumstances of which are far from clear. Whether he was involved or not, one thing was clear, he was afraid that, as a consequence of a trial or mistrial, he might be given a death sentence. Upon landing in Japan where Christians were being persecuted, he was arrested and imprisoned together with his companions. He underwent inhuman tortures and valiantly confessed his Christian Faith. Refusing to renounce his Faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many thousands of lives if he had them. On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallows by his feet, his body falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981 and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast day is on September 28th.

Papa awashukuru watawa wa Marekani

Papa akisalimiana na Masista wa Shirika la Mtakatifu Clara - AP

BABA mtakatifu Francisco Alhamisi akiongoza Ibada ya masifu ya Jioni katika Kanisa Kuu la kale la Mtakatifu Patrick, la Mjini New York, alionyesha kutambua kwamba, kanisa hilo ni matunda ya kazi ngumu ya watu wengi  wake kwa waume, waliyoyatolea maisha yao mhanga bila kujibakiza katika utumishi wa kanisa.  Na hivyo ameitaja kuwa ni  ishara nzuri ya kazi ya wahenga,  makuhani , watawa na walei aminifu wa Marekani,  waliosaidia kujenga Kanisa nchini Marekani.
Papa alitazama kwa kina, jukumu lao la msingi katika ujenzi wa jamii ya Marekani, na hivyo akatoa shukurani zake nyingi kwa  makuhani na watawa  ambao  hasa wamejikitika katika mipango ya  elimu na lishe katika taifa la Marekani. Alieleza na kutoa mfano wa mwanzilishi wa kwanza wa Shule Katoliki huru ya wasichana nchini Marekani, Mtakatifu  Elizabeth Ann Seton na Mtakatifu  John Neumann, mwanzilishi wa kwanza wa mfumo wa elimu Katoliki Marekani , akisema kwamba watu wengi kulipwa gharama za kafara ya ajabu na alifanya hivyo kwa kishujaa upendo.

Lakini pia hakuogopa kutaja moja kwa moja kasoro zilizo chafua sura nzuri ya Kanisa nchini Marekani,  kashfa  ya ngono kwa watoto, aibu iliyoletwa na watumishi wabovu wa Kanisa . Papa Francisko,  alikubali mateso ya wake kwa waume, na wale waliokubali kuibeba aibu ya unyama huu uliodhalilisha  ndugu hawa wanyonge  katika  Kanisa na kuwaweka katika mazingira magumu zaidi ... Papa amesema anatolea sala na faraja zake katika kwa wakati huu wa maumivu na uchungu wa moyo.
Na aliwarejea tena  Mapadre na watawa wa Marekani , akiwahimiza n akuwataka wawe watumishi wema, watumikie kwa uaminifu, furaha na kuridhika katika wito wao. Wafanya kazi kwa bidii na kuyaishi maisha ya kujinyima  na uaminifu kwa mujibu wa karama za waanzilishi wa jumuiya na mashirika yao kama  njia ya upendeleo katika kutoa jibu kwa Upendo wake Mkuu Yeye aliyewaita  katika kulitumikia Kanisa.
Kwa namna ya pekee, Papa aliendelea kutambua na kuonyesha heshima yake na shukrani kwa watawa wa kike nchini Marekani akihoji, bila wao utendaji wa Kanisa ungekuwaje hasa nchini Marekani. Alisifu kwamba, Wanawake wana nguvu, na kwa ujasiri huo, huwaweka mstari wa mbele katika kuitangaza Injili .
Alimalizia na shukurani kwa Watawa, masista na wanawake wote walioyatolea maisha yao katika kuifikisha habari njema katika kila kona ya taifa la Marekani na kwingineko duniani.  "Asante Sana ", na “ninawapenda wote”.

Baada ya Marekani Papa kuitembelea Afrika Mashariki na Kati

Rais Kenyata asema ni Papa atakayeiunganisha Kenya kuwa kitu kimoja

Na Paskal Linda -Nairobi, Kenya


NCHI za Kenya  na Uganda zimeeleza shauku ya kumuona Papa Fransisko. Akizungumza na batarokota.blogspot.com, Mratibu wa Mawasiliano Baraza la Maaskofu Kenya (KCCB) David Omwoyo amesema kuwa, wananchi wa Kenya wanashauku ya kumuona Papa Fransisko kwani hiyo ni ziara ya kihistoria kwa nchi hiyo.
“Maandalzi kwa upande wa Kanisa yamekamilika na upande wa serikali imejiandaa vyema kwani hata serikali imetuma ujumbe kwamba imejipanga kumpokea Papa Fransisko ambaye licha tu ya kuwa kiongozi wa Kanisa Katoliki Duniani ni Rais wa nchi ya Vatikani,” ameeleza Omwoyo.
Aidha ameeleza kuwa, licha ya Papa kuitembelea Kenya ataitembelea pia nchi ya Uganda hivyo ugeni huo unageuka kuwa wa nchi za Afrika Mashariki.

Aidha serikali ya Kenya ilituma ujumbe kwenye ofisi za Mawasiliano KCCB ikieleza kuwa, serikali ya Kenya inayoongozwa na Rais Uhuru Kenyata iko makini kumpokea Papa Fransisko ambaye wana matumaini kwamba ataleta hamasa ya umoja na mshikamano baina ya wakenya.
“Baba Mtakatifu anakuja kututembelea kama kondoo zake, kuimarisha imani yetu na kututia moyo wa imani katika kutekeleza majukumu yetu kwa jirani na kujitoa sadaka kwa ajili yaw engine,” umeeleza ujumbe huo.
Omoyo amesema, Papa akiwa Kenya kwa siku hizo tatu, atafanya mazungumzo binafsi na Rais wa nchi hiyo Uhuru Kenyata, atakutana pia na viongozi wa serikali ya Kenya na Maafisa Mazingira wa Umoja wa Mataifa na kuhutubia wajumbe wa kidiplomasia nchini humo.
“Papa atakutana pia na viongozi wa dini mbalimbali wakiwemo wakristo, waislamu, Hindu na viongozi wa jadi, vijana na kuongoza Ibada ya Misa Takatifu ambapo atahutubia taifa la Kenya.
Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Uganda Askofu John Baptist Odama ameeleza kuwa, Kanisa nchini Uganda limejiandaa kwa ujio huo Mtakatifu.“Akiwa nchini Uganda, Papa ataungana na waamini kusherehekea Yubilei ya Dhahabu ya kutangazwa watakatifu Mashahidi wa Uganda 22.”

Baraza la Maaskofu Kenya laweka mikakati ya ujio huo.
Kamati ndogo ya Tume ya Mawasiliano na Matangazo ya Baraza la Maaskofu Katoliki Kenya, imetoa baadhi ya mikakati mbinu, kwa ajili ya maandalizi ya ziara ya Papa Francisko nchini Kenya, mwezi Novemba mwaka huu.
Mratibu wa Mawasiliano wa KCCB, David Omwoyo amesema kuwa, tovuti maalum kwa ajili ya ziara ya Papa itazinduliwa katika siku chache zijazo. Na pia hivi karibuni, nembo ya ziara ya Papa itazinduliwa hivi karibuni.
Nembo hiyo ina alama 4 muhimu zinaashiria mada mbiu ya ziara: “Simama imara katika Imani … Usiogope.” Vitu hivyo vinne ni Njiwa kama alama ya amani, moto katika nafasi ya Roho Mtakatifu, ramani ya Kenya na Msalaba ambayo ni ishara ya Kanisa.
Na kwamba, kwa ajili ya kuwaandaa watu , katika kipindi hiki cha kusubiri ujio wa Papa, Kamati ndogo ya Mawasiliano imeunda mpango mpya wa utendaji kwa miradi maalum, inayolenga kufanikishaji wa ziara ya Papa kiroho na kijamii.
Miradi inayoendeshwa na Kanisa Katoliki Kenya ambayo itatagazwa kupitia vituo vya Televisheni. Aidha, kutakuwa na mengi yatakayotangazwa na vyombo vya habari kwa wakati huu.
Taarifa zote zitakuwa zinapatikana katika tovuti mpya itakayozinduliwa hivi karibuni, ikiwa wazi kwa mtu yeyote ambaye anayetaka kupata habarii za ujio wa Papa Kenya. 

Papa Fransisko anatazamia kuitembelea Afrika ambapo atatembelea nchi ya Kenya Novemba 25 hadi 27, Uganda Novemba 27 hadi 29 na Jamhuri ya Afrika ya Kati Novemba 29 hadi 30 Mwaka huu.

Evening Prayer to God the Father

O eternal God and Ruler of all creation, You have allowed me to reach this hour. Forgive the sins I have committed this day by word, deed or thought. Purify me, O Lord, from every spiritual and physical stain. Grant that I may rise from this sleep to glorify You by my deeds throughout my entire lifetime, and that I be victorious over every spiritual and physical enemy. Deliver me, O Lord, from all vain thoughts and from evil desires, for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen. (By Saint Macarius)

Daily Reading for Sunday, September 27th, 2015

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Reading 1, Numbers 11:25-29

²⁵ Yahweh descended in the cloud. He spoke to him and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied -- but only once.
²⁶ Two men had stayed back in the camp; one was called Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit came down on them; though they had not gone to the Tent, their names were enrolled among the rest. These began to prophesy in the camp.
²⁷ A young man ran to tell Moses this. 'Look,' he said, 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.'
²⁸ Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses since he was a boy, spoke up and said, 'My lord Moses, stop them!'
²⁹ Moses replied, 'Are you jealous on my account? If only all Yahweh's people were prophets, and Yahweh had given them his spirit!'

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14

⁸ The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes.
¹⁰ more desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, that drips from the comb.
¹² But who can detect his own failings? Wash away my hidden faults.
¹³ And from pride preserve your servant, never let it be my master. So shall I be above reproach, free from grave sin.
¹⁴ May the words of my mouth always find favour, and the whispering of my heart, in your presence, Yahweh, my rock, my redeemer.

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Gospel, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

³⁸ John said to him, 'Master, we saw someone who is not one of us driving out devils in your name, and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.'
³⁹ But Jesus said, 'You must not stop him; no one who works a miracle in my name could soon afterwards speak evil of me.
⁴⁰ Anyone who is not against us is for us.
⁴¹ 'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, then in truth I tell you, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
⁴² 'But anyone who is the downfall of one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck.
⁴³ And if your hand should be your downfall, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that can never be put out.
⁴⁵ And if your foot should be your downfall, cut it off; it is better for you enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
⁴⁷ And if your eye should be your downfall, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell
⁴⁸ where their worm will never die nor their fire be put out.

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Reading 2, James 5:1-6

¹ Well now, you rich! Lament, weep for the miseries that are coming to you.
² Your wealth is rotting, your clothes are all moth-eaten.
³ All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be a witness against you and eat into your body. It is like a fire which you have stored up for the final days.
⁴ Can you hear crying out against you the wages which you kept back from the labourers mowing your fields? The cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord Sabaoth.
⁵ On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart's content.
⁶ It was you who condemned the upright and killed them; they offered you no resistance.