Maoni yangu binafsi juu ya masuala mbalimbali yanayoendelea duniani

Maoni yangu binafsi juu ya masuala mbalimbali yanayoendelea duniani

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25TH 2023

SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

FIRST READING
“All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
ISAIAH 52: 7 - 10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

The Word of the Lord.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 98: 1, 2 - 3ab, 3cd - 4, 5 - 6 (R.) 3cd

R/. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. R/.

The Lord has made known his salvation,
has shown his deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth for the house of Israel. R/.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise. R/.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
raise a shout before the King, the Lord. R/.


SECOND READING
“God has spoken to us by a Son.”
HEBREWS 1: 1 - 6

In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the 'right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you?” Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?” And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

The Word of the Lord.


ACCLAMATION

ALLELUIA:
A hallowed day has shone upon us: come, O nations, and adore the Lord; for today a great light has come down to earth.
Alleluia.


GOSPEL
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
JOHN 1: 1 - 18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.”’) And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.
 
Christmas message

On this day as we go celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, it reminds us of the complete and unconditional love of God towards humanity.

Christmas reminds us to embrace the values that Jesus taught, such as compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness. It encourages us also to reflect on our own lives and strive to live with love and kindness towards others. It is a time to come together, to reconcile differences, and to extend a helping hand to those in need.

In other words, the message of Christmas is about the transformative power of love and the potential for renewal and spiritual growth. It serves as a reminder that we can find peace and joy by following the teachings of Jesus and by spreading love and goodwill to everyone.
 
In the name of the Lord Christ Jesus the Amen I decree and declare your best years are ahead.


Keep on believing as there is no DEFEAT or QUITTING to those who believe.
 
Ninaamini
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Morning Reflection (QT)

Introduction.

Paul encourages the followers of Christ to live in unity based on their oneness in faith.

God’s people have been given special gifts to prepare them for the work of Christian service and to build up communities of faith through love.

Reflection


Today’s reading begins with Paul urging the Ephesians to “live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called [them]” (verse 1).

According to verses 2 and 3, what is required to meet this standard? Paul admonishes the people to “build up the body of Christ” through Christian service (verse 12).

What “gifts” has God given for this purpose (verse 11)?

Pray.

Lord God, you are indeed one God and Father of all people. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that unites us in faith and binds us together in peace.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Ephesians 4:1-16

Ephesians 4:1

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,

Ephesians 4:2

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,

Ephesians 4:3

striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:

Ephesians 4:4

one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;

Ephesians 4:5

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Ephesians 4:6

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:7

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Ephesians 4:8

Therefore, it says: “He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men.”

Ephesians 4:9

What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth?

Ephesians 4:10

The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

Ephesians 4:11

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

Ephesians 4:12

to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:13

until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ,

Ephesians 4:14

so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.

Ephesians 4:15

Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,

Ephesians 4:16

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

- Sent from BitBible English App
 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26TH 2023

FEAST SAINT STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR

FIRST READING
“Behold, I see the heavens opened.”
ACTS 6: 8 - 10; 7: 54 - 59

In those days: Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

The Word of the Lord.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 31: 3bc - 4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 (R.) 6a

R/. Into your hand, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Be a rock of refuge for me,
A mighty stronghold to save me.
For you are my rock, my stronghold!
Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name. R/.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.
You will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God.
Let me be glad and rejoice in your mercy,
For you who have seen my affliction. R/.

Deliver me from the hands of my enemies
and those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant.
Save me in your merciful love. R/.


ALLELUIA
Psalm 118: 26a, 27ab

Alleluia.
Blessed is he who enters in the name of the Lord; the Lord is God, and he has given us light.
Alleluia.


GOSPEL
“It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father.”
MATTHEW 10: 17 - 22

At that time: Jesus said to his apostles, “Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
 
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