SUNDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2016, THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
THEME: THE ONE WHO PRECEEDES THE LORD
Psalm 22:22-31, Jude 1:21-25, Matthew 11:11-15
Psalm 22:22-31 New International Version (NIV)
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you[a] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Footnotes:
- Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him
Jude 21-25
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.[a]
Doxology
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Footnotes:
- Jude 1:23 The Greek manuscripts of these verses vary at several points.
Matthew 11:11-15
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[a] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
John the Baptist was chosen by God to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. This purpose was made known to John’s parents before his birth. John the Baptist did not preach the gospel but he called the Jewish people back to faith in God and asked people to be baptized as a sign of repentance. Jesus gave honour to John the Baptist and praised his good work.
What work has God called you to do? Are being faithful in your calling?
JUMAPILI TAREHE 11 DECEMBA SIKU YA BWANA YA TATU KATIKA MAJILIO
Zaburi 22:22-31, Yuda 1:21-25, Mathayo 11:11-15
Zaburi 22:22-31
22 Nitalihubiri jina lako kwa ndugu zangu, Katikati ya kusanyiko nitakusifu.
23 Ninyi mnaomcha Bwana, msifuni, Enyi nyote mlio wazao wa Yakobo, mtukuzeni, Mcheni, enyi nyote mlio wazao wa Israeli.
24 Maana hakulidharau teso la mteswa, Wala hakuchukizwa nalo; Wala hakumficha uso wake, Bali alipomlilia akamsikia.
25 Kwako zinatoka sifa zangu Katika kusanyiko kubwa. Nitaziondoa nadhiri zangu Mbele yao wamchao.
26 Wapole watakula na kushiba, Wamtafutao Bwana watamsifu; Mioyo yenu na iishi milele.
27 Miisho yote ya dunia itakumbuka, Na watu watamrejea Bwana; Jamaa zote za mataifa watamsujudia.
28 Maana ufalme una Bwana, Naye ndiye awatawalaye mataifa.
29 Wakwasi wote wa dunia watakula na kusujudu, Humwinamia wote washukao mavumbini; Naam, yeye asiyeweza kujihuisha nafsi yake,
30 Wazao wake watamtumikia. Zitasimuliwa habari za Bwana, Kwa kizazi kitakachokuja,
31 Nao watawahubiri watakaozaliwa haki yake, Ya kwamba ndiye aliyeyafanya.
Yuda 1:21-25
21 jilindeni katika upendo wa Mungu, huku mkingojea rehema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, hata mpate uzima wa milele.
22 Wahurumieni wengine walio na shaka,
23 na wengine waokoeni kwa kuwanyakua katika moto; na wengine wahurumieni kwa hofu, mkilichukia hata vazi lililotiwa uchafu na mwili.
24 Yeye awezaye kuwalinda ninyi msijikwae, na kuwasimamisha mbele ya utukufu wake bila mawaa katika furaha kuu;
25 Yeye aliye Mungu pekee, Mwokozi wetu kwa Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu; utukufu una yeye, na ukuu, na uwezo, na nguvu, tangu milele, na sasa, na hata milele. Amina.
Mathayo 11:11-15
11 Amin, nawaambieni, Hajaondokea mtu katika wazao wa wanawake aliye mkuu kuliko Yohana Mbatizaji; walakini aliye mdogo katika ufalme wa mbinguni ni mkuu kuliko yeye.
12 Tangu siku za Yohana Mbatizaji hata sasa ufalme wa mbinguni hupatikana kwa nguvu, nao wenye nguvu wauteka.
13 Kwa maana manabii wote na torati walitabiri mpaka wakati wa Yohana.
14 Na ikiwa mnataka kukubali, yeye ndiye Eliya atakayekuja.
15 Mwenye masikio, na asikie.
Yohana alichaguliwa na Mungu kabla ya kuzaliwa kuwa mtangulizi kuandaa njia kwa Yesu Kristo. Yohana hakuhubiri Injili bali aliwaita wayahudi kumrejea Mungu wao na kutubu dhambi zao. Yohana aliwabatiza watu kama alama ya toba. Yohana aliwaongoza wafusai wake ile wamfuate Yesu Kristo.
Yesus alimsifu Yohana Mbatizaji kwa kazi yake njema. Yohana alikuwa mwaminifu kwa wito wake. Wewe je! Umeitwa na Mungu kufanya nini? Je ! wewe ni mwaminifu kwa wito wako?
