SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER, FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
THEME; THE LORD IS COMING TO HIS CHURCH
Psalm 45:7-9, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
Psalm 45:7-9
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
Romans 13:11-14
The Day Is Near
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[a]
Footnotes:
- Romans 13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Matthew 24:36-44
The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 24:36 Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son.
Today is the first Sunday in Advent and the beginning of the Church year. Advent is a period of 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas. During this time we prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus. We think of His first coming to earth as baby born in Bethlehem but we also, as today, think about His second coming. We believe as we declare every Sunday in the Apostles creed that Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.
In our Gospel reading Jesus is talking to His disciples to explain to them about His Second coming in glory.
Let us think about His words and prepare ourselves so that we will be ready when He comes.
JUMAPILI TAREHE 27 NOVEMBA 2016
Zaburi 45:7-9
7 Umeipenda haki; Umeichukia dhuluma. Kwa hiyo MUNGU, Mungu wako, amekupaka mafuta, Mafuta ya furaha kuliko wenzako.
8 Mavazi yako yote hunukia manemane Na udi na mdalasini. Katika majumba ya pembe Vinubi vimekufurahisha.
9 Binti za wafalme wamo Miongoni mwa akina bibi wako wastahiki. Mkono wako wa kuume amesimama malkia Amevaa dhahabu ya Ofiri.
Rumi 13:11-14
11 Naam, tukiujua wakati, kwamba saa ya kuamka katika usingizi imekwisha kuwadia; kwa maana sasa wokovu wetu u karibu nasi kuliko tulipoanza kuamini
12 Usiku umeendelea sana, mchana umekaribia, basi na tuyavue matendo ya giza, na kuzivaa silaha za nuru.
13 Kama ilivyohusika na mchana na tuenende kwa adabu; si kwa ulafi na ulevi, si kwa ufisadi na uasherati, si kwa ugomvi na wivu.
14 Bali mvaeni Bwana Yesu Kristo, wala msiuangalie mwili, hata kuwasha tamaa zake.
Mathayo 24:36-44
36 Walakini habari ya siku ile na saa ile hakuna aijuaye, hata malaika walio mbinguni, wala Mwana, ila Baba peke yake.
37 Kwa maana kama vile ilivyokuwa siku za Nuhu, ndivyo kutakavyokuwa kuja kwake Mwana wa Adamu.
38 Kwa kuwa kama vile siku zile zilizokuwa kabla ya Gharika watu walivyokuwa wakila, na kunywa, wakioa na kuolewa, hata siku ile aliyoingia Nuhu katika safina,
39 wasitambue, hata Gharika ikaja, ikawachukua wote, ndivyo kutakavyokuwa kuja kwake Mwana wa Adamu.
40 Wakati ule watu wawili watakuwako kondeni; mmoja atwaliwa, mmoja aachwa;
41 wanawake wawili watakuwa wakisaga; mmoja atwaliwa, mmoja aachwa.
42 Kesheni basi; kwa maana hamjui ni siku ipi atakayokuja Bwana wenu.
43 Lakini fahamuni neno hili; kama mwenye nyumba angaliijua ile zamu mwivi atakayokuja, angalikesha, wala asingaliiacha nyumba yake kuvunjwa.
44 Kwa sababu hiyo ninyi nanyi jiwekeni tayari; kwa kuwa katika saa msiyodhani Mwana wa Adamu yuaja.
Leo ni Jumapili ya kwanza katika Majilio na mwanzo wa Mwaka wa Kanisa. Majilio ni kipindi cha Jumapili 4 inaoelekea Kristmasi. Ni kupindi cha maadalizi. Tunajiandaa kumkaribisha Yesu Kristo wakati tunakumbuka ujio wake wa kwanza duniani. Yesu alizaliwa Bethlehemu zaidi ya miaka elfu 2 iliyopita. Lakini pia kama leo tunajiandaa kwa ujio wake wa pili katika utukufu. Kama tunavyokiri kila Jumapili katika Imani ya Mitume. Yesu atakuja tena kuwahukumu walio hai na wafu.
Katika maneno ya Injili wa leo tunasoma mafundisho wa Yesu kuhusu ujio wake wa pili. Tutafakari maneno haya na tujiandae kumpokea Yesu Kristo akija tena duniani.