Maisha ya Kiroho – 1

UTUME KWA VIJANA 10
Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB
 
Vijana, Tunaitwa kuwa Watakatifu!
Maisha ya Kiroho Kwa Vijana – 1
 
Sote Tumeitwa kuwa Watakatifu
 
Mtaguso wa pili wa Vatikano ulitukumbusha kuwa sisi sote tumeitwa kuwa watakatifu:  “Bwana Yesu, aliye Mwalimu na mfano wa kimungu wa kila ukamilifu, aliwahubiria wafuasi wake, wote na kila mmoja wa kila cheo na hali, utakatifu wa maisha, ambao Yeye huwa mtungaji na mtimilizaji wake. ‘Muwe wakamilifu, kama Baba yenu wa mbinguni alivyo mkamilifu’ (Mt. 5:48).” (Hati ya Mwanga wa Mataifa, na. 40)
 
Kila mmoja katika maisha yake ya kila siku, anatafsiri agizo hili la Yesu kadiri ya nafasi yake na tena kulingana na wito wake – kama mlei, mtawa au padre.   Ingawa kila mmoja anaishi maisha yake kwa namna tofauti, wito wa kuwa mtakatifu ni mmoja.  Katika miaka iliyofuata Mtaguso wa pili wa Vatikano kanisa limeonesha wazi kwamba kuwa utakatifu si jambo la zamani, wala si nafasi pekee kwa wamonaki tu.  Kudhihirisha […]

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Maisha ya Kiroho – 2

UTUME KWA VIJANA 11
Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB
Vijana, Tunaitwa kuwa Watakatifu!
Maisha ya Kiroho Kwa Vijana – 2
 
Katika makala iliyotangulia tulieleza kuhusu maana ya maisha ya kiroho kwa vijana.  Hapo chini tungependa kueleza vipengele saba vinavyoweza kuwasaidia vijana katika safari yao ya kujikamilisha.  Katika kuandika makala hii nimesaidiwa na Prosper Dionis, ambaye ni kijana mtanzania.  Kwa namna nyingine anaeleza jinsi yeye mwenyewe anavyoishi maisha ya utakatifu.
 
1. Kuadhimisha Maisha kwa Furaha
 
Kuadhimisha maisha kwa furaha ni ile hali ya kutambua ubora wa maisha na kutoruhusu mahangaiko ya maisha kutukatisha tamaa.  Maisha ni zawadi ya pekee kutoka kwa Mungu.  Zawadi hii ni kwa ajili ya kulindwa, kukuzwa na kuadhimishwa.  Taabu za maisha wala mahangaiko ya kila siku hayapaswi kuwa vizuizi vya sisi kutofurahia maisha. Kuadhimisha maisha kwa furaha ni fikra niliyo nayo kwamba maisha ni zaidi ya magumu ninayokutana nayo kwa sasa.  Kuadhimisha maisha ni kupokea zawadi ya maisha kama yalivyo, pamoja na taabu na […]

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Lectio Divina

UTUME KWA VIJANA 12
Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB
 
Lectio Divina Kwa Vijana
 
Tangu mwaka 1985, imekuwa desturi katika Kanisa Katoliki kuadhimisha Jumapili ya Matawi kuwa Siku ya Vijana Duniani. Aidha, kila mwaka katika adhimisho hili Baba Mtakatifu huwa anatoa ujumbe maalumu kwa ajili ya vijana duniani kote.  Hata mwaka huu wa 2006, katika adhimisho la 21 la Siku ya Vijana Duniani (9 April 2006), Baba Mtakatifu ametoa ujumbe kwa vijana wote: “Dhamira ninayopendekeza kwenu ni kutoka Zaburi 119: 105 –  “Neno lako ni taa ya kuniongoza, na mwanga katika njia yangu.”
 
Katika ujumbe wake anasisitizia kuwa vijana wa siku hizi tunaishi katika mazingira magumu yenye falsafa za uongo na maadili potofu.  Katika mazingira haya ya giza Neno la Mungu ndilo linaloweza kuiangaza njia yetu.
 
Papa anatukumbushia maneno ya mwandishi wa Waraka kwa Waebrania anayesema: “Neno la Mungu ni hai na lina nguvu; ni kali kuliko upanga wenye makali kuwili. Hukata kabisa mpaka mahali ambapo moyo […]

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Via Lucis – Version 2

A pious exercise called the Via Lucis has developed and spread to many regions in recent years. Following the model of the Via Crucis, the faithful process while meditating on the various appearances of Jesus – from his Resurrection to his Ascension – in which he showed his glory to the disciples who awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14, 26; 16, 13-15; Lk 24, 49), strengthened their faith, brought to completion his teaching on the Kingdom and more closely defined the sacramental and hierarchical structure of the Church.
Through the Via Lucis, the faithful recall the central event of the faith – the resurrection of Christ – and their discipleship in virtue of Baptism, the paschal sacrament by which they have passed from the darkness of sin to the bright radiance of the light of grace (cf. Col 1, 13; Eph 5, 8).
For centuries the Via Crucis involved the faithful in […]

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Being Here and Now

Sit and calm yourself.  Take a comfortable posture, with your feet flat on the floor if you are seated on a chair, and keep your back straight. Close your eyes.
Become aware of the fact that you are breathing.  Do not manipulate your breathing.  Just be aware that you are breathing in and out.  As you breathe out, relax the different parts of your body: have you closed your eyes too tight?  Relax your facial muscles.  You can actually let go of your lower jaw without opening your mouth.  Enjoy the moment.
Relax your neck, your shoulders, and above all your stomach. Keep your back straight.
Keep paying attention to your breathing.  Each time you realise your mind was wandering, bring back your attention to your breathing. Be here and now!
Now and then become aware of your feelings.  How do you feel?
End the exercise by becoming aware of the fact that you are in the presence of God.  Be at peace!

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