_*SATURDAY, 3RD AUGUST 2024.*__*SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.*__*FIRST READING*__“The Word sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

JEREMIAH 26: 11 – 16, 24.*_In those days: The priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, “This man deserve the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will repent of the evil which he has pronounced against you. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.” Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death._*The Word of the Lord.*__*RESPONSORIAL PSALM*_ _Psalm 69: 15 – 16, 30 – 31, 33 – 34 (R.) 14.__*R/. At an acceptable time, O Lord, answer me.*_Rescue me from sinking in the mud;from those who hate me, deliver me.Save me from the waters of the deep,lest the waves overwhelm me.Let not the deep engulf me,nor the pit close its mouth on me. *R/.*As for me in my poverty and pain,let your salvation, O God, raise me up.Then I will praise God’s name with a song;I will glorify him with thanksgiving. *R/.*The poor when they see it will be glad,and God-seeking hearts will revive;for the Lord listens to the needy,and does not spurn his own in their chains. *R/.*_*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION*_Matthew 5: 10Alleluia. _Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven._Alleluia._*GOSPEL*__Herod sent and had John beheaded; his disciples went and told Jesus.__*MATTHEW 14: 1 – 12.*_At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist,  he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus._*The Gospel of the Lord.

*Mugovera 3 Nyamavhuvhu – August;* *Vhiki 17 regore -* *Chiverengo chokutanga:* _Jeremiya 26,11-16.24_ _Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku romuporofita Jeremiya_ 11 Vapristi navaporofita vakataurira machinda navanhu vose kuti, “Murume uyu anofanira kutongerwa rufu nokuti aporofita achinangana neguta rino iri sezvamazvinzwirawo imi nenzeve dzenyu.” 12 Jeremiya ndokubva ataura kumachinda ose nokuvanhu vose achiti, “Tenzi akandituma kuzoporofita ndakanangana nemba ino uye neguta iro rino mashoko ose amanzwa. 13 Saka zvino chitogadziridzai nzira dzenyu nezviito zvenyu mugoteerera inzwi raTenzi, Mwari wenyu. Tenzi achadzora mwoyo orega kuita kwamuri zvaakareva nezvenyu. 14 Kana ndiri ini, hezvika ndiri mumaoko menyu, itai henyu neni zvamunoona kuti zvakanaka uye zviri pamwero 15 Asi munofanira kunyatsoziva kuti kana mukandiuraya muchapfukirwa neropa risina mhaka, imi, neguta rino navagari varo nokuti zvechokwadi Tenzi akandituma kwamuri kuzotaura mashoko ose iwaya muchizvinzwa nenzeve dzenyu.” 16 Machinda navanhu vose vakabva vati kuvapristi nokuvaporofita, “Murume uyu haafanire kutongerwa rufu nokuti ataura kwatiri muzita raTenzi, Mwari wedu.” 24 Asi Jeremiya akachengeteka mumaoko maAhikamu mwanakomana wokwaShafani zvokuti haana kuzoturirwa kuvanhu kuti vamuuraye. *Shoko raTenzi.* *Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 69,14-15.29-30.32-33. (D – 13)_ *(D) – Ndipindurei Tenzi,* *nemwoyochena wenyu.* 14 Ndinunureiwo kuti ndirege kunyura mumadhaka, ndinunureiwo kumhandu dzangu, uye kumvura yakadzika. 15 Musarege mafashamo achindifukidza, kana kumedzwa nemvura yakadzika, gomba ngarirege kundizaririra mariri. *(D) – Ndipindurei Tenzi,* *nemwoyochena wenyu.*29 Ini ndiri kutambura; ndiri kurwadziwa. Ndisimudzeiwo Mwari nokuponesa kwenyu. 30 Ndicharumbidza zita raMwari norumbo, ndichamukudza nokumutenda. *(D) – Ndipindurei Tenzi,**nemwoyochena wenyu.* 32 Vari kudzvinyirirwa ngavazvione vagofara. Imi munotsvaka Mwari mwoyo yenyu ngaimuke. 33 Nokuti Mwari anonzwa varombo, uye haashori vanhu vake vanenge vari muusungwa. *(D) – Ndipindurei Tenzi*,*nemwoyochena wenyu.* *Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:* _Mateu 5,10_ *Areruya, Areruya.* Vakakomborerwa zvavo vanotambudzirwa ururami, nokuti umambo hwedenga ndohwavo. *Areruya.* *Shoko Rakanaka:* _Mateu 14,1-12_ _Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMateu_ 1 Herodhi, mumwe wavatongi akanzwa zvomukurumbira waJesu, akati kumakurukota ake, 2 “Uyu ndiJohani Muombeki akamutswa muvafi, ndokusaka achigona kuita zvishamiso izvi,” 3 nokuti Herodhi akanga abata Johani akamusunga ndokumuisa mujeri pamusana paHerodhiasi, mudzimai womunun’una wake Firipi. 4 Chikonzero ndechokuti Johani akanga amuti, “Hazvibvumirwi, pamutemo, kuti agare naye.” 5 Kunyange zvazvo aida kumuuraya aitya vanhu, nokuti vaimutora somuporofita. 6 Asi pakasvika zuva rokupemberera kuberekwa kwaHerodhi, mukunda waHerodhiasi akatamba pamberi pechikwata chose chavanhu akafadza Herodhi, 7 zvokuti akatsidza nemhiko kumupa chose zvacho chaangakumbire. 8 Asokwa mashoko naamai vake akati, “Ndipei, musoro waJohani Muombeki mudhishi iye zvino.” 9 Mambo zvakamutambudza mwoyo, asi nokuda kwemhiko dzake, uye pamusanawo pavaenzi vake, akati ngaapiwe. 10Akatuma munhu kuti andodimura musoro waJohani mujeri. 11 Musoro wake wakaunzwa uri mudhishi ukapiwa kumusikana. Iyewo akaenda nawo kuna amai vake. 12Vadzidzi vaJohani vakauya vakatora chitunha ichocho vakachiviga. Vakaenda vakandotaurira Jesu. *Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Overcoming Regret
August 3, 2024

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” (Matthew 14:1–2)

Herod the tetrarch was one of three brothers and a sister who became 1st-century rulers to succeed their father, Herod the Great, when he died in 4 B.C. Herod governed much of the territory west of the Sea of Galilee, which was the territory in which Jesus spent most of His time during His public ministry. He also ruled a territory just east of the Dead Sea, which is where he had imprisoned and ultimately killed John the Baptist. Herod was known for being a very busy builder and is prominently known for his role in the deaths of Saint John the Baptist and Jesus.

Recall that Herod had taken his brother’s wife, Herodias, as his own, and John the Baptist publicly opposed this. For that reason, Herod had John arrested and ultimately beheaded at the request of Herodias, who took the Baptist’s criticism very personally. Herod, on the other hand, had a strange sort of admiration for the Baptist.

The Gospel passage quoted above reveals a somewhat unusual statement by Herod. After he had killed Saint John the Baptist, he heard about the reputation of Jesus Who was traveling throughout Herod’s territory preaching and performing many mighty deeds. Word spread fast about Jesus and quickly reached even the ears of Herod. So why did Herod strangely think that Jesus must have been John the Baptist raised from the dead? Though we do not know for certain, we certainly can speculate.

In the version of this story found in the Gospel of Mark, we read, “Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him” (Mark 6:20). Herod may have been a man who had a spark of faith but was ultimately ruled by his passions and desire for power. Perhaps that is why he initially kept John the Baptist alive in his prison. It also appears that Herod had some form of either regret or fear over his beheading of John. And it is most likely for this reason that Herod immediately thought of John when he initially heard of Jesus and the “mighty powers” that were at work within Him.

Regret, fear and guilt are common effects of a conscience that is in conflict. Herod the tetrarch is a good example of what happens when we do not resolve that conflict within ourselves. The only way to resolve the interior confusion of a conflicted conscience is to humbly submit to the truth. Imagine if Herod would have repented. Imagine if he would have sought out Jesus, confessed his sins, and begged for forgiveness. What a glorious story that would have been. Instead, we have the witness of a man who has gone astray and remained obstinate in his sin.

Reflect, today, upon this unholy witness of Herod. God can use all things for His glory, and He can even use the example of Herod to reveal to ourselves any similar tendency. Do you struggle with regret, fear and guilt? Does this cause conflict within you? The good news is that this conflict is easily resolved by a humble heart that seeks the truth. Seek the truth by admitting any long-lasting sin you need to resolve and permit the mercy of God to enter in so as to set you free.

PRAYER:
My merciful Jesus, You desire that all people experience freedom from the sins of the past. You desire to penetrate our hearts and to bring resolution and peace. Please help me to open my mind and heart to You in the areas that still cause pain and regret, and help me to be set free by Your infinite mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.