TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD 2024.

TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT, Pope & Doctor of the Church.

FIRST READING
“The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God; the spiritual man judges all things.”
1ST CORINTHIANS 2: 10b – 16

Brethren: The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 145: 8 – 9, 10 – 11, 12 – 13ab, 13cd – 14 (R.) 17a

R/. The Lord is just in all his ways.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. R/.

All your works shall thank you,
O Lord, and all your faithful ones bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign,
and declare your mighty deeds. R/.

They shall make known your might to the children of men,
and the glorious splendour of your reign.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule endures for all generations. R/.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and holy in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 
Luke 7: 15

Alleluia.
A great prophet has risen among us, and God has visited his people.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL       
“I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
LUKE 4: 31 – 37

At that time: Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?   I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And reports of him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Chipiri 3 Gunyana – September;

Kurangarira Papa Giregori mukuru, Ngwazi yezvechitendero –

Chiverengo chokutanga: 1 VaKorinde 2,10b-16

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde
Hama,
“Mweya anotsvagurudza zvose,
kunyange zvinhu zvoudzamu hwaMwari.
11Ndiani angazive zviri mupfungwa dzomunhu
kusiya mweya womunhu iyeyo uri maari.
Saizvozvowo, hapana angazive pfungwa
dzaMwari kusiya Mweya waMwari.
12Zvino hatina kugamuchira mweya wapanyika,
asi Mweya anobva kuna Mwari, kuti tizive
zvipo zvatinopiwa pachena naMwari.”
13Hatitauri izvi namazwi atinodzidziswa noungwaru
hwavanhu, asi atinodzidziswa neMweya tichitsanangura zvinhu zvechokwadi, zvomweya kune avo
vane Mweya.
14 Munhu asina Mweya haakwanisi kugamuchira
zvipo zveMweya Mutsvene waMwari, nokuti nde￾zvoupenzi kwaari, uye haagoni kuzvinzwisisa nokuti
zvinogona kunzwisiswa nomunhu ane Mweya.
15 Munhu ane Mweya anogona kunzwisisa zvose
sezvazviri, asi iye hapana anogona kumunzwisisa
zvaari. 16 Sokutaura kunoita Magwaro Matsvene
anoti,
“Ndiani angazive pfungwa dzaTenzi zvokuti
angamudzidzise? Asi isu pfungwa dzaKristu
tinadzo.”
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 145,8-9.10-11.12-13ab.13cd-14. (D – 17)

(D) – TENZI akarurama panzira dzake dzose.
8 TENZI akanaka uye ane tsitsi, haakurumidzi
kushatirwa, uye azere nemwoyochena.
9 TENZI akanaka kumunhu wose
uye ane tsitsi nechose chaakasika.
(D) – TENZI akarurama panzira dzake dzose.
10 Zvose zvamakasika zvichakutendai TENZI,
uye vatsvene venyu vose vachakutunhidzai;
11 vachataura nezvembiri youmambo hwenyu,
vachikurukura nezvesimba renyu.
(D) – TENZI akarurama panzira dzake dzose.
12 Kuzivisa vanhu simba ramabasa enyu, uye
mukurumbira woumambo hwenyu husingaitiki.
13 Umambo hwenyu umambo hwokugara nokugara,
kutonga kwenyu kunogara kwezvizvarwa
nezvizvarwa.
(D) – TENZI akarurama panzira dzake dzose.
TENZI anotendeka pane zvose zvaanotaura,
uye zvaanoita zvose anozviita nemwoyochena.
14 TENZI anotsigira vanenge vavakuputsika,
uye anosimudzira vanenge varasiswa mwoyo.
(D) – TENZI akarurama panzira dzake dzose.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Ruka 7,16

Areruya, Areruya. Muporofita mukuru
akamutswa mukati medu. Mwari azoshanyira
vanhu vake. Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka:
Ruka 4,31-37

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka
31 Jesu wakazodzika Kapenaumu, guta reGarirea,
kwaakadzidzisa vanhu pamusi weSabata. 32 Vakashamiswa kwazvo nokudzidzisa kwake, nokuti
zvaaitaura zvaiva nechiremera.
33 Musinagogu imomo maiva nomunhu aiva
nomweya wakaipa wetsvina. Akazhamba nezwi
guru achiti; 34 “Aa! Ko, tinei newe Jesu weNazareti?
Wauya kuzotiparadza here? Ndinokuziva; kuti
ndiwe ani; ndiwe Mutsvene waMwari.”
35 Jesu akaukarira achiti, “Chibva wanyarara ubude
maari.” Kuzoti mweya wakaipa uya wambomurigira
pasi, vose vachizviona; wakabuda maari usina
kumbomukuvadza. 36Vanhu vose vakashamiswa kwazvo, vakataurirana
vachiti, “Ishokoi iri? Nokuti anoudza mweya yakipa nechiremera nesimba, ichibva yabuda.” 37Mukurumbira wake wakanzwika mudunhu iro rose.
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Authority and Power
Tuesday, September 3, 2024

They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. (Luke 4:36–37)

Jesus had just encountered the wrath of many in His hometown of Nazareth, so He left there and traveled about 30 miles to Capernaum, a town just north of the Sea of Galilee. This was to become His new home during His public ministry. The reaction He received in Capernaum was much different than that which He received in Nazareth. As He taught in the Synagogue in Capernaum, a man with a demon came to Him, Jesus rebuked the demon and cast it out, and the people were amazed. Word spread about Jesus quickly. After this, Jesus performed many other miracles, and the people continued to be in awe of Him.

What was it that impressed the people of Capernaum? In part it was the “authority and power” with which Jesus spoke and acted. But it was not only this, since Jesus had done so also in Nazareth where the people failed to believe in Him. In Capernaum it wasn’t that Jesus was different, it seems that the people were different. Jesus won over many hearts in Capernaum because the people were open to the gift of faith. In fact, when Jesus was preparing to leave from Capernaum, the people begged Him to stay. Though eventually Jesus would also encounter resistance from the people there, their initial reaction was one of faith.

Do you want Jesus to act powerfully in your life? Do you want Him to act upon you with authority and power? Many people, from time to time, can feel as though their lives are somewhat out of control. They experience weakness, confusion, a lack of direction and the like. For that reason, true spiritual “authority and power” is very welcome. What sort of authority and power do you need Jesus to exert over your life today?

Think of a small child who is frightened. When this happens, the child turns to a loving parent for comfort and security. The embrace of a parent immediately helps to dispel the fear and worry of the child. So it is with us. We must see Jesus as the source of calm in our lives. He is the only one Who is capable of ordering our lives, freeing us from the attacks of the evil one, bringing peace and calm to our disordered emotions and clarity to our questions and doubts. But this will only be possible if we are open. His power never changes, but it can only enter our lives when we change and when we recognize our weakness and our need for Him to take control.

Reflect, today, upon the infinite spiritual authority and power of our Lord. It is a power beyond anything else we could imagine. He wants to exercise this authority in your life out of love. What is hindering Him from taking greater control of your life? What sin or temptation does Jesus want to rebuke in your life? From what oppression does He want to set you free? Reflect upon yourself being a member of the town of Capernaum who fully welcomes Jesus, is amazed at Him and desires Him in your life. His working in your life depends upon you and your response to Him. Call on Him and let Him in.

PRAYER:
My most powerful Lord, You and You alone are able to take authority over my life and bring order and peace. Please remove any doubt and stubbornness from my heart so that I can open myself to You and Your grace. Take authority of my life, dear Lord, and lead me into Your most holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.