1ST KINGS 17: 1 – 6

In those days: Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the Lord came to him. “Depart from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 121: 1 – 2, 3 – 4, 5 – 6, 7 – 8 (R. 2)

R/. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help?
My help shall come from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. R/.

He will keep your foot from stumbling.
Your guard will never slumber.
No, he sleeps not nor slumber,
Israel’s guard. R/.

The Lord your guard, the Lord your shade
At your right hand.
By day the sun shall not smite you,
Nor the moon in the night. R/.

The Lord will guard you from evil;
He will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming,
Both now and for ever. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Matthew 5: 12a

Alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
MATTHEW 5: 1 – 12

At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
Muvhuro 10 Chikuni – June;

Vhiki 10 regore –

Chiverengo chokutanga:
1 Madzimambo 17,1-6

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku rokutanga raMadzimambo
1 Mumwe mugari wokuTishibhi kuGireadhi anonzi
Eriya akati kuna mambo Ahabhu, “Ndinopika
naTenzi chaiye mupenyu, Mwari weIsiraeri
wandinonamata kuti hakuchaita dova kana kunaya
zvako makore ano, kusatoti ndataura.”
2 Shoko raTenzi rakauya kuna Eriya rikati, 3 “Chibva
pano unange kumabvazuva, unohwanda kukakova
keKeriti kumabvazuva kweJorodhani. 4 Mukakova
ikako ndimo mauchanwa mvura. Ndaudza
makunguwo kuti apote achikupa chokudya ikoko.”
5 Saizvozvo akaenda akaita sokutaura kwakanga
kwaitwa naTenzi. Akandogarawo kukakova keKeriti kari kumabvazuva kwaJorodhani. 6Makunguwo
aimuvigira chingwa nenyama kumangwanani,
kumauro achimuvigirawo chingwa, achinwa mvura
mukakova kacho.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 121,1bc-2.3-4.5-6.7-8. (D – 2)

(D) – Rubatsiro rwangu runobva kuna TENZI, akasika denga napasi.
1 Ndinosimudzira meso angu kumakomo
Kunobva rubatsiro rwangu ndokupi?
2 Rubatsiro rwangu runobva kuna TENZI,
akasika denga napasi.
(D) – Rubatsiro rwangu runobva kuna TENZI, akasika denga napasi.
3 Haaregi tsoka yako ichitsvedzemuka,
iye anokuchengeta haatsomwaire nehope.
4 Onai iye anochengeta Isiraeri,
haatsomwaire nehope kana kukotsira.
(D) – Rubatsiro rwangu runobva kuna TENZI, akasika denga napasi.
5 TENZI ndiye muchengeti wako.
TENZI ndiye mumvuri wako kurudyi rwako.
6 Zuva harikupisi masikati
kana mwedzi nousiku.
(D) – Rubatsiro rwangu runobva kuna TENZI, akasika denga napasi.
7 TENZI achakudzivirira kune zvakaipa zvose,
achachengeta upenyu hwako.
8 TENZI achakuchengeta kubvira paunobuda
kusvika paunodzoka,
kubvira zvino nokusingaperi.
(D) – Rubatsiro rwangu runobva kuna TENZI, akasika denga napasi.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Mateu 5,12a

Areruya, Areruya. Farai mufarisise kwazvo,
nokuti mubayiro wenyu mukuru kudenga.
Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Mateu 5,1-12

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMateu
Jesu akati achiona gurusvusvu ravanhu akakwira
mugomo. Paakagara pasi vadzidzi vake vakauya
kwaari. 2Akazarura muromo wake akavadzidzisa
achiti:
“Vakakomborerwa zvavo varombo mumweya,
nokuti umambo hwedenga ndohwavo.
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vanochema,
nokuti vachanyaradzwa.
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vakapfava,
nokuti vachawana nhaka yenyika.
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vane nzara nenyota
yoururami, nokuti vachagutswa.
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vane tsitsi,
nokuti vachaitirwawo tsitsi.
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vakachena pamwoyo,
nokuti vachaona Mwari.
Vakakomborerwa zvavo vawadzanisi,
nokuti vachanzi vana vaMwari. Vakakomborerwa zvavo vanotambudzirwa
ururami,
nokuti umambo hwedenga ndohwavo.
Makakomborerwa zvenyu imi kana vanhu
vachikushorai nokukutambudzai,
vachikupomerai zvakaipa zvose zvenhema
pamusana pangu.
Farai mufarisise kwazvo,
nokuti mubayiro wenyu mukuru kudenga.
Nokuti ndiko kutambudza kwavakaita
vaporofita vakakutangirai”

Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: The Heights of Holiness
June 10, 2024

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:1–3)

Today we are given the incredibly high calling of the Beatitudes to ponder. These lessons were taught by Jesus on a hill just north of the Sea of Galilee. Many were coming to Jesus to listen to Him preach and to witness His many miracles. They flocked to Him in this remote location, and Jesus had them recline as He preached what is now referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount.” This sermon is found in Chapter 5 through 7 of Matthew’s Gospel, and it takes place shortly after Jesus began His public ministry.

What a way to begin His public ministry! This teaching of Jesus was brand new and must have left many people mesmerized. Jesus no longer taught only the precepts of the Old Testament, such as the Ten Commandments; He now elevated the moral law to a level never conceived of before.

As the people listened to this new teacher speak with new authority and wisdom, they may have been excited and confused at the same time. To hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful and clean of heart, and to be a peacemaker could have been accepted. But why was it that being poor, mournful, and meek were considered blessings? And even more challenging, why was it good to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness or insulted and falsely accused because of Jesus?

When Jesus’ new and radical teaching is clearly understood, it is not only His first disciples who may have been confused and excited at the same time. You, too, if you truly listen to His teachings and understand what He means, will find that you may be challenged to the core of your being. Jesus’ teaching must be embraced, fully, and without hesitation.

The Beatitudes are our call to perfection. They lay out for us the path by which we travel to the heights of holiness and obtain the glory of Heaven. They are our fine-tuned and detailed road map to the fullness of happiness and joy. But they also call us to a radical transformation of our minds and in our actions. They are not “easily” embraced, in the sense that they require that we turn from every selfish tendency we have and choose to live free of every earthly temptation, attachment and sin. Perfection awaits those who listen to, understand, and embrace the Beatitudes.

Reflect, today, upon the beginning of this challenging Sermon on the Mount. Try to find time to take each Beatitude to prayer. It is only through prayer and meditation that the full meaning of each of these invitations to holiness will be understood. Start with the call to interior poverty of spirit. This Beatitude calls us to complete detachment from all that is not part of God’s will. From there, consider the importance of mourning over your sin, of seeking purity of heart and humility in all things. Ponder each Beatitude and spend time with the one most challenging to you. Our Lord has much to say to you through this sermon. Don’t hesitate to allow Him to lead you to the heights of holiness through it.

PRAYER:
Lord of all holiness, You are perfect in every way. You lived every virtue and Beatitude to perfection. Give me the grace to open myself to You so that I may hear You call me to perfection of life and so that I may respond generously with my whole life. Make me holy, dear Lord, so that I will find the happiness and fulfillment You wish to bestow. Jesus, I trust in You.