MONDAY, AUGUST 12TH 2024.

NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL, Religious & BLESSED ISIDORE BAKANJA, Martyr.

FIRST READING    
“Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.”
EZEKIEL 1: 2 – 5, 24 – 28c

On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldean by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness round about it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming bronze. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the form of men. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of a host; when they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the firmament over their heads; when they stood still, they let down their wings. And above the firmament over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness as it were of a human form. And upward from what had the appearance of his loins I saw as it were gleaming bronze, like the appearance of fire enclosed round about; and downward from what had the appearance of his loins I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 148: 1 – 2, 11 – 12, 13, 14.

R/. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Or:
Alleluia.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts. R/.

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,
young men and maidens as well,
the old together with the young. R/.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted,
his splendour above heaven and earth. R/.

He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his faithful,
the praise of the children of Israel,
of the people to whom he is close. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
2nd Thessalonians 2: 14

Alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.

GOSPEL        
They will kill him, and he will be raised. The sons are free from tribute.
MATTHEW 17: 22 – 27

At that time: As the disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed. When they came to Capernaiun, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However,  not to give offence  to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Muvhuro 12 Nyamavhuvhu – August

Vhiki 19 regore –

Chiverengo chokutanga:
Ezekieri 1,2-5.24-28c

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku romuporofita Ezekieri
2 Pazuva reshanu romwedzi iwoyo, (muri mugore
rechishanu rokutapwa kwamambo Jehoyakini),
3 izwi raTenzi rakauya kumupristi Ezekieri, mwanakomana waBhuzi, munyika yavaKaradhea pedyo
nerwizi rweKebhari, izvozvo simba roruoko rwaTenzi rakava paari ikoko. 4 “Ndakatarisa, onei hero dutu remhepo richibva
kuchamhembe uye negore guru nomoto wainjenjema nechiedza chaipenya kwazvo kuritenderedza.
Moto wairamba uchingovavaya, izvozvo mukati
memoto makaita sendarira. 5 Zvino mukati macho
makabuda zvimwe zvinhu zvina zvakaita sezvisikwa
zvipenyu. Chimiro chazvo chakanga chakadai
seizvi, zvakanga zvakaita savanhu.
24 Zvisikwa zvipenyu izvi zvaiti zvikafamba, ini
ndonzwa kubhabhama kwamapapiro azvo soruzha
rwemvura zhinji, sokudhiriridza kwaiye Aripagomo, murikitira zvawo wemhomho unenge zhwerendende regurusvusvu rehondo. Zvaiti zvikati
mbikiti kumira, mapapiro zvoati pasi regedzerei.
25 Paibva pabva izwi raibva muziendanakuenda
romudenga pamusoro pazvo, izvo zvakati mbikiti
kumira kudaro, mapapiro zvakati pasi regedzerei
saizvozvo.
26 Nechapamusorowo, muziendanakuenda, pakaonekwa chimwe chainge chigaro choumambo,
ibwe rinokosha resafaya rakaita sechigaro choushe,
pakanga pakagarwa nechimwe chinhu chine
chimiro chinenge chomunhu. 27 Kubvira mainge
muchiuno chake zvichikwira, ndakaona chinenge
ndarira yainjenjemera somoto wakachitenderedza.
Kubvawo mainge muchiuno macho zvichidzika,
ndakaona chainge moto. Uye kwakanga kwangoti ngwe-e kuchena kumutenderedza. 28 Sezvakangoita
muraraungu mumakore pamusi wemvura ndokuonekwa kwaiita chiedza kutenderera.
Ikoku ndokutarisika kwaiita kupenya kokuvapo
kwaTenzi. Zvino ini pandakakuona ndakati pasi
zvambarara.”
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 148,1-2.11-12.13.14

(D) – Denga napasi zvizere nembiri yenyu.
Rumbidzai TENZI kumatenga;
murumbidzei kumusoro soro.
2 Murumbidzei imi vatumwa vake vose;
murumbidzei imi hondo dzake dzose.
(D) – Denga napasi zvizere nembiri yenyu.
11 Nemi madzimambo apasi nemi vanhu vose,
imi machinda nemi vatongi vose vapasi,
12 nemi majaya nemhandara pamwechete,
imi vakwegura nemi vana.
(D) – Denga napasi zvizere nembiri yenyu.
13 Rumbidzai zita raTENZI nokuti zita rake roga
ndiro riri pamusorosoro, mukurumbira wake,
denga napasi zvinosara pasi.
14 Akaita kuti vanhu vake vave rudzi rune simba,
varurami vake vose ngavarumbidzwe.
(D) – Denga napasi zvizere nembiri yenyu.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
2 VaTesaronika 2,14

Areruya, Areruya. Nokuparidzirwa Shoko
Rakanaka Mwari akatidaidza kuti tiwane mbiri
yaTenzi wedu Jesu Kristu. Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Mateu 17,22-27

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMateu
22 Vadzidzi pavakanga vari pamwechete muGarirea,
Jesu akati kwavari, “Mwanakomana womunhu
achaiswa mumaoko avanhu. 23 Vachamuuraya, asi
mushure memazuva matatu achamutswa.”
Vakabva vasuruvara zvikuru.
24 Pavakasvika kuKapenaumu, vabhadharisi
vomutero wehafu yemari yeshekeri vakaenda kuna
Pita vakati, “Mudzidzisi wenyu haabhadhari
mutero uyu here?” 25 Iye akati, “Hongu.”
Paakadzoka kumba, Jesu ndiye akatanga kutaura
kwaari achiti, “Unofunga kuti kudii Simoni?
Ndavapi vanobvisiswa mutero nomuripo namadzimambo panyika? Vana vavo here kana kuti vamwe
zvavo?” 26 Pita paakati vamwe zvavo, Jesu akati
kwaari, “Saka vana havabhadhari, handiti? 27 Asi
kuti tirege kuvagumbura, enda kugungwa undokandamo chirauro, utore hove yokutanga inenge
yabatwa. Paunozarura muromo wayo uchawana
shekeri. Ritore undobhadharira ini newe.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Miracles of Hope
August 12, 2024

From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.” (Matthew 17:25–27)

Prior to this minor miracle, Jesus had just told His disciples for the second time about His coming passion. Again, this was difficult for them to hear. Recall that after the first prediction of Jesus’ coming passion and death, Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain and was Transfigured before them. The Transfiguration was meant, in part, to dispel the fear of the disciples and to give them hope for that which was to come. And now, after Jesus’ second prediction of His passion, another miracle was performed for Peter, personally, to help encourage him and give him hope.

Imagine if you were Peter. Imagine following through with Jesus’ instructions by going to the sea, dropping in a hook, pulling out a fish and then opening its mouth. Peter must have been filled with hope and excitement as he pulled this fish in, wondering if Jesus’ words would come true. And as soon as Peter saw the coin, just as Jesus said, he must have been in awe. Slowly, the fear and anxiety he was experiencing at this second prediction of Jesus’ passion and death would have begun to subside as Peter witnessed yet another incredible sign from his Lord.

God performs miracles in our lives every day. The problem is that we often fail to discern them. Any time His glorious power works within us to strengthen us or fills us with courage, hope, charity and every other virtue, this is a miracle of transforming grace. God always knows what we need in life. He knows our struggles and doubts. At times, He is silent so as to draw us deeper through intentional prayer and acts of faith. And at times, we suddenly find that we receive a new clarity in life that is the result of His grace at work.

Jesus knew that Peter needed this extra grace of this personal miracle so that he could move beyond his fears and struggles and place all of his trust in Jesus. Jesus was trustworthy. This is the conclusion Peter would have arrived at. He was trustworthy. Therefore, everything He said should be believed. What a wonderful conclusion for us all to arrive at.

Reflect, today, upon the ways that God has assured you of His divine presence and action in your life. Though the assuring miracles God has performed in your life may not be physical in their manifestation, God’s workings can be just as convincing if we clearly perceive them. What does God want to assure you of in your life? What struggle or doubt do you struggle with? If you struggle, turn your mind to the ways that God has been present and active in your life. Ponder His intervention and the ways He has cared for you and led you. Be grateful and allow the memory of what God has done to be your strength today and the source of hope when you need it the most.

PRAYER:
My miraculous Lord, Your action in my life is truly glorious and amazing. You never fail to provide for me when I am in need. Help me to turn to You whenever I struggle so as to be filled with new hope in You. You are always faithful, dear Lord. I do place all my hope in You. Jesus, I trust in You.