THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH 2024.

TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

FIRST READING
Wounding the conscience of the brethren, you sin against Christ.
1ST CORINTHIANS 8: 1b – 7, 11 – 13

Brethren: “Knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords” — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being until now accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 139: 1 – 3, 13 – 14ab, 23 – 24 (R.) 24b

R/. Lead me, Lord, in the way everlasting.

O LORD, you search me and you know me.
You yourself know my resting and my rising;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down;
you know all my ways through and through. R/.

For it was you who formed my inmost being,
knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I thank you who wonderfully made me;
how wonderful are your works. R/.

O search me, God, and know my heart.
O test me, and know my thoughts.
See that my path is not wicked,
and lead me in the way everlasting. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
1st John 4: 12

Alleluia.
If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
LUKE 6: 27 – 38

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would to do you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;  and your  reward  will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

China 12 Gunyana – September;

Vhiki 23 regore –

Chiverengo chokutanga:
1 VaKorinde 8,1b-7.11-13

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde
1 Hama, ruzivo runotutumadza munhu, asi rudo
ndirwo runovaka munhu. 2 Kana munhu achiti
ndinoziva, haazivi sokuziva kwaanofanira kuita.
3 Asi kana munhu achida Mwari, anozivikanwawo
naye.
4 Saizvozvo pane zvechokudya chakapirwa kunavamwari vasirivo, tinoziva kuti pasi pano chinonzi
mwari asiri iye hakuna, uye kuti hakuna mumwe
mwari kusiya mumwechete. 5 Kunyange variko
zvavo vanonzi vamwari kudenga, kana panyika
varikowo, zvechokwadi vanonzi vamwari vakawanda navanonzi vanatenzi vakawanda. 6 Asi kwatiri
isu, kunongova naMwari mumwechete Baba,
kwakabva zvinhu zvose. Ndiyewo watakasikirwa
naTenzi mumwechete, Jesu Kristu. Zvinhu zvose
zvakasikwa nemaari iye, kana iyesu takasikwa
nemaari.
7 Asi havasi vose vane ruzivo irworwo, asi vamwe
nokutojairirana navamwari vasirivo, vanodya chokudya ichocho sokunge chakapirwa zvechokwadi
kunamwari asiriye. Zvino pamusana pehana dzavo
nhete, vanobva vasvibiswa. 11 Saizvozvo noruzivo
rwako, munhu uyu wehana nhete anoparadzwa,
hama yakatofirwa naKristu. 12 Nezvo nokutadzira
hama dzako kudaro, uchikuvadza hana dzavo kana
dziri nhete uri kutotadzira Kristu. 13 Naizvozvo,
kana chokudya chichikonzera kuti hama yangu iputsike, handimbofa ndakadya nyama kuti ndirege
kukonzera hama yangu kuputsika.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 139,1b-3.13-14ab.23-24. (D – 24)

(D) – TENZI, nditungamirirei munzira yokugara nokugara.
1 TENZI makandiongorora mukandiziva.
2 Munoziva mafambiro namagariro angu,
munonzwisisa pfungwa dzangu, imi muri kure
zvenyu.
3 Imi munocherechedza kufamba kwangu
nokurara kwangu uye munoziva nzira dzangu
dzose.
(D) – TENZI, nditungamirirei munzira yokugara nokugara.
13 Ndimi makaumba nhengo
dzangu dzomukati-kati.
Ndimi makandiruka munhumbu maamai vangu.
14 Ndinokurumbidzai nokuti
munotyisa, uye munoshamisa.
(D) – TENZI, nditungamirirei munzira yokugara nokugara.
23 Ndiongororeiwo Mwari,
muzive zviri mumwoyo mangu. Ndiedzei muzive zvandinofunga,
24 muone kana mune chakaipa mandiri,
munditungamirire munzira yokugara nokugara.
(D) – TENZI, nditungamirirei munzira yokugara nokugara.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
1 Johani 4,12

Areruya, Areruya.
Kana tichidanana, Mwari
anogara matiri uye rudo rwake matiri runobva
rwazadziswa zvokuperera. Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka:
Ruka 6,27-38

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka
27Jesu akati kuvadzidzi vake, “Idai mhandu dzenyu,
itirai zvakanaka vanokuvengai. 28Komborerai vanokurengererai rushambwa. Namatirai vanokunyombai. 29Kune anenge akurova padama mutendeudzirezve rimwe; munhu anokutorera bhachi
rako, usamurambire kana hembe yako. 30Ani naani
anokukumbira chinhu mupe; uye anokutorera
zvinhu zvako rega kunozvireva kwete. 31Zvamunoda
kuti vamwe vakuitirei vaitireiwo saizvozvo.
32 Kana muchingoda vanokudai, munokodzera
chitusoi? Nokuti kana vatadziwo vanoda vanovada.
33 Uye kana muchiitira zvakanaka vanokuitirai
zvakanaka munokodzera chitusoi? Nokuti kunya￾nge vatadzi vanodarowo. 34Kana muchikweretesa vamunofunga kuti vanozokudzorerai munokodzera
chitusoi? Kana vatadzi vanokweretesa vamwe
vatadzi kuti vagodzorerwa zvakaenzana.
35Asi imi idai vavengi venyu, muvaitire zvakanaka,
mukweretese musingatarisire kuti muchadzorerwa,
ipapo mubayiro wenyu uchazova mukuru, uye
muchazova vana voWokumusorosoro, nokuti iye
ane mwoyochena kuna vasingatendi nokuna
vakaipa. 36 Ivai netsitsi saBaba venyu vane tsitsi.
37Musatonge vamwe, nemi hamuzotongwi, musape
vanhu mhosva, nemi hamuzopihwawo mhosva.
Regereranai, nemi mucharegererwawo. 38 Ipai,
nemi muchapiwa, muchadirirwa pamakumbo
mwero wakanaka, wakatsindirwa, wakazunguzirwa,
unomupfumvumvu; nokuti chiereso chamunoeresa
nacho ndicho chamuchaererwa nacho.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: The Most Important Thing in Life
September 12, 2024

To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. (Luke 6:29–30)

This must have been shocking to Jesus’ first disciples. First of all, recall that Jesus taught these words with a spiritual authority that left those with an open heart with a conviction that what Jesus taught was truth. Also recall that Jesus taught these deep spiritual lessons within the context of performing numerous miracles. So, for these reasons, His new followers would have known that what Jesus taught was true. But how could they fully accept such teachings?

Though many commentators will try to point to the deeper spiritual principles that Jesus was teaching, try to first take His words on face value. He really said that you must offer the other cheek to someone who strikes you, to give your tunic to one who steals your cloak, and to give to everyone who asks of you, never demanding back that which someone takes from you. These are not easy lessons to accept!

One thing that these powerful lessons teach us is that there is something far more important in life than the humiliation of being struck on the cheek and having your possessions stolen. What is that more important thing? It’s the salvation of souls.

If we were to go through life demanding earthly justice and retribution for wrongs received, we would not be able to focus upon that which is most important. We would not be able to focus upon the salvation of those who have wronged us. It’s easy to love those who are kind to us. But our love must extend to everyone, and sometimes the form of love we must offer another is the free acceptance of injustices they commit against us. There is great power in this act of love. But we will only be able to love another this way if our deep desire is for their eternal salvation. If all we want is earthly justice and satisfaction for wrongs committed, we may achieve that. But it may come at the expense of their salvation.

Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that every wrong must be righted here and now. But that’s clearly not what Jesus taught. His wisdom is so much deeper. He knew that a profound act of mercy and forgiveness to another, especially when they have hurt us deeply, is one of the greatest gifts we can give. And it’s one of the most transformative actions we can also do for our own souls. When love hurts, in the sense that it costs us our earthly pride, especially by completely letting go of injustice, then our act of love for that person has great power to change them. And if that act changes them, then this will be the cause of your joy for eternity.

Reflect, today, upon any way that this hard teaching of Jesus is difficult for you. Who comes to mind as you ponder this teaching? Do your passions revolt against this command of love from Jesus? If so, then you have discovered the specific area where God wants you to grow. Think about anyone with whom you have a grievance and ponder whether you desire their eternal salvation. Know that God can use you for this mission of love if you will love in the way our Lord commands.

PRAYER:
My merciful Lord, Your love is beyond my own ability to comprehend. Your love is absolute and always seeks the good of the other. Give me grace, dear Lord, to love with Your heart and to forgive to the extent that You have forgiven. Use me, especially, to be an instrument of salvation and mercy to those who need it most in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.