FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH 2024.

TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, Bishop & Doctor of the Church.

FIRST READING     
“I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
1ST CORINTHIANS 9: 16 – 19, 22b – 27

Brethren: If I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly,  I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching  to others I myself should be disqualified.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 84: 3, 4, 5 – 6, 12 (R.) 2.

R/. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

My soul is longing and
yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh cry
out to the living God. R/.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself
in which she sets her young, at your altars,
O Lord of hosts, my king and my God. R/.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house,
forever singing your praise.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in you,
whose heart is set on pilgrim ways. R/.

For the Lord God is a sun, a shield;
the Lord will give us his favour and glory.
He will not withhold any good
to those who walk without blame. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 17: 17ba

Alleluia.
Your word, O Lord is truth; sanctify us in the truth.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL       
“Can a blind man lead a blind man?”
LUKE 6: 39 – 42

At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

*Chishanu 13 Gunyana – September;* *Kurangarira Johani Kirisostomu, Mubhishopi neNgwazi yezvechitendero* *Chiverengo chokutanga:* _1 VaKorinde 9,16-19.22b-27_ _Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde_Hama dzangu, 16 “Ndikaparidza Shoko Rakanaka hazvisiri izvo zvinondipa kuti ndizvirove dundundu, nokuti ibasa randinofanira kuita. Hameno zvangu kana ndikarega kuparidza Shoko Rakanaka! 17Dai kuri kuti ndinoita izvi nokuda kwangu, ndingadai ndiine mubayiro. Asi kana kusiri kuda kwangu, ndinongoriitawo sebasa randakapiwa. Ko, zvino mubayiro wangu ndeweiko? 18 Ndouya wokuti ndiparidze Shoko Rakanaka pasina muripo, ndisingagamuchiri zvandinokodzera pamusana pokuparidza Shoko Rakanaka. 19Kunyange ndisiri muranda waani zvake, ndakazviita muranda wavose kuti ndiwane vakawanda. 22 Ndakava zvinhu zvose kuna vose kuti napose pandinogona, ndinunure vamwe vavo. 23Zvose izvozvo ndinozviitira Shoko Rakanaka kuti ndigowanawo zvandinowana muzvikomborero zvaro. 24 Hamuzivisu kuti pamakundano okumhanya vamhanyi vose vanokwikwidzana, asi mumwechete ndiye anowana mubayiro? Saizvozvo mhanyai kuti muuwane. 25 Mumhanyi wose anozvibata muna zvose. Vanozviita kuti vawane ndaza inoparara, asi isu tinozviitira ndaza isingaparari. 26 Saka handingomhanya chimhanyemhanye. Handirove zvibhakera somunhu anorova mhepo. 27 Ndinorova muviri wangu, ndichiutonga ndichiitira kuti ndirege kuraswa, ini ndakamboparidzira vamwe.” *Shoko raTenzi.* *Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 84,2-5+7a.11. (D – 1)_ *(D) – TENZI, hakusi kunaka ikoko kwakaita nzvimbo yenyu yamunogara.* 2 Ndinobva ndatorwa mwoyo chaizvo, ndinodisisa kwazvo mipanda yaTENZI, mwoyo wangu nenyama yangu zvinoimbira Mwari mupenyu norufaro. *(D) – TENZI, hakusi kunaka ikoko kwakaita nzvimbo yenyu yamunogara.* 3 Kunyange nzvidya inowanawo pokugara, kashiri kachizvivakira dendere rako pakanogona kukandirira vana vako, kuatari dzenyu imi TENZI wehondo nehondo mambo wangu naMwari wangu. *(D) – TENZI, hakusi kunaka ikoko kwakaita nzvimbo yenyu yamunogara.* 4 Vakakomborerwa zvavo vanogara mumba menyu vachikurumbidzai. 5 Vakakomborerwa zvavo vanowana simba mamuri; vanodisisa migwagwa mikuru inoenda kuguta reZioni. 7 Vanoramba vachingosimba Mwari wavamwari achaonekwa muZioni. *(D) – TENZI, hakusi kunaka ikoko kwakaita nzvimbo yenyu yamunogara.* 11 Mwari izuva nenhoo, anoitira munhu mwoyochena, uye anovasimudzira. TENZI hapana chaanonyima, munhu anofamba pachokwadi. *(D) – TENZI, hakusi kunaka ikoko kwakaita nzvimbo yenyu yamunogara.* *Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:* _Johani 17,17b+a_ *Areruya, Areruya.* Izwi renyu Tenzi ichokwadi. Itai kuti tive vatsvene muchokwadi. *Areruya.* *Shoko Rakanaka:* _Ruka 6,39-42_ _Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka_ 39 Jesu akataurira vadzidzi vake muenzaniso uyu achiti, “Ko, bofu ringatungamirire rimwe bofu here? Haangawire mugomba ose ari maviri here? 40 Mudzidzi haasi mukuru panomudzidzisi wake. Asi kana munhu wose achinge anyatsodzidziswa anoita somudzidzisi wake. 41 Ko, unotarisireiko kabanzu kari muziso rehama yako asi usingaoni danda riri muziso mako. 42 Kana kuti ungagone sei kuti kuhama yako, ‘Hama, rega ndikubvise kabanzu kari muziso mako, iwe pachako usingaoni danda riri muziso mako?’ Iwe munyengedzi, tanga wabvisa danda riri muziso mako, kuti unyatsoona kubvisa kabanzu kari muziso rehama yako.” *Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.*

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Seeing Through the Eyes of God
September 13, 2024

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Luke 6:41

Saint Teresa of Ávila, one of the greatest spiritual writers and doctors of the Church, explains in her spiritual masterpiece “Interior Castles,” that one of the first steps on the path to holiness is self-knowledge. Self-knowledge produces humility, because humility is simply having a true opinion about yourself. When a person fails to know themself from the true perspective of the mind of God, then they open themselves up to many errors of judgment. One such error is that they can easily become fixated upon their perceived sins of others.

The Gospel passage quoted above depicts a person who gravely lacks self-knowledge. Why? Because they “do not perceive the wooden beam” in their own eye, meaning, they do not see their own sin. As a result, Jesus explains that this person also becomes fixated upon the “splinter” in their brother’s eye.

When you consider your own thoughts, what do you dwell upon the most all day long? Do you honestly look inward, seeking to know yourself as God knows you? Or do you spend excessive time thinking about others, analyzing and judging their actions? This is an important question to ask yourself and to answer with honesty.

The best way to know yourself is to gaze upon Jesus. When He becomes the focus of your attention throughout the day, you will not only come to know Him, but you will also come to know yourself more honestly. Gazing at the beauty and perfection of our Lord will have the double effect of knowing Him and knowing yourself through His eyes. It will also help you to know others as He sees them.

How does Jesus look at those around you? He looks at them with perpetual mercy. True, at the end of every life, when we pass from this world to the next, we will encounter our particular judgment from our Lord. But while here on earth, God continually gazes upon us with mercy. For that reason, mercy must become our daily mission, and we must build a habit of gazing upon everyone in our life with the eyes of mercy.

Reflect, today, upon our Lord. Look at Him, gaze upon Him, seek to know Him and make Him the focus of your attention. As you do, try to dismiss from your thinking process your own perceived judgments of others. Allow your gaze upon our Lord to help you to not only see Him but to also see others through His eyes. Build this habit and you will be on the fast track to the path to holiness.

PRAYER:
My merciful Jesus, may I build a humble and true habit of gazing upon You in Your splendor and beauty. As I see You, day in and day out, please also help me to see myself through Your eyes of mercy so that I will also grow in humility. Please remove all judgment from my heart so that I will be free to know and love all people as You know and love them. Jesus, I trust in You.