_*THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH 2024.*__*NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.*__*SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.*__*FIRST READING*__A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet.__*REVELATION 11: 19a; 12: 1 – 6a, 10ab*_God’s temple in heaven was opened. And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another sign appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tails wept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come.”_*The Word of the Lord.*__*RESPONSORIAL PSALM*_ _Psalm 45: 10, 11, 12, 16 (R.) 10b__*R/. On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.*_The daughters of kings are those whom you favour.On your tight stands the queen in gold of Ophir. *R/.*Listen, O daughter; pay heed and give ear;forget your own people and your father’s house. *R/.*So will the king desire your beautyHe is your lord, pay homage to him. R/.They are escorted amid gladness and joy;they pass within the palace of the king. *R/.*_*SECOND READING*__Christ the first fruits, then those who belong to Christ.__*1ST CORINTHIANS 15: 20 – 27*_ Brethren: Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For a sin Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”_*The Word of the Lord.*__*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION*_Alleluia. _Mary has been taken up into heaven; the host of angels rejoices._ Alleluia._*GOSPEL*__He who is mighty has done great things for me, he has exalted those of low degree.__*LUKE 1: 39 – 56*_In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home._*The Gospel of the Lord.

*China 15 Nyamavhuvhu – August;* *Vhiki 19 regore -* *Chiverengo chokutanga:* _Ezekieri 12,1-12_ _Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku romuporofita Ezekieri_ 1 Izwi raTenzi rakauya kwandiri richiti, 2 “Iwe mwanakomana womunhu, unogara pakati pemba yavanhu vakapanduka vane meso okuonesa asi havaoni, vane nzeve dzokunzwa asi havanzwi. 3 Nokuti ivo imba yakapanduka. Naizvozvo, iwe mwanakomana womunhu zvigadzirire mutoro wenhapwa, uende kuutapwa masikati machena vachiona. Unofanira kuenda senhapwa, uchibva panzvimbo pako uchienda kune imwe nzvimbo, ivo vachiona. Pamwe vanganzwisise kunyange vari imba yakapanduka. 4 Unofanira kuburitsa midziyo yako semidziyo yenhapwa masikati machena, ivo vachiona. Iwe unofanira kuzoenda kumanheru ivo vachiona, sezvinoitwa navanhu vanenge vachienda kuutapwa. 5 Unofanira kuzotiginura murusvingo ubude naipapo vakatarisa. 6 Uchaisa mutoro wako pamafudzi vachiona, wobuda wakatakura murima ufukidze uso hwako kuitira kuti urege kuona nyika, nokuti ndakakuita chiratidzo kumba yaIsiraeri.” 7 Saizvozvowo, ndakaita sezvandakanga ndanzi ndiite ndikabuda nemidziyo yangu masikati machena semidziyo yenhapwa. Kuzoti mava mumanheru, ndakatiginura namaoko angu ndikaboora rusvingo, ndikabuda kunze murima ndakatakura nhumbi dzangu pamafudzi ivo vachiona. 8Mangwanani acho shoko raTenzi rakauya kwandiri rikati, 9 “Nhai mwanakomana womunhu, handiti here iyo imba yaIsiraeri imba yevapanduki yakakubvunzaka kuti, chii chauri kuita? 10Wochivaudza kuti, zvanzi naTenzi Mwari, ichochi ichi chiratidzo chinonangana nejinda reJerusaremu nemba yose yaIsiraeri iri mukati mavo. 11 Iti ndiri chiratidzo kwamuri. Sezvandangoita izvi ndozvavachaitwa ivo. Vachaenda senhapwa kuutapwa. 12 Nairowo jinda riri pakati pavo, richatakura midziyo yaro pamapfudzi murima, roenda rigotiginura murusvingo rigobuda naipapo. Achafukidza uso kuitira kuti asve arega kuona nyika ino nameso ake.” *Shoko raTenzi.* *Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 78,56-59.61-62. (D – 7)_*(D) – Regai kukanganwa mabasa aMwari.* 56 Vanhu vakaedza Mwari Wokumusoro soro, vakamupandukira, uye havana kuchengeta mitemo yake. 57 Asi vakatotsauka vakaiita zvisina kutendeka samadzibaba avo; vakamonyoroka souta husina kutsarukana. *(D) – Regai kukanganwa mabasa aMwari.* 58 Vakamushatirisa nenzvimbo dzavo dzokunamatira, dzakatunhumara; vakaita kuti aite shanje nokuda kwezvifananidzo zvavo zvokunamata. 59 Mwari paakazvinzwa akazara nehasha, akabva aramwa Isiraeri chaizvo. *(D) – Regai kukanganwa mabasa aMwari.* 61 Akaisa simba rake, paArika yechitenderano, kuutapwa, akaisa mbiri yake mumaoko omuvengi. 62 Akapinza vanhu vake mukuuraiwa nebakatwa rehondo, akavirukira nhaka yake nehasha. *(D) – Regai kukanganwa mabasa aMwari.* *Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:* _Nziyo 119,135_ *Areruya, Areruya.* TENZI ndiitirei mwoyo wakanaka, ini muranda wenyu, mundidzidzise mirau yenyu. *Areruya.* *Shoko Rakanaka:* _Mateu 18,21-19,1__Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMateu_ 21Pita akauya akati kuna Jesu, “Tenzi hama yangu ingandikanganisire kangani ndichiiregerera; tingati kanomwe here?” 22Jesu akati kwaari, “Handikuti kanomwe, asi makumi manomwe akapetwa kanomwe.” 23Saizvozvo, umambo hwedenga hungafananidzwe namambo akanga achida kupedzerana navaranda vake vaiva nezvikwereti naye. 24 Paakatangisa kutaura nezvezvikwereti izvozvo, pakauiswa mumwe kwaari akanga aine chikwereti naye chegumi rezviuru zvemari yamatarenda. 25Nokuda kokuti akanga asingakwanisi kubhadhara, tenzi wake akati ngaatengeswe pamwechete nomudzimai wake, navana nezvose zvaaiva nazvo kuti chikwereti chiripwe. 26Nezvo muranda uya akagwadama pasi achimuteterera achiti, “Tenzi ndiitireiwo mwoyo murefu. Ndichakudzorerai zvose zvazvo.” 27Tenzi womuranda uyu akamunzwira tsitsi, ndokubva amuti aende zvake ndokumuregerera chikwereti chake chiya. 28 Asi muranda mumwecheteyo paakanga ava kubuda, akasangana nomumwe mushandi pamwe naye, akanga ane chikwereti kwaari chezana remari yamadhenari. Akabva amuti dzvi pahuro, achiti, “Ndibhadhare chikwereti changu.” 29Mumwe muranda uya mumwe wake, akati pasi gwadagwa achimuteterera achiti, “Ingondiitirawo mwoyo murefu ndinokudzorera.” 30Asi iye akaramba ndokuenda ondomuisa mujeri kusvikira abhadhara chikwereti. 31Vamwe vake, varandawo pamwe naye, pavakaona zvakanga zvaitika, zvakavatsamwisa kwazvo. Vakaenda vakandotaurira tenzi wavo zvose zvakanga zvaitika. 32 Ipapo tenzi wake akamudaidza, akati kwaari, “Iwe muranda wakaipa, ndakakuregerera chikwereti chose chiya nokuti wakanditeterera. 33Wanga usingafaniriwo here kunzwira urombo muranda, pamwe newe sokukunzwira tsitsi kwandakakuitira?” 34Tenzi wake akashatirwa akamuendesa kuvarangi mujeri, “Kusvikira abhadhara chikwereti chake chose. 35 Ndizvo zvichaitawo Baba vangu vari kudenga kuno mumwe nomumwe wenyu, kana musingaregererani nemwoyo wose.” 1 Jesu paakapedza kutaura zvinhu izvi, akabva kuGarirea akaenda mudunhu reJudhea mhiri kwaJorodhani. *Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

The Assumption of the Mother of God
Thursday, August 15, 2024

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.” (Luke 1:46–49)

Today we celebrate one of seventeen different memorials, feasts and solemnities in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary that are found on the Roman Liturgical Calendar. Today’s celebration is one of the four great Solemnities by which our Blessed Mother is honored. Obviously, no other person other than our Lord is honored and celebrated with as much solemnity as the Mother of God.

The Solemnity of the Assumption honors the fact that when the Blessed Virgin Mary completed her life on earth, she was taken body and soul into Heaven to be with her resurrected Son so as to adore the Most Holy Trinity forever. It’s an amazing fact to consider that she retains her body and soul, united as one in Heaven, in anticipation of that glorious day when the new Heavens and Earth will be created and when all the faithful will rise so as to live in a new bodily form forever with God.

Though this dogma of our faith had been held and believed by the faithful from the earliest times of our Church, especially since it was witnessed by those closest to our Blessed Mother at the time of her glorious Assumption, it wasn’t until November 1, 1950, that Pope Pius XII solemnly proclaimed it to be so, raising this teaching of our faith to the level of a dogma, meaning, it must be held and believed by all. In part, the Holy Father declared, “…we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

The Gospel passage quoted above comes from the beginning of Mary’s song of praise, her Magnificat, by which she not only gives the greatest glory to God but also reveals who she is. She is the one whom “all generations” will call “blessed.” She is the one for whom “the Almighty has done great things.” She is the one who will eternally proclaim “the greatness of the Lord” and whose spirit will forever rejoice in God her Savior. And she is that lowliest of servants whom God has raised up to the greatest glory.

Reflect, today, with the whole Church, upon the Most Glorious Ever-Virgin Mary who was conceived without sin, remained sinless throughout her life, and was taken body and soul into Heaven where she now adores the Most Holy Trinity and intercedes for you and for the whole Church. This is a Solemnity of great rejoicing! Share in this joy with the whole Church and with all the saints in Heaven!

PRAYER:
Most glorious and Ever-Virgin Mary, I rejoice today with you and with the whole Church for the most glorious things that God has done for you. You are beauty beyond beauty, Immaculate in every way, and worthy of our deepest love. As you now share body and soul in the glories of Heaven, please pray for me and for all your dear children on earth. Cover us with your mantle of love and pour forth the mercy of God upon us always. Mother Mary, assumed into Heaven, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Jesus, I trust in You.