TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH 2024.

TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

FIRST READING       
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
1ST CORINTHIANS 12: 12 – 14, 27 – 31a

Brethren: Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 100: 1 – 2, 3, 4, 5 (R.) 3c

R/. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. R/.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us; we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock. R/.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name. R/.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Luke 7: 16

Alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Young man, I say to you, arise.”
LUKE 7: 11 – 17

At that time: Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people! ” And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

The Gospel of the Lord.

*Chipiri 17 Gunyana – September;* *Vhiki 24 regore -**Chiverengo chokutanga:* _1 VaKorinde 12,12-14.27-31a__Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde_12 Hama, sezvakangoita muviri kuti mumwechete, asi uine nhengo dzakawanda uye kuti nenhengo dzose idzodzo dzomuviri, kunyange dzakawanda kudaro, muviri mumwechete, ndizvo zvimwechetezvo naKristu. 13 Chikonzero ndechokuti nokuombekwa kwatakaitwa naMweya mumwechete, tose takaombekwa mumuviri mumwechete, vangave vaJudha kana kuti vaGiriki, vangave varanda kana vasununguki, tose takanwa Mweya mumwechete.14 Muviri hausi mutezo mumwechete asi mizhinji.27 Zvino imi, ndimi muviri waKristu, uye mumwe nomumwe wenyu mutezo womuviri iwoyo. 28 Mwari akapa vanhu mabasa musangano sezvizvi, vokutanga vapositori, vechipiri vaporofita, vetatu vadzidzisi, kouya vaiti vezvishamiso, koti varapi, kozoti vabatsiri, navafambisi vamabasa navatauri vendimi dzakasiyanasiyana.29 Ko, vose vapositori here? Ko, vose vaporofita here? Ko, vose vadzidzisi here? Ko, vose vanoita zvishamiso here? 30 Ko, vanhu vose here vane zvipo zvokurapa? Ko, vanhu vose here vane chipo chendimi? Ko, vanhu vose here vanodudzira? 31 Asi disisai kuva nezvipo zvikuru.*Shoko raTenzi.**Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 100,1b-2.3.4.5. (D – 3)_*(D) – Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.*1 Pururudzirai TENZI imi nyika dzose,2 shandirai TENZI, norufaro, uyai pamberi pake muchiimba.*(D) – Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.*3 Zvizivei kuti TENZI ndiMwari, ndiye akatisika, uye kuti tiri vake.Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.*(D) – Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.*4 Pindai pamisuo yake mikuru muchitenda, mupinde mumipanda yakemuchirumbidza, mutendei muchirumbidza zita rake.*(D) – Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.*5 TENZI akanaka, mwoyochena wake hauperi,kutendeka kwake kunosvika kuzvizvarwa nezvizvarwa.*(D) – Tiri vanhu vake, hwai dzake dzaanochengeta.**Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:* _Ruka 7,16_*Areruya, Areruya.* Muporofita mukuru akamutswa mukati medu.Mwari azoshanyira vanhu vake. *Areruya.**Shoko Rakanaka:* _Ruka 7,11-17__Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka_11 Jesu akaenda kune rimwe guta rainzi Naini; vadzidzi vake negurumwandira ravanhu vakaenda naye. 12 Kuzoti ava kusvika pasuo guru reguta iroro, houno munhu akanga akatembedzanwa, akafa, mwana mukomana aive ari ndiye mwana mumwechete oga waamai vake, uye amai ava vaiva chirikadzi. Vanhu vazhinji veguta iroro vaivaperekedza.13 Tenzi paakaona amai ava, akasiririswa navo ndokuti kwavari, “Chiregai zvenyu kuchema,” 14 ndokuswedera obata hwanyanza; vainge vakatakura chitunha ndokumira. Jesu ndokuti, “Jaya, ndinoti kwauri, muka!” 15 Muchakabvu akamuka, ndokugara, ndokutanga kutaura. Iye ndokumupa kuna amai vake.16 Vanhu vose vakabatwa nokutya, vakarumbidza Mwari vachiti, “Muporofita mukuru akamutswa mukati medu! Mwari azoshanyira vanhu vake!” 17 Nyaya iyi yaitaura nezvake yakapararira muJudhea yose nomumatunhu ose akapoteredza.*Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Compassion, Hope and Faith

September 17, 2024__Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. (Luke 7:11–12)_Try to imagine this mother. She had been married, she and her husband had a child, they raised their child, she and her son watched her husband die, and then she watched her son die and was participating in his funeral. Since he was her only son, she was now alone.When we think about this woman, it is easy to feel compassion for her. Her heart would have been filled with a sorrow that is tangible to anyone with empathy. Her heart might also have been filled with fear. At that time, a widow would have had a very difficult time taking care of herself in a rural village. With her husband gone, she would have had to rely upon her son to provide for her as she aged. But now that he was gone, her heart would have not only felt the pain of his loss, but also fear for her future. What would become of her? Who would provide food for her year after year? Would she be reduced to begging and poverty?It is in the context of this very real sorrow and fear that Jesus enters her life. We do not know if she knew anything about Jesus. It appears she was not one of His followers and might not have even heard about Jesus since He had not been ministering publicly for very long. Jesus’ encounter with her and her dead son appears to be unplanned and unexpected. What is it that moves Jesus to raise this man from the dead? It does not appear to be a response to anyone’s faith within the village. It is not even done at anyone’s request. Instead, it appears to be done purely out of Jesus’ compassion for this mother. At least that’s how it seems at first read. And though Jesus clearly acted out of compassion for her, if we consider the entire context, there might also be a secondary motive.Jesus, his disciples and a large crowd were all walking together through this village. Since Jesus’ miracles were normally performed in response to people’s faith, it is most likely that faith was a contributing factor to this miracle. The faith that called forth this miracle, however, could only have come from the crowds of people who were walking with Jesus from Capernaum. The day prior, these same crowds witnessed Jesus heal the servant of a centurion. They clearly believed in Jesus. As they walked with Him and encountered this funeral procession, it was not only Jesus’ heart that was moved with compassion, it was also the hearts of His followers. Therefore, as Jesus’ followers witnessed this mother’s sorrow and then witnessed Jesus’ own human sorrow and compassion for her, they would have had hope that He would do something. Their hope would have been supernatural in origin, which means that it was also united with faith. By faith, they knew Jesus would act. Thus, in a very real way, the compassion, hope and faith of the people traveling with Jesus would have called forth His almighty power to heal, and Jesus responded.https://youtu.be/ND3NH0h3Gfw?si=jkzsBl776nfslxRhThere are many ways to act as mediators of God’s grace. One way to do so is by growing in compassion for others and hope in God. When we witness the sufferings of others, allow ourselves to feel compassion for them, manifest hope in the power of God to heal, and then stand there, in faith, waiting for God to act, God will be compelled to act. Our holy compassion, hope and faith act as a prayer to which God always responds. The crowds accompanying Jesus through the Village of Nain appear to have acted in this manner and, inspired by their witness, we, too, must act as intercessors for others in the same way.*Reflect,* today, upon anyone in your life who resembles this widow of Nain. Who is it that God wants you to notice and to feel compassion for? As your empathetic heart notices those who need your compassion, open yourself, also, to the supernatural gift of hope. Have divine hope that God will heal them. As you do, allow that hope to manifest faith in God and offer that compassion, hope and faith to God as your prayer for those who are in need.*PRAYER:*_Most compassionate Lord, You are always attentive to our needs and our sorrows. Your Heart is filled with compassion for all. Please give me a truly empathetic heart so that I will see those in need. As I do, fill me with hope and faith that You will pour forth Your mercy upon them so that I will become an intercessor for all. Jesus, I trust in You.