Muvhuro 18 Kurume – March;

Vhiki rechishanu renguva rokuTsanya

Chiverengo chokutanga:
Dhanieri 13,1-9.15-17. 19-30.33-62 kana 13,41c-62

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku romuporofita Dhanieri
1Kwaiva nomumwe murume aigara kuBhabhironi
ainzi Joakimu, 2 akaroora mukadzi ainzi Susana,
mwanasikana waHirikiya, mukadzi aiva nechimiro
chakanakisa kwazvo, akanga ari munhu anotya
Mwari. 3 Vabereki vake vakanga vakarurama.
Vakayarutsa mwana wavo maererano nomutemo
waMosesi. 4 Joakimu akanga akapfuma kwazvo,
aiva nebindu guru rakanga riri pedyo nemba yake.
VaJudha vaiwanzomushanyira nokuti aiva munhu
airemekedzwa kudarika vamwe vose.
5 Negore iroro kwakasarudzwa vakuru vakuru
vaviri kuti vave vaenzanisi vemhosva. Tenzi akanga ataura nezvavanhu vakadai kuti, “Uipi hwakabva
Bhabhironi muvakuru vakuru vaiva vatongi
vaifanira kunge varivo vatongi vavanhu.” 6Varume
ivavawo vaigarosvika pamba paJoakimu. Vose
vakanga vaine nhuna vaitokwira kwaaari. 7Susana
aiti kana ava masikati vanhu vabvapo, opinda
mubindu romurume wake, ofamba-famba zvake.
8Vakuru vakuru vaviri vaya zvavaiona mazuva ose
achipindamo kundofamba-famba zvake, vakavamba kutorwa mwoyo naye. 9 Vakapindwa nepfungwa dzakaipa, ndiye pidigu vorega kutarisa
kudenga kana kurangarira kutonga kwakarurama.
15 Zvavakanga vachimirira kuwana zuva rokuita
zvavaida kudaro, zvakaitika kuti mumwe musi
Susana akapinda sezvaaigaroita, aine vasikana
vake vaviri vaimushandira achida kuti ashambe
muviri mubindu imomo, nokuti kunze kwakanga
kuchipisa zvakanyanya kwazvo. 16Makanga musina
arimo kunze kwavakuru vaviri vaya vakanga vakahwanda vakamugaririra. 17Susana akati kuvasikana
vake, “Ndiunzireiwo mafuta netwokuzora mugopfiga misuo yebindu kuitira kuti ndishambe muviri.”
19 Pakabudamo vasikana ivavo, vakuru vakuru
vaviri vaya vakasimuka vakamhanyira kwaari
vakati, 20 “Tarisa uone, misuo yebindu yakazarirwa
hakuna anombotiona, uye isu tinokuda. Saka iwe
chibvuma tigare newe. 21 Kana ukaramba, isu tichakuti takubata uine chikomba chomukomana,
ndokusaka wadzinga vasikana vako vanokushandira.”
22Susana akatura femo guru akati, “Inga ndapinda
pfumvu kwosekwose nokuti kana ndikaita izvozvi
izvi, changu ini kwatova kufa. Kana ndikaramba,
hapana pandingapunyuke napo mumaoko menyu.
23 Ndinosarudza kuramba kuita izvozvo ndisve
ndawira zvangu mumaoko menyu pane kuti
nditadzire Tenzi.”
24 Susana akabva aridza mhere huru chaiyo, vakuru
vakuru vaviri vaye vachibva vashevedzerawo,
25mumwe wacho ndokubva amhanya kundozarura
misuo yebindu. 26Vashandi vepamba ipapo pavakanzwa kuridza mhere mubindu imomo, vakamhanyiramo napamusuo waparutivi uya kundoona
zvakanga zvamuwira. 27Vakuru vakuru vaya pavakarondedzera nyaya yavo, vashandi vakanyara
kwazvo nokuti hakuna nyaya yakadai yakambonzwika nezvaSusana.
28Ava mangwana acho, vanhu vakaungana mumusha maJoakimu, murume waSusana. Vakuru
vakuru vaviri vaya vakasvika mumwoyo’mu vazere
nebangano ravo rakaipa rokuurayisa Susana. 29Vakati kudare iroro, “Daidzai Susana, mwanasikana
waHirikiya, mudzimai waJoakimu.” 30 Saizvozvowo
vakamutumira nhume, Susana akabva auya
navabereki vake navana vake nehama dzavo dzose 33Asi vemhuri yavo, navamwe vavo, navose zvavo
wakavaona, vakahwihwidza kuchema.
34 Ndopakasumuka vakuru vakuru vaviri vaya
mukati mavanhu imomo ndokuisa maoko avo
pamusoro waSusana. 35 Izvozvo Susana achichema
akatarisa kudenga nokuti aiva nomwoyo wokuvimba naTenzi. 36 Vakuru vakuru vaya ndokuti,
“Takati tichifamba zvedu mubindu umu tiri toga,
mukadzi uyu akapindamo navashandi vaviri
vasikana, akazarira misuo yebindu iroro akati
vashandi vachienda zvavo. 37Ndokubva rimwe jaya
rakanga rakahwandiswa rauya kwavari rikafeva
zvaro naye. 38 Isu taiva zvedu kumucheto mumwe
webindu iroro. Patakaona uipi ihwohu, takamhanyira kwavari. 39 Takavawanikidza vakambundikirana. Asi takatadzirira kubata jaya iroro nokuti
rakatikunda, rikabva razarura misuo rikasvakukira
kunze. 40Nezvo isu ndokuti dzvii kubata mukadzi
uyu, ndokumubvunza kuti jaya iroro ndiani, asi
iye haana kutitaurira. Izvozvi izvi ndozvatati
tipupure.”
41Dare rakabvuma zvavakareva nokuti ivo ndovaiva
vakuru vakuru vavanhu navatongi vedzimhosva,
ndokubva vatongera Susana rufu.
42 Ipapo Susana akaridza mhere akati, “Nhai Mwari
wokugara nokugara, imi munoziva chakavandika,
imi munofanoziva zvose zvisati zvaitika, 43 inga
munozviziva wani kuti varume ava vandipomedzera mhosva yenhema. Saka zvino ndava kundofa
zvangu. Asi hapana kana chandakaita pabangano
rakaipa iri ravakandirukira!”
44Tenzi akanzwa chichemo chaSusana. 45Pavakanga
vachienda naye kundomuuraya Mwari akamutsa
Mweya Mutsvene waiva mune mumwe mukomana
ainzi Dhanieri, 46 akabva adaidzira kwazvo achiti,
“Ini handiwirirane nokutongera kwamaita mukadzi
uyu rufu.”
47Vanhu vose vakatendeukira kwaari vakati, “Zvinorevei zvawava kutaura izvi?” 48 Iye akamira
pakati pavo ndokuti, “Muri mapenzi avanhu here
nhai vanhu veIsiraeri? Kupa here mhosva chokwadi
mwanasikana weIsiraeri musina kana kuongorora
mhosva yacho, kana zvako kuwana chokwadi
chaichoicho chemhosva iyoyi? 49 Ngatidzokerei
kudare nokuti varume ava mhosva yavari kupa
mukadzi uyu, ndeyekungomupomera chete.”
50Naizvozvo vanhu vose vakakurumidza kudzokera
ndokubva vakuru vakuru vaya vati kuna Dhanieri,
“Uya ugare patiri utiudze nokuti Mwari akupa
mvumo yacho.” 51Dhanieri ndokuti, “Vaparadzanisei
muvati mumwe uko mumwe uko ndigovabvunzisisa.”
52Pavakanga vaparadzaniswa kuti uyu kwake uyu
kwake, Dhanieri akadaidza mumwe wavo akati
kwaari, “Ya-a ndiwe wasarukira nouipi iwe.
Zvitadzo zvako nhasi zvakupfukira zvawakapara
kare, 53uchitonga zvisina ruenzaniso zvako, uchipa
mhosva vasina mhosva, vane mhosva uchivarega
vachienda zvavo, kunyange Tenzi akati, usaurayise
munhu asina mhosva, mururami. 54Ko, kana zviri
zvechokwadi kuti wakamuona chindiudza izvi.
Wakavawanikidza vari pasi pomutii vari vose
kwazvo kudaro?” Iye ndokuti, “Pasi pomuti womumasitiki.”
55Dhanieri akabva ati,
“Zvakanaka! Kunyepa kwako ndiko kuchakupfukira, nokuti mutumwa waMwari atogamuchira chirango chinobva kunaMwari,
achakutsemura napakati iye zvino uno.”
56 Dhanieri akati mukuru uyu amboiswa parutivi,
akabva ati vaunze mumwe wacho, akamuti, “Iwe
chizvarwa chokwaKanani, kwete chokwaJudha.
Runako rwakakurasisa musoro, ruchiva rwakakutora mwoyo. 57 Mose zvenyu muri vaviri ndozvamanga muchiita imi izvozvi navanasikana vokwaIsiraeri, vachidanana nemi pamusana pokutya. Asi
mwanasikana wokwaJudha haana kukwanisana
nouipi hwenyu. 58 Saka zvino ndiudze. Makavabata
vari pasi pomutii vari vose kwazvo kudaro?”
Iye akati, “Pasi pomuti unogara wakasvibira
womuoku.” 59Dhanieri akati, “Zvakanaka! Iwewo
kunyepa kwako kuchakupfukira, nokuti mutumwa waMwari akamirira nebakatwa kuti akucheke
napakati, kuitira kuti akuparadzei mose.” 60Vanhu
vose vakabva vadanidzira vachirumbidza Mwari,
iye anonunura vanoisa chitarisiso chavo maari.
61 Vanhu vakabva vamukira vakuru vakuru vaya,
nokuti Dhanieri akanga avabata nemhosva youchapupu hwenhema mumazwi avo avakataura. 62Zvakaipa zvavakanga varongera kuita kune mumwe
wavo, ndozvacho zvakazoitwa kwavari ivo vakare,
vachitevedza mutemo waMosesi. Vakavauraya.
Naizvozvo pamusi iwoyo, ropa romunhu asina
mhosva rakanunurwa.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira: Nziyo 23,1-6. (D – 4)

(D) – Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo
wenyu zvinondinyaradza.
1TENZI ndiye mufudzi wangu,
hapana chandinoshaya,
2 anondirarisa mumafuro manyoro.
Achinditungamirira kumvura inozorodza.
(D) – Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo
wenyu zvinondinyaradza.
3Anondimutsiridza mwoyo,
achinditungamirira munzira dzoururami,
pamusana pezita rake
(D) – Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo
wenyu zvinondinyaradza.
4Kunyange ndikafamba mumupata werima rakati
kwirindindi,
handingatyi chakaipa nokuti imi muneni.
Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo wenyu
zvinondinyaradza.
(D) – Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo
wenyu zvinondinyaradza.
5Munondigadzirira tafura pamberi pangu,
vavengi vangu vachiona,
munozora musoro wangu mafuta,
mukombe wangu unotofashukira.
(D) – Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo
wenyu zvinondinyaradza.
6Chokwadi kunaka kwenyu nomwoyochena
wenyu,
zvicharamba zvineni upenyu hwangu hwose,
uye ndichagara mumba maTENZI
nokusingaperi.
(D) – Tsvimbo yenyu, nomudonzvo wenyu
zvinondinyaradza

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Ezekieri 33,11

Tinokuomberai, imi Mambo wedu
Handifarire rufu rwomutadzi, asi kuti mutadzi
apinduke panzira yake ararame.
*Tinokuomberai, imi Tenzi wedu!

Shoko Rakanaka: Johani 8,1-11

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naJohani
1Jesu akaenda kuGomo reMiorivhi. 2Mangwanani
ngwanani, akaendazve kuTemberi. Vanhu vose
vakauya kwaari akagara pasi achivadzidzisa.
3Nyanzvi dzomutemo navaFarisei vakauya kwaari
nomukadzi akanga abatwa achiita upombwe.
Vakamumisa pakati vakati kuna Jesu, 4 “Mudzidzisi
mukadzi uyu abatwa ari mukuita upombwe. 5Zvino
muMutemo, Mosesi akati tinofanira kutaka
namabwe munhu akadai. Zvino imi munoti kudii
naye?” 6 Izvi vakataura vachida kuti vamunzwe
kuitira kuti vawane mhosva yokumupa.
Jesu akakotama akanyora pasi nomunwe wake.
7 Pavakaramba vachingomubvunza akati twasu
kumira ndokuti kwavari, “Uyo asina chitadzo
pakati penyu ngaatange kumukanda dombo.”
8 Ndokukotamazve onyora pasi nomunwe wake.
9 Pavakazvinzwa vakaita rumwerumwe kubuda,
kuchitanga navakuru vacho. Jesu akasiiwa angova
oga nomukadzi uya, amire pamberi pake.
10 Jesu akasimudza musoro akati kwaari, “Nhai
mudzimai iwe vari kupi vaya? Hakuna neakupa
mhosva here?” 11 Iye akati, “Hapana changamire.” Jesu akati, “Kana neniwo handikupi mhosva
chienda hako usazotadzazve.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi

DANIEL 13: 1 – 9, 15 – 17, 19 – 30, 33 – 62

In those days: There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was very rich, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house; and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honoured of them all. In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people. These men were frequently at Joakim’s house, and all who had suits at law came to them. When the people departed at moon, Susanna would go into her husband’s garden to walk. The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, and they began to desire her. And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judgements. Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very hot. And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and were watching her. She said to her maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I may bathe.” When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said: “Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love with you, so give your consent, and lie with us. If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away.” Susanna sighed deeply, and said, “I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands. I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of the Lord.” Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her. And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna. The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna put to death. They said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim.” So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children, and all her kindred. But her family and friends and all who saw her wept. Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head. And she, weeping, looked up towards heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. The elders said, “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her. We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to them. We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out. So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify.” The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and judges; and they condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O eternal God, who discern what is secret, who are aware of all things before they come to be, you know that these men have borne false witness against me. And now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly invented against me!” The Lord heard her cry. And as she was being led away to be put to death God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel; and he cried with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.” All the people turned to him, and said, “What is this that you have said?” Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, “Are you such fools, you sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts? Return to the place of judgement. For these men have borne false witness against her.” Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, “Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you that right.” And Daniel said to them, “Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.” When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, “You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which you have committed in the past, pronouncing unjust judgements, condemning the innocent and letting the guilty go free, though the Lord said, ‘Do not put to death an innocent and righteous person.’ Now then, if you really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under a mastic tree.” And Daniel said, “Very well! You have lied against your own head, for the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will immediately cut you in two.” Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you and lust has perverted your heart. This is how you both have been dealing with the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure your wickedness. Now then, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under an evergreen oak.” And Daniel said to him, “Very well! You also have lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two, that he may destroy you both.” Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; and they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbour; acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day.

The Word of the Lord.

 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 23: 1 – 3a, 3b – 4, 5, 6 (R.) 4abc.

R. Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, no evil would I fear, for you are with me.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me; he revives my soul. R/.

He guides me along the right path,
for the sake of his name.
Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
no evil would I fear, for you are with me.
Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. R/.

You have prepared a table before me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing. R/.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for length of days unending. R/.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Ezekiel 33: 11

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord, but that he turn from his way and live.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
JOHN 8: 1 – 11

At that time: Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”  This they said to test him that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” 

The Gospel of the Lord
GOSPEL REFLECTION: Public Sinners
March 18, 2024

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

This is a powerful line spoken by Jesus. The judgmental and condemning Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who had apparently been caught “in the very act of committing adultery.” Was she a sinner? Yes, indeed she was. But this story is not so much about whether or not she was a sinner. It was about the attitude Jesus had toward sinners as compared to that held by the self-righteous, judgmental and condemning Pharisees.

First of all, let’s look at this woman. She was humiliated. She had committed sin, was caught, and was publicly presented to all as a sinner. How did she react? She didn’t resist. She didn’t remain in denial. She didn’t get angry. She didn’t fight back. Instead, she stood there humiliated, awaiting her punishment with a sorrowful heart.

Humiliation over one’s sins is a powerful experience that has the potential to bring forth true repentance. When we encounter someone who has sinned in a manifest way and is humiliated over their sin, we must treat them with compassion. Why? Because the dignity of the person always supersedes their sin. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and every person deserves our compassion. If one is obstinate and refuses to see their sin (such as in the case of the Pharisees), then an act of holy rebuke is necessary to help them repent. But when one experiences sorrow and, in this case, the added experience of humiliation, then they are ready for compassion.

By stating “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus is not justifying her sin. Rather, He’s making it clear that no one holds the right of condemnation. No one. Not even the religious leaders. This is a hard teaching to live for many in our world today. It is commonplace for the headlines in the media to almost compulsively present us with the most sensational sins of others. We are constantly being tempted to be outraged at what this or that person has done. We easily shake our heads, condemn them and treat them as if they were dirt. In fact, it seems that many people today see it as their duty to act as the “watchdogs” against every sin they can dig up on others.

Reflect, today, upon whether you are more like the Pharisees or Jesus. Would you have stood there in the crowd wanting this humiliated woman to be stoned? How about today? When you hear about the manifest sins of others, do you find yourself condemning them? Or do you hope that mercy is shown to them? Seek to imitate the compassionate heart of our divine Lord; and when your time of judgment comes, you also will be shown an abundance of compassion.

PRAYER:
My merciful Lord, You see past our sin and look to the heart. Your love is infinite and awe-inspiring. I thank You for the compassion You have shown to me, and I pray that I may always imitate that same compassion to every sinner all around me. Jesus, I trust in You.