JAMES 4: 13 – 17

Beloved: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 49: 2 – 3, 6 – 7, 8 – 10, 11 (R.) Mt 5: 3

R/. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Hear this, all you peoples,
give ear, all who dwell in the world,
people both high and low,
rich and poor alike! R/.

Why should I fear in evil days
the malice of the foes who surround me,
those who trust in their wealth,
and boast of the vastness of their riches? R/.

No man can ransom a brother,
nor pay a price to God for his life.
How high is the price of his soul!
The ransom can never be enough!
No one can buy life unending,
nor avoid coming to the grave. R/.

Anyone sees that the wise will die;
the foolish will perish with the senseless,
and leave their wealth to others. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 14: 6

Alleluia.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“He that is not against us is for us.”
MARK 9: 38 – 40

At that time: John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: Mutual Support
May 22, 2024

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him…” (Mark 9:38–39)

Why would John and the other disciples try to stop someone from driving out demons? To understand this, imagine the scene. John and the other disciples had come to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah of God. They witnessed Him perform many miracles and change many lives. As a result, they no doubt wanted everyone to discover Who Jesus was and come to faith in Him. But then they encountered someone they did not know, who was driving out demons in Jesus’ name, and they tried to stop him.

Just prior to this passage, we read the story of a man who had brought his possessed son to Jesus’ disciples and asked them to cure the boy, but they were unable to do so. Perhaps the disciples were a bit humbled by their inability to cast out the demon, and then they witnessed another person, not of their company, who was able to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. This might have added to their feelings of weakness and humiliation, and perhaps that is part of their motivation for trying to stop the man from exercising authority in Jesus’ name.

One common temptation that the evil one issues upon the members of the Church is that of internal division. As followers of Christ, we are all entrusted with the same mission, in different ways. We are called to become instruments of God’s grace for the salvation of souls and the glory of God. But sometimes we fail to act in unison and, instead, see our co-workers as our opponents.

Within our Church today, there are plenty of internal divisions that must cease. Perhaps the best way to accomplish this is to make it a priority to focus upon mutual support. Instead of allowing pride to create jealousy toward those who perform “mighty deeds” by the grace of God, we must work to rejoice in every good that we see. This seems like an obvious statement, but pride and feelings of inadequacy are real temptations that lead us to look down upon those who accomplish the will of God in powerful ways. When we see someone doing something good, we often immediately think about ourselves, wishing we were the ones doing the good work. And when God uses another in a powerful way, we can easily be tempted to see our own inadequacies and failings, rather than glorifying God for the good deeds done by another.

Reflect, today, upon the simple truth that every Christian is on the same spiritual team. We are all called to work toward the goals of the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Try to humbly think about those in your life who do this well and consider your attitude toward them. If you see any form of jealousy, envy or criticism, commit to dispel those attitudes. Instead, seek to have gratitude as you rejoice in the many ways that God uses others for His purpose.

PRAYER:
Lord of power and might, You accomplish countless good through the generosity and fidelity of Your people. You constantly use all who follow You to bring forth Your will. Please use me, dear Lord, as an instrument of Your will, and help me to always rejoice in the ways that You bring Your grace forth through others. Jesus, I trust in You.
Chitatu 22 Chivabvu – May;
Vhiki 7 regore –

Chiverengo chokutanga:
Jemusi 4,13-17

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yaJemusi
13 Hama, ko zvino imi munoti, “Nhasi kana
mangwana tichaenda kuguta rakati tondopedza
gore tiriko tigoshava tiwane upfumi” 14 asi zvamangwana musingambozviziva? Upenyu hwenyu
chii? Nokuti muri mhute inongooneka kwechinguva
yobva yanyangarika. 15 Zvamunotofanira kutaura ndezvokuti: “Kana
Tenzi achida tichararama, uye tichaita ichi
nechocho.” 16 Asi sezvazviri munotozvitutumadza
mukuzvikudza kwenyu. Kuzvitutumadza kose
kwakadaro kwakashata. 17 Munhu anoziva
zvinofanira kuitwa zvakarurama, asi asingazviiti,
kwaari chitadzo.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 49,5-6.7-9.16-17.18-19. (D – Mateu 5,3)

(D) – Vakakomborerwa zvavo varombo mumweya, nokuti umambo hwedenga ndehwavo.
5 Ndingatyirei zvangu, pamazuva akaipa,
kana uipi hwavavengi vangu hwandikomberedza.
6 Vanhu vanovimba noupfumi hwavo,
vachazvikudza nokuwanda kwopfuma yavo?
(D) – Vakakomborerwa zvavo varombo
mumweya, nokuti umambo
hwedenga ndehwavo.
7 Hapana munhu angambogona kuzvidzikinura,
kana kuripa Mwari mutengo woupenyu hwake.
8Nokuti muripo woupenyu hwomunhu mukuru,
haumbofa wakakwana 9 kuti arambe ari
mupenyu, nokusingaperi asina kuwana kuora
(D) – Vakakomborerwa zvavo varombo
mumweya, nokuti umambo hwedenga ndehwavo.
16 Usakatyamare zvako kana munhu akava mupfumi, kunyange mbiri yemba yake ikadhuma,
17 nokuti paanofa hapana chaanoenda nacho.
Mbiri yake haidziki naye ichimutevera.
(D) – Vakakomborerwa zvavo varombo
mumweya, nokuti umambo hwedenga ndehwavo.
18 Kunyange zvazvo paaiva mupenyu, aizviti
akakomborerwa, uye kunyange akarumbidzwa
zvake, paanenge abudirira.
19 Achatoenda kuchizvarwa chamadzitateguru ake,
vasingazombofa vakaona chiedza.
(D) – Vakakomborerwa zvavo varombo mumweya, nokuti umambo hwedenga ndehwavo

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Johani 14,6

Areruya, Areruya. Tenzi anoti: “Ndini nzira
nechokwadi noupenyu. Hapana anosvika kuna
Baba asina kuuya nokwandiri.” Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Mariko 9,38-40

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMariko
Johani akati kuna Jesu, “Mudzidzisi takaona
munhu achidzinga mweya yakaipa muzita renyu,
tikamurambidza nokuti akanga asiri wenzira
imwechete nesu.”
Asi Jesu akati, “Musamurambidze nokuti hakuna
munhu anoita zvishamiso muzita rangu, pedzezvo
ogona kutaura zvakaipa nezvangu; nokuti munhu
asingapikisane nesu ndowedu.

Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi