THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH 2024.

TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

FIRST READING
“There is nothing new under the sun.”
ECCLESIASTES 1: 2 – 11

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes round to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already, in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to happen among those who come after.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 90: 3 – 4, 5 – 6, 12 – 13, 14 and 17 (R.) 1

R/. O Lord, you have been our refuge, from generation to generation.

You turn man back to dust,
and say, “Return, O children of men.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
or like a watch in the night. R/.

You sweep them away like a dream,
like grass which is fresh in the morning.
In the morning it sprouts and is fresh;
by evening it withers and fades. R/.

Then teach us to number our days,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Turn back, O Lord! How long?
Show pity to your servants. R/.

At dawn, fill us with your merciful love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us;
give success to the work of our hands.
O give success to the work of our hands. 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        
“John I beheaded,’ but who is this about whom I hear such things?”
LUKE 9: 7 – 9

At that time: Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

China 26 Gunyana – September;

Vhiki 25 regore –

Chiverengo chokutanga: Muparidzi 1,2-11

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku raMuparidzi
2 Hazvinzwisisiki, hazvinzwisisiki, ndozviri kutaura muparidzi,
hazvinzwisisiki, zvinhu hazvinyatsonzwisisika.
3 Nhai imi munhu anofireiko nebasa chaizvo, nokufondoka kwose kwaanoita pasi pezuva? 4 Chimwe chizvarwa chinoenda chimwewo chizvarwa chichiuya, asi nyika inoramba iripo chete. 5 Zuvawo rinobuda, zuva rinodoka romhanyazve iwee kunzvimbo kwaro kwarinobuda!
6 Mhepo inoenda kumaodzanyemba yopishinukazve yoenda kuchamhembe, ichingotendererawo, ichingotenderera. Mhepo inoramba ichingoenda neMayamboenda namo imomo. 7 Nzizi dzose dzinoyerera kugungwa asi gungwa harizari. Nzizi kwadzinoyerera dzinoyererazve ikoko. 8 Zvinhu zvose zvinofinha, hapana angagone kuzvitaura. Ziso hariguti kuona kana nzevewo haiguti kunzwa.
9 Zvakamboitika, zvichaitikazve.
Zvakamboitwa, zvichaitwazve.
Hapana chitsva pasi pezuva.
10 Pane chinhu here chinganzi, “Ona chinhu icho chitsva.” Chaivapo kare panguva yakare. 11 Hakuna chete anoyeuka zvinhu zvakare. Hakunawo achazoyeuka pane vachauya mushure macho. Uye kuyeuka pachange pasina pakati pane vachauya mushure machowo.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira: Nziyo 90,3-4.5-6.12-13.14+17. (D – 1)

(D) – TENZI ndimi manga muri musha wedu pazvizvarwa zvose.
3 Munopindura munhu kuva huruva, munongoti vanhu,
“Dzokerai kune zvamakanga muri.”
4 Nokuti churu chamakore kwamuri chakangoita sazuro kana chapfuura,
kana sakanguvana kokugaririra usiku.
(D) – TENZI ndimi manga muri musha wedu pazvizvarwa zvose.
5 Munotsvaira vanhu, vakaita sechiroto,
vakaita souswa hunosvibirira mangwanani.
6 Kumangwanani hunomuka hwakasvibirira,
kumanheru hunouna hwosvava.
(D) – TENZI ndimi manga muri musha wedu pazvizvarwa zvose.
12 Tidzidziseiwo kuverenga mazuva edu kuti tingwarire.
13 Muchasvika kupiko nhai TENZI?
Dzokai zvenyu muitire varanda venyu ngoni.
(D) – TENZI ndimi manga muri musha wedu pazvizvarwa zvose.
14 Tiratidzeiwo mwoyochena wenyu mangwanani,
kuti tipembere kufara uye tifare mazuva edu ose.
Nyasha dzaTenzi, Mwari wedu, ngadzive patiri.
Basa ramaoko edu muite kuti ribudirire.
Hongu ngaribudirire basa ramaoko edu.
(D) – TENZI ndimi manga muri musha wedu pazvizvarwa zvose.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Johani 14,6

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

Shoko Rakanaka:
Ruka 9,7-9

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka
7 Herodhi mumwe wavatongi akanzwa zvose zvakanga zvaitwa naJesu. Zvakamupazanisa musoro nokuti zvainzi navamwe, ndiJohani akamutswa kuvakafa, 8 vamwewo vachiti ndiEriya akazvionesa. Vamwewo vaiti mumwe wavaporofita vakare akanga amuka. 9 Herodhi akati, “Johani ndakamudimbura musoro. Ko, uyu ndiani wandinonzwa zvinhu zvakadai nezvake.” Naizvozvo aitsvaga kuti angamuone sei.
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Courage to Change
September 26, 2024

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” (Luke 9:7–8)

Herod the tetrarch, also known as Herod Antipas, ruled the Jews of Galilee for some forty-two years. He began his reign in 2 BC and continued to reign until he was exiled by the Roman Emperor in 37 AD. During his reign, he spent much time in Tiberias, one of the main cities on the western edge of the Sea of Galilee. Most of Jesus’ ministry took place within the region of Herod’s domain, all of Galilee, so Herod was very aware of the many stories about Jesus.

Today’s Gospel concludes by saying that Herod kept trying to see Jesus. Of course, Herod, just like anyone living in that region, could have traveled to where Jesus was preaching so as to listen to Him at any time. But he didn’t do that. Instead, he continued to receive reports about Jesus and remained curious about Him, trying to find a way to figure out Who Jesus was.

Try to imagine what would have happened if Herod would have traveled to where Jesus was preaching so as to listen to Him with an open heart. If he would have done that, and truly listened, Herod would have received one of the greatest gifts imaginable. He would have received the gift of faith and conversion and would have begun down the road toward eternal salvation. But Herod was living an immoral life. He was known to be a cruel leader and also an unrepentant adulterer. He loved his power and was quite jealous of it. Herod most likely knew, at least in the back of his mind, that if he were to listen to Jesus, he would have to change. And he most likely didn’t want to change.

This presents us all with a powerful lesson. Each one of us can easily dismiss various communications and invitations from our Lord, because, deep down, we do not want to change. God is speaking to us all day long, every day of our lives. He is constantly offering us His message of the full Gospel. And though you may be open to much of what God says, there are most likely parts of His divine message that you either knowingly or unknowingly do not listen to. The key to being able to hear everything that God wants to speak to you is to be disposed to completely change in any and every way that God wants you to change.

Reflect, today, upon Herod. First, reflect upon his curiosity about Jesus. This is a good quality, in that it’s much better than being indifferent. From there, think also about the fact that Herod never went to Jesus to listen to Him. His first meeting with Jesus was on the night of His arrest, when he interrogated our Lord and made fun of Him. As you consider Herod’s obstinacy, use it as an examination of your own life. Where you see any small reflection of obstinacy, fear of change or a closed heart, seek to remedy that by turning to our Lord telling Him you are open to all He wishes to say and that you are ready and willing to change in any way He calls you to do so. Do not fear the change our Lord wants of you. Embracing that change will land you on the quick and narrow road toward true holiness of life.

PRAYER:
My ever-present Lord, You call to me day and night, inviting me to change as I listen to Your holy Word. I thank You for these constant promptings of grace and commit myself to remain open to all that You ask of me. I choose You, my Lord. And as I turn to You, I pray that I will have the courage I need to respond wholeheartedly to Your call. Jesus, I trust in You.