1ST PETER 1: 3 – 9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials,  so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 111: 1b – 2, 5 – 6, 9 and 10c (R.) 5b
R/. The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.
Or:  
Alleluia.

I will praise the Lord with all my heart,
in the meeting of the just and the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. R/.

He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
His mighty works he has shown to his people
by giving them the heritage of nations. R/.

He has sent redemption to his people,
and established his covenant forever.
Holy his name, to be feared.
His praise endures forever! R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 
2nd Corinthians 8: 9

Alleluia.
Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL         
“Go, sell what you have, and follow me.”
MARK 10: 17 – 27

At that time: As Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honour your father and mother. ”’ And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,  “How hard it will be for those who have riches  to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Muvhuro 27 Chivabvu – May;

Vhiki 8 regore

Chiverengo chokutanga:
1 Pita 1,3-9

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPita
3 Hama dzadiwa. Ngaarumbidzwe Mwari naBaba
waTenzi wedu Jesu Kristu! Nokuda kwengoni dzake dzakawanda takaberekwa patsva kuchitarisiro
chezvirokwazvo pamusana pokumuka kwakaita
Jesu Kristu kuvakafa. 4Uye kuti tive nenhaka isingaperi isina kuipiswa, isingabhuruvari yamakachengeterwa kudenga, 5 imi makachengetedzwa
nesimba raMwari, uye nokuda kwechitendero
kusvikira ruponeso rwakagadzirirwa kuburitswa
pachena panguva yokupedzesera. 6Munofanira kufara kwazvo munezvizvi, kunyange
zvazvo iye zvino, kwekanguva kaduku, munogona
kupindana nezviedzo zvakasiyanasiyana. 7 Izvi kuti
chitendero chenyu chechokwadi, chinokosha
kupfuura ndarama inoedzwa nomoto, kunyange
iri chinhu chinopera, kurumbidzwe zvikuru, uye
kuve nembiri norukudzo pachazooneswa Jesu
Kristu. 8Kunyange musina kumuona munomuda.
Kunyange musingamuoni iye zvino, munotenda
maari muchifara norufaro rusingatauriki rukuru
kwazvo. 9 Somubayiro wechitendero chenyu,
munowana ruponeso rwemweya yenyu.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Nziyo 111,1-2.4-5.9+10c. (D – 5)

(D) – Tenzi haakanganwi chitenderano chake.
Ndichatenda TENZI nomwoyo wangu wose,
mugungano ravakarurama, musangano.
2 Mabasa aTENZI makuru,
anodzidzwa navose vanoafarira.
(D) – Tenzi haakanganwi chitenderano chake.
4 Akadzika chokuti timuyeuke nacho,
mabasa ake anoshamisa,
TENZI ane mwoyo wakanaka uye ane tsitsi. 5 Anopa chokudya vanomutya,
haakanganwi chitenderano chake.
(D) – Tenzi haakanganwi chitenderano chake.
9 Akatuma ruponeso kuvanhu vake;
akasunga chitenderano chake nokusingaperi,
zita rake rinoera uye rinotyisa.
10 Mwari acharumbidzwa nokusingaperi.
(D) – Tenzi haakanganwi
chitenderano chake.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
2 VaKorinde 8,9

Areruya, Areruya. Kunyange Jesu Kristu
akanga akapfuma asi akazova murombo, nokuda
kwenyu kuti nourombo hwake imi mugova
vapfumi. Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Mariko 10,17-27

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMariko
17 Kuzoti Jesu ava kupinda munzira, mumwe munhu akamumhanyira ndokusvikopfugama mberi
kwake omubvunza achiti, “Mudzidzisi wakanaka,
ndingaitei kuti ndiwane nhaka youpenyu husingaperi?”
18 Jesu akamupindura achiti, “Seiko uchinditi
ndakanaka? Hakuna wakanaka kunze kwaMwari oga. 19 Unoziva wani mitemo inoti; usauraye, usaite
upombwe, usabe, usaite uchapupu hwenhema,
usanyengedze, remekedza baba naamai vako.”
20 Iye akatiwo kwaari, “Mudzidzisi, yose iyi ndakaichengeta kubvira pauduku hwangu.”
21 Jesu akamutarisa akamuda, ndokumuti, “Une
chimwechete chausina; chokuti enda undotengesa
zvose zvaunazvo upe kuvarombo, uchava noupfumi
kudenga; ugouya wonditevera.” 22 Shoko iri rakamusvibisa mwoyo akabvapo woenda akasuruvara,
nokuti akanga aine upfumi hwakawanda.
23 Jesu akaringa-ringa akati kuvadzidzi vake, “Zvakaoma sei kuti vanoupfumi vapinde muumambo
hwaMwari!” 24 Vadzidzi vakashamiswa kwazvo
namazwi ake.
Asi Jesu akataurazve achiti kwavari, “Vakomana,
zvakaoma sei kupinda muumambo hwaMwari.
25 Zviri nyore kuti ngamera ipinde napaburi retsono
pano kuti mupfumi apinde muumambo hwaMwari.”
26 Ivo vakashamiswa zvikuru kwazvo vakataurirana
vachiti, “Ndiani zvino angagone kuponeswa?”
27 Jesu akavatarisa akati, “Izvi hazvigoneki kuitwa
navanhu asi naMwari. Kuna Mwari zvose zvinogoneka.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi

GOSPEL REFLECTION: The Path to Perfection
May 27, 2024

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments…” (Mark 10:17–19)

Jesus addresses different people in different ways. He chastised the proud and arrogant who came to trap Him. He was exceptionally gentle and kind to the repentant sinner who came in tears. He spoke in parables and figures of speech to those who were curious but had little faith. And to those who came with openness, sincerely seeking the truth, He spoke clearly, lovingly and directly.

Today’s Gospel presents us with the familiar story of the Rich Young Man. Notice how this young man came to Jesus. First, he “ran up” to Jesus. This suggests he was very desirous to speak with our Lord. He also knelt down before Jesus, which points to his humility and reverence. Then he asked Jesus a direct and important question. He didn’t ask Jesus to heal someone. He wasn’t looking for a miracle or a personal favor. Instead, this young man asked the question we should all ask Jesus every day. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Is this a question that you ponder and ask our Lord?

As the story unfolds, Jesus gives two answers. First, He gives the young man the fundamental answer to his question. Eternal life is obtained by keeping away from serious sin, out of love and obedience to the will of God. But after the young man inquires further, Jesus gives him a much deeper answer. This second answer was one based on a deep love for this young man because it presented the key to perfection. “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Many people go through life fulfilling the most fundamental precepts of holiness. They avoid serious sin so as to remain in a state of grace. And this is good. But Jesus wants so much more: He wants perfection. When we sincerely seek out perfection, Jesus will answer us as He answered the Rich Young Man. Perfection requires the deepest purification from all unhealthy attachments. Most people have many attachments that hinder perfection. Those attachments might not be mortal sins, but they are venial sins, or spiritual imperfections. Therefore, it’s important to know that if you want perfection, and if you humble yourself before our Lord and sincerely ask how to obtain it, He will lovingly invite you to detach from everything but God and His holy will for your life. What that means practically for you must be prayerfully discerned.

Reflect, today, upon whether or not you could join this rich young man in his humble questions posed to Jesus. Do you want to know how to be perfect? If so, are you ready to respond to Jesus’ answer? Are you willing to abandon everything that is a hindrance to the will of God so that you can follow Him and fulfill His perfect will? Ponder this question and commit yourself to the full embrace of Jesus’ answer and you will become richer in what matters than you could ever imagine.

PRAYER:
My generous Lord, You call me to perfection. You call me to turn from everything that hinders my perfect love of You and my full embrace of Your will. Please help me to sincerely turn to You every day, seeking only Your full will in all things. As I do, please set me free from all that keeps me from the life of perfection to which I am called. Jesus, I trust in You.