WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28TH 2024.

TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, Bishop & Doctor of the Church.

FIRST READING
“If any one will not work, let him not eat.”
2ND THESSALONIANS 3: 6 – 10, 16 – 18

We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat any one’s bread without paying, but with toil and labour we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 128: 1 – 2, 4 – 5 (R.) 1a

R/. Blessed are all who fear the Lord.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
You will be blessed and prosper. R/.

Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Sion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper
all the days of your life! R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
1st John 2: 5

Alleluia.
Whoever keeps Christ’s word, in him truly love for God is perfected.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL              
“You are sons of those who murdered the prophets.”
MATTHEW 23: 27 – 32

At that time: Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones  and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Chitatu28 Nyamavhuvhu – August;

Kurangarira Ogastini, Mubhishopi
neNgwazi yezvechitendero –

Chiverengo chokutanga:
2 VaTesaronika 3,6-10.16-18

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba
yechipiri yaPauro kuvaTesaronika
Hama dzadiwa, 6 tinokuudzai muzita raTenzi Jesu
Kristu, kuti siyanai nehama inenge iri nyope isinga-
tevedzi magamuchidzanwa amakagamuchira kwa-
tiri. 7 Imi munoziva wani kuti munofanira kutiteve-
dzera zvakadii. Isu takanga tisingagari maoko
patanga tiinemi. 8 Hatina kudya chokudya chomu-
nhu mahara, asi taishanda zvakaoma tichifondoka
siku nesikati, kuti tirege kuwana watinoremedza.
9 Hazvirevi kuti isu hatina mvumo yokubatsirwa nemi, asi kuti tikupei muenzaniso wokuti muteve-
dzere. 10 Kunyange pataiva tiinemi takakuudzai
kuti, kana munhu asingadi kushanda, ngaarege
kudya.
16 Zvino Tenzi worugare pachake ngaakupei rugare
nguva dzose nenzira dzakasiyanasiyana. Tenzi
ngaave nemi mose. 17 Ndini Pauro ndiri kunyora
kwaziso iyi noruoko rwangu. Aya ndiwo masainiro
andinoita tsamba dzangu dzose ndiwo manyorero
andinoita. 18 Tenzi Jesu Kristu ngaakupei mose
chikomborero chenyasha dzake.
Shoko raTenzi.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira: Nziyo 128,1-2.4-5. (D – 1)

(D) – Akakomborerwa munhu wose
anotya TENZI.
1Akakomborerwa munhu wose anotya TENZI,
anofamba mumakwara ake.
2Uchadya muchero webasa rako,
uchafara uye zvichakufambira zvakanaka.
(D) – Akakomborerwa munhu wose
anotya TENZI.
4 Ndiko kukomborerwa kuchaita munhu anotya
TENZI.
5TENZI ngaakukomborere ari muZioni
uone kubudirira kweJerusaremu,
upenyu hwako hwose 6uone vana vavana vako.
(D) – Akakomborerwa munhu wose
anotya TENZI.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
1 Johani 2,5

Areruya, Areruya.
Rudo rwaMwari rwanyatso-
zadzikiswa kunouyo anochengeta shoko raKristu.
Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Mateu 23,27-32

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa
naMateu
Jesu akati: 27 “Zvichakuwanai imi nyanzvi dzomu-
temo nemi vaFarisei, imi vanyengedzi, makafanana
namakuva akadzururwa kuti mbuu nesuko. Anora-
tidzika zvakanakisa kunze asi mukati muzere
mapfupa avanhu vakafa nokuora kose. 28 Nemiwo,
kunze munotaridzika savanhu vakarurama kuva-
nhu, asi mukati muzere nokubata vanhu kumeso
uye uipi.
29 Zvichakuwanai imi nyanzvi dzomutemo nava-
Farisei, imi vanyengedzi, munovaka makuva ava-
porofita muchishongedza zvifananidzo zvavanhu
vakarurama. 30Muchiti, ‘Dai takanga tiri vapenyu
pamazuva amadzibaba edu, tingadai tisina
kubatana navo mukudeura ropa ravaporofita.’
31 Naizvozvo, muri kutopa umboo hunokurovererai
kuti imi muri vana vemhondi dzakauraya vaporo-
fita. 32 Saka chipedzisaika musvike paiva neshungu
dzamadzibaba enyu.”
Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: The Firmness and Strength of Love
August 28, 2024

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.” _(Matthew 23:27–28)

This would not have been an easy thing for the scribes and Pharisees to hear. It is a hard truth, spoken by our Lord, partly in an attempt to shake them free of their sin. And even though they may not have enjoyed hearing this clear condemnation spoken, since it came from the Savior of the World, we can be sure that these are words of the deepest love and were spoken so that these men would repent and change their ways.
https://youtu.be/D2DXAUKcoos?si=HLxfO7ofN3A-qQ4h

Perhaps each of us, at times, feels like criticizing another. Most often, when we feel this way, it stems from our own personal sin of anger. Perhaps we were hurt by another and that hurt results in a desire for a form of vengeance that comes from anger. But this was not the case with Jesus.

First, these words were spoken by Jesus to his disciples and to the crowds of people, not only to the scribes and Pharisees. So in many ways Jesus spoke this for the good of those who were suffering under the misguided leadership of these religious leaders. But Jesus knew that these leaders would also hear His words, so He spoke those words to them. But unlike us, He did it out of perfect virtue so as to care for their souls.

At times, each one of us needs to hear Jesus rebuke us in love. If any of the scribes and Pharisees were open at that time, then Jesus’ words would have first stung them to the heart but then had the powerful effect of challenging them to change. They needed this and so do we. When we become stuck in our sins, especially if obstinacy sets in, then we need to allow Jesus to challenge us firmly. Such a challenge can be rattling, but that rattling is sometimes necessary. Emotion and passion can lead to sin, but it can also lead to repentance and conversion. The passion with which Jesus spoke became an instrument by which their own passions made them sit up and take notice. The result was that they either became more steeped in their sin or they repented. And though most became even more steeped in sin, which ultimately resulted in their persecution and death of Jesus, we can hope that there were some who did repent, such as Nicodemus.

Reflect, today, upon the strength of Jesus’ words to these religious leaders. Though they were supposed to be both “religious” and “leaders,” they were neither. They needed Jesus’ strength, courage and firmness. They needed to be confronted directly and receive the hard and clear truth about their sin. Reflect upon what it is in your own life that Jesus wants to say to you. Is there an area of your life in which our Lord needs to address you with passion, strength, clarity and firmness? Most likely there is. Perhaps not in an area of serious sin like it was with these scribes and Pharisees, but if we are open, Jesus wants to powerfully go after every sin within us. Open yourself to Him and allow Him to help rid you of the sins with which you struggle the most. And be grateful for this grace when He does.

PRAYER:
My passionate Lord, You hate sin but love the sinner. You perfectly desire to rid me of all sin and all attachment to sin. Please open my mind and heart to hear Your rebukes of Love so that I may respond to Your invitation to repent with all my heart. I love You dear Lord. Free me from sin so that I may love You more. Jesus, I trust in You.