_*FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH 2024.*__*TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.*__*FIRST READING*_       _“We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to men, but to those who are called, the wisdom of God.”__*1ST CORINTHIANS 1: 17 – 25*_Brethren: Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men._*The Word of the Lord.*__*RESPONSORIAL PSALM*__Psalm 33: 1 – 2, 4 – 5, 10 – 11 (R.) 5b__*R/. The Lord’s merciful love fills the earth.*_Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;for praise is fitting for the upright.Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp;with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs. *R/.*For the word of the Lord is faithful,and all his works to be trusted.The Lord loves justice and right,and his merciful love fills the earth. *R/.*The Lord frustrates the designs of the nations;he defeats the plans of the peoples.The designs of the Lord stand forever,the plans of his heart from age to age. *R/.*_*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION*_ Luke 21: 36Alleluia. _Watch at all times, praying that you may be able to stand before the Son of man._ Alleluia._*GOSPEL*__“Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him”__*MATTHEW 25: 1 – 13*_At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. “As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘ Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ “But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”_*The Gospel of the Lord.*_

*Chishanu 30 Nyamavhuvhu – August;* *Vhiki 21 regore -* *Chiverengo chokutanga:* _1 VaKorinde 1,17-25_ _Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde_17 Hama, Kristu haana kundituma kuzoombeka asi kuzoparidza Shoko Rakanaka, uye kwete namazwi oungwaru kuti muchinjikwa waKristu urege kuto￾rerwa simba rawo. 18 Zvinoreva muchinjikwa, ndezvoupenzi kuna vakananga kundoparadzwa, asi kunesu vari kundoponeswa, isimba raMwari 19 nokuti zvakanyorwa zvichinzi, “Ndichaparadza ungwaru hwavakachenjera, uye ndichashaisa maturo ruzivo rwavazivi.” 20 Mungwaru achazova papi ipapa? Zvino iyo nyanzvi yomutemo ichavapapi? Nyanzvi dzokufunga dzomukore uno, dzichazova papi ipapo? Mwari haana kuita kuti ungwaru hwapasi pano, huve upenzi here? 21 Nokuti ungwaru hwaMwari ihoho, hwakaita kuti vanhu vasazive Mwari noungwaru hwavo. Uye zvakafadza Mwari kuponesa vanotenda, vachibatsirwa nezvoupenzi zvatinoparidza. 22 VaJudha vanoda zvishamiso, vaGiriki vanotsvaga ungwaru. 23 Asi isu tinoparidza Kristu akarovererwa pamuchinjikwa. Izvi chigumburo kunavaJudha, uye upenzi zvahwo kune vechirudzi. 24 Kuna vakadaidzwa zvavo, vangave vaJudha kana vaGiriki, tinoparidza Kristu, iye simba raMwari, noungwaru hwaMwari. 25 Upenzi hwaMwari ungwaru kupinda ungwaru hwavanhu, uye utera hwaMwari hune simba kupinda ravanhu. *Shoko raTenzi.* *Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 33,1-2.4-5.10-11. (D – 5)_ *(D) – Nyika izere nemwoyochena waTENZI.* 1 Farai muna TENZI imi makarurama, vari pachokwadi ndivo, vanokodzera kumurumbidza. 2 Rumbidzai TENZI nechipendani, muimbirei nedimbwa rine waya gumi. *(D) – Nyika izere nemwoyochena waTENZI.* 4 Shoko raTENZI rakatendeka, uye basa rake rose rinoitwa muchokwadi. 5 Anoda ururami noruenzaniso, nyika izere nemwoyochena waTENZI. *(D) – Nyika izere nemwoyochena waTENZI.* 10 TENZI anoshaisa basa mazano amarudzi, anoshaisa maturo zvirongwa zvavanhu. 11 Zano raTENZI rinoramba riripo nokusingaperi, zvaanofunga mumwoyo make, zvinosvika kuzvizvarwa zvose. *(D) – Nyika izere nemwoyochena waTENZI.* *Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:* _Ruka 21,36_ *Areruya, Areruya.* Ngwarirai nguva dzose muchinamata kuti mukwanise kuzomira pamberi poMwanakomana womunhu. *Areruya.* *Shoko Rakanaka:* _Mateu 25,1-13_ _Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMateu_ Jesu akataura mufananidzo uyu kuvadzidzi vake achiti: 1 “Umambo hwedenga huchafananidzwa navasikana vane gumi, vakatora marambi avo vakaenda kundochingura muwani. 2Vashanu vavo vakanga vasina kungwara, vamwe vashanuwo vakanga vakangwara. 3 Vakanga vasina kungwara vaya, pavakatora marambi avo, havana kutakura mamwe mafuta. 4 Asi vakachenjera vakatakura zvigubhu zvamafuta pamwechete namarambi avo. 5Muwani paakanonoka vakanzwa hope ndokubva vakotsira. 6Pakati pousiku pakaridzwa mhere yokuti, ‘Muwani wouya! Budai mumuchingure.’ 7 Vasikana vaya vose vakamuka vakabatidza marambi avo. 8Vasina kungwara vakati kuna vakangwara, ‘Tipungurireiwo mafuta enyu nokuti marambi edu ava kuda kudzima.’ 9Asi vakangwara vakapindura vachiti, ‘Pamwe haangazotikwanira isu nemi. Zvirinani kuti muende kuna vanotengesa mundozvitengera.’ 10 Pavakanga vaenda kundotenga, muwani ndiye vhu kusvika. Vaya vakanga vakagadzirira vakapinda naye mumabiko omuchato. Gonhi ndiye dhwa kuzarirwa. 11 Mushure mezvo, vamwe vasikana vaya vakauya vachiti, ‘Tenzi, Tenzi tizarurireiwo.’ 12Asi iye akapindura achiti, ‘Zvechokwadi ndinoti kwamuri handikuzivii.’ 13Naizvozvo garirirai nokuti hamuzivi zuva kana nguva yacho.” *Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi*

*GOSPEL REFLECTION: Being Prepared by Charity*_August 30, 2024__Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.” (Matthew 25:1–2)_The “ten virgins” in this parable refer to the bridesmaids who were following Jewish tradition by going to the home of the bride to await the coming of the groom for a wedding. This parable is one of a few parables Jesus told that emphasizes the importance of being vigilant in our Christian walk. As the parable goes on, we are told that the groom was delayed and that the bridesmaids fell asleep. Upon waking, the foolish ones had no more oil for their lamps and had to leave to get some more. When they returned, they discovered that the groom had already arrived and that the door was locked. They then knocked and said, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” But the reply came to them, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” And they missed out on the wedding celebration.Traditionally, the “oil” has been understood as a reference to charity. The message is simple. As we prepare to meet our Lord in Heaven, it is not enough to make the claim that we are Christians. We must also produce the good fruit of charity by our actions. Faith must result in charity, otherwise it is not true faith at all.This parable should be taken seriously. We should use it as a regular source of examination of our lives in regard to the charity we have…or do not have. When you look at your life, can you point to regular acts of charity that flow from your love of God and are bestowed upon others? Charity is not based on your preferences in life. It’s not based on what you feel like doing. Charity is always selfless and sacrificial. It always looks toward the good of the other. How much charity is alive in your life? Jesus clearly told this parable because He was aware of many who professed a faith in God but did not live the love of God. It’s very easy to live our lives day in and day out, doing what we do because of our personal likes or dislikes. However, it is very difficult to foster true charity within our souls and to regularly choose to love others because it is good for them.We must work to foster charity, first, in our thoughts. Critical and condemning thoughts must be eliminated, and we must strive to see others as God sees them. Charity must also direct our words. Our words must be encouraging of others, kind, supportive and merciful. Our actions become charitable when we become generous with our time, go out of our way to serve and are diligent in the ways we express our love of others.https://youtu.be/ilFuahv4Wpc?si=EUOSOvCDD8_HqiaS*Reflect,* today, upon the high calling you have been given to live an active and manifest life of charity. Spend time reflecting upon what charity truly is. Have you allowed yourself to become guided by a more secular and selfish form of “love?” Do you act more out of selfish preferences than out of self-giving and sacrifice? Do you truly build people up and witness the love of God to them? Try to answer these questions seriously. This parable spoken from our Lord is much more than a story. It is truth. And the truth is that some will arrive at the day of judgment without the necessary “oil” for their lamps. Take our Lord seriously and examine your life of charity. Where you are lacking, become fervent in your mission to change. In the end, you will be eternally grateful you did.*PRAYER:*_My loving Lord, You showed us all that true love is selfless and sacrificial. You came to this world to serve and to give Your sacred life for us all. May I open my life more fully to Your love so that Your love may also affect and direct every relationship I have. Fill me with the gift of charity, dear Lord, so that I will be fully prepared for the day of my particular judgment. Jesus, I trust in You.