MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH 2024.

TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JEROME, Priest & Doctor of the Church.

FIRST READING      
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, ‘blessed be the name of the Lord.”
JOB 1: 6 – 22

There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.  The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?”  Satan answered the Lord, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burnt up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “Your sons and  daughters were  eating and drinking wine  in their eldest brother’s house; and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 17: 1, 2 – 3, 6 – 7 (R.) 6b

R/. Lord, turn your ear to me; hear my words.

O Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips. R/.

From you may my justice come forth.
Your eyes discern what is upright.
Search my heart and visit me by night.
Test me by fire, and you will find no wrong in me. R/.

To you I call; for you will surely heed me,
O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your merciful love.
By your right hand you deliver from their
foes those who put their trust in you. R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 
Mark 10: 45

Alleluia.
The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL     
“He who! Is least among you all is the one who is great.”
LUKE 9: 46 – 50

At that time: An argument arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

*Muvhuro 30 Gunyana – September;**Kurangarira Jeromu Mupristi neNgwazi yezvechitendero -**Chiverengo chokutanga:* _Jobhu 1,6-22__Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku raJobhu_6 Rimwe zuva zvakazoitika kuti vana vaMwari vakauya kuzozviratidza pana Tenzi. Satani akauyawo ari mukati mavo. 7 Tenzi akati kuna Satani, “Uri kubvepi?” Satani akapindura Tenzi achiti, “Ndanga ndichingodzengerera zvangu nenyika ndichifamba-famba mairi.”8 Tenzi akati kuna Satani, “Wati wambofungisisa here nezvomuranda wangu Jobhu kuti hakuna akafanana naye panyika. Munhu akarurama, ari pachokwadi anotya Mwari uye anonzvenga uipi.” 9 Satani akapindura Tenzi achiti, “Iye Jobhu anotya Mwari mahara here? 10 Handiti makamutenderedza norumhanda iye nemba yake uye zvose zvaanazvo kumativi ose? Makakomborera basa raanoita namaoko ake. Makaita kuti zvinhu zvake zviwande panyika. 11 Ingotambanudzai ruoko rwenyu mungobata chete zvose zvaanazvo muone kuti haakushonhei here pameso penyu chaipo.”12 Tenzi akati kuna Satani, “Zvakanaka, zvose zvaanazvo zvava mumaoko mako, asi iye pachake usambomubatabata zvako.” Saizvozvo Satani akabva abva zvake panaMwari.13 Rimwe zuva zvakaitika kuti vanakomana navanasikana vake, vakanga vari pakudya zvavo nokunwa waini mumba yomukomana wavo mukuru, 14 kwakauya nhume kuna Jobhu ichiti, “Nzombe dzanga dzichirima, madhongi achifura zvawo pedyo nadzo. 15 VaSebhiya vauya vakazvitora vakauraya vashandi namapakatwa, ini ndoga ndini ndapunyuka kuzokutaurirai.”16 Achiri kutaura kudaro, kwakasvika mumwe achitiwo, “Moto waMwari waburuka kudenga ukapisa hwai navashandi ukavaroromesa. Ini ndoga ndini ndapunyuka kuzokutaurirai.”17 Achiri kutaurawo kudaro, kwakauyazve mumwe achiti, “VaKaradhea vaita mapoka matatu ndokubva vaita chivhundumukira pangamera vakaenda nadzo. Vauraya vashandi namapakatwa. Ini ndoga ndini ndangopunyuka kuzokutaurirai.”18 Achiri mukutaura mumwezve ndiye vhu, akati, “Vana venyu vanga vachidya nokunwa zvavo waini mumba yomukoma wavo mukuru. 19 Kwabva dutu guru ravhuvhuta nokugwenga rikarova imba iyoyo kumativi mana ikakoromokera pavadiki ivava vakafa. Ini ndoga ndini ndapunyuka kuzokutaurirai.”20 Ipapo Jobhu akasimuka akabvarura gemenzi rake. Akaveura musoro wake ndokuti pasi zvambarara achinamata.21 Akati:“Ndakabuda mudumbu ramai vangu ndisina chandakapfeka,ndichadzokerazve ndisina chandakapfeka;Tenzi ndiye akapa; Tenzi ndiye atora.Zita raTenzi ngarirumbidzwe.”22 Munaizvozvi zvose Jobhu haana chaakakanganisa kana kupa Mwari mhosva.*Shoko raTenzi.**Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 17,1bcd.2-3.6-7. (D – 6)_*(D) – Tenzi, rerekerai nzeve yenyu kwandiri, munzwe zvandinotaura.*1 TENZI teererai kuchemera ruenzaniso kwangu.Rerekerai nzeve yenyu kumunamato wangu,unobva kumiromo isina unyengedzi.*(D) – Tenzi, rerekerai nzeve yenyu kwandiri, munzwe zvandinotaura.*2 Kutongwa kwangu dai zvako kwangobva kwamuri;maziso enyu aone zviri pachokwadi.3 Kana mukaedzawo zvenyu mwoyo wangu;kana kuti mukandishanyira zvenyu usiku;kana mukaedza kuona zvandiri, hamumboona uipi mandiri.*(D) – Tenzi, rerekerai nzeve yenyu kwandiri, munzwe zvandinotaura.*6 Ndinodanidzira kwamuri Mwari nokuti munondipindura.Rerekerai nzeve yenyu kwandiri, munzwe zvandinotaura.7 Ratidzai mwoyochena wenyu unoshamisa.Imi mununuri wavanhu vanopotera mamuri.*(D) – Tenzi, rerekerai nzeve yenyu kwandiri, munzwe zvandinotaura.**Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:* _Mariko 10,45_*Areruya, Areruya.* Mwanakomana womunhu haana kuuya kuzoshandirwa,asi kuzoshandira vamwe, uye kuzopira upenyu hwake sorudzikinuro rwavazhinji. *Areruya.**Shoko Rakanaka:* _Ruka 9,46-50__Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka_46 Pakamuka nharo pakati pavadzidzi vaJesu yokuti ndiani mukuru kupinda vose. 47 Jesu paakaona pfungwa dzaiva mumwoyo mavo akatora mwana muduku akamuisa parutivi pake. 48 Akati kwavari, “Ani naani anogamuchira mwana uyu muzita rangu, anogamuchira ini, uyewo ani naani anondigamuchira, anogamuchirawo uyo akandituma, nokuti uyo anenge ari muduku, wokupedzisira pakati penyu mose, ndiye mukuru iyeyo.”49 Johani akadavirawo woti, “Tenzi takaona munhu achidzinga mweya yakaipa muzita renyu tikamurambidza nokuti haasi wenzira imwechete nesu.” 50 Jesu akati kwaari, “Musamurambidze nokuti munhu asingapikisani nemi ari kudivi kwenyu.”*Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

*GOSPEL REFLECTION: Attentive to the Details of Grace*_September 30, 2024__An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48)_This conversation between Jesus and His disciples took place shortly after three events. First, it took place after the disciples returned from the first mission on which Jesus had sent them. Second, it was after Peter made his profession of faith stating that Jesus was “The Messiah of God.” Third, it occurred after the Transfiguration in which Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain to reveal His glory. After these three events, it appears that a certain rivalry began to manifest itself among the disciples. Perhaps there was jealousy of Peter’s profession of faith, or perhaps the disciples who were not taken up the mountain of the Transfiguration were a bit envious. But whatever the cause, Jesus addresses what is the beginning of a desire for vainglory among the disciples.In commenting on this passage, Saint Cyril of Alexandria notes that in the spiritual battle, the devil’s first tactic is to stir up fleshly desires within our souls to keep us bound by the desire for those pleasures. However, when a person is able to escape these more base and fleshly desires, then the devil stirs up a spiritual sin; namely, a selfishness and vainglory. It is this desire for vainglory, the desire to be perceived as the greatest, with which the disciples were struggling.Our Lord addresses the disciples after He “realized the intention of their hearts.” This is a very important line. Essentially, Jesus noticed that the desire for vainglory was just beginning. By analogy, when a weed begins to grow, it is easily pulled up by the roots. But if it is left to grow for a while, then the roots are more difficult to pull up, and doing so often affects the other plants and ground around the weed. So it is with sin. By gently bringing a child into their midst and stating that “the one who is least among you is the one who is the greatest,” Jesus was helping them to remove this “weed” of the sin of vainglory before it took deep root in their lives. As Jesus continues His conversation with the disciples, He continues to act with gentleness, addressing their slight error in their reasoning.This is important to understand, because our Lord always desires to address our sin the very moment it begins. If we are open to His subtle promptings of grace, gently redirecting our actions the moment we begin to go astray, then our attentiveness to His loving rebuke will help keep us from becoming more deeply rooted in our error, whatever it may be. Establishing a practice of constant self-reflection greatly helps with this. Establishing this habit means we do not see our Lord as a harsh and critical Judge; rather, we see Him in His gentleness and care. This image of Jesus gently bringing a child before the disciples so as to teach them about true greatness should help us to realize that we should never fear these gentle promptings of grace.https://youtu.be/qBZT7t_5GxQ?si=sxVJLGFRoAFvndM0*Reflect,* today, upon our Lord appearing before you, gently addressing the small sins with which you are struggling. Of course, all serious sins must be firmly dealt with first. But once all serious sin is rooted out of your life, be attentive to the gentle and merciful promptings of grace by which Jesus wants to root out every small sin at its beginning and even every spiritual imperfection. Attentiveness to these graces is the surest way to grow in holiness and to allow our Lord to lead you into His glorious will, making you truly great within His Kingdom.*PRAYER:*_My most merciful and gentle Jesus, I thank You for the many ways in which You come to me, revealing Your love and grace. Please help me to see clearly the ways that I must change, so that even the beginnings of the smallest sin in my life may be rooted out. I love You, my Lord. Help me to love You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You._