ZEPHANIAH 3: 14- 18a

Sing aloud, O daughter of Sion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgements against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Sion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Isaiah 12: 2 – 3, 4bcde, 5 – 6 (R.) 6b

R/. Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. R.

“Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the nations,
proclaim that his name is exalted.” R.

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitants of Sion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” R.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Luke 1: 45

Alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to you from the Lord.
Alleluia.

 
GOSPEL
“Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
LUKE 1: 39 – 56

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.” And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Chishanu 31 Chivabvu – May;

Zuvaguru roKushanya kwaMaria

Chiverengo chokutanga:
Zefaniya 3,14-18a

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mubhuku roMuporofita Zefaniya
Muporofita anoti:
14 Imbisa zvikuru kwazvo iwe mukunda weguta
reZioni.
Daidzira iwe Isiraeri.
Pembera kufara nomwoyo wako wose,
iwe mukunda weguta reJerusaremu!
15Tenzi abvisa kurangwa kwako kwakakumirira,
vavengi vako avadzinga.
Mambo weIsiraeri, Tenzi ari pakati pako,
hapana chakaipa chauchazotyazve.
16Nomusi iwoyo kuchanzi nezveJerusaremu,
“Rega zvako kutya iwe Zioni.
Rega zvako kurukutika maoko ako.
17 Tenzi, Mwari wako ari mukati mako,
murwi wehondo anoita kuti ukurire.
Achakufarira zvikuru aine rufaro.
Achakumutsirudza murudo rwake.
Achakupemberera achiimbisa zvikuru kwazvo,
18 sezvinoitwa pazuva guru.”
Shoko raMwari.

kana

Chiverengo chokutanga:
VaRoma 12,9-16b

Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yaPauro kuvaRoma
Hama dzangu, rudo ngarurege kuva rwokungonyengedzera, vengai chakaipa, rambai makati
kwati kwati nezvakanaka. 10 Idanai somukoma
nomunun’una. Kundai vamwe pakuremekedzana.
11 Rambai uri moto moto pakushandira Mwari;
muchinganduma naMweya Mutsvene; shandirai
Tenzi.
12Farai muchitarisiro chenyu, tirirai mumatambudziko enyu. Rambai muchingonamata. 13 Bisawo
mugove wako wokubatsira varurami vanenge vasina chokubata. Gamuchiranai mudzimba dzenyu.
14 Itii, Mwari ngaakomborere vanokushushai;
vakumbirirei chikomborero, musavarengerere
rushambwa. 15 Farai navanofara, muchemewo
navanochema. 16Garai muchinzwanana; Musazvikudze. Fambidzanai navapasi pasi. Musambozvitutumadza.
Shoko raMwari.

Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:
Isaya 12,2-3.4bcd.5-6. (D – 6)

(D) – Imbai norufaro, nokuti Anoera weIsiraeri ari pakati pedu mukuru.
2 Tarisai muone, kuti Mwari ndiye ruponeso
rwangu, ndinovimba naye, handichatyi
nokuti iye Tenzi Mwari, ndiye simba rangu,
ndiye ava ruponeso rwangu.
(D) – Imbai norufaro, nokuti Anoera weIsiraeri ari pakati pedu mukuru.
3 Muchafara muchiteka mvura mumatsime
oruponeso.
“Ngatitendei Tenzi tidaidze zita rake
tiparidze mabasa ake kumarudzi avanhu.
Tichivazivisa kuti zita rake izita
romukurumbira.
(D) – Imbai norufaro, nokuti Anoera weIsiraeri ari pakati pedu mukuru.
5Ngatirumbidzei Tenzi nokuti akaita zvinoshamisa, pasi pose ngapazvizive.
6 Pururudzai muchiimba norufaro, imi vagari
veZioni nokuti Anoera weIsiraeri ari pakati
pedu mukuru.
(D) – Imbai norufaro, nokuti Anoera weIsiraeri ari pakati pedu mukuru.

Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:
Ruka 1,45

Areruya, Areruya “Makakomborerwa
zvenyu, nokuti makatenda kuti zvakataurwa
kwamuri, zvichibva kuna Tenzi, zvichazoitika.”
Areruya.

Shoko Rakanaka: Ruka 1,39-56

Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naRuka
39Maria akasimuka, akakurumidza kuenda kunyika
yamakomo, kune rimwe guta rokwaJudha. 40Akapinda mumba maZakariya, akakwazisa Erizabheti.
Erizabheti, paakanzwa kukwazisa kwaMaria,
mwana akabva akwakuka mudumbu make. 41Erizabheti akabva azadzwa naMweya Mutsvene, 42ndokutaura nezwi riri pamusoro achiti, “Makakomborerwa pana vakadzi vose, akakomborerwawo
mwana wemimba yenyu. 43 Ko, zvandibvira
nepikowo kuti ndishanyirwe kudai naAmai vaTenzi
wangu. 44 Chionaika kuti pandangonzwa izwi
rokundikwazisa kwenyu, mwana abva akwakuka
norufaro rukuru mudumbu mangu.
45 “Makakomborerwa zvenyu, nokuti makatenda
kuti zvakataurwa kwamuri, zvichibva kuna Tenzi,
zvichazoitika.”
46 Maria ndokubva atiwo;
47 “Ini ndinokurumbidzai, Tenzi, nemwoyo
wangu wose,
mweya wanguwo unopembera norufaro,
Mwari Muponesi wangu.
48 Nokuti akarangarira iniwo zvangu,
murandanhando wake.
Chionai kuti kubvira zvino,
zvizvarwa zvose zvavanhu zvichanditi;
‘Wakakomborerwa 49 nokuti iye Samasimba akandiitira zvinhu
zvikuru, zita rake rinoera.
50 Anonzwira tsitsi vanomutya, kubvira
kuchizvarwa nechizvarwa.
51 Akaita zvina masimba noruoko rwake,
akaparadza vanozvikudza mundangariro
dzemwoyo yavo.
52 Akabvisa vatongi pazvigaro zvavo zvoushe,
achisimudzira pamusoro vakazvirereka.
53 Vane nzara akavagutsa nezvinhu zvakanaka,
vapfumi akavaendesa vasina chavanacho.
54 Akarangarira tsitsi dzake,
akabatsira Isiraeri muranda wake.
55 Sokutaura kwaakamboita kumadzitateguru
edu, kuna Abhurahamu nezvizvarwa zvake,
nokusingaperi.”
56 Maria akazogara naErizabheti kwemwedzi inenge
mitatu, ndokuzodzokera hake kumusha kwake.

Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi
FRIDAY, MAY 31ST 2024.

EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

FIRST READING
“The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.”
REFLECTION: Joy at the Presence of the Lord
Friday, May 31, 2024

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:39–42)

The beautiful feast we celebrate today depicts two miraculous pregnancies. One came about by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. The other was the miraculous conception in the womb of a woman who was advanced in years. The Scripture passage quoted above presents us with the initial encounter of Mary and Elizabeth as they greeted each other upon Mary’s arrival. Mary had traveled a long distance to be with her cousin for the last few months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. And upon greeting Elizabeth, another miraculous event occurred. The baby in the womb of Elizabeth, Saint John the Baptist, “leaped for joy.” Thus, even prior to his birth, John began to fulfill his unique mission of preparing the way for the Lord. He did so at that moment by inspiring his own mother, Elizabeth, with a knowledge of the divine presence of the Savior within the womb of Mary.

Consider, especially, the conversations that these two holy women would have shared during their months together. Though we are given only a small insight into their initial conversation from the Scriptures, we can be certain that this was but a small sampling of what they would have discussed in much prayerful detail. In particular, their conversations would have contained a mutual sharing of the spiritual gift of joy.

Joy is much more than an emotion. It is spiritual in nature. It is not only an experience of something fun, it’s the experience of realizing the action of God in your life. Seeing God at work in wonderful ways leads to gratitude and rejoicing. This joy produces a strength and energy that is contagious and uplifting.

We must all strive to see the hand of God at work in our own lives so that our focus upon His divine actions will produce joy also. We need joy. We need to be strengthened by this gift so that we will be encouraged and strengthened as we daily strive to fulfill His will.

Reflect, today, upon the witness of joy that these two holy women give us. Know that you are called to share in the same joy as you humbly turn your attention to the ways in which God has blessed you. If you find that you lack joy in life, then consider where you allow your mind to wander throughout the day. Do you dwell on the past, on hurts, on problems and the like? If so, these thoughts will undoubtedly lead to depression and possibly even despair. Try to turn your mind to the action of God in your life. See the many blessings you have been given and savor those divine actions. Doing so will lead you to rejoice with Saint Elizabeth and our Blessed Mother.

PRAYER:
My holy infant Jesus, as You dwelt in the sacred womb of Your own dear mother, Your presence caused much rejoicing in her heart and in the hearts of Elizabeth and John. Help me to see Your presence in our world and in my life, so that I, too, will be filled with the joy of You constantly coming to me. Jesus, I trust in You.