_*SATURDAY, AUGUST 31ST 2024.*__*TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.*__*FIRST READING*__“God chose what is weak in the world.”__*1ST CORINTHIANS 1: 26 – 31*_Consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.”_*The Word of the Lord.*__*RESPONSORIAL PSALM*__Psalm 33: 12 – 13, 18 – 19, 20 – 21 (R.) 12b__*R/. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage.*_Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,the people he has chosen as his heritage.From the heavens the Lord looks forth;he sees all the children of men. *R/.*Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,who hope in his merciful love,to rescue their souls from death,to keep them  alive in famine.  *R/.*Our soul is waiting for the Lord.He is our help and our shield.In him do our hearts find joy.We trust in his holy name. *R/.*_*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION*_John 13: 34Alleluia. _A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you._ Alleluia._*GOSPEL*_ _“You have been faithful over a little,’ enter into the joy of your master.”__*MATTHEW 25: 14 – 30*_At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “It will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. ’His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ “He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. ’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and qnashing of teeth.’ “_*The Gospel of the Lord.*_

*Mugovera 31 Nyamavhuvhu – August;* *Vhiki 21 regore* *Chiverengo chokutanga:* _1 VaKorinde 1,26-31_ _Inzwai chiverengo chinobva mutsamba yokutanga yaPauro kuvaKorinde_ 26 Yeukai pamakadaidzwa hama dzangu; kuti havasi vangani venyu vakanga vakangwara, sokuona kunoita nyika. Havazi vangani venyu, vaiva noukuru, kana vaiva vokumba huru. 27 Asi Mwari akasarudza vanoonekwa nenyika samazungairwa, kuti anyadzise vangwaru. Mwari akasarudza vanoonekwa nenyika savasina simba, kunyadzisa vakasimba. 28Mwari akasarudza vanoonekwa savapasi pasi navanhu, vakazvidzika panyika kuti zvinonzi ndizvo zvinhu kwazvo, zvive zvenhando, 29 kuiti￾rawo kuti pashaye munhu anozvikudza pamberi paMwari. 30Kuna Mwari ndiko kunobva upenyu hwenyu muna Kristu Jesu, waakaita kuti ave ndiye ungwaru hwedu, uye kuti ave ndiye anotirura￾misa, anotiita vatsvene nokuva rudzikinuro rwedu. 31Saizvozvo, sokunyorwa kwazvakaitwa, “Anozvirumbidza, ngaazvirumbidze naTenzi.” *Shoko raTenzi.* *Rwiyo rwokutsinhira:* _Nziyo 33,12-13.18-19.20-21. (D – 12)_ *(D) – Vakakomborerwa vanhu vakasarudzwa kuva nhaka yaTenzi.* 12 Rwakakomborerwa rudzi rwakaita TENZI Mwari warwo; vanhu vaakasarudza kuva nhaka yake. 13 TENZI anotarisa pasi ari mudenga, anoona vanhu vose. *(D) – Vakakomborerwa vanhu vakasarudzwa kuva nhaka yaTenzi.* 18 Tarisai muone kuti ziso raTENZI riri pana vanomutya, riri kune vane chitarisiro kumwoyochena wake 19 kuti avanunure kurufu, uye kuti avararamise panguva yenzara. *(D) – Vakakomborerwa vanhu vakasarudzwa kuva nhaka yaTenzi.* 20 Tinotarisira muna TENZI, ndiye rubatsiro rwedu nenhoo yedu. 21 Mwoyo yedu inofara naye nokuti tinovimba nezita rake rinoera. *(D) – Vakakomborerwa vanhu vakasarudzwa kuva nhaka yaTenzi.* *Kupemberera Shoko Rakanaka:*_Johani 13,34_ *Areruya, Areruya.* Tenzi anoti: Ndinokupai mutemo mutsva unoti, ‘Idanai.’ Sokukudai kwandakaita. *Areruya.* *Shoko Rakanaka:* _Mateu 25,14-30_ _Inzwai Shoko Rakanaka rakanyorwa naMateu_ Jesu akataura mufananidzo uyu kuvadzidzi vake achiti: 14 “Umambo hwedenga huchaita somunhu akanga ava kuenda kurwendo, akadaidza varanda vake akaturira kwavari zvinhu zvake. 15Akapa mumwe wavo mari yematarenda mashanu, mumwe maviri, mumwe rimwechete, munhu nemunhu achipiwa maererano nezvaaikwanisa kuita. Ndokubva aenda zvake. 16Uya akagamuchira mari yamatarenda mashanu akabva aenda pakarepo akandoita mhindu nayo, akaita mari yamamwe matarenda mashanu. 17Ndizvozvowo zvakaita akapiwa mari yamatarenda maviri, akawana imwe mari yamatarenda maviri. 18Asi uya akagamuchira mari yetarenda rimwechete akaenda akandoricherera pasi akaviga mari yatenzi wake. 19 Mumashure menguva ndefu, tenzi wavaranda vaya akauya akagadzirisana nezvemari yake navo. 20Uya akagamuchira mari yamatarenda mashanu, akauya kwaari namamwe matarenda mashanu achiti, ‘Changamire, makandipa mari yamatarenda mashanu, haano matarenda mamwe mashanu andakashava.’ 21Tenzi wake akati kwaari, ‘Hauchionaka muranda wakanaka wakatendeka. Wakatendeka mune zvidiki, ndavakukuita mutariri wezvakawanda. Saka chiuya tifare pamwechete neni tenzi wako.’ 22Uya akapiwa mari yamatarenda maviri akauyawo achiti, ‘Changamire, makandipa mari yamatarenda maviri heino imwe mari yematarenda maviri yandakashava.’ 23 Tenzi wake akamuti, ‘Hauchionaka muranda wakanaka, wakatendeka. Wakate￾ndeka mune zvidiki ndavakukuita mutariri wezvakawanda. Saka chiuya tifare pamwechete neni Tenzi wako.’ 24Uyawo akagamuchira mari yetarenda rimwechete akauyawo akati, ‘Changamire, ndakazviziva kuti muri munhu akaoma. Imi munokohwa pamusina kudyara. Munounganidza pamusina kumbokusha. 25 Ndakatya, naizvozvo ndakaenda ndikandoviga mari yenyu pasi. Hei mari yenyu.’ 26Tenzi wake akamupindura achiti, ‘Iwe uri muranda wakaipa, nyope yomunhu! Heya waitozviziva zvako kuti ndinokohwa pandisina kurima, ndichiunganidza pandisina kukusha? 27Saka waifaniraka iwe kunge wakaisa mari yangu mubhangi. Panda￾inge ndauya ndaizowana mari yangu nemari yayainge yabereka. 28 Saka mutorerei mari iyoyo yetarenda muipe kune ane gumi remari yamatare￾nda. 29 Nokuti uyo anazvo anotopamhidzirwa zvimwe achitova nezvakatowanda-wanda asi uyo asina, kunyange chaanenge anacho achatorerwa. 30Uye muranda uya asina maturo mukandei kunze kurima. Ikoko vanhu vachachema vachirumanidza mazino.” *Shoko Rakanaka raTenzi.

*GOSPEL REFLECTION: Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Superabundance*_August 31, 2024__“The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.’” (Matthew 25:20–21)_Oftentimes, when we are presented with a story of success versus tragedy, our attention goes to the tragedy first. The parable we are given today, the Parable of the Talents, presents us with three persons. Two of the people display stories of great success. One, however, offers a story that is more tragic. The tragic story ends by the master telling the servant who buried his money that he is a “wicked, lazy servant!” But both of the success stories end with the master saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” Let’s focus upon these success stories.Both of the servants who were successful doubled the master’s money. Even from a secular point of view, that is very impressive. If you were investing money with a financial advisor and shortly after investing you were told that your money had doubled, you’d be quite pleased. Such a rate of return is rare. This is the first message we should take from this parable. Doubling the gifts and graces God gives us is very doable. The reason for this is not primarily because of us; rather, it’s because of God. By their very nature, God’s gifts to us are meant to grow. By its very nature, grace flows in superabundance; and, when we cooperate with God’s grace, then it grows in an exponential way.When you consider your own life, what gifts has God given to you that He wants you to use for His glory? Are there gifts buried away that remain stagnant or, even worse, are used for purposes that are contrary to the divine plan for your life? Some of the more obvious gifts you were given within your very nature are your intellect and will. Additionally, you may be extra-talented in one way or another. These are all gifts given on a natural level. In addition to these, God often bestows supernatural gifts in abundance when we begin to use what we have for His glory and for the salvation of others. For example, if you work to share the truths of our faith with others, God will begin to deepen your supernatural gifts of Counsel, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding so that you will be able to speak about God and His will. All seven of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are among the clearest examples of supernatural gifts given by God as follows: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. The prayer that concludes this reflection comes from a traditional novena to the Holy Spirit and not only asks for these gifts but also gives a short description of them for a better understanding.https://youtu.be/J3UzmlrikJU?si=B0usHiqEd43sJtCq*Reflect,* today, upon the fact that what God has given to you, both on a natural and supernatural level, must be devoted to the service of God and others. Do you do this? Do you try to use every talent, every gift, every part of who you are for God’s glory and the eternal good of others? If you don’t, then those gifts dwindle away. If you do, you will see those gifts of God’s grace grow in manifold ways. Strive to understand the gifts you have received and firmly resolve to use them for God’s glory and the salvation of souls. If you do, you will also hear our Lord say to you one day, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”*PRAYER:*_Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear of the Lord, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Jesus, I trust in You._