Catholic communities across Zimbabwe will observe Saturday, September 5, 2026, as the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II. The day’s liturgical guide draws from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and the Gospel of Luke, offering lessons on humility, trust, and the true meaning of the Sabbath.
The first reading from 1 Corinthians 4:6b–15 sees Paul challenging believers not to be puffed up with pride. He reminds them that every gift comes from God and contrasts the apostles’ suffering—hunger, poor clothing, homelessness, and hard manual labour—with the Corinthians’ sense of self-sufficiency. Paul calls himself a spiritual father through the gospel, admonishing the community as beloved children rather than shaming them.
The responsorial psalm, Psalm 145, repeats the assurance that “The Lord is close to all who call him.” It highlights God’s justice, holiness, and care for those who fear him, while warning that the wicked face destruction.
In the Gospel from Luke 6:1–5, Jesus and his disciples walk through grain fields on the Sabbath. When the disciples pluck and eat heads of grain, the Pharisees object that this is unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by recalling how David ate the consecrated bread when hungry, and declares, “The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.”
For Zimbabwean Catholics, the readings encourage a spirit of humility, gratitude for God’s gifts, and a recognition that the Sabbath is meant to serve human need under Christ’s lordship. The guide also includes Shona language readings, reflecting the country’s bilingual liturgical practice.
