Advent—Week Three

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Note: Use the reflections for this chapter up to December 16. On December 17 (unless na Sunday wey be Third Sunday of Advent), move go the next chapter for the reflections wey belong to that day.

Change and New Life for Christ

Third Sunday for Advent (Year A)

When John the Baptist hear for prison about the works of the Christ, e send im disciples go meet Jesus with this question, “Na You be the one wey go come, or make we dey look for another person?” Matthew 11:2–3

Why Saint John the Baptist send im disciples go meet Jesus to ask this question? Remember say John don talk about Jesus before, “See, the Lamb of God, wey dey take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). So if John know say Jesus na the “Lamb of God, wey dey take away the sins of the world,” why e go send im disciples go ask Jesus whether na Im be the one wey go come?

The Church Fathers examine many reasons, but most of dem conclude say John no do this because e no know Who Jesus be. Rather, e do am for the sake of im disciples, so that dem go come follow our Lord after Herod don kill John. So this na one way wey e take try direct im disciples to Jesus and encourage dem to accept this new change for their life of faith.

Jesus understand why John send im disciples come meet Am. Because of this, Jesus give these disciples wetin dem need so that dem fit come believe for themselves. E point dem to the works wey E don do as the Christ, so that dem go fit understand the meaning of these works by themselves and, through this, enter into new life of faith. Jesus point out say people wey blind dey see again, people wey no fit waka dey waka, people wey get leprosy dey become clean, people wey deaf dey hear, people wey don die dey rise, and dem dey proclaim the good news to poor people. Who fit argue against this kind miraculous signs from Heaven? But Jesus still go further and talk something wey get deep meaning wey person fit no notice easily. E say, “And blessing dey for the person wey no take offense because of Me.” E be like say this statement na one way wey Jesus gently correct these disciples for wetin look like their own personal struggle to accept this change of spiritual leaders. Jesus point out one kind “offense” wey dem dey struggle with. Dem “take offense” because Jesus dey truly increase while John dey decrease.

For plenty ways, na experience wey dey common be this anytime change happen for our spiritual life. When something dey new, we dey often struggle with different parts of di change and di new thing. But Christian life na all about change, transformation and new life. And this one good. We must try to change, allow God transform us, build better and new relationships, learn new ways to love and reach out to people, and learn to welcome any new experience wey our Lord bring enter our life.

Today, reflect on any way wey you don struggle with changes for your spiritual life. Many times, those things wey we dey struggle with na really wonderful opportunities to live our Christian faith and love for higher level. Look for di changes wey God dey call you to accept for your life, and know say even if dem hard, na dem be di surest road wey go lead you to life of greater holiness.

Dear Lord, I know say You dey call me to accept new life and di changes wey I must pass through so that I go follow You more faithfully. Help me make I open my heart to everything wey You dey call me to, so that through Your grace, I go continue to become new creation. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for this chapter reach December 16. On December 17 (unless na di Third Sunday for Advent) jump go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to that day.

To Meet Christ for Desert

Third Sunday for Advent (Year B)

“Na me be di voice of person wey dey shout for desert, ‘make di Lord road straight,’” as Prophet Isaiah talk.” John 1:23

For di passage above, Saint John di Baptist quote Isaiah 40:3: “One voice dey announce: For wilderness, prepare di road of di LORD! Make one main road straight for our God for di dry, empty land!” Na prophecy of Isaiah be this, as e dey talk about how di Jewish people wey dem carry go exile for Babylon go return to Jerusalem. Normally, people go follow roads wey get plenty water from Mesopotamia go Israel. Those roads safe pass desert, and dem get di food and water wey people need for di journey. But Isaiah prophesy say di Jewish people wey dey exile go follow di shortest road—straight across di desert—and say God go provide wetin dem need during that journey. This kind journey need plenty trust in di way God dey care for His people and provide for dem.

As John di Baptist quote Isaiah, e apply this prophecy to imself. God call am to shout for desert and point people straight to di Messiah. Na for desert dem go discover their Saviour.

First of all, John dey shout for di “desert.” Im message na for people wey dey experience spiritual dryness, serious lack, need and loss for life because of sin. Im message about repentance na first for people wey no get di spiritual nourishment wey God want give dem through grace. John message dey go to people wey humbly see di difficult situation wey dem dey face for life and admit say dem need di Living Water of di Saviour of di World.

Second, this new “straight” road show say plenty people no dey follow di direct road to Christ. Instead, dem dey follow unnecessary roundabout roads for life. John message dey call everybody to di straight and direct way of turning away from their sins, so that dem go come to faith in Christ Jesus.

Third, to waka through desert to find Christ need trust in di way God dey care for us and provide for us. Person need courage to make this kind journey. Di key na to trust say God go continue to care for us and provide for us, as E promise to meet all our needs. Person no go waka straight through desert if e no trust di person wey dey guide am.

Advent na time to examine di road wey you dey follow again. You dey try find your own way to happiness? You dey trust your own abilities, your own sense and your own plan for di future? If na so, then listen to di “voice of person wey dey shout for wilderness.” Listen as Saint John dey talk to you, dey call you to di simple life of di desert, to free your heart more from attachment to all things, to leave everything wey no be of God, and to trust more willingly in di way God dey care for you and provide for you as E lead you.

Today, reflect on this call wey dey come from di desert, and listen to di message wey God dey speak to you personally. Leave all worldly worries, turn away from sin, trust in Am and go out to meet Am, so that you go fit enter deeper faith in our Lord more quickly and more easily during this Advent season.

My loving Lord, You dey there, dey wait for me inside di darkness and dryness of my sin. You dey wait for me so that You go lead me and guide me through di many challenges wey I dey face for life. Abeg, give me di courage and wisdom wey I need to trust You enough to follow You wherever You lead me. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for this chapter reach December 16. On December 17 (unless na di Third Sunday for Advent) jump go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to that day.

Turn Away from Sin

Third Sunday for Advent (Year C)

Di crowd ask John di Baptist, “Wetin we suppose do?” Luke 3:10

Among di people for di crowd wey dey ask Saint John di Baptist dis question, tax collectors, soldiers and ordinary people dey. John answer all of dem. First, e tell dem make dem turn away from di sins wey dem dey struggle with pass. Sin get many forms, and many times e dey closely connected with di work wey we dey do every day for life. Some sins na sins wey we commit through something wey we deliberately do. Some other sins na sins of omission: when we no get certain virtues or we fail to do wetin we suppose do.

After John don address di particular sins wey di people for di crowd dey struggle with, e come turn their attention to Christ. E tell dem say “one Person wey get power pass me dey come” and say “E go baptize una with di Holy Spirit and fire.” For other words, John give di people command wey get two parts. First, work to overcome sin. Second, turn your eyes to di One wey dey come meet you. To repent from sin alone no enough. Once we repent, we must then fill di empty space inside our souls with di presence of Christ.

Advent, just like Lent, na important time for our liturgical year to take these messages seriously. Na true say we must work to overcome sin and turn to Christ every day of di year, but God know say we need one special time every year when we go put serious effort into these spiritual works. So before Advent pass you by, listen to wetin John di Baptist talk, and take time examine your conscience well. You fit use one detailed list of di Ten Commandments or di Seven Capital Sins. After you do dat, find opportunity to receive di Sacrament of Reconciliation. To do dis dey necessary if you want make di Advent season bear fruit for your life.

Once you don truly repent of di sins wey you dey struggle with pass now, turn to di Savior of di World, and pay special attention to di miracle of di Incarnation dis Advent. Spend time to adore God wey come meet us as small pikin. Meditate on dis Gift. Dey look di Christmas crib as you dey pray. Read di Scripture passages about di birth of Christ. Close your eyes and imagine say you dey there when dem born Am.

Today, reflect on dis encouragement wey John give us in two parts, and put am into practice as you dey prepare for Advent. Clean your soul from every sin in one special way dis Advent. Then, as you dey pray, ponder and meditate on di reality wey we dey prepare to celebrate. As John talk, allow di Christ Child to truly “baptize you with di Holy Spirit and fire” as your devotion and prayer dey grow deeper dis Advent.

My dear Jesus, abeg help me see my sins as You dey see dem. Help me pay attention to every sinful thing wey I do, and even di smaller sins wey I commit by failing to do wetin I suppose do. As I dey ponder my sin, abeg draw me near Your mercy and grace, so dat di eyes of my soul go open more deeply to see You and adore You more fully dis Advent. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for dis chapter up to December 16. For December 17, move go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to dat time.

Politicians for Religious Matter

Monday of the Third Week of Advent

“Where John baptism come from? Na from heaven or na from human beings?” Dem discuss am among demself and talk say, “If we talk say, ‘Na from heaven,’ e go ask us, ‘Then why una no believe am?’ But if we talk say, ‘Na from human beings,’ we dey fear di crowd, because all of dem regard John as prophet.” So dem answer Jesus say, “We no know.” Matthew 21:25–27

This na clear example of how person no suppose live im life. But sadly, na so many people wey get authority dey live their lives too often. For this Gospel passage, we see the Pharisees dey behave like wetin we fit call “politicians for religious matter.” Politician for religious matter na person wey dey use wrong order decide wetin e firmly believe about religion. As e suppose be, we go turn our eyes to Christ and everything wey E don reveal to us. This go bring the glorious gift of genuine faith, and na from that faith wey stand like rock we go dey act. But the Pharisees allow wetin dem think go bring the best result for that moment to become the foundation of wetin dem “firmly believe.” Dem choose to talk say “We no know” where John baptism come from, because dem think say na that answer go protect dem pass from any criticism.

As followers of Christ, we need to dey ready and willing to bear any kind of mockery wey come because we dey openly live according to wetin we believe for our faith. Faith go lead to love, and love go always get im foundation for the truths of faith. But when we live and proclaim the truth, some people go criticise us, and we go suffer because of am.

This Gospel dey invite all of us to reflect on the truths wey hard for people to accept for our time, and to decide whether we dey willing to openly profess the truth or not. Think especially about the many truths of our faith concerning right and wrong wey people seem to dey attack all the time. You dey willing to speak clearly about your faith, with love and firm belief, even if na criticism from the world go follow?

Today, reflect on di wrong way wey di Pharisees take handle di difficult question wey dem ask dem. Decide say you no go follow their example. Instead, choose di firm convictions wey your faith dey call you to hold on to. Which questions dem dey ask you today? For which ways other people dey test you? How you dey handle those tests? You dey talk more like “religious politician”? Or you dey talk clearly because your words dey come from di solid rock foundation of your faith?

My Lord of all truth, give me di grace wey I need to stand firm on everything wey You don reveal to me. Give me courage to remain firm in di convictions of faith wey You don give me. Make I proclaim dis faith to everybody wey I meet, so dat I fit be instrument of Your love and mercy for di world. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for dis chapter up to December 16. For December 17, move go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to dat time.

Time Don Reach to Change

Tuesday for the Third Week of Advent

Jesus tell the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Wetin una think? One man get two sons. E come meet the first one and tell am, ‘My son, go work for the vineyard today.’ The son answer, ‘I no go go,’ but later e change im mind and go. Matthew 21:28–29

This Gospel passage wey dey above na the first part of one story wey get two parts. The first son talk say e no go work for the vineyard, but e change im mind and go. The second son talk say e go go, but e no go. Which of the sons you resemble pass?

Of course, the best thing na to tell the father “Yes” and then truly do wetin e talk. But Jesus tell this story to show the difference between the “prostitutes and tax collectors” and the “chief priests and elders.” Many of these religious leaders for that time sabi talk the right thing, but dem no act according to the will of God. On the other hand, the sinners for that time no always dey ready to agree at first, but many of dem later listen to the message of repentance and change their ways.

So again, which group you resemble pass? E dey humble us to admit say we often dey struggle, especially at first, to accept everything wey God ask us to do. Im commands dey demand deep change, and to accept dem, we need plenty integrity and goodness. Because of this, plenty things dey wey we first refuse to accept. For example, to forgive another person no always easy to do straight away. Or to commit yourself straight away to pray every day fit hard. Or to choose any kind of good character instead of bad character fit no easy for us.

One message of mercy wey great beyond wetin we fit imagine, wey our Lord dey reveal to us through this passage, na say as long as we still dey alive, e never too late to change. Deep inside, all of us know wetin God want from us. The problem na say we often allow our confused thinking or desires wey no dey in right order to stop us from responding to the will of God completely, straight away and with all our heart. But if we fit remember say even the “prostitutes and tax collectors” later change their minds, we go get encouragement to change our ways too.

Today, reflect on that part of the will of God wey hard pass for you to accept and do straight away with all your heart. Wetin you dey find yourself dey tell “No,” at least at first? Make firm decision to build the habit inside your heart of telling our Lord “Yes” and carrying out Im will for every way.

Precious Lord, give me the grace wey I need to answer every way wey grace dey move me for my life. Help me to tell You “Yes” and to carry am out with my actions. As I dey see more clearly the ways wey I don refuse Your grace, give me courage and strength to change, so that my life go follow Your perfect plan for me more fully. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for dis chapter up to December 16. For December 17, move go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to dat time.

The Power of Christ Wey Dey Transform Us

Wednesday for the Third Week of Advent

And Jesus answer dem, “Make una go tell John wetin una don see and hear: blind people dey see again, people wey no fit walk dey walk, people wey get leprosy dey cleansed, deaf people dey hear, dead people dey rise, dem dey proclaim the good news to poor people.” Luke 7:22

One of the greatest ways wey dem take dey proclaim the power of the Gospel to change person na through the works wey our Lord don do. For this Gospel passage, Jesus point to the works wey E don do to answer one question about who E be. The disciples of John the Baptist come ask Am whether na Im be the Messiah wey dey come. And Jesus answer dem by pointing to how people life don change. People wey blind, people wey no fit waka, people wey get leprosy, people wey deaf and people wey don die all receive miracles through God grace. And these miracles happen for everybody to see.

Even though the miracles wey Jesus do for people body go don fill everybody with wonder, make we no see these miracles as things wey happen only once, long time ago, and wey no dey happen again. The truth be say these same works wey dey change people life still dey happen today in many ways.

How e take be so? Start with your own life. How the power of Christ don change you? How E don open your eyes and ears so you fit see and hear Am? How E don lift your burdens and heal the sickness for your spirit? How E don bring you from the death wey lack of hope dey cause into new life of hope? E don do this for your life?

All of us need God power wey dey save for our lives. And when God work for our lives, change us, heal us and make us new, the first thing we must see na say this na work wey our Lord do for us. But secondly, we must also see every work of Christ for our lives as something wey God want make we share with other people. The change for our lives must continue to bear witness to God power and the power of the Gospel. Other people need to see how God don change us, and we must try with humility to be like book wey open for everybody to see God power.

Today, reflect on this scene for the Gospel. Imagine say these disciples of John na the many people wey you dey meet every day. See dem as dem dey come meet you, because dem want know whether the God wey you love and serve na the God wey dem suppose follow. How you go answer dem? How you fit bear witness to Christ Jesus? See am as your duty to be like book wey open, so that God go use you share the power of the Gospel wey dey change people life.

Lord, I thank You for the countless ways wey You don change my life: You don heal my spiritual sicknesses, open my eyes and ears to Your truth, and raise my soul from death to life. Dear Lord, use me as witness to Your power wey dey transform person. Help me to testify about You and Your perfect love, so that other people go come know You through the way You don touch my life. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for dis chapter up to December 16. For December 17, move go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to dat time.

To Get Share for God Divine Nature

Thursday for the Third Week of Advent

Na this person Scripture dey talk about when e say: See, I dey send my messenger ahead of you; e go prepare your way before you reach. I dey tell una, among people wey women born, nobody great pass John; but the person wey small pass for the Kingdom of God great pass am.” Luke 7:27–28

Saint John the Baptist truly great. Na im be the prophet wey God promise, wey Isaiah talk about before e come. Na im go be the “messenger” wey go come before the Christ, the Messiah. Plenty people believe say God make John holy inside im mama belle, when e jump for joy as e encounter Christ presence during the Visitation. John then faithfully carry out im mission as the last of the Old Testament prophets, and e die before Jesus give His life for the salvation of everybody. Na for these reasons dem dey regard John as the greatest among people wey women born, before the glorious gift of salvation for Christ come.

Of course, after Jesus praise John for how great e be, Jesus still point out say even “the person wey small pass for the Kingdom of God” great pass John. Na simply because everybody wey now be member of the Kingdom of God don receive one gift wey John no enjoy for this life. God give us the gift of grace so that we go truly get share for His divine nature. Through baptism, we dey get share for God own life by grace. This transformation of our very being na something wey John the Baptist no get share for until after im death, when Jesus open the gate to salvation.

Imagine say na you be John the Baptist. Imagine say dem give you this great responsibility and this privilege wey hard to believe: no be only to be Jesus cousin by blood, but also to receive the call to preach to the people, so that you go prepare dem for Jesus ministry and the gift of salvation. Wetin a great privilege that one go be!

But according to wetin Jesus talk, God don give all of us something wey even greater. E don give us the privilege of no be only blood relationship with Jesus, but also transformation of our very soul, as we dey get share for His divine nature. We get the privilege to become completely new creations by grace. And we also get the privilege to receive the call to go out and prepare the way for Christ for other people lives.

Sometimes, we fit take the gift of salvation as something wey no too matter. We fit easily fail to understand this wonderful gift. Because of this, we fit fail to get grateful heart and fail to stand in wonder at wetin we don become for Christ.

One of the main messages of Advent na say God become human being so that we fit get share for His divine nature. The prayer wey the priest dey pray for Mass as e dey mix water and wine show this truth beautifully: Through the mystery of this water and wine, make we come get share for the divine nature of Christ, wey humble Himself to share our human nature. Wetin a great gift! God dey call us to truly get share for Christ divine nature! This gift dey make us members of the Kingdom of God, and na gift wey far greater than even the one wey John the Baptist receive during im life for earth.

Today, reflect on the wonderful gift wey you don receive through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. If you don fall inside the trap of no dey grateful for this gift, use this Advent season to make your awareness and gratitude come alive again for everything wey God don do for you.

My divine Saviour, I thank You for this gift of grace wey dey fill me with wonder, wey You don give me as You invite me to truly get share for Your divine nature. Make I dey understand this gift more and more, and make I remain grateful forever for everything wey You don do for me. Jesus, na You I trust.

Note: Use di reflections for dis chapter up to December 16. For December 17, move go di next chapter for di reflections wey belong to dat time.

The Love of the Father

Friday for the Third Week of Advent

“John be lamp wey dey burn and shine, and for some time una happy to rejoice for im light. But I get testimony wey greater than John own.” John 5:35–36

Na true say when we get something good, something wey we dey enjoy, something wey we dey grateful for, e dey easy for us to rejoice because of that good thing. But when something wey better pass am take the place of that good thing, we dey leave the old one and hold on to the new one. For spiritual level wey pass wetin natural power fit do, na this kind thing happen as people move from following Saint John the Baptist to following Jesus.

At first, plenty people dey satisfied to rejoice for the “light” of John. Dem dey enjoy im preaching and the witness wey e dey give through im own life, and dem see how the baptism of repentance wey e dey offer affect their lives. But as people dey point dem to Jesus and dem become His new followers, dem go don get even more joy and peace as dem dey with their Lord wey dem just come to know. To change from following John to following Jesus fit don hard at first. But as dem come to know Jesus Himself, dem go don dey deeply grateful.

The passage above show us this spiritual truth. For plenty people, “John na lamp wey dey burn and shine,” and im followers dey very satisfied with everything wey John give dem. But Jesus point out to John followers say His own testimony great pass that one by far.

Wetin be Jesus’ “testimony”? First, He talk say na the works wey the Father give Am to do. These na His miracles, His preaching and the witness of virtue wey He give through His own life, wey make plenty people stand in wonder. But Jesus still talk say the Father don also give testimony about Am. This mean say Jesus’ greatness dey show especially for the fact say people wey encounter Am dey also encounter the Father for Heaven, wey dem no dey see with their eyes. But Jesus make am clear say when dem see Am and listen to Am, dem dey also encounter the Father.

One thing wey this tell us be say we must open our hearts to the Father’s testimony for our lives. The Father dey give this testimony as we allow our souls to truly hear His voice dey speak to us through the Son. Everything wey Jesus do and talk for the Scriptures, all the graces wey we dey receive through the Sacraments, and every encounter with our Lord through prayer na ways wey we fit come to know the Father for Heaven.

Today, think deeply about this great truth: God the Father want a deep and personal relationship with you. He want speak to you, reveal Himself to you and draw close to you. No let this Advent pass without using prayer to seek His voice and allowing Am to give you testimony about His love and care for you. The Son of God come into this world so that He fit become one with you. And through that oneness, He dey reveal to you the love of the Father for Heaven.

Most holy Father for Heaven, I truly want come to know You and Your perfect love for me wey dey so deep and personal. Abeg, open my mind and heart to You more fully this Advent season, so that I fit turn away from all the lights of this world wey dey fade and pass away, and come to the one true and deep Light of Your loving Heart. Jesus, na You I trust.