All di 4 volume dem dey available as paperback & eBook!
Repentance for Everybody to See
Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)
When e see many Pharisees and Sadducees dey come for im baptism, e tell dem, “Una children of vipers! Who warn una make una run from the wrath wey dey come? Make una bear good fruit to show say una don turn from sin come back to God.” Matthew 3:7–8
This encounter strong well-well, but e still holy well-well. E strong because Saint John the Baptist, wey don become popular and respected well-well and wey people see as great prophet, talk harshly to the Pharisees and Sadducees. E talk say, “Una children of vipers!” No be so people normally dey talk to the Pharisees and Sadducees.
John talk like this because na the truth. These religious leaders no dey lead anybody closer to God. Person only need to think deep about everything wey Jesus go later tell the Pharisees and Sadducees to understand the kind people wey these religious leaders don become.
So this passage strong well-well, no doubt. But e still holy well-well. E holy because this “children of vipers” need strong rebuke. Dem need to hear condemnation and face challenge. Dem need something wey go humble dem. And nothing dey humble person pass to sincerely turn from im sins come back to God for everybody to see.
Notice say John no just reject the leaders like that. Instead, e ask dem to show “proof” say dem don repent. Why? Na because of the harm wey these men don do to the spiritual life of the people of Israel through their pride, the way dem dey see themselves as righteous, their hypocrisy, their love for public honour, the way dem dey condemn others, and other things like these. Dem don twist the faith so much that, for the good of their souls, dem need to repent for public. Everybody need to see sincere good fruits wey dey come from their lives as sign say dem don change. Even though this one hard for the Pharisees and Sadducees, na their road to holiness be that.
Na so e still be for us. If you don allow yourself fall inside some of the same traps wey catch the Pharisees and Sadducees, then change wey clear, humble and open for everybody to see go help you well well too. If you don dey struggle with the way you dey see yourself as righteous, tongue wey dey find fault, attitude of “I holy pass you,” or habit of judging others, then you fit really need to humble yourself and repent for public.
Today, reflect on the Pharisees and Sadducees. Try understand their sin and why John call dem “children of poisonous snakes.” If you see any of their pride and the way dem dey see themselves as righteous inside your own soul, then listen to this strong advice from John the Baptist as if na you e dey speak to directly. “Bear good fruit as proof say una don repent.” Do this, and God go free you through the gift of true humility.
My humble Lord, You dey call everybody to repent with deep humility and sincerity. Abeg, help me see my sin and make I no ever run from facing am, so that You fit free me from that dirt and make me stand more firmly for the road to holiness. Jesus, na You I trust.
The Call to the Desert
Second Sunday of Advent (Year B)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As dem write am for the book of Isaiah the prophet: See, I dey send my messenger ahead of you; e go prepare your way. The voice of one person wey dey shout for desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” Mark 1:1–3
These opening lines from the Gospel of Saint Mark introduce Saint John the Baptist to us. Na John be the person wey Isaiah prophesy say go come before the Messiah. Dem give John the responsibility and privilege to be the person wey go prepare the way just before the Saviour of the World come.
Maybe, if dem give most people the work to direct John on the best way to prepare the way for the Lord, dem go tell am say e must first go meet the leaders of the people, government authorities, people wey get influence and people wey get high position for society, so that e go win their support first. Plenty people go conclude say the Messiah need the full support of the leaders for that time. But e clear say no be wetin John do be that.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist no go the houses of people wey get the highest honour and plenty wealth, or the halls of government rulers, or the synagogues or Temple. Instead, the Holy Spirit lead John go the desert. And for that desert, that dry place wey people no dey live, e draw plenty people come meet am and hear im message of repentance.
God still dey call plenty people today to follow the footsteps of John the Baptist. Even though John na real person wey dem send on real mission for one particular time, the mission wey e carry out still need people to carry am out in different ways today. Dem still need to prepare the “way of the Lord.” The Lord still want come meet plenty people, and E need prophets to prepare the way as E continue to come through grace. You be one of those people?
The truth be say God dey call every one of us, whether rich or poor, person wey go school or person wey no go school, young or old, and so on, to prepare the way for His coming through grace every day. E dey call us to prepare the way by calling others to sincerely repent and turn their lives to God. We dey do this through the witness of our actions, through our words and through plenty other ways wey God dey call us to use. How God dey call you to do His work? E dey call you, no doubt. You only need to open your heart to that call and answer am with all your heart.
Today, reflect on that “desert” wey God don call you go, so that you go prepare yourself and others for the coming of Christ. That desert na any place wey need dey, and every place wey our Lord no dey. E fit be your family, where you dey work, your community, among your friends, or any place wey the overflowing grace of God no dey. Try enter those deserts and open your heart so that our Lord fit use you as channel of His grace to people wey dey in need.
Lord, You want come meet me and all Your children every day. Abeg, use me no be only to prepare my own heart and soul for Your divine coming, but also to prepare other people to meet You. Give me wisdom and compassion, deep understanding and strength, so that I go fit follow the example of Saint John the Baptist and prepare the way for Your coming wey full of glory through grace. Jesus, na You I trust.
Remove the Things Wey Dey Block Grace
Second Sunday of Advent (Year C)
“Dem go fill every valley, and dem go bring every mountain and hill low. Dem go straighten the roads wey bend, and make the rough roads smooth, and all people go see the salvation of God.” Luke 3:5–6
Na about the mission of Saint John the Baptist prophet Isaiah talk these words. John go “Prepare the way of the Lord” and “make His paths straight.” As Isaiah dey give this prophecy, e go on to use this clear picture describe John’s ministry. Na ministry wey go level mountains and valleys, straighten every road wey bend, and make rough ground smooth. This one mean say John come to remove everything wey dey block people from God, so that e go easy for dem to meet the Messiah.
How John take carry out this mission? Na by calling the people of that time to the dry and empty desert, where all the things wey dey deceive and attract dem no dey again. Dem do this by letting go of the many sins and temptations wey dem dey face. As the people repent, dem humble themselves before God, admit their sins and acknowledge say dem need a Saviour. This humble admission, together with their firm decision to change their ways, prepare one heart after another for the grace and mercy wey come through Christ the Lord.
Today, plenty people dey face countless things wey dey block grace. The satisfaction wey earthly riches and material comfort dey give don draw some people in, and dem hardly see any need for God. Other people get very little of wetin this world fit offer, but desire for money and the comfort wey e promise, wey no dey last, don fill their whole mind. Still, other people don enter many other kinds of sin and false satisfaction. But some people dey like dry desert wey nobody dey live, just dey wait to soak in the gentle rain of God’s grace. Na people wey don try to comot their heart from the false promises of this world, and remain “empty” and “dry” so that dem go ready for plenty grace when e come. These holy souls don answer the call to repentance, and dem don humbly acknowledge say dem need the Saviour.
Today, think well whether your soul dey like that dry desert where nothing dey grow: whether you don comot your heart from all the false satisfaction of this world wey no dey last, and whether you ready to soak in only God’s mercy and grace. Repentance dey help person let go of wetin e heart hold tight, and this letting go dey prepare the soul for God. When person truly let go and dey free from the many things wey dey block am from God, then the road from God to your soul go straight and easy to pass. Think about your soul today and notice where your heart still hold tight to things in ways wey no good for you. Repent with all your heart, so that you go dey among the people wey ready well-well to receive plenty of God’s grace and mercy.
Lord, I turn to You for my need, and I repent of the many lies and false promises of satisfaction for this world wey I don follow. Abeg, free me from everything wey no come from You, so that my soul go ready more fully to soak in You and Your mercy, like gentle rain wey fall for dry desert where nothing dey grow. I open myself to You, my Lord. Come fill my soul and satisfy am completely. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Love People Wey Get Pride and Dey Carry Body
Monday for the Second Week of Advent
Some men carry one man wey paralysis hold come for stretcher; dem dey try bring am enter inside and put am for His front. But because of the crowd, dem no see way to bring am enter. So dem climb go roof, open the roof tiles and lower am with the stretcher enter the middle of the people, for Jesus front. Luke 5:18–19
One thing wey worth noting be say, as the friends of the man wey paralysis hold, wey full of faith, dey lower am from the roof come front of Jesus, Pharisees and teachers of the Law “from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem” surround Jesus (Luke 5:17). The religious leaders come in large numbers. Dem dey among the Jews wey get the highest education, and dem happen to dey among the people wey gather to hear Jesus speak that day. And one reason why the friends of the man wey paralysis hold no fit reach Jesus without taking this unusual step of opening the roof, na because plenty of these leaders gather round Jesus.
So wetin Jesus do when E see as dem lower the man wey paralysis hold from the roof come His front? E tell the man say e sins don receive forgiveness. Sadly, as soon as these religious leaders hear those words, dem begin strongly condemn wetin E talk inside their hearts. Dem talk among themselves say, “Who be this wey dey talk blasphemy? Who fit forgive sins except God alone?” (Luke 5:21).
But Jesus know wetin dem dey think, and E decide to do one more thing for the good of these leaders for religion. The first thing wey Jesus do, to forgive the sins of the man wey paralysis hold, na for the good of that man. But wetin draw attention be say the healing of the man body appear to be mainly for these Pharisees and teachers of the Law wey dey carry body and see demself as righteous. Jesus heal the man so that dem go “know say the Son of Man get authority for this earth to forgive sins” (Luke 5:24). As soon as Jesus do this miracle, the Gospel tell us say everybody “full with awe” and give God glory. From wetin we see, even those leaders for religion wey dey quick judge others join.
So wetin this one teach us? E show how deeply Jesus love these leaders for religion, even with their serious pride and the way dem dey quick judge others. E want win their hearts. E want make dem repent, humble demself and turn to Am. E no too hard to show love and compassion to person wey paralysis hold, wey people don reject and disgrace already. But e take love wey deep well-well to still care deeply for people wey get pride and dey carry body.
Today, think well about the love wey Jesus get for these religious leaders. Even though dem come find fault with Am, judge Am wrongly and continue to try catch Am for trap, Jesus no ever stop to try win their hearts. As you dey think about this mercy of our Lord, think too about the person for your life wey hard you pass to love, and make up your mind again to love am with all your heart, as you dey follow the example of our divine Lord.
My Lord wey full of mercy pass all, give me heart wey dey forgive and show mercy to others. Help me especially to care deeply for those wey hard pass for me to love. As I dey imitate Your divine mercy, give me strength to show love wey no hold anything back to everybody, so that dem go come know You more deeply. Jesus, na You I trust.
The Joy of Our Lord
Tuesday for the Second Week of Advent
“Jesus tell im disciples: “Wetin una think? If one man get one hundred sheep and one of dem stray, e no go leave the ninety-nine for the hills go look for the one wey stray?” Matthew 18:12
This Gospel passage continue to talk say the man wey find that one sheep wey stray “dey rejoice over am pass the ninety-nine wey no stray.” At first, this one fit look like say e no fair. Why e no go rejoice mainly over the ninety-nine wey no stray? As Saint Hillary dey comment on this passage, e explain say the man wey go look for the one sheep wey stray na the Son of God. E leave the “ninety-nine,” wey mean the glory of the hosts of Heaven, come down to earth to look for human beings wey don stray. All human beings together na that one sheep wey lost. All of us dey inside.
The first thing wey this explanation show us be say dem clearly send the Son of God on mission to look for each and every one of us after we stray far from the Father for Heaven. The Father no just sit down wait make we return. Instead, E send the Son on mission to search for us with steady care, to bring us back among His divine flock.
As we dey reflect on this passage, e important make we see the zeal and determination of our Lord as E dey look for us. You dey see this one for your own life? Sometimes, we fit fall for the trap of thinking say na mainly our responsibility to look for God. And even though we surely get this responsibility, our duty dey become much easier when we understand how our Lord dey use all His heart look for us, and how E want find us when we stray. Na only for Heaven we go fully understand everything wey our Lord don do to look for us, day after day. But for now, we must try hard to understand this spiritual truth, so that we go open our hearts more to Jesus as E dey steadily search for us.
The second thing wey this passage show na the joy for the Heart of the Son of God every time E find us and carry us comot from our sin. Too often, we fit fall for the trap of seeing God as God wey dey quick judge us, wey dey vex for us and condemn us. But if we understand how far the Son of God go so that E go find us when we stray, and if we fit understand the joy for His heart when E find us and carry us comot from sin, then we go more readily open our hearts to Am, to His gentle invitations, and to His merciful Heart every time E come to us through grace.
Today, reflect on how our Lord dey eagerly look forward to joy for His Heart as E personally dey look for you. Na joy E dey look forward to—the joy wey dey fill Am as E lift you up and gently carry you back to the Father. Allow this joy for the Heart of our Lord to come true, so that you go share for this plenty joy.
My Lord wey no dey tire to search for me, You dey look for me day and night, and You no dey ever tire to call me to return to You more fully. Abeg, help me to fill Your Heart with joy by always answering Your gentle invitations of love and mercy. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Put Your Heavy Load Down
Wednesday of di Second Week of Advent
“Make all of una wey dey labour and carry heavy load come meet Me, and I go give una rest.” Matthew 11:28
Sleep na one of the things for life wey dey sweet person well and help body stay healthy. E dey sweet especially when person fit sleep deep and wake with fresh strength. When person wey sleep deep wake up, e go feel fresh and ready for new day. Of course, the opposite sef na true. When sleep hard person and e no fit rest well, plenty bad effects fit follow, especially when to no sleep well don turn normal thing.
Na so e still be for our spiritual life. For plenty people, “spiritual rest” na something wey dem no know. Dem fit pray small prayers every week, go Mass, or even spend one holy hour for prayer. But unless each one of us enter deep prayer wey dey change person, we no go fit experience the spiritual rest wey we need for inside us.
For today Gospel, as Jesus dey invite us say, “Come meet Me…”, He dey invite us to change for inside as we allow Am remove the heavy loads of our everyday life from us. Every day, we dey often face spiritual hardship and challenges, like temptation, confusion, disappointment, anger and other things like these. Many times every day, the evil one dey bombard us with lies, the culture wey dey move more and more away from God dey show us hostility, and the plenty kinds of media wey we dey take in every day dey attack our senses. These things and plenty other things wey we dey face every single day go dey wear us out for spirit, deep inside us. Because of this, we need the fresh spiritual strength wey na only our Lord fit give. We need the spiritual “sleep” wey dey come from deep prayer wey dey renew our strength. And this kind prayer fit happen only if we answer Christ invitation to come meet Am with our whole being, as we surrender everything wey we be and everything wey we dey face every single day to Am.
Today, think well whether you dey feel worn out sometimes. Think especially about any tiredness for your mind or your feelings. Many times, this kind tiredness really get spiritual root and need spiritual remedy. Seek the remedy wey our Lord dey offer you: accept His invitation to come meet Am for deep prayer, and rest for His presence. When you do this, e go help lift the heavy loads wey you dey struggle with.
My loving Lord, I accept Your invitation to come meet You and rest for Your glorious presence. Draw me near, dear Lord, to Your heart wey grace and mercy dey overflow from. Draw me enter Your presence so that I fit rest in You and You go free me from the plenty burdens of life. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Attack the Enemies of the Soul
Thursday of di Second Week of Advent
“From the days of John the Baptist reach now, the Kingdom of heaven dey suffer violence, and people wey dey use violence dey take am by force.” Matthew 11:12
You dey among the people wey dey use “violence” and dey take the Kingdom of Heaven “by force?” I hope say you dey!
Sometimes, Jesus words dey hard to understand. This passage wey dey above na one example. About this passage, Saint Josemaría Escrivá talk say the people wey dey use “violence” na Christians wey get “strong heart” and “boldness” when the place wey dem dey no dey welcome the faith (See Christ Dey Pass By, 82). Saint Clement of Alexandria talk say the Kingdom of Heaven belong “to people wey dey fight against themselves” (Quis dives salvetur, 21). For another way to talk am, the people wey dey use “violence” to take the Kingdom of Heaven na those wey dey fight the enemies of their soul with all their strength so that dem fit gain the Kingdom of Heaven.
Wetin be the enemies of the soul? As tradition teach us, we dey talk about the world, the flesh and the devil. These three enemies don cause plenty violence inside the souls of Christians wey dey struggle to live inside God Kingdom. So how we go take fight for the Kingdom? Na by force! Some translations talk say na the “attackers” dey take the Kingdom by force. This one mean say Christian life no fit be life where person just fold hand for everything. We no fit just dey smile enter Heaven. The enemies of our soul real, and dem dey attack with force. So we too must dey ready to fight, for the sense say we must face these enemies directly with the strong heart and boldness of Christ.
How we go do this? We dey fight the flesh wey be our enemy through fasting and by denying ourselves. We dey fight the world by standing firm for the Truth of Christ, the Truth of the Gospel, and by refusing to follow the “wisdom” of this age. And we dey fight the devil by knowing the wicked plans wey e get to deceive us, confuse us and lead us astray for everything, so that we fit rebuke am and reject wetin e dey do for our life.
Today, think deep about how God dey call you to grow for strength of heart and boldness, so that you fit fight those enemies wey dey attack you from inside. Fear no get use for this battle. Trust for the power and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ na the only weapon wey we need. Rely on Am, and no give in to the many ways wey these enemies dey try use rob you of the peace of Christ.
My Lord wey full of glory and wey don win victory, I trust You to pour out Your grace so that I fit stand strong against the world, the temptations of my flesh and the devil himself. Give me courage, boldness and strength to endure, so that I fit fight the good fight of faith and never shake for my determination to seek You and Your most holy will for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Dance and to Mourn
Friday for di Second Week of Advent
Jesus tell the crowds: “Wetin I go compare this generation with? Dem be like children wey sit down for marketplaces dey call one another, ‘We play flute for una, but una no dance; we sing song of mourning, but una no mourn.’” Matthew 11:16–17
Wetin Jesus mean when E talk say, “We play flute for una…” and “we sing song of mourning…?” The Church Fathers clearly identify this “flute” and “song of mourning” as the word of God wey the prophets of old don preach. Many people come before Jesus to prepare the way, but many no listen. John the Baptist na the last and greatest prophet, and e call people to turn from sin come back to God, but na only few listen. So, Jesus point out this sad truth.
For this our time, we get much more than the prophets of the Old Testament. We get the wonderful witness of the saints, the teaching of the Church wey no fit get error, the gift of the Sacraments, and the life and teaching of the Son of God Himself as dem record am for the New Testament. Yet, sadly, many people refuse to listen. Many no gree “dance” and “mourn” in response to the Gospel.
We must “dance” in the sense say the gift of Christ Jesus, through His life, death and resurrection, suppose make us rejoice with all our heart and worship forever. People wey truly know and love the Son of God dey full of joy! Also, we must “mourn” because of the sins wey nobody fit count for our own lives and for the lives of people all around us. Sin dey real, and e dey everywhere, and holy sorrow na the only proper way to respond. Salvation dey real. Hell dey real. And these two truths demand make we respond with our whole life.
For your own life, how fully you don allow the Gospel to touch you? How well you dey pay attention to the voice of God as E don speak through the lives of the saints and through our Church? You dey pay attention to the voice of God as E dey speak to you deep inside your conscience when you dey pray? You dey listen? You dey respond? You dey follow? And you dey give your whole life to serve Christ and His mission?
Today, think deep about the words and presence of the Savior of the world—words wey clear, wey person no fit mistake, wey dey change person and give life. Think about how well you don pay attention for your life to everything wey E don clearly talk and to His very presence. If you no find yourself dey “dance” for God’s glory and dey “mourn” over the clear sins for your life and for our world, then commit yourself again to follow Christ without holding anything back. For the end, na only the Truth wey God don speak through all the ages and His holy and divine presence really matter.
My glorious Lord Jesus, I acknowledge say You dey present as God for my life and for the world all around me. Help me pay more attention to the countless ways wey You dey speak to me and come meet me every day. As I dey discover You and Your holy word, fill me with joy. As I dey see my sin and the sins of the world, give me true sorrow so that I go work without getting tired to fight my own sin and carry Your love and mercy go meet the people wey need them pass. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Approach the Word of God
Satide for di Second Week of Advent
“I dey tell una say Elijah don already come, and dem no recognise am, but dem do am anything wey dem like. Na so di Son of Man too go suffer for their hand.” Then di disciples understand say na about John the Baptist E dey talk to dem. Matthew 17:12–13
Malachi na the last of the Prophets for the Old Testament. E finish im ministry about 400 years before Christ come. Malachi prophesy say one “messenger” go come before the Messiah to prepare the way ahead of Am. Malachi still talk further say “Elijah the Prophet” go come before the day of the Lord (See Malachi 3:1–24).
Plenty people for Jesus time no understand this prophecy, and dem no even know about am. So the scribes use this prophecy confuse plenty people. Dem claim say since “Elijah” never come, e clear say Jesus no be the Messiah wey God promise.
Jesus make am clear to the disciples say the “messenger” wey go be the new Elijah don already come as John the Baptist. So, as Jesus dey make this one clear, E also make am clear say the scribes no correct for the way dem dey try interpret the Scriptures, and their errors dey make dem actively lead the people astray.
One thing wey this one dey tell us be say we must approach the word of God with humble heart. The pride of the scribes make dem believe say dem get some kind special wisdom wey dem no really get. So dem no serve well as spiritual teachers for the people of God.
We must humble ourselves before the Word of God if we wan understand well, no be only the Old Testament prophecies, but also the very words wey Jesus Himself talk. If we no humble ourselves before the Word of God, all of us fit easily misunderstand the beautiful and holy words wey our Lord talk.
Everything for the Scriptures get deep meaning and na truth. And na through this holy Word of God we dey come meet God Himself. But if we allow pride enter small-small, we fit find ourselves dey copy the scribes and dey misunderstand the Word of God. The result go be wrong picture of God wey go block our personal encounter with our loving Lord. But if we fit always remain humble before everything wey God don reveal to us, e go easier for us to open our hearts to those truths wey deep pass and beautiful pass, wey God wan speak to our hearts.
Think well today about any way wey the Word of God don confuse you. Try open your heart more fully with humility to wetin our Lord wan tell you. Listen with open mind and heart, and allow the pure gift of faith guide you, so that e go lead you to those truths of our faith wey deep pass.
My Lord wey full of mystery and beauty, You don reveal the deepest mysteries of life to us through Your written Word. Make I always approach Your Word with humble and open heart so that I go come know You more fully. Jesus, na You I trust.
All di 4 volume dem dey available as paperback & eBook!
(E go soon come!)
Amazon – Google Play – iTunes – Barnes and Noble