Advent—Week One

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Wake Up!

First Sunday of Advent (Year A)

“Jesus tell his disciples: “As e be for the days of Noah, na so e go be when the Pikin of Man dey come. For those days before the flood, dem dey chop and drink, dey marry and give people for marriage, until the day wey Noah enter the ark. Dem no know wetin dey happen until the flood come carry all of dem comot. Na so e go still be when the Pikin of Man dey come.” Matthew 24:37–39

You dey awake? For your spiritual life? As we dey begin the liturgical season of Advent, dem give us the future coming of the Pikin of God to think deep about. As this passage continue, Jesus talk say, “So, stay awake! Because una no know the day wey una Lord go come.”

By the “day wey una Lord go come,” we suppose understand three things. The first coming of Christ na clearly the one wey we dey think about most for Advent and Christmas. The way human nature and divine nature unite for the Pesin of Jesus truly dey fill us with wonder and reverence. But that one don happen long ago.

So, another coming of Christ wey we must continue to think deep about na His coming through grace, every moment of every day of our life, once we don freely choose to give our life to His service, for His glory, according to His will. When we live with this kind attitude for our heart, wey make us seek His “coming” through grace wey dey continue, then we go see say we need to continue to “stay awake!” If we no do so, we fit dey sure say we go miss countless opportunities to unite more closely with Christ every day and for Him to use us as instrument of that same grace for His service and glory. If we no work hard to build the habit of paying attention to every way wey grace dey move us for our life, then, without doubt, we go begin to feel “sleepy” and go fall asleep for our spiritual life.

One fine way to measure how we dey pay attention every day to the gifts of grace wey God dey give us every day, wey nobody fit count, na to also consider how we dey pay attention to the final and glorious coming of Christ for the end of time. Just as Jesus explain, most people no go pay much attention to this final coming, because dem dey assume say e no go even happen during their lifetime. But if na so you dey think, then you don miss the whole point. The point na to dey ready—today, tomorrow and always. If you truly dey ready for the final coming of Christ, e no go only help you enter more deeply into the mysteries of these seasons of Advent and Christmas, when we dey reflect on the first coming of Christ; e go also help you form the habit of paying attention to grace every day.

Today, reflect on how ready you dey for the final coming of Christ for the end of time. You ready if Christ come today? If you never ready, understand say if you no ready for His final coming, e also mean say you no ready to celebrate His first coming for Christmas long ago, or His coming to us every day through grace. Prepare today. No wait. If you prepare, God go change you every day in glorious ways wey pass wetin you fit understand.

My Lord wey dey with us always, You dey come to us, day and night, dey call us, dey lead us and dey offer to enter our lives. Abeg, help me to always pay attention to You and to always open my heart fully to Your coming every day through grace. Jesus, na You I trust.

No Let This Pass You By…

First Sunday of Advent (Year B)

“Jesus tell His disciples: “Make una dey watch! Make una dey alert! Una no know when the time go come.” Mark 13:33

Which time our Lord dey talk about? Na the time of His coming He dey talk about. But we must understand say even though He come to us once in the flesh long ago, and even though He go return again in the flesh to judge the living and the dead for the end of time, He no dey ever stop to come to us day and night through the gift of grace wey dey transform us. You dey pay attention to this coming? Or you dey miss the blessings of God’s grace wey nobody fit count, wey He wan give you every day, all through the day?

The world get plenty things wey dey distract us. The attraction of riches, the way we dey satisfy all our desires, and the constant noise from modern media, electronic gadgets and other things like them dey distract us. These things and plenty other distractions wey we dey face every day dey make am very hard to always “dey watch” and “dey alert.” Na because our ability to keep paying attention get limit. Even though some people fit learn to do more than one thing at the same time to some extent, nobody fit continue to divide their attention between God’s presence and the distractions of the world.

Some people fit argue say e necessary to take part in the affairs of the world today. E no possible to dey pray all the time and think only about God. But people wey fit dey tempted to think like this no understand the kind attention and watchfulness wey God dey call us to.

To dey watch and pay attention simply mean say God dey at the centre of our lives, and na Him be the reason and purpose for everything we dey do every day. Our love for God and our service to Him no fit divide. We no fit set some time aside for the world and other times for God. Instead, everything we dey do, every day, all through the day, must get the glory of God and the fulfilment of God’s perfect will as the main and only purpose of our lives. So, if we dey deal with the world, use social media, do housework, work extra hours, and other things, we must always reflect on this simple question, “Lord, I dey do this for Your glory and according to Your will?” We no suppose ever fail to ask ourselves that question. We must always make the glory of God and the fulfilment of His will the main purpose and reason for everything we dey do. If we fit live like this, we go discover say e dey become easier and easier to always pay attention to God’s will and watch for am everywhere.

Today, reflect on wetin you dey pay attention to most often. Wetin you dey think about pass every day? Wetin you dey pay attention to and watch for pass? If your answer to that question no be the way God and His grace dey continue to move you to act, then take note of that fact. Pray with humility make you fit change and begin form a habit wey go transform you: to keep your attention on our Lord every day, so that na Him go dey guide you every day and be the One wey you focus on for everything.

Lord of all grace, You dey come to me day and night, dey speak to me, dey call me and dey desire to guide me. Make I learn to turn all my attention to You every day, so that na only You and Your holy will go always lead me. Jesus, na You I trust.

Instinct Wey Pass Natural Power

First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

“Make una dey careful, so that too much enjoyment, drunkenness and worry about everyday life no go make una heart dull, and that day no go catch una by surprise like trap. Because that day go come upon everybody wey dey live for the face of the earth. Make una dey alert every time and pray say una go get strength to escape the troubles wey dey about to come, and to stand for front of the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34–36

“That day.” Dem talk these two words two times for the passage above. Which day our Lord dey talk about? E clear say na mainly the day of our final judgement E dey talk about, and E dey warn us to make sure say we ready for am, in case e come when we no expect. So how we go prepare?

Animals get the natural gift of instinct. Dem know how to stay alive, how to produce young ones, how to gather food and how to avoid danger. Dem know all this because God don put this knowledge inside dem. Through this natural gift of instinct, dem know wetin dem suppose do and wetin dem suppose avoid.

We human beings too get basic natural instincts. But our natural instincts only reach to help us do the things wey animals dey do. So, if we wan gain knowledge wey pass this one and know how to prepare ourselves well spiritually for Christ coming wey go happen suddenly when we no expect, then we need more.

The best way for us to prepare na through one special grace wey God dey use reveal Himself and His will to our mind wey we take dey reason. When this one happen, we go know the best way to dey fully ready for “that day” the very moment e come. Maybe one of the best ways to describe this ability na to call am “instinct wey pass nature.” When our natural instincts open to grace, and when the knowledge wey we dey use make our everyday decisions dey come from God as E dey continually reveal Himself to each of us through the gift of faith wey E put inside us, then we go discover say we just know wetin to do and wetin to avoid. To compare am, just as bird know say e suppose fly go south for winter, or salmon fish know say e suppose return to where dem born am to lay egg, na so we go “know” inside our spirit the best way to do God will and, through this, dey fully ready for His return wey dey near. “Instinct wey pass nature” no be any other thing than for us to allow God grace enter our lives, so that e go control everything we dey do and lead us to fulfil God perfect and glorious will. When this one happen, we fit dey sure say we go always dey ready for anything wey come, and nothing go ever catch us by surprise like trap.

Today, think well whether na the knowledge of God will wey dey alive inside you as instinct wey pass nature dey lead you every day. If this way of talking sound strange to you, then maybe na time to think deeply about the question “Why?” Why God grace no dey lead you through the gift wey E dey continually give you to know His will beyond wetin nature fit teach you? And if this way of talking touch something wey you understand inside you, then take time think deeply about this gift and thank God for the way E don truly take control of your everyday life.

My Lord wey dey reveal Yourself, I pray make I always know Your will, and make na only the gentle but clear ways wey Your grace dey move me guide me. Abeg lead me, dear Lord, so that I go always dey ready for Your glorious and final coming, the very moment You come. Jesus, na You I trust.

Di Authority of God

Monday for the First Week of Advent

“Lord, I no worthy make You enter under my roof; just talk the word, and my servant go well. Because me too na man wey dey under authority, and I get soldiers wey dey under me. I dey tell one, ‘Go,’ and e go; I tell another one, ‘Come here,’ and e come; and I tell my slave, ‘Do this,’ and e do am.” Matthew 8:8–9

Na man wey sabi well how to use authority talk these words. Na Roman centurion e be, and e talk say e himself na “man wey dey under authority” and say e get soldiers too wey dey under am. So, for e everyday life, e dey follow orders and give orders wey people must obey.

When person use authority well, e be gift wey dey help put order for society, family life, the life of the Church and even our own personal lives. Of course, when person use authority anyhow, to oppress people and treat dem badly, e dey cause plenty harm. But to use authority, by itself, na action wey fit bring plenty good.

Jesus Himself really admire the Roman senturion for the Gospel passage wey dem quote above. About am, Jesus talk say, “Amen, I tell una, I never find anybody for Israel wey get this kind faith.” Just imagine make the Son of God talk this kind thing about you! One reason why Jesus admire am na because the senturion recognise say e no worthy make Jesus enter im house. This na humility, because the senturion see clearly say e no worthy. But Jesus also admire am because the man show clear and firm faith for the authority wey Jesus get to heal im servant from far away. E no hesitate to declare say e believe for this authority wey our Lord get.

For our own life, we often dey fall short for this area. When we face difficulty (like the sickness wey this senturion im servant dey suffer), instead make we turn to God with full trust wey no dey shake, we turn back to ourselves. Worry, fear, doubt and confusion dey fill us, and sometimes we even dey vex. When any of these things dey show for our life, no be because of the difficult situation wey we dey face; instead, na because our faith no strong and we no get enough trust for our Lord im authority wey get all power.

For the case of the Roman senturion im servant, na God im will make Jesus heal the servant im body, and Jesus do am. But for the countless challenges wey we dey face every day for life, God fit answer us for different ways. One thing wey must always remain firm for us na to dey sure say God want use His authority wey full of love for our life, for the way wey He choose, if we trust Him and invite Him to take control.

Today, think deeply about how Christ im authority dey perfect. You believe say He fit use His perfect power for your life? You believe say na His authority we need to put your life, your family, our Church and even our world for order? As you dey pray today, submit yourself to Christ im authority, and allow yourself to wonder as you see all the things wey He fit do.

Father wey get all power, I put my life and every situation for my life wey need Your power and control for Your hand. Abeg, bring order and harmony into my life and the lives of people wey dey around me. Make all Your children learn to put themselves more fully for Your hand, as their God wey love dem. Jesus, na You I trust.

Eyes of Faith

Tuesday for the First Week of Advent

He turn to the disciples when only dem dey there and talk say, “Na blessing dey for the eyes wey dey see wetin una dey see.

Because I tell una, many prophets and kings want see wetin una dey see, but dem no see am, and dem want hear wetin una dey hear, but dem no hear am.” Luke 10:23–24

Wetin the disciples see wey make their eyes “blessed?” E clear say dem receive blessing as dem see our Lord. Na Jesus be the One wey the prophets and kings of old promise say go come, and now He dey there, with flesh and bone, for the disciples to see Him. Even though we no get the privilege to “see” our Lord the same way wey the disciples see Him about 2,000 years ago, we get the privilege to see Him for plenty other ways wey we no fit count for our everyday life, if only we get “eyes wey dey see” and ears to hear.

Since the time wey Jesus appear for Earth with human body, plenty things don change. Later, Holy Spirit fill the Apostles, and dem send dem out on mission to change the world. Dem establish the Church, put the Sacraments in place, and use the authority wey Christ give to teach. Saints wey nobody fit count don use their lives bear witness to the Truth. For the past 2,000 years, Christ don continue to show Himself to the world for ways wey nobody fit count.

Today, Christ still dey with us and He continue to stand before us. If we get eyes and ears of faith, we no go fail to notice Him day after day. We go see and understand the plenty ways wey He dey speak to us, lead us and guide us today. The first step towards this gift to see and hear na your desire. You dey desire the Truth? You dey desire to see Christ? Or you don satisfy with the plenty confusion for life wey dey try distract you from wetin real pass and wetin fit change your life pass?

Today, reflect on wetin you dey desire. The prophets and kings of old “desire” to see the Messiah. We get the privilege to have Him alive among us today, as He dey speak to us and dey call us continually. Nurture desire for our Lord inside yourself. Allow am become strong flame wey dey long to consume everything wey true and everything wey good. Desire God. Desire His Truth. Desire make His hand guide your life, and allow Him bless you pass wetin you fit understand.

My divine Lord, I know say You dey alive today, You dey speak to me, dey call me and dey show me Your glorious presence. Help me to long for You and, as I dey long for You, to turn to You with all my heart. I love You, my Lord. Help me to love You more. Jesus, na You I trust.

Miracle of Plenty Wey Pass Wetin Dem Need!

Wednesday for di First Week of Advent

Then he take the seven loaves of bread and the fish, give thanks, break the bread, and give am to the disciples, wey come give am to the crowd. All of dem chop belleful. Dem pick the pieces wey remain–seven baskets full. Matthew 15:36–37

This line end the story of the second miracle wey Jesus use multiply bread and fish, as Matthew tell am. For this miracle, seven loaves of bread and small number of fish multiply to feed 4,000 men, without counting the women and children. And after everybody chop belleful, seven full baskets remain.

E hard to regard the effect wey this miracle get on the people wey really dey there as something small. Maybe plenty of dem no even know where the food come from. Dem just see as dem dey pass the baskets, dem take enough to chop belleful, and pass the rest give others. Even though plenty important lessons dey wey we fit learn from this miracle, make we consider one of dem.

Remember say the crowd don stay with Jesus for three days without food. Dem dey wonder at Him as He dey teach and continue to heal sick people for their presence. In fact, dem dey wonder so much say dem no show any sign say dem wan leave Him, even with the serious hunger wey dem surely dey feel. This na wonderful picture of wetin we suppose seek to get for our inner spiritual life.

Wetin dey make you “wonder” for life? Wetin you fit do hour after hour without your mind comot from am? For these first disciples, na as dem come know the very Person of Jesus make dem feel like this. How about you? You don ever discover Jesus for prayer, or as you dey read Scripture, or through another person witness, in a way wey draw you so much that all your attention come dey for His presence? You don ever focus on our Lord so much that you hardly think of any other thing?

For Heaven, we go spend eternity in adoration wey no go ever end, as we dey “wonder” at the glory of God. And we no go ever tire to dey with Him, as we dey hold Him in deep awe. But many times for Earth, we no dey notice the miraculous work wey God dey do for our lives and for the lives of people around us. Instead, many times, na sin, the effects of sin, hurt, scandal, division, hatred and those things wey dey make person lose hope dey take all our attention.

Today, reflect on these first disciples of Jesus. Think well, especially, about their wonder and deep awe as dem stay with Him for three days without food. The way our Lord dey draw people to Himself must take hold of you and fill your whole being so much that na Jesus alone go be the centre of your life. And when He be the centre, every other thing go fall into place, and our Lord go provide for your plenty other needs.

My divine Lord, I love You and I want love You more. Fill me with wonder and deep reverence for You. Help me to long for You pass everything else and inside everything. Make my love for You strong reach the point wey I go always dey trust You. Help me, dear Lord, to make You the centre of my whole life. Jesus, na You I trust.

Christians Wey Be Genuine

Thursday for di First Week of Advent

“No be everybody wey dey tell me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ go enter the Kingdom of heaven, but na only the person wey dey do wetin my Father for heaven want.” Matthew 7:21

E dey make person fear to think about di people wey Jesus dey talk about. Imagine say, after you don leave this life for earth, you reach front of God throne and you cry out to Am, “Lord, Lord!” You expect say E go smile and welcome you, but instead, you come face di truth about how you continue to stubbornly disobey God will all through your life. Na then you suddenly realize say you dey behave like Christian, but na only pretend you dey pretend. And now, for judgment day, di truth don show clear for you and everybody to see. This kind thing truly dey make person fear.

Who this thing go happen to? Na only our Lord know. Na Him be di one and only Judge wey dey judge with justice. Na Him and only Him know wetin dey person heart, and na only Him get di right to judge. But di fact say Jesus tell us say “No be everybody” wey expect to enter Heaven go enter suppose make us pay attention.

As e suppose be, na deep and pure love for God suppose dey direct our lives, and na this love, and this love alone, suppose dey guide us. But when pure love for God no dey show clear, di next best thing fit be holy fear. Di words wey Jesus talk suppose stir this “holy fear” inside each of us.

When we talk say “holy,” we mean say one kind fear dey wey fit move us to truly change our lives. E fit be say we dey deceive other people, and maybe we even dey deceive ourselves, but we no fit deceive God. God dey see and know everything, and E know di answer to di one and only question wey matter for judgment day: “I do di will of di Father wey dey Heaven?”

One practice wey Saint Ignatius of Loyola recommend again and again na to look at all di decisions we dey make and di things we dey do now as we go see dem for judgment day. For that moment, wetin I go wish say I bin do? Di answer to that question matter well well for how we dey live our lives today.

Today, think deeply about that important question for your own life. “I dey do di will of di Father wey dey Heaven?” As I stand before Christ judgment seat, wetin I go wish say I bin do here and now? Whatever come your mind, take time think about am, and work hard to strengthen your determination to do whatever God show you. No hesitate. No wait. Prepare now so that Judgment day go also be day of joy and glory wey plenty pass measure!

My God wey dey save me, I pray make I understand my life well. Help me to see my life and everything wey I dey do for the light of Your will and Your Truth. My Father wey love me, I want live fully according to Your perfect will. Give me the grace wey I need to change my life for better, so that the day of judgment go be day of the greatest glory. Jesus, na You I trust.

Di True Messiah

Friday for First Week of Advent

And their eyes open. Jesus warn dem strongly, “Make sure say nobody know about this.” But dem go out and spread di news about Am all through that land. Matthew 9:30–31

Who Jesus be? E much easier to answer this question today than for di time wey Jesus dey walk for earth. Today, we don get di blessing of countless saints wey don go before us, wey through prayer and deep understanding don teach plenty things about who Jesus be. We know say na God E be, di Second Person of di Holy Trinity, di Savior of di World, di Messiah wey God promise, di Lamb for Sacrifice, and plenty more.

Di Gospel wey dey above come from di ending of di miracle wey Jesus do when E heal two blind men. Di healing move these men so much, and their feelings carry dem go. Jesus instruct dem say, “Make sure say nobody know about this” healing wey be miracle. But dem no fit hold their excitement. No be say dem purposely disobey Jesus; instead, dem no know any other way to show their sincere gratitude apart from to tell other people wetin Jesus don do.

One reason why Jesus tell dem make dem no tell other people about Am na because Jesus know say dem no fully understand who E be. E know say their testimony about Am no go show who E be in di way wey reflect di truth best. Na di Lamb of God E be. Di Savior. Di Messiah. Di Lamb for Sacrifice. Na Him come into this world to redeem us by shedding His blood. But plenty of di people want “messiah” wey go promote their own nation, or only person wey dey work miracles. Dem want person wey go save dem from political oppression and make dem become great nation for this world. But no be this be Jesus mission.

Plenty times, we too fit fall for the trap of misunderstanding who Jesus be and who He want be for our life. We fit want one “god” wey go save us only from our everyday struggles, injustice and the difficulties of this life. We fit want one “god” wey go do wetin we want, instead of us to do wetin He want. We want one “god” wey go heal us and free us from every burden for this world. But all through His life, Jesus teach am clearly say He go suffer and die. He teach us say we must carry our own crosses and follow Him. And He teach us say we suppose die, accept suffering, show mercy, turn the other cheek, and find our glory inside wetin the world no go ever understand.

Today, think deep about whether Jesus go warn you make you no talk too loudly about your own understanding of who He be. You dey struggle with presenting one “god” wey no really be God? Or you don come know the very Pesin of Christ our Lord so well that you fit bear witness to Him wey die? Na only the Cross you dey boast of? You dey proclaim Christ wey dem crucify and preach only the deepest wisdom of humility, mercy and sacrifice? Commit yourself again to proclaim Christ as He truly be, and put aside every confused picture wey you get of our God wey dey save us.

My true Lord wey dey save me, I put myself for Your hand and I pray make I come know You and love You as You really be. Give me the eyes wey I need to see You, and the mind and heart wey I need to know You and love You. Remove any false idea wey I get about who You be, and put true knowledge of You for inside me instead, my Lord. As I dey come know You, I offer myself to You so that You fit use me to proclaim Your greatness to everybody. Jesus, na You I trust.

On Mission Wey Christ Send Us

Saturday for First Week of Advent

“The harvest plenty, but the workers no plenty; so ask the master of the harvest make he send workers go gather his harvest.” Matthew 9:37–38

Wetin God want from you? Wetin be your mission? Some Christians wey get strong devotion fit dream of becoming popular evangelists. Some fit dream of doing great acts of love wey everybody go praise. And others fit wish to live quiet life of faith wey people no dey notice, close to family and friends. But wetin God want from YOU?

For the passage above, Jesus urge His disciples make dem pray for “workers for his harvest.” You fit dey sure say you dey among the “workers” wey our Lord dey talk about. E easy to think say this mission na for other people, like priests, people wey don dedicate their life as brothers and sisters for religious orders, and lay evangelists wey dey do the work full-time. E easy for plenty people to conclude say dem no get much to offer. But that one no true at all.

God want use you for ways wey get extraordinary glory. Yes, “extraordinary glory!” Of course, this one no mean say you go be the next evangelist wey popular pass for YouTube, or say you go enter public eye like Saint Mother Teresa. But the work wey God want make you do dey just as real and just as important as the work of any of the greatest saints of old or the ones wey still dey alive today.

We dey discover holiness for life through prayer, but also through action. As you dey pray every single day and dey draw closer to Christ, E go urge you to “Heal sick people, raise people wey don die, make people wey get leprosy clean, drive demons comot” (Matthew 10:8), as the Gospel for today go on to talk. But E go call you to do this for the special way wey fit your own vocation. You no suppose neglect your daily duty. So, among the people wey you dey meet every day, who be the sick people, the people wey don die, the people wey get leprosy and the people wey evil spirits dey control? Most likely, people wey be like this dey all around you, even though their condition no be the same for everybody. Take, for example, people wey be “people wey get leprosy.” Na people wey society dey “reject” be these. Our world fit harsh and wicked, and some people fit feel say dem don lose their way and dem dey alone. Who you know wey fit dey this kind condition? Who need small encouragement, understanding and compassion? God don give you daily duty wey E no give another person, and because of that, some people need your love. Look for dem, reach out to dem, share Christ with dem, stand by dem.

Today, think deep about this calling wey get extraordinary glory, wey you don receive to be Christ to another person. Accept this duty of love with all your heart. See yourself as person wey Christ don call to work for Him, and commit yourself to carry out this mission fully and with glory, no matter how you go live am out for your life.

My dear Lord, I give myself fully to Your divine mission. I choose You and Your holy will for my life. Send me, dear Lord, to the people wey need Your love and mercy pass. Help me know how I fit carry that love and mercy reach the people wey You put for my care, so that dem go experience Your glorious grace wey dey save for their lives. Jesus, na You I trust.