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Complete Freedom From Sin
Di Fifth Sunday for Lent (Year A)
(Note: Dem fit also choose dis Gospel for Years B & C when dem dey do Scrutinies.)
“Lazarus, come out!” Di man wey don die come out. Dem tie im hand and leg with bands of burial cloth, and dem wrap im face with cloth. So Jesus tell dem, “Loose am and let am go.” John 11:43–44
We fit see di death of Lazarus as sign wey represent di soul wey mortal sin don kill. Dis one resemble how leprosy, body sickness and other things like dem also be signs of sin. Na why di way Jesus first react show us how we suppose respond to serious sin for our lives. When Jesus face di death of Lazarus, “Im mind come no settle, and E worry well well,” “Jesus cry,” Im mind come “no settle again” and E “shout with loud voice.” Even though Jesus na God, E freely choose to take human nature and experience human emotions and strong feelings, to teach us how we suppose react. For dis case, E choose make Im mind no settle, make E worry well well, cry and shout, to show us how we suppose react to serious sin. Serious sin dey kill di spirit. Because of dis, if we commit serious sin or see person commit am, e must touch us deep for heart.
One lesson wey we fit learn from dis passage be say, when you or person wey you love fall into serious sin, make una no ignore am. To remain without repentance till di end na sin wey make person no get di kind sorrow wey dem suppose get for sin, but instead dem dey treat am like say e no matter and e no serious. We no suppose react like dis. Start by thinking about how e take important to take sin seriously, to respond to am with strong feeling and emotion, and to cry to God make E forgive you.
When Jesus shout and command Lazarus make e come out from di tomb, di story add dis details: Lazarus really come out, but dem still tie im “hand and leg with bands of burial cloth, and dem wrap im face with cloth.” Saint Augustine teach say, for one part, dis one represent di whole process of Confession and forgiveness of sins. First, nobody fit confess im sins by im own effort alone. Na grace and di command of our Lord must move am to come out and show God how dem still tie am. Di way Lazarus obey Jesus command represent how Christian dey answer God when God call am to repentance. When our Lord talk say, “Loose am and let am go,” dis one represent di effect of di Sacrament of Confession wey person no earn, and di power wey e get to free person, no be only from im sins, but also from di effects of those sins wey still dey continue.
Our Church teach say sin get two consequences. First, e dey keep us away from eternal salvation. Confession and forgiveness dey remedy dis effect. But another effect dey wey dem dey call “temporal punishment” (see di Catechism of the Catholic Church #1471–1473). Dis “punishment” no dey come from God, but from sin. E mean say when we sin, even when di sin no too serious, we dey become attached to dat sin, and di temptation wey dey continue to draw us back to am dey grow stronger. So, to continue to turn from sin to God also mean say we dey hear our Lord talk, “Loose am and let am go.” Dis one dey happen especially as we continue to turn from sin to God and grow for virtue.
Today, think deep about all di rich meaning wey di signs for di story of how Lazarus rise from di dead carry. As you dey do so, listen for di voice of Jesus wey dey call you with strong feeling, “Come out!” Which sin Jesus dey call you make you dey free from? Recognise dat sin and turn away from am with di same strong feeling wey our Lord show. From there, think about any temptation wey you still dey struggle with and any way wey you still dey attached to one particular sin. Jesus want make dem loose you completely and set you free. Open your heart to dat grace and do everything wey you fit do to accept am.
My Lord wey full of mercy and strong feeling, with love, You command me make I come out from every sin. And when I answer You, You command make dem remove di effects of my past sins. Abeg, dear Lord, free me from everything wey tie me, so dat I go stand firm for di glorious road of virtue wey dey lead to joy wey no go end. Jesus, na You I trust.
Glory Don Transform Suffering
Di Fifth Sunday for Lent (Year B)
(Note: When dem dey do Scrutinies for Mass, dem fit use di reflection for Year A instead of dis one.)
“My heart dey troubled now. But wetin I go talk? ‘Father, save Me from dis hour’? But na because of dis purpose I come reach dis hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then one voice come from heaven, “I don glorify am, and I go glorify am again.” John 12:27–28
Soul wey our Lord get as human being dey “troubled.” Other translations talk say His soul dey suffer deep pain. After Jesus don talk about the suffering inside Him, He point out the temptation wey this suffering bring to Him as human being: to run from His “hour.” Of course, Jesus reject this temptation to use His experience as human being teach us lesson.
As God, Jesus get perfect strength, and He always remain faithful to the mission wey He receive from the Father. But as human being, Jesus allow Himself to experience temptation and human suffering for many reasons. One reason na so that He fit understand wetin we dey pass through in every way. This include to understand the suffering wey human beings dey experience inside them. As Jesus do this, He also make am possible for us to imitate Him and share in the strength and determination wey He get as He carry out the Father will perfectly. Jesus allow Himself to bear the deep pain wey the suffering He see ahead bring, because we go face similar temptations throughout our life.
Wetin dey cause you fear and worry as you look at wetin dey ahead? If anything come your mind straight away, try use Jesus own experience wey we don talk about above take look at am. The first thing wey Jesus do na to recognise the temptation to fear. He do this by recognising the suffering wey He dey experience inside Him, and then looking at wetin cause am: His “hour” wey dey come. The “hour” of Jesus for the Gospel of John mean His crucifixion and death. Na because of this He come meet us. He come to suffer the consequences of our sins and to destroy death itself. But this His mission cause real human suffering, and e also bring temptation to fear. But na fear wey He overcome completely.
As you look at anything wey dey tempt you to give in to fear and worry, first ask yourself whether na God will for you to carry out that action. If we dey fear something wey no be the Father will, then make we reject am. But many times, the plan wey God get for our life go include to act with courage as we face some cross and suffering wey dey ahead. To feel fear na normal thing, but fear no go turn to worry if we imitate our Lord and choose God will, no matter wetin e go cost us.
Jesus also accept His Cross willingly because He look at am as something wey go bring glory. He understand say His suffering and death go glorify the Father for Heaven. So, He allow Himself to see the Cross as something wey go give the Father glory. Na so e must be for our own life too. No matter wetin we face for life, no matter the cross wey dem give us, if na God will for us to accept am willingly, then we must see am no be only as suffering wey we must bear, but first of all as an act wey go glorify God for our life. This way of seeing things wey show the truth more fully go bring hope, joy and strength wey go free us from the worry wey fear dey cause.
Today, reflect on the ways wey God dey call you to carry the cross. As you dey do this, no allow fear hold you back. Instead, see every suffering wey dey ahead as chance to glorify God for your life. Look at your crosses with gratitude and joy, and allow this new way of seeing things give you the strength wey you need to carry out the mission wey the Father for Heaven give you.
Father wey get glory pass all, Your will dey perfect. You call Your Son to suffer on the Cross. Through that act of perfect love, the suffering wey Your Son bear give You perfect glory. Lord Jesus, abeg give me Your courage as I face my own sufferings for life, and help me imitate the way You obey the Father will perfectly for everything, so that I too fit give Him glory. Jesus, na You I trust.
Dem Take Offence Because of Mercy
The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C)
(Note: When dem use the Scrutinies for Mass, dem fit use the reflection for Year A instead of this one. Also, when dem use the readings from Year A for this Sunday, dem fit use the Gospel and reflection wey follow for Monday.)
Jesus go the Mount of Olives. But early for morning, He come back to the Temple area, and all the people begin come meet Him. He sit down and teach them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees bring one woman wey dem catch as she dey commit adultery, and dem make her stand for their middle. John 8:1–3
This experience must don pain this woman well-well and bring her serious shame! Thank God, the Saviour of the World dey there to care for her and help her pass through this situation with His plenty mercy. Even though she be sinner, God mercy offer her remedy for her sin and the consequences wey follow am.
One thing wey draw attention be say this story no dey for some of di oldest manuscripts of di Gospel of John. Saint Augustine believe say some of di first people wey copy this Gospel comot am because dem dey insist on very strict moral rules, and di depth of Jesus mercy shock dem. Dem fear say if other people hear about this great act of mercy, e go make people begin relax moral rules.
Di scribes and Pharisees wey bring this woman come meet Jesus also look like people wey Jesus mercy shock. So, di deep mercy wey Jesus show this woman na one of di many times wey Jesus show mercy reach level wey hard people to understand.
What of you? How far you ready to go when e concern mercy? E easy for us to begin condemn people when we see their sins. We fit feel say we get right to condemn dem, and even say na our duty, because we want condemn sin itself. But wetin Jesus do show say we no suppose take sin and di sinner as di same thing. We must condemn sin, and our Lord condemn am when He tell this woman, “Go, and from now on, no sin again.” Even though He condemn her sin, He no condemn her: “Me too no condemn you.”
God mercy pass wetin person fit fully understand. For example, remember say Jesus cry out from di Cross, “Father, forgive dem; dem no know wetin dem dey do.” Think of how people wey first hear those words go don surprise. How this man fit ask God to forgive di people wey dey kill Am? Maybe di only person wey truly understand this prayer for mercy from di Cross na Jesus own mother, as she stand there dey look Am with love.
One important lesson wey we suppose learn from di depth of Jesus mercy be say, at first, e fit shock us too, and we fit struggle to accept am. Mercy wey reach this level pass wetin human nature alone fit do. E challenge our natural reasoning and call us to a new way to think and relate with other people. Di only way to overcome di “shock” wey we fit feel when we face God mercy na to practise that mercy ourselves. To do so, we go need new eyes, so we fit see sin, mercy and forgiveness as God dey see dem. If this one shake you reach di deepest part of your being, e fit be good sign. You dey allow God abundant mercy, wey fit look shocking, to change you, so that e no go shock you or make you stumble again, but you go experience am as something good and holy wey come from di Heart of our God?
Today, reflect on how deeply you understand God mercy. You dey rejoice when another person receive mercy? Or you dey find yourself condemning people? Our Lord talk say, “Make di person among una wey no get sin be di first to throw stone at her.” None of us dey without sin; so none of us get right to throw stone at another person. Allow God mercy, even when e look shocking, to challenge you, so that you no go only come understand God mercy wey no get end, but you go also become instrument of that mercy for everybody.
Lord wey full of mercy pass all, You come to call di sinner to turn away from sin and turn to God, and to receive salvation. You dey offer mercy and forgiveness in overflowing measure. When I face di sins of other people, help me to follow di example of Your love for dem, and to show mercy and compassion to di fullest. I love You, Lord. Help me to love You and other people with Your Heart wey full of merciful love. Jesus, na You I trust.
People Wey Everybody Know as Sinners
Monday for di Fifth Week of Lent
(Note: For Year C, when dem don use di reflection for Year A, dem fit use di readings from Sunday Year C today.)
“Make di person among una wey no get sin be di first to stone her.” John 8:7
Dis na powerful words wey Jesus talk. Di Pharisees wey dey judge and condemn people bring one woman come meet Jesus. E be like say dem catch her “as she dey commit adultery.” She be sinner? Yes, she really be sinner. But dis story no too concern whether she be sinner or she no be sinner. E concern how Jesus dey treat sinners, compared with how di Pharisees wey dey see demself as righteous, dey judge people and dey condemn dem, dey treat sinners.
First of all, make we look dis woman. Dem don disgrace her. She don commit sin, dem catch her, and dem bring her come everybody front as sinner. How she take react? She no resist. She no continue to deny wetin she do. She no vex. She no fight back. Instead, she stand there for shame, dey wait for her punishment with sorrow for her heart.
Di shame wey person feel because of im sins na powerful experience wey fit lead am to truly repent. When we meet person wey don sin for way wey everybody fit see, and shame dey catch am because of di sin, we must treat am with compassion. Why? Because di dignity wey di person get always pass im sin. God make every person for His image and likeness, and every person deserve our compassion. If person harden im heart and refuse to see im sin (as e be for di Pharisees), then e dey necessary to correct am firmly for holy way, to help am repent. But when person feel sorrow and, as e happen for dis case, shame join di sorrow, then di person don ready to receive compassion.
As Jesus talk say, “Make di person among una wey no get sin be di first to stone her,” He no dey talk say di sin wey she commit dey right. Instead, He dey make am clear say nobody get right to condemn her. Nobody. Even di religious leaders no get dat right. For many people for our world today, dis teaching hard to follow. E don common for di main headlines for media to dey show us other people sins wey go cause di biggest shock, as if dem no fit stop demself. Temptation dey always come make we vex well-well because of wetin dis person or dat person do. We dey quick shake head, condemn dem and treat dem like dirt. In fact, e be like say many people today see am as their duty to act as “watchdogs” against every sin wey dem fit dig out about other people.
Today, reflect on whether you resemble di Pharisees or Jesus more. You for stand there among di crowd, dey want make dem stone this woman wey dem don disgrace? What of today? When you hear about di sins of other people wey dey clear for everybody to see, you dey find yourself condemning dem? Or you dey hope say dem go receive mercy? Try to follow di example of di compassionate heart of our divine Lord; and when your own time for judgment reach, you too go receive compassion in abundance.
My merciful Lord, You no dey look only at our sin; You dey look into di heart. Your love no get end, and e dey fill person with awe. I thank You for di compassion wey You don show me, and I pray make I always show that same compassion to every sinner around me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Jesus Language
Tuesday for di Wik Five for Lent
Because He talk like dis, many people come believe in Him. John 8:30
Jesus don dey teach about Who He be for ways wey no dey plain but wey get very deep meaning. For di passages before dis one, He call Himself di “bread of life,” di “living water,” di “light of di world,” and He even use di ancient name of God, “I DEY,” for Himself. On top of dat, He continue to show say di Father for Heaven na His Father, say He and di Father dey perfectly united, and say na di Father send Am come di world to do His will. For example, just before di words above, Jesus talk clearly say, “When una lift di Son of Man up, na then una go know say I DEY, and say I no dey do anything on My own, but na only wetin di Father teach Me I dey talk” (John 8:28). And na because of dis, many people come believe in Him. But why?
As di Gospel of John continue, Jesus teaching still get mystery and deep meaning wey no dey plain. After Jesus talk deep truths about Who He be, some people wey hear Am come believe in Him, while others turn against Am. Wetin make di people wey come believe different from di people wey later kill Jesus? Di simple answer na faith. Both di people wey come believe in Jesus and di people wey plan and support His killing hear di same teaching from Jesus. Still, how dem react different well-well.
Na so e still be for us today. Just like di people wey first hear dis teaching directly from Jesus mouth, dem still dey present di same teaching to us. We get di same opportunity to listen to His words and either accept dem with faith, reject dem, or no care about dem. You dey among di many people wey come believe in Jesus because of dis words?
As we dey read these teachings of Jesus wey their meaning dey hidden, wey get mystery and wey deep, as dem dey for Gospel of John, we need special gift from God if these words go get any effect at all for our lives. Faith na gift. No be just blind choice to believe. Na choice wey person make because e don see. But na only revelation wey God give us inside our heart, and wey we agree to, fit make this kind seeing possible. So, Jesus as the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the great I AM, the Light of the World, and the Son of the Father go only make sense to us and get effect for our lives when we open our hearts to receive the inner light wey the gift of faith dey bring. If we no open our hearts and receive am, we go remain either against am or no care about am.
Today, think deeply about the language of God wey deep, wey its meaning dey hidden and wey get mystery. When you read this language, especially for Gospel of John, how you dey respond? Think well about how you dey respond; and if you find out say you never really come to understand and believe, then ask for the grace of faith today, so that the words of our Lord go change your life with power.
My Lord wey pass human understanding, wetin You teach about Who You be pass wetin human reasoning alone fit understand. E deep, e full of mystery, and e glorious pass all understanding. Abeg, give me di gift of faith, so that I go come know Who You be as I dey reflect on all di riches inside Your holy Word. I believe in You, my dear Lord. Help me where I still no believe. Jesus, na You I trust.
The Truth Go Set You Free
Wednesday for di Wik Five for Lent
Jesus tell those Jews wey believe in am, “If una remain for my word, una go truly be my disciples, and una go know the truth, and the truth go set una free.” John 8:31–32
These words get power to bring change wey go transform our lives. Notice say Jesus talk these words “to those Jews wey believe in am.” That na, those wey don accept His word and so be His true disciples. We too wey believe in Jesus suppose think well about these words. The main point of this teaching get two parts: you must come to “know the truth” so that the truth wey you come to know “go set you free.”
This teaching of Jesus dey help us well-well, both for how our mind dey work and for our spiritual life. First of all, if we look only at how our mind dey work, truth na one of the greatest things wey dey help person get good mental health. Most times, when person dey struggle with different kinds of depression, na because confusion dey affect how e dey see some parts of im life. “Why this person do me this kind thing?” Or “How I go ever take pass through this?” Or “My life don scatter and no way dey to come out.” These thoughts and other ones like dem go surely lead to depression for one simple reason: dem stand on wrong thinking.
One of the best kinds of counselling for person mind na wetin we fit call “treatment with truth.” Every question wey we get because we don lose hope, and every conclusion wey we don reach for life wey dey weigh our mind down, na things wey we must examine again according to how God dey think. Wetin God think? Wetin dey God mind about this matter? Those truths wey we never discover na the truth wey “go set you free.” E dey easier to overcome depression when we look our life the way God dey look am. This dey bring hope, and hope dey free us from the chains of depression and confusion.
For spiritual life, these same principles apply even more. We must know the truth about sin, forgiveness, salvation and Heaven deeply, and accept am fully. When we deny the truth about sin or forgiveness, we dey live inside lie, and that lie still dey hold us bound. We fit get true spiritual freedom wey dey lead to salvation and life forever for Heaven only when we accept with all our heart the holy and perfect spiritual truth wey God give us. We must clearly know our sin, repent from am, seek God forgiveness, change the way we dey live, and live the new life of grace wey God call us to live.
Today, think deeply about this teaching of Jesus wey get power to change our lives: “know the truth, and the truth go set you free.” Which truths about how your mind dey work and about spiritual life you need to know more deeply? Which confusion or blindness still remain? Seek the healing wey the Truth, as e dey for the mind of God, dey bring, and know say freedom dey wait for you.
God of all Truth, Your Word dey set us free, dey change us and dey fill us with hope. Make I turn my mind to You and to Your holy Word, so that I go know the Truth as You dey speak am, and allow that Truth wey dey change person to set me free. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Live for This Present Moment
Thursday for di Wik Five for Lent
Jesus tell them, “Amen, amen, I dey tell una, before Abraham begin exist, I DEY.” So dem pick stones to throw am; but Jesus hide and comot from the temple area. John 8:58–59
When Moses meet God inside the bush wey dey burn, God reveal His name: I DEY. The Catechism of the Catholic Church dey teach say this revelation of God name “na both a name wey God reveal and something like refusal to give a name.” E dey show say God dey “far above everything wey we fit understand or talk, without any limit.” Na Him be the “God wey hide Himself.” Na Him still be the “God wey dey draw close to human beings” for each and every moment of our lives (See CCC #206).
For our Gospel today, Jesus show say na Him be this God wey hide Himself. He talk say na only Him know His Father, and say the Father dey glorify Him because na Him be the great I DEY. For the people of that time, this revelation shock them, at least those wey no fit understand this truth through faith. But that mysterious name no only reveal to us who God be for His very nature; e still reveal how we suppose relate with this God wey no get limit, wey hide Himself, wey dey exalted and full of glory.
As Jesus reveal who He be, He no talk say, “before Abraham begin exist, I been dey.” He talk say, “I DEY.” This show say no be only that Jesus exist before Abraham, but say His existence pass the limits of all time. He DEY always and everywhere. Even though some people fit think say this na too much philosophy, na important thing to understand for two important reasons. First, e dey help us understand God more deeply. But second, e dey reveal to us how we suppose relate with God every day.
God no be God of the past. He no be God of the future. Na God of this present moment He be. If we wan enter relationship with God, then we must understand say na only for this present moment we fit meet Him. We fit talk am like this: na Him be the Here and Now. And we must seek Him here and now, for this present moment alone.
Sometimes, we dey find ourselves still dey dwell on things wey don pass. As far as our past don help us or hurt us for this present moment, we need to face the matter. But the way to do this na to seek God grace wey dey heal today, and allow the past to disappear inside His mercy wey full plenty. Other times, we dey try live for the future, and we dey become anxious about wetin dey come. But God no dey dwell for the future because, for Him, all time na here and now. So we no suppose become anxious about the future, worry about am, or try live inside am now. Na only this present moment we get, and na for this moment God dey come meet us. He dey here, and we must meet Him here, as we turn to Him and His grace today.
Today, reflect on this deep and mysterious revelation from our Lord. Think about who He be as the great “I DEY.” Think deeply about that name. Think deeply about wetin e mean. See am as one way wey Jesus dey invite you to meet Him for this present moment alone. Live for this moment. The past don go; the future never reach. Live where God dey, here and now, because na only there you go meet our Lord.
My Lord, na You be the Great I DEY. You pass the limits of all time. Help me to meet You today, to let go of the past, to look forward to the future, and to live with You for this moment alone. As I meet You here, dear Lord, help me to love You with all my heart. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Enter the Desert
Friday for di Wik Five for Lent
“If I no dey do my Father works, make una no believe me; but if I dey do dem, even if una no believe me, make una believe the works, so that una fit come to know and understand say the Father dey in me and I dey in the Father.” John 10:37–39
Jesus talk these words during the feast of the Dedication for Jerusalem. Jesus don dey preach clearly about His relationship with the Father for Heaven, and this dey make some people vex so much that dem try to arrest Him right there. But He escape and go back to the wilderness where John don baptize Him. As Jesus remain there for the desert, plenty people come meet Him to stay with Him and listen to His words. As dem dey listen, dem begin believe.
E good make we notice how the way people respond take different. For Jerusalem, inside the Temple area, among the plenty people wey gather for the Feast of Dedication, people dey reject Jesus and dey persecute Am more and more. But when He return to the desert and people need to come meet Am, dem listen and believe. This difference show us one way wey we fit grow more easily for our faith and help other people grow for their own faith. To talk am clearly, we dey receive invitation to go into the “desert” to meet our Lord, far from all the busyness of life, and we must also invite other people to join us for this kind journey.
Na true say, while Jesus dey Jerusalem, some people happen to meet Him as He dey teach, and His word touch their hearts and dem come to believe. But e still clear say, when people need to put serious effort to go find Him for place wey people no dey, His words change their lives even more.
For our own lives, inside the normal things wey we dey do, like to dey attend Mass regularly, we go get chance to hear the Gospel and grow deeper for our life of faith. But all of us need to take time go find Jesus “for bush wey people no dey stay,” as we fit talk am, so that our hearts go dey even more ready to hear Him and believe. These “desert experiences” fit happen for different ways. E fit be something as simple as to enter your room alone to pray and think deeply about the Word of God. Or e fit be to join Bible study, online devotional programme, or catechesis programme for parish. Or e fit be to choose to go away for one weekend or longer for retreat wey somebody dey guide, where all wey you go dey do for some time na to pray and listen to our Lord.
Throughout history, saint after saint don show us how important e be to go somewhere quiet to pray and dey with our Lord, for place where the many things wey dey distract us for life and the many voices of the world go quiet, so that God fit speak to our heart and we fit respond more fully.
Today, think deeply about the invitation wey Jesus dey give you to go meet Him for bush wey people no dey stay. Where that place dey? How you fit make this short journey and still carry out the important duties of life? No hesitate to find the desert wey our Lord dey call you go, so that you go fit meet Him there, listen to His voice, and respond with your whole heart, without holding anything back.
My Lord Jesus, You dey call me make I enter deeper into relationship of love with You, my Lord wey be God. Give me the grace wey I need to tell You “Yes” and to enter the desert of silence and prayer wey I need so that I fit hear Your voice. Draw me come near You, my Lord, and help me believe everything wey You want talk more fully. Jesus, na You I trust.
Wetin Jesus’ Work Among the People Bring
Saturday for di Wik Five for Lent
So the chief priests and the Pharisees gather the Sanhedrin together and talk say, “Wetin we go do? This man dey perform plenty signs. If we leave am like that, everybody go believe in am, and the Romans go come take both our land and our nation from us.” John 11:47–48
Jesus’ work among the people get two main effects on them. For many of them, dem dey come to believe in Him, and dem dey hold on to every word wey He talk. Dem look for Him and begin understand say na He be the Messiah wey God promise. This na response of faith. But the way the chief priests and the Pharisees react follow the ways of this world far more. For the passage above, we see one group of religious leaders wey concern for things of this world don take over their minds completely, reach the point where these concerns drown every matter of faith.
As the Sanhedrin gather dey discuss wetin dem suppose do, Caiaphas, wey be high priest that year, speak up and give advice wey show this worldly way of seeing things clearly. He talk say, “Una no know anything, and una no consider say e better for una make one man die instead of the people, so that the whole nation no go perish.” E look like say Caiaphas and many other religious leaders that time care far more about their position and power for this world than matters of true faith and eternal salvation. If dem be men wey love God deeply and dey seek only His holy will, dem for rejoice say Jesus’ work dey bear so much fruit for the lives of the people. Dem for dey thank God, day and night, for the privilege to see the old prophecies about the Messiah dey come true before their own eyes. Dem suppose get joy and gratitude, and dem suppose allow those spiritual blessings grow inside them and give them the courage wey dem need to go out and die with our Lord if e become necessary. But instead, dem choose their comfortable lives and their position for this world above the truth, and dem decide say Jesus must die.
One beautiful truth wey we fit think deeply about for this matter na say God dey use all things for His glory and for the salvation of those wey believe. For this meeting of the Sanhedrin, these men begin plan how dem go kill Jesus. Later, dem use deceit, manipulation, threats and fear to achieve their aim. But even though, for the way the world dey see things, these religious leaders wey don miss road “win,” for the way God dey see things, God use their evil bring about the greatest good wey the world don ever know. Through their wickedness, Jesus’ suffering and death open way for the new life of the Resurrection.
Today, think deeply about the truth say God fit use all things for our good. Whether na inside corruption, persecution, disagreement, sin, sickness or any other evil for life, when we turn to God with faith and surrender ourselves to Him, He fit transform all things and use them bring plenty good fruit, if only we allow Him and trust Him with faith. Today, as you dey pray, surrender to God any of these concerns wey don affect you, and allow yourself believe this simple truth: nothing fit stop God’s will from coming true gloriously for your life. All things fit help bring salvation to your soul and end for God’s eternal glory.
My Lord wey full of glory, plenty people love You, but some people still hate You. Those wey get power and authority no fit see beyond the worldly things wey dem dey pursue, so dem begin plan against You. Give me the grace, my dear Lord, to see every evil wey people do me as opportunity for You to bring good out of am. You full of glory, my dear Lord. Make dem glorify You for everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
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