Week 19 for Ordinary Time

All di 4 volume dem dey available as paperback & eBook!

To Overcome Wetin No Seem Possible

Sunday Number 19 for Ordinary Time (Year A)

After Jesus don feed di people, He make di disciples enter boat go ahead of Him to di other side, while He send di crowd go. After He don do so, He go up di mountain by Himself to pray. When evening reach, na only Him dey there. Matthew 14:22–23

Our Gospel today show us two different scenes to reflect on. Di first one na di one wey dey above, and di second one na di story of Jesus wey dey walk on top water. For di second story, di disciples dey paddle against di wind and waves early for morning before sun come out. Jesus appear to dem as He dey walk on top water, and fear catch dem. Jesus face di fear wey dem dey feel, and He call Peter to walk on top water as sign of im faith in Him. Peter begin walk on top water, but then fear catch am and e begin sink. E cry out to Jesus, wey catch am and then gently correct am because im faith no strong.

E go help us if we understand say the first picture for this Gospel passage na the background for the second one. For this first picture, we see Jesus as E send the crowd go after E don feed five thousand people, and as E climb mountain go pray all alone. Even though Jesus always dey perfectly united with the Father and, because of this, E no need prayer, E still pray because na the way E take show, as human being, the deep unity wey E get with His Father. As E dey pray, E also give example to everybody wey go follow Am, and through this example E teach dem how private prayer dey important. The main lesson wey E teach for this occasion na say prayer na the preparation wey we need to make ahead, so we fit overcome all the things wey look like obstacles for life and face fear with perfect faith.

First, the clear “obstacle” wey Jesus overcome through His prayer show for the way E waka on top the sea wey storm dey disturb. Nobody dey waka on top water. Human body no fit do am. But na the point be that. When we put our personal prayer life first, God go lead us to do wetin look impossible to us. E fit no mean say we go really waka on top water, but as E waka on top water after E don spend the night for prayer, this one stand as sign of everything wey look impossible wey we dey face for life. The lesson na say if God want am, nothing dey impossible. We go know this if we put personal prayer first before every other thing.

Another obstacle wey Jesus face na fear. Fear fit make us no fit do anything, and e fit make us begin “sink” when life hard. Again, personal prayer na the preparation wey we need to overcome fear. Wetin dey interesting be say we get two people wey show us example of prayer. The first na Jesus. E pray because to pray na good and right thing. The second na Peter. E pray when e begin sink. E talk say, “Lord, save me!” This na the prayer of person wey no show faith and wey pray because of the need wey e get for that moment, instead of just because e love God. Many times, Peter show the kind prayer life wey plenty Christians get. Many times, we dey wait until we need help and we dey sink before we pray. But what if Peter too don spend the night for prayer just because e love God? What if e just finish to pray all night when Jesus invite am to waka on top water? Maybe e for waka reach Jesus without difficulty, and e no for allow fear overcome am.

Today, think deeply about how you fit put your prayer life first before every other thing for your life. Maybe you get plenty responsibilities for life. Nothing dey more important than prayer—and no be only when you feel say you dey trapped or say you dey sink. Instead, all of us must build the habit of prayer to God wey nothing fit break, just because na good and right thing to do. The fruit wey this kind prayer life dey bear be say, no matter the obstacle wey come our way, we go get the faith wey we need to follow every command of our Lord, and overcome even wetin look impossible.

My Lord wey dey always pray, You spend the night for prayer to Your Father, no be because You need help, but because of Your love. Your prayer show that love, and na something wey that love naturally require. Abeg, help me too to build the habit of prayer wey nothing fit break, so that my love for You go remain strong and I go fit follow You through everything wey look like obstacle for life. Jesus, na You I trust.

Dey Turn Wetin We Know to Faith

Sunday Number 19 for Ordinary Time (Year B)

“Na Me be the bread of life. Una ancestors chop manna for desert, but dem die; this na the bread wey dey come down from heaven so that person fit chop am and no die. Na Me be the living bread wey come down from heaven; anybody wey chop this bread go live forever; and the bread wey I go give na My flesh, for the life of the world.” John 6:48–51

This Sunday, we continue with the beautiful “Teaching About the Bread of Life” from the Gospel of John. For the beginning of today passage, we read say the people wey dey listen to this teaching “dey grumble about Jesus.” Dem do so because E don dey teach dem say na Him be the Bread of Life wey come down from Heaven. For some of the people wey dey listen to Am, this one too much for dem to accept. E hard especially for those wey know Jesus and His family from Nazareth. When Jesus know say dem dey grumble, E face dem directly, come talk say, “Make una stop to dey grumble among unaselves.” Then E stand even more firmly on His teaching, and E carry am go further, as E tell dem say anybody wey chop His flesh go live forever.

For some ways, person fit talk say wetin Jesus teach no follow wetin human sense fit understand. Imagine say na person wey grow up for your hometown you hear this teaching from for the first time. Human sense alone no reach to understand and accept this kind teaching. But na that be the exact point. Human sense alone no reach. But when the Father for Heaven give person special revelation to help im human sense, everything go clear and make sense.

For this matter, Jesus talk say, “Nobody fit come meet Me unless the Father wey send Me draw am,” and say, “Everybody wey listen to My Father and learn from Am dey come meet Me.” So, even though ordinary human sense alone no fit understand wetin Jesus dey teach, the people wey the Father draw and wey listen to His voice receive new kind knowledge wey make their mind clear. This knowledge dey necessary if we wan know and understand the way to eternal life, and if we wan understand and believe in the Eucharist Wey Holy Pass.

Sometimes, we fit enter the trap of thinking say faith na just to believe something wey pass our understanding. But faith pass that one well-well. No be just to believe blindly. No be just to wish say something na true, then choose by yourself to believe am. Faith get foundation for something wey real completely and wey person no fit mistake for another thing. E get foundation for true spiritual knowledge wey God reveal—knowledge wey God give us. In fact, this kind knowledge wey God give us dey far more certain than any other kind knowledge.

For example, you know say 2+2=4 because you fit take two things, add another two, then count four. Or you know say music dey play because your ears dey hear the sound. So, you dey depend on your senses to gain knowledge and reach conclusion. But spiritual knowledge wey God put inside us dey even more certain than the knowledge wey we fit get through our senses, because na God dey reveal the truth. So, if God speak to you and give you knowledge say His flesh na true food and His blood na true drink, and say if you chop His flesh and drink His blood, you go get eternal life, then this knowledge dey certain, e dey change person, and e go become the foundation for life of pure faith. Even though this fit sound like too much philosophy, na true, and e dey necessary to understand am.

Today, reflect on anything wey your faith for am never complete. You believe in the Eucharist Wey Holy Pass? You believe say na the food for eternal life? You believe everything wey Jesus teach? Examine your faith and the areas where e never strong; seek the voice of the Father. Na only God fit give you the deepest spiritual knowledge. For your own part, you must listen, understand, accept and believe. If you do so, the gift of faith go take root inside your human sense, and that faith go guide you enter life wey grace full.

Lord, You don reveal the deepest mysteries of life to us. You don reveal Your love and compassion, and You don reveal the way to eternal life. Abeg, give me the gift of faith so that I go believe everything wey You don reveal. Abeg, especially make my faith for the Gift of the Eucharist Wey Holy Pass grow deeper. Jesus, na You I trust.

To Dey Watch, To Pay Attention, To Act

Sunday Number 19 for Ordinary Time (Year C)

Jesus tell His disciples say: “Tie una cloth well for waist and light una lamps. Make una be like servants wey dey wait for their master to return from wedding, ready to open door at once when e come knock. Blessing dey for those servants wey their master meet dey watch when e arrive. Amen, I dey tell una, e go tie im own cloth well for waist, make the servants sit down for table, and begin serve them.” Luke 12:35–37

To dey watch, to work hard, to stand firm, to pay attention, to remain faithful—na some of the qualities wey Jesus dey talk about be these. To “tie your cloth well for waist” mean say you don ready at once for some work wey go hard. You don ready for the hard work wey dey ahead, and you don commit yourself to am. To “light your lamps” mean say you no dey for darkness, but light don enter your mind in such a way wey you fit see wetin be the will of God.

As we dey go through life, e easy to begin feel say we no need to make any more effort for matters of faith. E easy to become lazy, lose interest, allow things to distract us, and lose focus. This parable continue to talk about thief wey try break enter house for middle of the night. Na Jesus’ way to talk say the evil one, with im lies and attacks, no dey stop, e wicked, e dey use force, and person no fit predict wetin e go do. Because of this, we must never tire to dey watch for our spiritual life, and we must always pay attention to the light wey God’s voice dey give.

How well you dey pay attention to Christ mission every day? Na important question be this, and you need to answer am with honest heart. Plenty people go discover say other things don distract dem from the mission wey God give dem. Every day, we dey experience plenty things wey dey compete for our attention. Many of those voices wey dey compete for our attention fit no look like sin. For example, one thing wey you like to do for enjoyment fit don take over most of your free time. Or work responsibilities fit don enter the time wey you suppose spend with your family. Or one painful experience, or even one wey sweet you, fit don hold all your attention for some time. Even though e clear say distractions wey lead to sin na evil, e fit no always clear like that say plenty other distractions wey no be good or bad for their own fit still cause serious problem. The problems wey dem fit cause na make we no pay attention to wetin God want, and make we no ready to do wetin E want the moment E call.

For example, imagine say one very important person call you to ask you for one favour. E likely say you go leave everything wey you dey do and answer at once. But sadly, when the King of the Universe try to speak to us and inspire us to do one mission, distractions fit plenty so tey we no even listen, talk less of to answer at once with zeal. This na problem. But if person dey always pay attention to God voice and dey answer as soon as e receive the promptings wey God dey give am inside im heart, then Jesus talk say this person truly get blessing, and say E go “make the servants sit down for table to eat, and come serve dem.” For another way to talk am, when we stay alert and pay attention to the inspirations wey God dey give us, God Himself go reward us by serving us. E go invite us to the table of spiritual rest, peace, joy and fulfilment. E go serve us Im mercy, wey go pass anything we fit ever imagine.

Today, think deeply about how God dey call you to always pay attention to Im voice the very moment E speak. Think about how well you dey notice say E dey always present for your life and E dey continue to communicate with you. Know say if you fit make am your habit to always listen, then you no go ever miss the mission wey full of grace wey our Lord give you. Always listen to Am, seek Im quiet and gentle voice, and dey ready to answer Am every time E call.

My Lord wey dey always speak, You get so much to tell me and so much to reveal. Abeg, give my mind light and strengthen my determination to always listen to You and answer You with all my heart. Wetin You want dey perfect, and e go lead me to life wey get the deepest joy and fulfilment. Make I believe this with all my heart and live according to am. Jesus, na You I trust.

Miracles wey Dey Give Hope

Monday for Week 19 for Ordinary Time

Na from who kings for this world dey collect toll or tax for counting people? Na from their own people or from foreigners?” When e talk say, “From foreigners,” Jesus tell am say, “Then their own people no need pay. But so that we no go offend them, go sea, throw fishing hook inside, and take the first fish wey come up. Open im mouth and you go see one coin wey im value reach temple tax times two. Give them that one for Me and for you.” Matthew 17:25–27

Before this small miracle, Jesus don just tell His disciples for the second time about the suffering wey He go soon pass through. Again, this thing hard for them to hear. Remember say after the first time wey Jesus talk about His suffering and death wey dey come, He take Peter, James and John go up the mountain, and His appearance change with glory for their front. Part of the reason for this Transfiguration na to drive fear comot from the disciples and give them hope for wetin dey come. And now, after Jesus talk about His suffering for the second time, another miracle happen for Peter personally, to encourage am and give am hope.

Imagine say na you be Peter. Imagine as you follow wetin Jesus tell you: you go sea, throw fishing hook inside, pull one fish out, then open im mouth. Hope and excitement must don fill Peter as e dey pull this fish out, as e dey wonder whether wetin Jesus talk go happen. And as soon as Peter see the coin, just as Jesus talk, great wonder must don fill im heart. Small-small, the fear and worry wey e dey feel because Jesus don talk about His suffering and death for the second time go don begin calm down, as Peter see yet another wonderful sign from im Lord.

God dey do miracles for our lives every day. The problem be say many times, we no dey recognise them. Anytime His glorious power dey work inside us to strengthen us, or fill us with courage, hope, love for God and neighbour, and every other virtue, na miracle of grace wey dey change us. God always know wetin we need for life. He know the things wey we dey struggle with and the doubts wey we get. Sometimes, He dey silent so that He fit draw us deeper through prayer wey we deliberately give our mind to and actions wey show faith. And sometimes, we go suddenly find say we don begin see things for life more clearly because His grace dey work.

Jesus know say Peter need this extra grace from this miracle wey He do for am personally, so that e fit move past im fears and struggles and put all im trust in Jesus. Jesus na Person wey person fit trust. Na this conclusion Peter go don reach. Jesus na Person wey person fit trust. So, we suppose believe everything wey He talk. Na wonderful conclusion for all of us to reach.

Today, reflect on the ways wey God don assure you say He dey present and dey work for your life. Even if the miracles wey God don do to reassure you no show for physical things, the things wey God dey do fit still convince us just as much, if we see them clearly. Wetin God want assure you of for your life? Which struggle or doubt dey trouble you? If you dey struggle, turn your mind to the ways wey God don dey present and dey work for your life. Think deeply about how He don step into your situation, and the ways wey He don care for you and lead you. Give thanks, and allow the memory of wetin God don do to be your strength today and the source of hope when you need am most.

My Lord wey dey work miracles, wetin You dey do for my life truly get glory and dey amazing. You no dey ever fail to provide for me when I dey in need. Help me to turn to You whenever I dey struggle, so that my heart go full with fresh hope for You. You dey always faithful, my dear Lord. Na for You I put all my hope. Jesus, na You I trust.

Dey Carry You Go Home

Tuesday for Week 19 for Ordinary Time

“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 find the one wey stray? And if e find am, amen, I dey tell una, e go rejoice over that one pass the ninety-nine wey no stray. Na so too, una Father for heaven no want make even one of these little ones lost.” Matthew 18:12–14

E easy well-well to stray. Plenty souls dey wander about; dem don lost, dem dey confused, and dem need the Shepherd wey dey care for Im sheep. Plenty things fit make dem stray like this, including the attraction to satisfy sinful desires of the body, the attraction of money, temptations to pride, anger and selfishness, confusion, and plenty other things. Today Gospel passage no focus so much on the fact say people dey stray; instead, e focus on how God want win dem back.

When person stray from God, emptiness dey remain inside am. Na so our human condition be. The only way to get true satisfaction for life na to give yourself to God out of love. Na God, and only God, dey make us complete. Na God, and only God, fit give us joy and happiness. So when person dey stray and emptiness remain inside am, e must choose wetin e go do. E go repent of im sins and turn back to God? Or e go continue to look for satisfaction somewhere else?

One of the biggest things wey dey stop us from repenting of our sins and turning back to God na our pride. E hard to admit say we don sin. E hard to admit say we don stray. E hard to accept responsibility for wetin we don do and turn to God for Im mercy and compassion.

Gospel for today na especially for sinner wey don stray. E show us God for one way wey dey really draw person near. Na picture of God wey go out dey look for sheep wey don stray. But di most important picture for Gospel today na di joy of di Shepherd. We must come understand say when God look for us and reach our heart, shame no suppose hold us again. God no dey condemn person wey dey sorry for im sin. Instead, E dey rejoice and carry dat soul go back home. Anytime we begin stray for life and give ourselves over to life of sin, we must understand dis picture of God and know say e concern us too.

Di truth be say sin dey bring shame. And to face shame no easy. But e dey also purify us. And if you dey willing to accept di shame wey you feel as you confess your sin, freedom wey no get end dey wait for you. Dis freedom dey come especially as God dey rejoice and carry you go home.

Today, reflect on di holy picture of di Good Shepherd wey dey search for you with all care. See how, because of love, E want reach your heart, join you back to Himself, forgive you, and carry you go home with love. Allow di fear of judgment to clear away. Humble yourself and acknowledge your sin. Admit say you no fit overcome am by yourself. If you do so, di heart of di Good Shepherd go rejoice as E lift you up and carry you enter freedom.

Jesus, my Good Shepherd, Your love and compassion pass wetin person fit imagine. You be God wey get mercy to di fullest. Abeg, open my eyes make I see You as You really be, and drive every fear comot from my heart. Abeg, forgive my sin, lift me up, and carry me back to Your flock. Jesus, na You I trust.

To Pray Together with the Son

Wednesday for Week 19 for Ordinary Time

“Again, amen, I dey tell una, if two of una for earth agree about anything wey dem go pray for, My Father for heaven go grant am to them. Because where two or three gather together for My name, I dey there among them.” Matthew 18:19–20

Dis na bold promise from our Lord wey dey fill person with wonder and reverence. Dis passage show say Jesus want make we pray with other people, join our prayers as one, and offer am to di Father. Jesus talk say when we do dis in union with Im prayer, we go receive answer to our prayer.

The first thing wey we need to note na say person fit easily misunderstand this passage. For example, Jesus dey tell us say if two or more people gather pray make rain fall, e go happen? No, no be so at all. The key to understand this passage dey for the last line: “…na there I dey among dem.” This mean say the aim of gathering with two or more people to pray na to join the prayer wey we pray together with the prayer of Jesus. The Father dey always hear and answer the prayer of the Son. Anything wey the Son ask the Father, the Father dey grant am. So, this passage dey tell us say the aim of gathering to pray with other people, that is, with the Church, na to join ourselves with the one eternal prayer of God the Son. Na first of all for inside the Holy Liturgy this dey happen.

When we gather for the Liturgy, God dey always hear our prayer. Why? Because the Liturgy na first of all the work of God the Son, wey He invite us, the Church, to take part in. And the prayer wey we dey offer na the one eternal prayer wey God the Son dey use ask the Father to bring salvation to all those wey accept the saving work of His sacrifice for the Cross. When we join for this prayer, the Father dey grant am.

Which kind prayer God no dey answer? First, God no dey grant anything wey no dey serve His mission. Second, if we pray make God will happen but we no do our own part, then our prayer no fit get answer. For example, if you pray make you overcome one particular sin but you no respond to the grace wey God give you, then no be God fault. Third, to pray make revenge fall on people wey don hurt us no dey work. And fourth, prayer make person wey refuse to repent turn to God no go fit come true either, unless the person eventually repent. These na just a few examples.

Which kind prayer dey work? As we don talk before, God dey always hear di prayer of di Liturgy as di one Sacrifice of Christ when we take part for am. But other ways still dey wey our united prayer go surely receive answer. For example, if you gather with other people and una pray together for di grace to turn more deeply from sin to God, you fit dey sure say God go offer dat grace. Na then e go depend on you to open your heart to dat grace so e go work for your life. Or if you pray make God offer Im mercy to somebody wey sin don trap, you fit dey sure say God go offer dat grace, even if di person refuse to accept am. And plenty other examples still dey. To put am simply, if we gather with other people and try to join our prayer to di one perfect prayer of God di Son as E dey offer am to di Father for Heaven, then dat prayer of di Son wey we take part in go receive answer. Maybe di best way to pray together like dis na to pray di “Our Papa” prayer with another person. Di Father dey always hear and answer dis prayer because na di prayer wey di Son give us.

Today, reflect on God the Son as He dey pray to the Father. Wetin be His perfect prayer? Wetin He dey ask the Father? Look for ways wey you fit join other people to join your own prayer with this prayer of the Son of God. Do this first of all for the Holy Liturgy, but still look for other ways wey you fit practise this kind prayer. When we pray together with others in union with the one prayer of Jesus, the Father for Heaven go always answer.

My perfect Lord, di Father dey grant You everything wey You ask Am. Abeg, draw me and all di members of Your Church into Your perfect prayer to di Father. Make we take part for dis prayer especially through di Holy Liturgy, and also when we gather as two or more people. Make we pray only with You and according to Your perfect will. Jesus, na You I trust.

To Dey Forgive Always and Forever

Thursday for Week 19 for Ordinary Time

Peter come meet Jesus and ask Him, “Lord, if my brother sin against me, how many times I must forgive am? Up to seven times?” Jesus answer, “I tell you, no be seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21–22

Saint John Chrysostom, as e dey explain this passage, talk say “seventy-seven times” na one way to talk “always.” In other words, Jesus no dey give one fixed number of times wey we must forgive; He dey talk say we must dey forgive forever and always, without limit. Na this kind deep forgiveness God dey offer us.

This passage still show the difference between how human beings dey approach forgiveness and how God dey approach am. No doubt, Peter must don think say e dey generous as e ask whether e suppose forgive im brother up to seven times. Maybe e think say this suggestion wey look generous go impress Jesus. But nobody fit ever show mercy pass God, whose mercy no get end. God mercy simply no get limit, so the mercy wey we dey show others must no get limit too.

How you dey seek God forgiveness for your own life? And how you dey forgive other people? This line wey dem quote above introduce the Parable of the Servant Wey No Gree Forgive. For that parable, the servant owe im king “plenty money.” Because of mercy, the king cancel the debt, just as God dey willing to forgive us no matter wetin we don do. But forgiveness get one price. The price na say we too must forgive others to the same extent. So, when the servant wey the king cancel im huge debt later see one of im own servants wey owe am money wey small well-well compared to im own, e demand make the servant pay all the debt. Wetin come happen be say the king hear about this and withdraw im mercy, and e demand make the servant pay back everything wey e owe am.

This dey tell us say forgiveness no be wetin we fit choose to do or not to do, unless we dey perfect and we no owe God any debt. Of course, if anybody think so, then the person no dey face the truth. As we read for the letter to the Romans, “everybody don sin and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of this, e dey necessary make we forgive always and everywhere, without condition, without limit and without hesitation. How easy e dey for you to do this? You dey forgive with all your heart?

One of the people wey e dey hardest to forgive na person wey no feel sorry for the sin wey e commit. When this kind thing happen, e easy for us to see reason why we suppose condemn the person. If you still dey refuse to forgive another person and you still dey vex, get bitterness for heart or feel pain, one thing wey fit help you as you reflect na this: as you no gree forgive, e dey damage your own soul pass the other person own. When you refuse to forgive, you dey cause damage wey nobody fit measure to your soul and to your relationship with God. To continue to vex and feel hurt dey only bring more anger and pain. E dey lead person to think of revenge and even carry am out. And that one na sin wey you go answer for.

Today, reflect on the mercy and forgiveness wey no get limit wey God dey call you to show every single person wey don hurt you or wey go hurt you. To forgive no mean at all say you dey excuse the sin. Instead, when you forgive, you dey acknowledge say the sin happen. But you must show mercy no matter wetin happen. You must show am always, everywhere, without end and without any condition. If e hard to do, still do am and no stop. As you dey do so, e no go only help the sinner; e go also open the gates of mercy from God for your life.

My Lord wey dey forgive, Your mercy no get end, and nobody fit understand how deep e be. You want forgive every sin for my life and restore me completely to life of perfect union with You. My dear Lord, I accept dis gift of forgiveness for my life, and I freely choose to offer dis same deep mercy to everybody wey don ever sin or wey go ever sin against me. I forgive as completely as I fit. Abeg, help me to imitate Your mercy wey no get end. Jesus, na You I trust.

Love for Holy Life

Friday for Week 19 for Ordinary Time

E answer, “No be everybody fit accept this word, but na only those wey God don grant am to.” Matthew 19:11

Na so Jesus answer for one long discussion about how marriage no fit break. One of the reasons why “No be everybody fit accept this word…” na because marriage, and every other vocation, need sacrifice with all your heart and life wey no dey put self first. When these things no dey, and when the life wey no suppose put self first turn to life wey dey put self first, every conflict go become heavy load. Na load wey person no fit bear without grace.

Wetin be love? Which kind love marriage and every other vocation need? Which kind love God require from papa and mama, and from grandpapa and grandmama? The answer to all these questions na the same. We must love without putting self first at all, and in a way wey involve sacrifice. Love, for the way wey e truly suppose be, always dey seek the good of the other person and no dey focus on self.

Na only grace fit make us live life wey stand on true love. Our human nature wey sin don wound dey tend to “focus only on self,” wey mean say we dey tend to live our life dey think about ourselves—“Wetin go make my life better? How this one go affect me? This person don hurt me. I no wan do this one or that one, and so on.” E hard well-well for life to turn our eyes from ourselves so we fit love other people. Na why Jesus talk say na only “those wey God don grant am to” fit embrace this kind love. And the people wey God grant this deep love to na those wey open their life to the grace of God wey dey transform person.

One reason why e hard well-well to love without putting self first at all na because e require make we live by grace. Our weak human mind no fit, by itself, reach the high calling to love God and our neighbour. Na only through grace we go understand say life wey no dey put self first no only be the best for the people wey God call us to love; e also be the best for us. And for married life, for raising children, for other vocations and for every other situation for life, if our love always dey focus on the good of the other person, and if our life dey follow the example of Christ wey sacrifice Himself completely, then we go see God do great things through us. As E dey do so, we go also see God do great things inside us. The main point be say na only when we live like Christ we dey become the people wey God create us to be. And E live life of sacrifice wey no get condition and wey no put self first.

Today, reflect on the high calling to love wey God don give you. You fit accept this teaching of our Lord? Through grace, God don grant you understanding of wetin true love be? And if na so, you dey do everything wey you fit do to live life of love wey no put self first and wey dey make sacrifice, in union with Christ Jesus? As you examine your life and your relationships, especially with the people wey close to you pass, think about how well you dey act like Christ towards them. Think whether you dey forgive, turn the other cheek, seek mercy, compassion, understanding, gentleness and every other virtue and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Where you dey fall short and you see say you dey put self first, no waste time to beg our Lord make E grant you grace, no be only to understand your high calling to love, but also to embrace am fully for the things wey you dey do. Na then, and only then, you go fit live the vocation wey God don call you to.

My loving Lord, Your love pass wetin anybody fit fully understand. Na only through di gift of Your grace person fit understand dis love. Abeg, give me di grace wey I need, no be only to understand and receive Your love for my life, but also to offer Your love to everybody. Make my life continue to be instrument of di perfect love wey You show through Your life. Jesus, na You I trust.

Everybody Dey Welcome

Saturday for Week 19 for Ordinary Time

Dem bring children come meet Jesus make E lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples scold them, but Jesus talk say, “Allow the children make dem come meet Me, and no stop them…” Matthew 19:13–14

For di Catechism of di Council of Trent, wey Pope Saint Pius V officially publish, dem link dis passage with Baptism of small babies. E talk say, “Besides, we no suppose think say Christ di Lord go deny children di Sacrament and grace of Baptism, when na about dem He talk say: Allow di small children, and no stop dem from coming to Me…” (II, 2, 32). Dis teaching clearly show one of di best ways wey dis passage dey come true today. To invite even small babies to receive di Sacrament of Baptism before dem reach di age wey dem fit reason well na to fulfil dis loving command of Jesus: “Make di children come to Me…”

Small children never get di ability to use reason fully understand love for im purest form. Dat ability dey come when dem reach di age wey dem fit reason well, wey people don traditionally understand to be around seven years. But children, and even small babies, fit receive our love and God love, even if dem never fully understand dis gift.

As pikin dey grow, e dey learn wetin love mean as e dey see and experience am, especially through im parents. Dis dey help shape im conscience so dat, as e dey grow older, e go fit freely choose by imself to love. But if pikin go grow become adult wey get love, e need more than just good example; e need grace. Di grace of Baptism na di main source of dat grace for im life.

E easy for many people to see Baptism as only one fine ceremony to welcome newborn pikin into God family. And even though dat one na true, Baptism mean far more than dat. Di Catechism of di Catholic Church talk say Baptism dey give person one mark wey no fit ever comot, wey “dey remain forever for di Christian as readiness to receive grace, as promise and guarantee of God protection, and as calling to worship God and serve di Church” (CCC #1121). For another way to talk am, Baptism dey give person soul one gift wey nobody fit ever remove, and wey dey continue to be source of grace. And when small baby receive Baptism, e be like say dis Scripture passage above dey continue throughout dat person life. Because of dis sacramental grace, Jesus dey continually tell dis soul wey don receive Baptism, “Come to Me.”

Apart from di grace of Baptism, all of us must copy di way Jesus welcome and accept no be only children, but every child of God. Even though di disciples first try to stop di children from coming to our Lord, we must not do so. We must understand say real temptation dey inside our fallen human nature to hold back God love from other people, and even to stop other people from coming to God. Anger, pride, envy, jealousy and things like dem fit make us oppose other people conversion and oppose God as He dey welcome dem to Himself. When dat temptation come, we must hear Jesus tell us, “Make di children come to Me” and “no stop dem.”

Today, reflect on dis gentle words wey Jesus use dey invite people. As you dey do so, try remember anybody wey you fit try to stop from coming to our Lord. You want make everybody become holy? Anybody dey for your life wey you dey find am hard to encourage to come to Jesus so He go embrace and bless dem? Make your heart be like Jesus own, and see am as your duty to embrace other people as He embrace dis children. Di more you become instrument of Christ love, di more you go rejoice every day for God blessings as He dey give dem to other people.

My Lord wey get tender heart, You dey welcome everybody make dem follow enjoy Your grace. You dey welcome every pikin and every pikin of God make dem enter Your arms wey full of love. Abeg, welcome me too and help me make I accept this gift of Your love wey no get limit. And help me make I become better instrument wey You go use show Your love to other people, make I no ever stand for their way or stop dem from turning to You. Jesus, na You I trust.