Week Number Four for Ordinary Time

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Di Waka to Perfection

Di Fourth Sunday for Ordinary Time (Yia A)

When Jesus see di crowds, He climb di mountain, and after He sit down, His disciples come meet Him. He begin teach dem, dey talk say: “Blessing dey for people wey poor for spirit, because di kingdom of heaven na their own.” Matthew 5:1–3

Di Sermon on di Mountain start with today reading for Chapter Five of Matthew Gospel, and e continue reach Chapter Seven. This beautiful sermon give us plenty teachings of Jesus wey we don know well, like di Beatitudes, di Our Father prayer and di Golden Rule. Jesus start His sermon by climbing one mountain and sitting down. People believe say di mountain dey just north of di Sea of Galilee, just a few miles from Capernaum, where Jesus often dey stay during His public ministry. Today Gospel show us di glorious and very high calling of di Beatitudes. This teaching about di Beatitudes prepare di ground for plenty other lessons wey Jesus teach.

Di Beatitudes na surely teaching about how person suppose live good life, but di lessons no be di same as plenty moral teachings wey di people don know. Before that time, people mainly see moral life as list of things wey dem forbid person to do. “You no go…” na how di teachings generally sound. But di Beatitudes carry moral life go level wey high well-well. For this new teaching, Jesus no start with wetin dem forbid or wetin dey break God Law. Instead, He explain say to strive for these high goals dey bring di greatest fulfilment for life. Moral life no be only list of rules about things wey person need to avoid. For di heart of di matter, our Lord now present moral life as one glorious waka to perfection. Di result of this waka na to reach di Kingdom of Heaven.

When you think about how to live good life, how you dey see am? You dey see am more like list of things wey you no fit do? Or you dey see am as journey up the mountain of true holiness and life wey complete? Christian life surely forbid us to enter many kinds of sin and break God Law. But unless we understand say the highest way to live good life na gift wey God give to make our life complete reach deep inside us, e go easy for us to lose heart because of the life wey God call us to live.

Today, think deeply about how Jesus dey call you to follow Am climb the mountain of the Beatitudes. As you dey do so, first think about the journey as the real climbing of mountain with your body. E for far easier for the people wey first hear this sermon to just remain for Capernaum, relax for table and dey listen as Jesus dey speak. But that journey up the mountain help us understand the high calling to live good life. E need effort and strong determination. From there, try imagine yourself as you dey listen to Jesus preach. Remind yourself say Christian life na life wey suppose perfect for every way. Na this life God call us to live. But the fruit of perfection na the fullness of life wey God want make we share in. The easy life of sin dey leave us dry and dead for inside, but the hard journey towards perfection dey lead us to the deepest fullness of life wey we fit ever reach. Give yourself fully to this journey and no hold back for road, and you too go receive the Kingdom of Heaven as your reward.

Lord of perfection, You call me to journey with You up the high mountain of holiness. Make I always see this journey as journey wey get glory and wey go make my life complete. I choose the life of perfection wey You call me to live, and I pray make I always open my heart to the deepest truths about good conduct wey You want make I follow. Jesus, na You I trust.

Ways Wey Grace Dey Work Wey No Easy to Notice

Sunday Nomba 4 for Ordinary Time (Year B)

One man wey get unclean spirit dey their synagogue; e shout say, “Wetin concern You with us, Jesus of Nazareth? You come destroy us? I know who You be—God Holy One!” Jesus rebuke am, say, “Keep quiet! Come out of am!” The unclean spirit shake the man body violently, and e shout loud as e come out of am. Mark 1:23–26

One thing wey catch attention be say this unclean spirit know Who Jesus be straightaway. Na because when two things oppose each other, each one dey make the other show very clear. For example, black colour dey show most clearly when dem put am for front of something white. Or you go notice something hot pass after you don experience something wey cold well-well. And loud noise dey shock person pass when the person dey sit for silence. Na so e still be with Jesus and evil. Jesus, God Holy One, dey show most clearly when E come face to face with unclean spirit.

This truth dey help us understand some wonderful things about our journey towards the heights of holiness. Many times, when person experience deep conversion wey change im life, na because e first dey live life of sin. When person wey dey live for sin encounter God grace wey dey save, the change dey easy to notice. And that one good.

But another spiritual understanding still dey wey we fit gain from this. To carry the comparison go further, e still true say when dem put black colour beside something wey dark blue, or person touch something hot after e don hold something wey warm well-well, the difference no dey show so much. Na so e be for spiritual life. When we dey strive to live truly holy life, and we don already dey practise the many virtues wey God call us to practise, the next step wey carry us closer to God fit no show nearly as much. Instead, for person wey don already dey strive for perfection, growth for perfection go dey happen for ways wey no easy to notice. And that one too good.

E important make we understand this, because sometimes, when person don experience powerful conversion earlier for im life, e dey want return to the experience wey e get when e first turn to God. But that one no suppose be our goal. Instead, make we continue to strive to experience these changes wey no dey show so much, wey dey carry us from holy life enter life wey holy even more. For this kind case, if you no feel strong difference between the spiritual experiences inside you, e fit simply mean say no serious sins dey wey you dey try overcome. So, the best thing for every Christian na to eventually experience fewer spiritual experiences wey get sharp differences, and more wey gentle and no too dey show, as our Lord continue to gently make you perfect for many ways.

Today, think well about your own spiritual journey to live holy life. If you see serious sin for your life, know say God want free you deeply and lead you through big change wey go turn you back to Him. If you no see serious sin for your life and you already dey try every day to live holy life, then rejoice if the comfort and messages wey you dey receive from God for your spirit no dey obvious, and sometimes you no even fit notice them. Continue to work towards perfection, and rejoice say you dey the correct road.

Lord of all holiness, abeg continue to draw me enter life of perfection. Help me grow for every virtue and always notice every gift of grace wey You give me. Abeg help me especially to pay attention to every small grace wey no dey obvious, and to respond to those graces with heart wey truly open and full of thanks. Jesus, na You I trust.

The Miracle of Faith

Fourth Sunday for Ordinary Time (Year C)

When the people for the synagogue hear this, all of them full of anger. They stand up, drive am comot from the town, and lead am go the edge of the hill wey they build their town on top, so that they go throw am down headfirst. But Jesus pass through their middle and go im way. Luke 4:28–30

The way today Gospel end different well-well from how e begin. For the beginning of today Gospel, we read say “everybody talk well of am and wonder at the gracious words wey come from im mouth.” But by the time Jesus finish to talk for the synagogue, the people try to kill Him. Before this happen, Jesus don dey preach for Capernaum and don do plenty miracles there. Plenty people for Capernaum praise Jesus and come get faith in Him, and na Him everybody for the town dey talk about. So when He return to Nazareth, the town wey He grow up, the people really want know more about Him, and at first they welcome Him home. But this first interest no come from faith; na just because they want see wetin He go do. They want see some of Jesus miracles, but Jesus refuse because He know say they no get faith in Him. Instead, Jesus rebuke them. And as soon as He do that, serious anger catch them.

Jesus miracles na real. He heal sick people and people wey no fit walk, raise dead people, drive demons comot, and speak with new and clear authority. But Jesus also fit read wetin dey people soul. He know when the people wey He dey preach to get open heart and when they no get. When their heart open to the gift of faith, He use the convincing power of miracles take nourish that faith, so that their faith go grow deeper. But when their heart no open to the gift of faith, miracle no get value for them.

Na so e still be for our lives. Even though physical miracles no dey common today, they still dey happen truly. But wetin matter far more than physical miracles na whether we get faith or we no get am. If your heart truly open to our Lord, He go work miracles for your life. In particular, He go change you from inside, free you from sin, strengthen you to carry out His mission, and give you virtues wey nobody fit count. When this happen, na true miracle! The work wey God dey do to change and save us na real and glorious, and we suppose always rejoice when He give us these blessings. And even though all of us fit sometimes want see real physical miracles, we must understand say the gift of faith, wey God give to change us from inside, get far more value for us.

Today, think well about whether you resemble the people of Capernaum or the people of Nazareth more. You just want know more about Jesus because you dey hope say He go show you some proof of His power to do miracles? Or your heart truly open to Him, as you dey seek to grow for the gift of faith and the change wey He dey work inside you, wey matter far more? Seek the gift of faith, and you go see Jesus do things wey truly be miracles inside you.

My Lord wey dey work miracles, abeg open my mind and heart so that I go hear You, believe in You and give You my life. As I dey do so, abeg change me from inside, make my faith in You grow deeper, and set me firmly for the road to true holiness and conversion. Jesus, na You I trust.

No Ever Lose Hope for Another Person

Monday for Week Nọmba Fo for Ordinary Time

“Wetin concern me with You, Jesus, Pikin of God Wey High Pass? I take God name beg You, no torment me!” (Jesus don dey tell am, “Spirit wey no clean, comot from this man!”) Jesus ask am, “Wetin be your name?” E answer, “My name na Legion. We plenty.” Mark 5:7–9

For most people, this kind encounter go make dem fear well-well. Plenty demons possess this man wey we read im words above. E dey live for the slopes of the hills, among different caves near the sea, and nobody want go near am. Na violent man e be; e dey shout day and night, and all the people for the town dey fear am. But when this man see Jesus from far, something wey surprise people happen. Instead make Jesus fear the man, na the plenty demons wey possess the man begin fear Jesus. Then Jesus command the plenty demons make dem leave the man and enter one group of pigs wey reach about two thousand instead. The pigs run down the hill enter the sea at once, and dem drown. The man wey demons possess come well again; e wear cloth, and im sense come back. All the people wey see am surprise.

E clear say this short account of the story no explain well enough the fear, deep wound for mind, confusion, suffering and other things wey this man pass through for all the years wey demons possess am. And e no explain well enough the serious suffering of this man family and friends, or the trouble wey im possession cause for the people of the town. So, to understand this story better, e good make we compare wetin everybody wey the matter concern experience before and after. E hard well-well for everybody to understand how this man take change from person wey demons possess and wey no get im right sense, to person wey calm and fit reason well. Na why Jesus tell the man say, “Go house go meet your family, and tell dem everything wey the Lord don do for you because E pity you.” Think about how joy, confusion and the feeling say dem no fit believe wetin happen go mix together for im family mind.

If Jesus fit change the life of this man wey one Legion of demons possess completely, then nobody ever dey without hope. Too many times, especially for inside our families and among old friends, some people dey wey we don conclude say dem no fit ever turn back to God. Some people don stray so far from the right road that e look like say hope no dey for dem again. But one thing wey this story tell us be say hope never finish for anybody—not even people wey plenty demons possess completely.

Today, think deeply about anybody for your life wey you don lose hope for. Maybe dem don hurt you again and again. Or maybe dem don choose to live for serious sin. Look at that person with the light of this Gospel, and know say hope always dey. Open your heart make God work through you in a deep and powerful way, so that even the person wey you know wey look like say e no fit ever turn back to God go receive hope through you.

My Lord wey get power pass all, today I offer You the person wey I dey think of, wey need Your redeeming grace pass. Make I never lose hope say You fit change this person life, forgive im sins and bring am back to You. Dear Lord, use me as instrument of Your mercy, so that this person go come know You and experience the freedom wey You so deeply want make e receive. Jesus, na You I trust.

Fear Wey Faith Don Change

Tuesday for the Fourth Week for Ordinary Time

As He still dey talk, some people from the house of the synagogue leader come arrive, and dem talk say, “Your daughter don die; why you go still dey disturb the teacher?” Jesus no let the message wey dem bring stop am. He tell the synagogue leader say, “Make you no fear; just get faith.” Mark 5:35–36

This short sentence na one wey good make we dey think deeply about every day. “Make you no fear; just get faith.” This talk fit apply to plenty situations wey we dey face throughout our life. Na command of love from our Lord, and na command wey all of us need to hear, especially when hardship come our way.

First, make we note say this situation serious well-well, and we fit understand why person go feel strong emotions and face temptation to fear. The father for this story get one young daughter wey dey about to die, and he come beg Jesus make He heal her. Jesus agree. But as dem dey go, Jesus and the father receive the heartbreaking news say the daughter just die. As any parent go understand, to hear this kind news must don hard well-well. So start by trying to understand the sorrow wey this father dey feel. Especially try to understand him sorrow for that moment when he hear this terrible news.

As you dey think deeply about him sorrow, try to also think about wetin dey Jesus heart, His thoughts, His feelings and His words. Jesus no fear at all. He know say everything go end well-well. But because He also understand this sorrowful father pain deeply and love am, Jesus turn to am to give am hope. To get hope when person dey face something wey hard and painful well-well for life no easy. When sorrow come, temptation to lose hope completely fit strong well-well. To despair mean to lose hope completely. To lose hope like this dey keep us away from God and dey take faith comot from us. But we fit always avoid am if we follow Jesus command of love. “Make you no fear; just get faith.”

Wetin dey tempt you to fear for life? Wetin dey tempt you to lose hope? Maybe somebody wey you love don die, and you dey find am hard well-well to bear. Maybe na small-small things dey cause your sorrow, and the sorrow no too much for now. The truth be say all of us go face small-small temptations to lose hope every day. And most people go also face serious temptations at one time or another. Because of these things, all of us must continue to listen to Jesus words and work to drive every fear comot from our life, as we dey invite God to give us the gift of hope wey dey come from faith wey no dey shake for His plan for our life.

Today, think deeply about any struggle wey you get with losing hope completely, fear or worry for life. As you dey do this, know say everything dey possible when you turn to God with faith. Faith no always dey remove the hardships of life; e dey do something wey even better pass that. E dey change how hardship dey affect you, so that you fit bear am with grace, joy and hope wey pass human power. When this happen, God fit use everything for life for our good. All we need to do na to continue to reject fear and “just get faith.”

My Lord wey get compassion, You comfort this sorrowful father and put the gifts of faith and hope for him heart. Abeg, speak Your command of love to me too, as You dey call me to trust You no matter wetin I dey struggle with for life. Make I always get faith in You, and make I never fall into losing hope completely or fear. Jesus, na You I trust.

Christ Dey All Around Us

Wednesday for the Fourth Week for Ordinary Time

“No be the carpenter be this, Mary son, and James, Joseph, Judas and Simon broda? And no be im sista dem dey here with us?” And dem vex for am. Mark 6:3

After Jesus don travel through the villages and countryside, dey perform miracles, dey teach the crowds and dey gain plenty followers, He return to Nazareth where He grow up. Maybe His disciples happy to return with Jesus to His hometown, as dem dey think say His own townspeople go happy well-well to see Jesus again because of the plenty stories about His miracles and His teaching wey carry authority. But something wey go surprise the disciples well-well dey about to happen.

After Jesus reach Nazareth, E enter the Synagogue to teach, and E teach with authority and wisdom wey confuse the people of the place. Dem tell one another, “Where this man get all this from? Which kind wisdom be this wey dem give am?” Dem confuse because dem know Jesus. Na the carpenter for their area wey work for years with Im father, wey be carpenter too. Na Mary son E be, and dem know Im other relatives by name.

The main problem wey Jesus townspeople get na say dem don too familiar with Jesus. Dem know Am. Dem know where He dey live. Dem know Am as He dey grow up. Dem know His family. Dem know everything about Am. So dem dey wonder how Jesus fit be anybody special. How He come fit dey teach with authority now? How He come fit dey do miracles now? Because of this, the townspeople surprise well-well, and dem allow that surprise turn to doubt, judgment and criticism.

This same temptation na something wey all of us dey face pass as we fit realise. Many times, e easier to admire stranger from far than to admire person wey we know well. When we first hear about person wey dey do something wey deserve admiration, e easy to join others admire am. But when we hear good news about person wey we know well, temptation to jealousy or envy fit come easily; we fit begin doubt and even criticise the person. But the truth be say every saint get family. And every family fit get broda and sista dem, cousins and other relatives wey God go do great things through. This one no suppose surprise us—e suppose encourage us! And we suppose rejoice when our good God use people wey dey close to us and wey we know well in a powerful way.

Today, think deeply about people wey you know well for your life, especially your own family. Check yourself to see whether e dey hard you to look pass wetin eye dey see and accept say God dey live inside everybody. We must always try to discover God presence all around us, especially for the lives of people wey we know well-well.

My Lord wey always dey with us, thank You for the countless ways wey You dey present for the lives of all the people around me. Give me the grace to see You and love You for the lives of the people wey close to me pass. As I dey discover Your glorious presence for their lives, fill my heart with deep gratitude and help me to recognise Your love wey dey show through their lives. Jesus, na You I trust.

To Depend on Divine Providence

Thursday for the Fourth Week for Ordinary Time

Jesus call di Twelve come together, and E begin send dem out two by two. E give dem authority over unclean spirits. E tell dem make dem no carry anything for di journey except walking stick—no food, no bag, no money for their belt. Mark 6:7–8

Why Jesus go tell di Twelve make dem go preach with authority, but make dem no carry anything follow body for di journey? Most people wey wan travel dey prepare before time and make sure say dem pack wetin dem need. Wetin Jesus tell dem no really be lesson about how to depend on other people for their basic needs; na more of lesson about how to depend on God im care and provision for their ministry.

Di material world good as e be. Everything wey God create good. So, nothing bad dey for person to get property and use am for our own good and for di good of people wey God don put for our care. But some times dey when God want make we depend on Am pass how we depend on ourselves. Di story above na one of those times.

As Jesus tell di Twelve make dem go for their mission without carrying di basic things wey dem need to live, E dey help dem trust not only say E go provide those basic needs, but also say E go provide wetin dem need spiritually for their mission to preach, teach and heal. Dem receive great spiritual authority and responsibility, and because of this, dem need to depend on God im care and provision far more than other people. So, Jesus strongly encourage dem to trust Am for their basic needs, so that their heart go also ready to trust Am for this new spiritual mission.

Na so e still be for our own lives. When God give us mission to share di Gospel with another person, many times E go do am for way wey go require great trust from us. E go send us out “empty-handed,” as we fit talk am, so that we go learn to depend on di gentle way E dey guide us. To share di Gospel with another person na very great privilege, and we must understand say we go succeed only if we depend with all our heart on God im care and provision.

Today, reflect on di people wey you sense say God want make you reach with di Gospel. How you go do this? Di answer simple well-well. Na only as you depend on God im care and provision you fit do am. Take step with faith, listen to His voice as E dey guide you for every step, and know say na only through His care and provision you fit share di Gospel message well so that e go bear fruit.

My Lord wey I fit trust, I accept Your call to go out and share Your love and mercy with other people. Help me make I always rely on You and di way You dey provide and care for me as I dey carry out my mission for life. Use me as You want, and help me make I trust di hand wey You dey use guide me, so I go help build Your glorious Kingdom for earth. Jesus, na You I trust.

“Confused” Because of di Truth

Friday for di Fourth Week for Ordinary Time

Herod fear John, because e know say John na righteous and holy man, and e keep am for custody. When e hear John speak, e dey very confused, but e still like to listen to am. Mark 6:20

As e suppose be, when person hear di Gospel wey dem preach and accept am, joy, consolation and desire to change go fill di person im heart. Di Gospel dey change people wey truly listen and respond with open and willing heart. But wetin about people wey no respond with open and willing heart? Wetin di Gospel dey do for their lives? Our Gospel today give us di answer.

Di passage above come from di story of how dem cut off Saint John the Baptist im head. Di people wey do evil for this story na Herod, Herodias wey be di wife wey Herod no get right to marry, and Herodias im daughter (wey tradition call Salome). Herod don put John for prison because John tell Herod, “E no lawful for you to marry your brother im wife.” But wetin dey most interesting about this story be say, even when John dey prison, Herod still dey listen as John dey preach. But instead make wetin John preach lead Herod to conversion, e leave am “confused.”

To dey “confused” no be di only way people respond to John im preaching. Herodias respond with hatred. E be like say di way John condemn her “marriage” to Herod wound her reach her heart, and na she later arrange make dem cut off John im head.

So, this Gospel teach us two other common ways wey people dey respond to di Truth of di holy Gospel when dem preach am. One na hatred, and di other na confusion. E clear say hatred worse far more than just to dey confused. But none of di two na di right way to respond to di words of Truth.

How you dey respond when dem preach di full Gospel? Some parts of di Gospel dey make your mind no rest? Some teachings of our Lord dey confuse you or make you vex? First, look inside your own heart to see whether you dey struggle with di same kind response wey Herod and Herodias get. Then think about how di world dey respond to di Truth of di Gospel. E no suppose surprise us at all say plenty people like Herod and Herodias still dey alive today.

Today, think well about any way wey you see say people dey reject di Gospel, whether na for one level or another. If you notice this thing for your own heart, turn from sin go back to God with all your strength. If you see am for another place, no let di hostility shake you or make you worry. Keep your mind and heart on di Truth, and stand firm no matter how people react.

My Lord wey be Lord of all Truth, na Your Word, and only Your Word, dey bring grace and salvation. Abeg, give me di grace wey I need to always listen to Your Word and respond freely with all my heart. Make I turn from sin when Your Word show me my sin, and make I return to You with all my heart. Give me courage when other people reject Your Truth, and wisdom to know how to share that Word with love. Jesus, na You I trust.

Ministry Wey Person No Expect

Saturday for di Fourth Week for Ordinary Time

“Make una come with Me by unaself to one place wey people no dey, make una rest small.” Mark 6:34

Di Twelve just return from where dem dey go round di countryside dey preach di Gospel. Dem don tire. Jesus, because of His compassion, invite dem to come away with Him make dem rest small. So dem enter boat to cross go one place wey people no dey. But when di people hear about this, dem hurry trek go di place wey di boat dey go. So, when di boat reach, plenty people don dey wait for dem.

Of course, Jesus no vex. Di strong desire wey di people get to dey with Him and di Twelve no discourage Him. Instead, di Gospel tell us say when Jesus see dem, “His heart full with pity,” and He begin teach dem plenty things.

For our own life, after we don serve other people well, e no strange if we want rest. Even Jesus want this rest for Himself and His Apostles. But di one thing wey Jesus allow to “interrupt” His rest na di clear desire wey di people get to dey with Him and make His preaching feed dem. Plenty things dey wey we fit learn from this example of our Lord.

For example, plenty times dey when papa or mama fit just want dey alone for a while, but family matter go come up wey need their attention. Priests and people wey dey religious life fit also get duties wey dem no expect from their ministry, wey fit first look like say dem dey interrupt their plans. Na so e fit be for any vocation or situation for life. We fit think say na one thing we need, but duty go call, and we go discover say dem need us for another way.

One important thing wey go help us share for di apostolic mission of Christ, whether na to our families, di Church, our communities or our friends, na to dey ready and willing to give our time and strength generously. Na true say prudence go show us sometimes say we need rest, but for other times, di call to love God and our neighbour go get priority over wetin we see as genuine need to rest and relax. And when true love of God and neighbour require something from us, we go always find say our Lord dey give us di grace wey we need to give our time generously. Na often for those moments our Lord dey choose to use us for ways wey truly dey transform other people.

Today, think deeply about wetin di people around you really need. People dey wey go gain plenty if you give dem your time and attention today? Other people get needs wey go require you to change your plans and give yourself to help dem, even when e hard? No hesitate to give yourself freely to help other people. In fact, this kind love no dey only transform di people wey we dey serve; many times, e also dey among di things wey we fit do to give ourselves rest and renew our strength.

My generous Lord, You give Yourself without holding anything back. People come meet You with their needs, and You no hesitate to serve dem because of love. Give me heart wey go imitate di way You dey give freely, and help me make I always talk “Yes” to di work of love wey You call me to do. Make I learn to find great joy as I dey serve other people, especially for those situations for life wey I no plan for and wey I no expect. Jesus, na You I trust.