How God Dey Draw Us to Himself
Di Fifteenth Sonde for Ordinary Time, Year A
For that day, Jesus comot from di house come sit down near di sea. Plenty people gather round Am, sotey E enter one boat come sit down, and all di people stand for di shore. Matthew 13:1-2
This kind thing no dey happen every time. E clear say di people get deep wonder and reverence for our Lord, and na something holy wey come from God dey draw dem to Am. Jesus hold di attention of di crowd completely, and dem listen well to every word wey E talk. Dem want come near Am so much, sotey dem crowd along di shore to listen as Jesus dey talk from di boat.
This Gospel story suppose make you ask yourself one personal question. You too dey feel drawn to Jesus like this? Plenty things dey draw our interest. E fit be something wey you like to do for enjoyment, or something wey interest you personally; maybe na your work or another part of your life. But how about our Lord and His holy Word? How much you dey feel drawn to Am?
As e suppose be, we suppose discover strong desire wey dey burn inside our hearts to dey with Jesus, to know Am, love Am and experience His mercy more fully for our lives. Something suppose dey pull our hearts towards Am, and na Jesus Himself put am there. This pull go become one attraction wey come from God and wey go be di main thing wey dey move us for life. Because of this attraction, we dey respond to Am, listen to Am and give our lives to Am more fully. This na grace wey God dey give people wey open their hearts, wey dey ready and willing to hear and respond.
Today, reflect on di merciful Heart of our Lord wey dey call you to turn to Am with all di power of your soul. Allow Am draw you near, and respond by giving Am your time and attention. From there, E go lead you go where E want make you go.
My Lord wey Your greatness dey fill me with reverence, my life na Your own. Abeg, draw me enter Your Heart wey full of mercy pass all. Help me make Your glory and goodness hold all my attention. My dear Lord, I give You all di powers of my soul. Abeg, take me and lead me according to Your most holy will. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Depend on How God Dey Provide
Di Fifteenth Sonde for Ordinary Time, Year B
E tell dem make dem no carry anything for di journey except walking stick—no food, no bag, no money for their belts. Mark 6:8
God dey care about even di smallest details for your life? E dey care whether you get proper food and place to stay? E dey care whether you get di proper support wey you need for your feelings, material needs and spiritual life? Yes, E surely dey care!
Sometimes, we fit no understand how completely God dey care for us. We fit fall inside di trap of allowing fear and worry about everyday matters take over our mind. We fit dey worry say wetin we go need for tomorrow, or even today, no go reach. Dis worry fit touch every part of our life—our relationship with people, our feelings, di material things wey we need, spiritual strength, and other things.
Wetin we need to know, without any doubt, na say God dey pay attention to every small detail of our life. He know everything, and His love for us complete so well that He no go ever abandon us. He no go ever allow us lack those things we need to live life wey full and dey bear good fruit.
You believe dat? Sometimes, e fit hard to believe. Sometimes, we fit feel say everything don too much for us, and believe say na we must take care of everything by ourself. Na true say God dey call us to offer Him all our energy and talent, so dat He fit use us and work through us. But make we never forget say, when all don talk finish, na God dey take care of us, and na Him dey pay attention pass to every single thing wey we need.
Today, think well about how far you don surrender yourself to the way God dey provide and care for you. Pray this prayer below, and think about how you fit take am as your own with all your heart. Jesus, na You I trust!
Prayer to Surrender Myself to God
Father,
I surrender myself enter Your hands;
do with me wetin You want.
Anything wey You do, I thank You:
I ready for everything, I accept everything.
Make na only Your will happen for my life,
and for all di things wey You create –
O Lord, I no want anything pass dis.
I put my soul for Your hands:
I offer am to You with all di love for my heart,
because I love You, Lord, and so I need to give myself to You,
to surrender myself enter Your hands without holding anything back,
and with trust wey no get limit,
because na You be my Father.
Love for God and Neighbour
Di Fifteenth Sonde for Ordinary Time, Year C
“Make you love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with your whole being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and make you love your neighbour as you love yourself.” Luke 10:27
Na one man wey sabi the Law well talk these words to Jesus. He dey quote the Law for Old Testament, from Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12). Jesus praise am for wetin he talk. But then, the man wey sabi the Law ask Jesus, “And who be my neighbour?” Jesus answer am with the story of the Good Samaritan wey we sabi well.
Di story of di Good Samaritan suppose open our eyes to some truths wey no too sweet to hear about love for our neighbour, or how dis love no dey. First, one priest and one Levite pass near di man wey dem beat and wey dey suffer for roadside. Dem ignore am and pass for di other side of di road. Then di Samaritan pass, im heart full of compassion, and e do more than wetin e normally suppose do to help di man.
Wetin this one teach us clear. We suppose be like the Good Samaritan wey show mercy to the man wey need help. For our mind, e easy to understand and agree with this truth. But for wetin we actually dey do, no be so e always dey be.
E worth to notice say na priest Jesus use for the story as the first person wey pass for the other side of the road. One thing wey this one dey tell us be say, too many times, we dey pursue wetin people dey call “holiness for outside,” when, for true, we no get real “holiness for inside.” We fit see the priest as sign of those wey claim say dem be Christian for outside, but dem no dey show holiness for wetin dem dey do. If we no dey truly love our neighbour for the way we dey live, we dey deceive people, and we no dey live up to the holy calling wey God give us.
Today, think deeply about di difference between holiness for outside and holiness for inside. Di way e suppose be na say love for God go fill your inner life so completely, sotey e go overflow enter di things wey you dey do for outside. If your love for God no fully dey alive deep inside your heart, no way dey wey you fit truly dey holy.
Lord of true holiness, help me love You sincerely with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Help me get love for You wey so sincere, sotey e go also overflow enter my love for other people. Make Your precious gift of holiness fill every part of my life and help me love You and other people completely. Jesus, na You I trust.
Peace Abi Sword?
Monday for the Fifteenth Week for Ordinary Time
Jesus tell His Apostles: “No think say I come bring peace for this earth. No be peace I come bring, but sword. Because I come set man against im papa, daughter against her mama, and wife against her husband mama; and person enemies go be people from im own household.” Matthew 10:34-36
Na mistake for writing be this? Jesus really talk this thing? This na one of those passages wey fit leave us dey wonder and confuse small. But Jesus dey do this kind thing all the time, so e no suppose surprise us. So wetin Jesus mean? E really want bring “sword” and division instead of peace?
As we dey read this passage, e important make we understand am together with every other thing wey Jesus don teach. We must read am with all His teachings about love and mercy, forgiveness and unity, and other things for mind. But even with all that, wetin Jesus dey talk about for this passage?
The main thing wey E dey talk about na one of the things wey the Truth dey cause. The Truth of the Gospel get power to join us deeply to God when we accept am fully as the Word of Truth. But another thing wey e dey cause na say e dey separate us from people wey refuse to join themselves to God inside the Truth. No be wetin we intend be this, and we no suppose use our own will or intention cause am. But we must understand say, as we give ourselves fully to the Truth, we dey also put ourselves against anybody wey fit dey against God and His Truth.
The way people dey live and think today dey promote wetin we dey call “relativism.” Na the idea say wetin good and true for me fit no good and true for you, but even though all of us get different “truths,” we still fit be one happy family. But that one no be the Truth!
The Truth (wey start with capital “T”) na say God don establish wetin right and wetin wrong. He don put His law about right and wrong over all human beings, and nobody fit cancel this. He don also make the truths of our faith known, and nobody fit cancel them. And that law true for me just as e true for you or any other person.
This passage above show us one serious reality wey suppose make us think well: when we reject every kind of relativism and hold on to the Truth, division fit still happen, even between us and people for our own families. This one dey cause sadness and pain. Jesus give us this passage especially to strengthen us when this kind thing happen. If division happen because of our sin, shame on us. If e happen because of the Truth (wey dem present with mercy), then we suppose accept am as something wey come from the Gospel. People reject Jesus, and we no suppose surprise if the same thing happen to us too.
Today, think well about how ready you dey, and how much you want to accept the whole Truth of the Gospel, no matter wetin fit follow am. The whole Truth go set you free, and sometimes e go also show the division wey dey between you and people wey don reject God. You must pray for unity inside Christ, but you no suppose agree to water down the Truth just to bring unity wey no be real.
Lord of Truth, give me the wisdom and courage wey I need to accept everything wey You don reveal. Help me to love You pass every other thing and to accept anything wey fit happen because I dey follow You. Jesus, na You I trust.
Time Don Reach to Repent!
Tuesday for Week Fifteen for Ordinary Time
Jesus begin rebuke the towns where He don do most of His mighty works, because dem no repent. “Chorazin, wahala dey for you! Bethsaida, wahala dey for you!” Matthew 11:20-21a
See the wonderful mercy and love wey Jesus show! He rebuke the people for the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida because He love them, and He see say dem still dey hold on to their sinful life even though He don bring the Gospel to them and do plenty mighty works. Dem still dey stubborn, trapped and confused; dem no want repent, and dem no want change their ways. For this situation, Jesus show one wonderful kind of mercy. He correct them with strong words! After the passage above, He continue to talk say, “I dey tell una, on judgment day, e go easier for Tyre and Sidon to bear wetin go happen than for una.”
One important difference dey here wey suppose help us hear wetin God fit dey tell us sometimes. E suppose also help us know how to deal with people around us wey dey sin again and again and dey cause pain for our lives or other people lives. This difference concern wetin move Jesus to correct the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida with strong words. Why He do am? And wetin move Him to act like that?
Jesus correct them with strong words because He love them and want make dem change. Dem no repent of their sin immediately when He invite them and give powerful witness through His miracles, so He need to take another, stronger step. And this new step na strong and clear rebuke wey come from love.
At first, person fit think say this thing wey Jesus do na because anger suddenly carry am away. But na there the important difference dey. Jesus no rebuke them strongly because E vex lose control. Instead, E rebuke them because dem need that rebuke before dem go change.
This same truth fit apply to our lives. Sometimes, we dey change our lives and overcome sin because Jesus gently invite us to receive grace. But other times, when sin don enter deep, we need holy rebuke. For this kind situation, we suppose hear these words of Jesus as if na us He dey talk to. This fit be the very act of mercy wey we need for our lives.
E still dey help us understand well how we suppose treat other people. For example, parents fit learn plenty from this. Children go dey stray for different ways, and dem go need correction. E good well well to first use gentle invitation and talk wey go help dem make the right choice. But sometimes, this one no go work, and e go need stronger action. Wetin be this “stronger action”? Anger wey person no fit control and shouting to take revenge no be the answer. Instead, holy anger wey come from mercy and love fit be the key. This one fit mean strong correction or punishment. Or e fit mean to talk the truth plainly and make the results of some actions clear. Just remember say even this one na love, and na to follow the example of wetin Jesus do. Na this we dey usually call “love wey stand firm.”
Today, think well whether you need rebuke from Jesus or not. If you need am, allow this Gospel of love enter your heart well. Think too about your responsibility to correct other people for where dem dey wrong. No fear to show divine love through correction wey clear and firm. Na that fit be the very thing wey go help the people wey you love to love God more and more.
My Lord wey get deep, strong love, help me to turn away from my sin and come back to You every day. Help me to be instrument wey You go use help other people repent. Make I always receive Your words with love and share them with the kind love wey go help people pass. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Get Heart Like Small Pikin
Wednesday for the Fifteenth Week for Ordinary Time
“I dey praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because even though You hide these things from people wey wise and get plenty learning, You don reveal dem to people wey get heart like small pikin.” Matthew 11:25
Life get plenty complications. Abi e no be so? Na good question be that. Sometimes, things fit look like say dem too complicated. The situations wey we find ourselves, our relationship with family and friends, our future, our past, and other things fit sometimes look like heavy load wey hard to understand. But the truth be say e no need to be so. The truth be say, many times, the answers wey God get for the questions wey “hard pass” for life dey simple enough for small pikin to understand.
For the passage above, Jesus make am clear say the Father dey reveal His answers and wisdom to people wey get heart like small pikin. Another thing wey catch attention be say He still talk say the Father don “hide these things from people wey wise and get plenty learning.” So this one bring question…na to be person wey “wise and get plenty learning” better, or na to “get heart like small pikin”? The answer clear: na to get heart like small pikin better.
At first, this one fit confuse person. E fit sound strange to talk say e no good to be person wey “wise and get plenty learning.” But wetin e mean be say e no good to be person wey think say e don understand everything finish. E no good to dey proud and behave like say you sabi everything. E no good make pride full us so tey we think say we get all the answers.
The best thing na to get some of the qualities wey small pikin get. Especially, e good to get open mind, to want understand things, and to dey ready to learn. E good to look life for the simplest way and hold on to the main things wey matter. True true, e good to grow for wisdom and knowledge of the things of God. But true wisdom and knowledge always dey keep the kind innocence and simple heart wey small pikin get. Dem dey keep basic goodness and acceptance of wetin right and wetin wrong. Life no need to complicated; e need to become very simple.
Today, reflect on how ready and willing you dey to turn to God for simple and clear answers to the questions wey hard pass for life. Reflect on how willing you dey to turn to God with trust and hope, as you know say God get all the answers for your life.
Lord of all wisdom, once again I turn to You with trust. Help me to understand say all wisdom dey come from You, no be from myself. Help me to always turn to You as small pikin go do, and help my life to remain simple as You want. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Put Your Heavy Load Down
Thursday for Week Fifteen for Ordinary Time
Jesus talk say: “Make all of una wey dey work hard and carry heavy load come to Me, and I go give una rest.” Matthew 11:28
This invitation from Jesus na one wey we fit need to hear far more often than we think. Na gentle invitation to allow our Lord make our daily load light, ease our worries, our stress, the things wey dey trouble our mind, and everything wey dey weigh us down. Na invitation of love and mercy, and na one wey we suppose always accept.
Wetin be the load wey you dey carry? Wetin dey weigh you down and tempt you to enter depression, sorrow or even lose all hope? Anything dey wey you dey think about so much that e no dey leave your mind? Any worry dey wey be like say you no fit put aside? Whatever dey trouble your heart, Jesus want lift that load from you.
Sometimes, we fit dey go through life with heavy burdens wey we dey fear to drop. We fit dey fear to come to Jesus and dey fear to let Am enter our lives. To come to Jesus mean say we must face anything wey dey weigh us down with honesty and open heart, and we must face these burdens for Jesus presence.
But di main thing wey we need to know na say Jesus dey gentle, E get mercy, and E dey generous with forgiveness and grace. E dey long to lift our loads pass as we ourselves dey long make somebody lift dem. E dey see di oppression wey plenty people dey face, and E really want make that oppression end.
Today, think deeply about this gentle invitation from Jesus: “Come meet Me.” Come meet Am without fear and without delay. Hand everything over to Am and let Am put things in order. E love you pass wetin you know, and E go put your feet for di right road.
My Lord wey dey invite me, I truly come to You, and I lay down my life and every burden before You. I give You my life, wetin I dey hope for, wetin I dey fear, my past, my future and everything wey dey worry me. Jesus, I give You everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
Na Mercy I Want
Fraide for di Fifteenth Week for Ordinary Time
“If una know wetin this mean, Na mercy I want, no be sacrifice, una for no condemn these men wey no get fault.” Matthew 12:7
Jesus Apostles dey hungry, and as dem dey waka, dem pluck heads of grain to satisfy their hunger. Because of this, di Pharisees condemn di Apostles for doing wetin dem claim say dey “against di law” for Sabbath. Dem claim say to pluck heads of grain as dem dey waka count as “work,” and so, dem don break di law wey say make people rest for Sabbath.
Na so? Di Pharisees really think say di Apostles commit sin because dem pluck grain as dem dey waka to satisfy their hunger? We hope say e no hard for us to see how this condemnation no make sense at all. Di Apostles no do anything wrong, but dem still condemn dem. Dem be “men wey no get fault,” as Jesus point out.
Jesus answer di Pharisees for this their thinking wey no make sense, as E remind dem of di Scripture: “Na mercy I want, no be sacrifice.” And E point out say dem condemn di Apostles wrongly because di Pharisees no understand this passage and this command from God to show mercy.
The commandment to rest for Sabat come from God. But God no give the commandment to rest just for people to obey rule for obeying sake. No be one law wey people go somehow use honour God just by keeping am strictly. The main thing be say the Sabat rest na gift from God to human beings, because God know say we need rest and fresh strength. E know say every week, we need time to slow down, offer special worship to God and enjoy being with other people. But the Pharisees turn the Sabat rest to burden. Dem make am become strict keeping of rules wey no do anything to glorify God or give human spirit fresh strength.
One important truth wey we fit learn from this passage na say God dey call us to understand His law with mercy as our guide. Mercy always dey refresh us, lift us up and fill us with fresh strength. E dey move us to worship and fill us with hope. Mercy no dey put heavy load of strict rule-keeping on us; instead, God mercy and law together dey give us fresh strength and refresh us.
Today, think deeply about how you dey look God commands and His law. You dey see am as strict rule-keeping wey be heavy load? Or you dey see am as blessing from God mercy, wey E give to make your load light?
My merciful Lord, help me to love Your law. Help me to truly understand am through Your mercy and grace. Make everything wey You command give me fresh strength, and make Your will lift me up. Jesus, na You I trust.
How to Handle Other People Wicked Intentions
Satide for di Fifteenth Week for Ordinary Time
Di Pharisees go outside and plan together against Jesus, how dem go kill Am. Matthew 12:14
If you really sit down think about this, e dey shock person, e dey bring sadness, and e even be scandal. Here, di religious leaders of that time dey actively plan to kill di Saviour of di world, with clear intention and careful calculation. Di very Person wey dem suppose dey prepare for and dey hope for come become di target of their wicked intentions, hatred and di worst persecution.
E dey shock person, and na why we suppose get deep sorrow because of wetin dem do. But sorrow because of wetin dem do no mean say we need to enter anger wey reason no dey control, lose all hope or begin plan revenge. Sorrow because of di wicked things wey di Pharisees do na actually one way to show dem love, because deep sorrow for wetin dem do na one way to call dem to turn from sin come back to God.
True true, dis thing happen many years ago, and di Pharisees wey plan and do dis wicked thing no dey with us again. Even so, people still dey persecute Jesus for plenty ways, and sometimes, dis persecution dey even come from people wey call demself Christian, including people wey dey lead for our Church and di world.
For our own life, all of us fit understand, for one way or another, wetin e mean as people plot and plan to persecute Jesus. E no too likely say we go experience dis kind wickedness reach di level wey Jesus experience am, but most likely, all of us don experience am small or plenty.
Sadly, when we give ourself completely to Christ and His mission, di evil one often dey target us. And many times, di arrows of di evil one dey come from people wey suppose support us pass everybody else. So, if na something like this you dey experience, no let am make you stumble for faith or shake you too much. E right make your heart pain you because of am, but no let am make you stop to dey act with sense. Persecution na part of following Christ. E happen to Jesus, so we suppose expect say e go happen to us too.
Today, think deeply about how you dey handle di hurt and wickedness wey other people show you. No be you dem give di right to judge or condemn dem. But God dey call you to get di same sorrow wey Jesus get. This sorrow na holy sorrow wey di Beatitudes talk about. Na sorrow wey go help you reject di wrong things wey you meet and grow for patience and endurance.
My Lord wey dey sorrow, when I feel say other people dey mock me or persecute me, help me stand strong for my faith and, especially, for my love for God and my neighbour. Help me allow holy sorrow to strengthen me to get hope and to move forward for di mission wey You give me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Di Sixteenth Wik for Ordinary Time
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