Sunday 21 for Ordinary Time (Year A)
Then E give Im disciples strong order make dem no tell anybody say na Im be the Messiah. Matthew 16:20
This line for today Gospel come just after Peter declare im faith say Jesus na the Messiah. Jesus, for Im own part, tell Peter say na im be “rock,” and na on top this rock E go build Im Church. Jesus still tell Peter say E go give am the “keys to the Kingdom.” Then E tell Peter and the other disciples make dem keep who E be as serious secret.
Why Jesus go talk this kind thing? Wetin make Am talk like this? E be like say Jesus for want make dem go tell everybody say na Im be the Messiah. But no be wetin E talk be that.
One reason for this “Secret About Who the Messiah Be” na say Jesus no want make news about who He be just spread anyhow. Instead, He want make people discover who He truly be through the powerful gift of faith. He want make dem encounter Him, open their hearts through prayer to everything wey He talk, and then receive the gift of faith from the Father for Heaven.
This way wey Jesus take reveal who E really be show how important e be to know Christ personally through faith. Later, after Jesus die, rise from death and go up to Heaven, the disciples receive the call to go out and preach openly about who Jesus be. But while Jesus still dey with dem, people come know who E be through their own personal meeting with Am.
Even though all of us receive the call to proclaim Christ openly and continually for this our time, na only through personal meeting with Am we still fit understand and believe who E really be. When we hear people proclaim Am, we must open our hearts to Im divine presence, as E dey come meet us and speak to us deep inside our being. Na Im, and only Im, fit “convince” us about who E be. Na Im be the one and only Messiah, the Son of the Living God, as Saint Peter declare. We too must come understand this same truth through our personal meeting with Am inside our hearts.
Today, think deeply about how deep your faith and your knowledge of the Messiah be. You believe in Am with all your strength? You don allow Jesus reveal Im divine presence to you? Try discover the “secret” of who E really be by listening to the Father as E dey speak to you inside your heart. Na only there you go come get faith in the Son of God.
Lord, I truly believe say na You be the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Help me for where my faith dey weak, so that I go fit believe in You and love You with my whole being. Dear Lord, invite me enter the secret depths of Your heart, and allow me rest there with You in faith. Jesus, na You I trust.
We Don Come Believe
Sunday 21 for Ordinary Time (Year B)
Because of this, plenty of Im disciples return to their former way of life and no follow Am again. Then Jesus tell the Twelve, “Una too want leave?” Simon Peter answer Am, “Master, na who we go go meet? Na You get the words of eternal life. We don come believe, and we dey sure say na You be the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69
Because of wetin? Na because of wetin Jesus teach about the Eucharist, “plenty of Im disciples return to their former way of life and no follow Am again.” The teaching about the Eucharist na the deepest and most beautiful teaching wey Jesus don give, but for some people, e pass wetin dem fit accept. So plenty people leave Am. But this passage still show the beautiful faith of the Apostles, especially Peter.
First of all, Jesus no draw back at all from His beautiful teaching about the Holy Eucharist, wey get very deep meaning. He stand by wetin He talk, wey be say, “unless una eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, una no get life inside una” (John 6:53). He still talk say, “Because My flesh na true food and My blood na true drink” (John 6:55).
From there, Jesus turn to His disciples and give dem freedom to accept or reject wetin He just teach. This freedom wey He give dem dey necessary for dem to enter true faith. If Jesus for put pressure on the disciples or use cunning control dem, e for hard for dem to freely choose to accept Him and everything wey He teach.
Na so e still be with us. Jesus no make am compulsory for us to follow Him. He no go force us or use cunning make us believe. He no go put pressure on us. Instead, Jesus offer Himself and His teachings to us, and invite us to believe.
Na for this situation Peter make one statement of faith wey get deep meaning. “Master, na who we go go meet?” For another way, wetin Peter dey talk na, “Lord, even if the teaching hard, even if people no like am when person follow You, and even if we must suffer, face rejection, and people no understand us…na You be the best choice.” Think about am. Which other choice even near the choice to accept the full and deep teachings of Jesus? E better to accept only part of wetin He talk? To do so na one way to reject Him.
Peter give us the witness of person wey don come to believe say na only one good choice dey for life. That choice na to follow Jesus no matter wetin happen. Nothing for life worth to choose instead of Christ. We suppose strive to discover this truth, say na only Him worth to choose.
Today, think deeply about these words of Peter: “Lord, na who we go go meet?” Jesus na God, the Messiah and Saviour. Na Him get the words of everlasting life. Na Him be the best “choice” to make. Talk those words of Peter, and as you dey talk them, choose Him, whether people like that choice or not, and whether other people dey make the same choice or not. To just follow wetin everybody dey do dey carry us go down the wrong river. To make the right choice dey put us for solid ground.
My Lord and Messiah, I no get anywhere else to go apart from You and Your way. Na You be the Lord of all, and na You be the Messiah. I choose You and accept everything wey You don teach. Jesus, na You I trust.
The Narrow Gate
Sunday 21 for Ordinary Time (Year C)
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, because I dey tell una say plenty people go try to enter, but dem no go get enough strength.” Luke 13:24
Wetin this verse dey tell us? E show say we no fit enter Heaven by our own will or through our own effort. E still tell us say even though some people go try to reach Heaven through their own effort, that way no go work. When dem meet our Lord after death, dem go surprise say dem no belong to His Kingdom.
This clear statement from our Lord, wey fit shock person small, suppose make you pause and look at your life, so that you go sincerely and humbly examine the path wey you dey follow. The way Jesus talk plainly and clearly about this real experience wey some people go get suppose help open your eyes, so that you go honestly examine whether na about you He dey talk.
Sometimes, e take true humility to face the truth and admit whether we dey try to depend on ourselves pass as we dey depend on Christ. The “narrow gate” na the gate wey humble people dey pass enter. Pride and the belief say we no need anybody’s help dey make us try to create our own road to Heaven. But this road no ever be the correct one.
To enter the “narrow gate” still mean say we dey listen to God. As the divine Shepherd, He dey always call us gently. Na only when we pay attention to His voice we go know where He dey lead us. Na only then we go discover the way through the one and only narrow gate.
Today, think deeply about that moment when you go meet our Lord face to face. How that meeting go be? Na meeting where He go welcome you with open arms and talk say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter come receive your reward”? Or na meeting where He go talk say, “I no know you”? Na now be the time to look your life of faith with honest heart, as you dey try hard to depend only on the strength of our divine Lord.
Lord, I truly desire to enter through the narrow gate. I choose to follow Your gentle voice wey dey lead me to Heaven. Help me to remain humble for life, as I dey let go of everything wey dey make me rely on myself. Dear Lord, make I rely only on You and trust You for everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
Jesus Rebuke Dem for Public
Monday for Week 21 for Ordinary Time
Jesus tell the crowds and His disciples: “Wahala dey for una, scribes and Pharisees, una hypocrites. Una lock the Kingdom of heaven against people. Una no dey enter, and una no dey allow those wey dey try to enter make dem enter.” Matthew 23:13
For this chapter of Matthew Gospel, Jesus use the strong rebuke “Wahala dey for una…” seven times, one after another, as He dey talk about the scribes and Pharisees. He still call dem “blind guides,” “hypocrites,” “tombs wey dem paint white,” “snakes,” “children of vipers,” and “murderers.” Jesus no fit make am any clearer say He mean these strong rebukes of these religious leaders with His whole heart.
Why Jesus dey so hard on the scribes and Pharisees? Na because dem dey do one of the serious evils wey person fit do. Dem dey mislead people for the name of God. Nothing fit worse pass this.
Sadly, the scribes and Pharisees fit no see am this way. But na exactly one of the main reasons why Jesus rebuke these religious leaders so strongly for public. This strong rebuke na act of mercy from Him, because the scribes and Pharisees need more than just simple invitation to repent. Dem need make somebody clearly and firmly show dem their wicked desire to harm others, wey don twist their hearts. And dem need to see am clearly, and other people need to see am too. Jesus no speak this rebuke out of senseless anger or hatred; instead, He speak am with hope say these truths go enter their hearts and dem go repent.
Today, reflect on two important lessons from these strong corrections. First, think well about whether you dey struggle with di ugly sins of thinking say na only you dey righteous. You dey act like person wey dey serve God, but at di same time you no dey truly show mercy? Second, know say sometimes, di thing wey show love pass wey you fit do for another person na to correct am strongly. Take care for this matter, and make sure say any strong correction wey you give truly come from di Lord. No hesitate to do am when your conscience wey dem don train well help you discern say na from God e come. E fit be di best way to bring this kind sinner back to Christ.
Lord, when I fall enter the terrible sin of thinking say I righteous pass others and of pride, abeg, make me humble and correct me reach deep inside my being. Help me make I always answer these holy corrections by truly turning from my sins. Help me too make I speak truth with love to people wey need to hear am for their own good. Give me wisdom, courage and mercy for my life, so that You fit use me help all sinners return to You. Jesus, na You I trust.
Clean Di Inside First
Tuesday for Week 21 for Ordinary Time
“Wahala dey for una, teachers of di Law and Pharisees, una hypocrites. Una dey clean di outside of cup and plate, but inside dem full of things wey una plunder and ways wey una dey satisfy all una selfish desires. Blind Pharisee, first clean di inside of di cup, so that di outside too go clean.” Matthew 23:25-26
Even though these very direct words of Jesus fit sound harsh, dem truly be words of mercy. Dem be words of mercy because Jesus dey do plenty to help di Pharisees understand say dem need to turn from their sins and clean their hearts. Even though na di first message, “Wahala dey for una,” fit first catch our attention, di real message wey we suppose hear na “first clean di inside.”
Wetin this passage show be say person fit dey for one of two conditions. First, e possible make person inside full of “things wey e plunder and ways wey e dey satisfy all im selfish desires,” while di outside dey look clean and holy. Na this be di problem of di Pharisees. Dem care plenty about how dem look for outside, but dem no too care about di inside. This na problem.
Secondly, Jesus’ words show say the best way na to start with cleansing inside. Once that one happen, the result go be say the outside too go clean and shine. Think about the person for this second condition, the person wey first clean inside. This person dey inspire others and get beautiful soul. And the beautiful thing be say, when person heart truly clean and pure, this beauty wey dey inside no fit remain hidden inside. E must shine come out, and other people go notice am.
Today, reflect on how easily di beauty of your inner life dey shine come outside. Other people dey see am? Your heart dey shine come outside? You dey shine? If no be so, maybe you too need to hear these words wey Jesus tell di Pharisees. You fit also need strong correction wey come from love and mercy, so that e go move you to allow Jesus enter your heart and work with power to clean am.
Lord, abeg, come into my heart and clean me completely. Make me pure, and let that purity and holiness shine brightly for outside too. Jesus, na You I trust.
Tell Yourself Di Truth
Wednesday for Week 21 for Ordinary Time
Jesus talk say, “Wahala dey for una, teachers of di Law and Pharisees, una hypocrites. Una be like tombs wey dem paint white, wey look beautiful for outside, but inside dem full of dead people bones and every kind of dirty thing. Na so too una dey look righteous for outside, but inside una full of hypocrisy and wicked deeds.” Matthew 23:27-28
Ah! Once again, Jesus dey speak to the Pharisees for way wey direct well-well. E no hold anything back at all as E dey condemn them. E describe them as both things wey dem “paint white” and “graves.” Dem be things wey dem paint white because dem dey do everything wey dem fit do to make their outside look holy. Dem be graves because dirty sin and death dey live inside them. E hard to imagine how Jesus fit speak more directly or condemn them more than this.
One thing wey dis tell us be say Jesus na man wey dey stand for truth completely. E dey talk things as dem be, and E no dey hide wetin E mean. E no dey praise person with lie or pretend say everything dey fine when no be so.
What about you? You fit act with complete honesty? No, no be our work to do wetin Jesus do and condemn others, but we suppose learn from wetin Jesus do and apply am to ourselves! You ready and willing to look your own life and talk the way e really be? You ready and willing to tell yourself and God the truth about the condition of your soul? The problem be say, plenty times, we no dey ready. Plenty times, we just dey pretend say everything dey fine, and we no dey pay attention to the “bones of dead people and every kind of dirt” wey hide inside us. That one no fine to see, and e no easy to admit.
So, again, what about you? You fit look your own soul with honesty and name wetin you see? We hope say you go see goodness and good qualities, and rejoice because of them. But you fit dey sure say you go also see sin. We hope say e no go reach the level wey the Pharisees get “every kind of dirt.” But even so, if you dey honest, you go see some dirt wey need cleansing.
Today, reflect on how willing you dey to 1) name di dirty things and sin for your life without hiding di truth and, 2) sincerely try hard to overcome dem. No wait until dem push Jesus reach di point wey E go cry out, “Woe to una!”
My Lord wey dey completely truthful, help me make I look my own life with honesty every day. Help me see no be only the good qualities wey You don form inside me, but also the dirt wey dey there because of my sin. Make I seek cleansing from that sin, so that I fit love You more fully. Jesus, na You I trust.
Jesus Dey Come!
Thursday for Week 21 for Ordinary Time
“Stay awake! Because una no know which day una Lord go come.” Matthew 24:42
What if na today be that day?! What if you know say na today our Lord go return to Earth with all His splendour and glory to judge the living and the dead? You go change the way you dey act? Most likely, all of us go change. We go probably contact as many people as we fit and tell them say the Lord dey return very soon, go Confession, and then spend the day for prayer.
But wetin go be the best response to this kind question? If God use special revelation make you know say na today the Lord go return, wetin go be the best response? Some people don suggest say the best response na to carry on with your day as if na any other day. Why? Because the way e suppose be, all of us suppose dey live every day as if na our last day, and dey follow the Scripture above every day. Every day, we dey try to “stay awake” and dey ready for our Lord to return at any moment. If we truly dey live by this Scripture, then whether E return today, tomorrow, next year or many years from now no go make any difference.
But this call to “stay awake” no concern only the final and glorious coming of Christ. E also concern every moment of every day wey our Lord dey come to us through grace. E concern every way His love and mercy dey move our hearts and souls. E concern His gentle whispers wey dey continue to call us closer to Himself.
You dey pay attention as E dey come meet you through all dis ways every day? You dey pay attention to di ways wey no get end wey E dey use seek to enter your life more fully? Even though we no know di day wey our Lord go come in His final victory, we know say every day and every moment of every day na time wey E dey come through grace. Listen for Him, pay attention, dey watch and stay awake!
Lord of all grace, help me seek Your voice and pay attention to Your presence for my life. Make I always stay awake and ready to hear You when You call. Jesus, na You I trust.
Di Oil of Love
Friday for Week 21 for Ordinary Time
“‘Lord, Lord, open di door for us!’ But e answer dem say, ‘Amen, I tell una, I no know una.’” Matthew 25:11b-12
Dat kind experience go really frighten person and make person think deeply. Dis passage come from di Parable of di Ten Virgins. Five of dem ready to meet our Lord, but di other five no ready. When di Lord come, di five foolish virgins don go try to get more oil for their lamps, and when dem return, dem don already lock di door to di feast. Di passage above show wetin happen next.
One reason why Jesus tell this parable na to wake us up. We must dey ready for Am every day. And how we go make sure say we dey ready? We dey ready when we get plenty “oil” for our lamps. This oil especially stand for the love for God and our neighbour wey dey our lives. So, the simple question wey we suppose think deeply about na this: “I get love for God and my neighbour for my life?”
Love for God and our neighbour pass ordinary human love. By “human love,” we mean emotion, feeling, attraction, and other things like that. We fit get this kind feeling for another person, for something wey we dey do, or for plenty things for life. We fit “love” to play sports, or watch film, and other things like that.
But love for God and our neighbour pass all that by far. E mean say we dey love with the heart of Christ. E mean say Jesus don put His own merciful heart inside our hearts, and we dey love with His love. This love na gift from God wey make us fit reach out to other people and care for dem in ways wey pass wetin we fit do by our own power. This love na God dey work for our lives, and we need am if we want make dem welcome us to the feast for Heaven.
Today, think deeply about whether you fit see Jesus heart dey alive inside your own heart. You fit see how E dey work inside you, dey move you to reach out to other people even when e hard? You dey talk and do things wey dey help people grow for holy life? God dey work inside you and through you to bring change for the world? If your answer to these questions na “Yes,” then love for God and your neighbour dey alive for your life.
Lord wey Your love dey perfect, make my heart a place wey fit for Your own divine heart to stay. Make my heart dey beat with Your love, and make my words and actions join for the perfect way wey You dey care for other people. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Share for the Master’s Joy
Saturday for Week 21 for Ordinary Time
“Im oga tell am, ‘You do well, my good and faithful servant. As you dey faithful for small matters, I go give you big responsibilities. Come, share for your oga joy.’” Matthew 25:23
This story dey about two things. First, na story about how we suppose remain faithful for this life as we dey serve the will of God. Second, na promise say Jesus too go remain faithful to us, both here for Earth and, finally, when we meet Am as we die.
E go really be blessing to hear Jesus tell us those words when our lives here for Earth don end. “Well done, good and faithful servant…Come, share for your master’s joy.” This one bring this question: if you die today, wetin our Lord go tell you? If you no fit get confidence straightaway say, for His mercy, He go tell you these words above, then today na good day to make some changes for your life.
One good spiritual practice na to live today in a way wey show say we know say we dey prepare for that glorious meeting with Jesus. Which “responsibilities” He don put for your hand for this life, and wetin you dey do with dem? You dey try use all your gifts to serve the Gospel and spread love for God and our neighbour? You dey put steady effort to give yourself to God and His holy will? We hope say you no hesitate at all to answer. If you hesitate, this one na sign say God fit want make you give more of yourself here and now.
One of the biggest problems wey we fit struggle with for this world na the temptation to look for worldly satisfaction here and now, instead of to gather treasure for Heaven. But why? Why we go look for satisfaction wey no deep and wey go last only small time here and now, and risk to lose eternal joy?
Today, think deeply about the final goal wey you suppose get for life. This goal na to dey fully ready for that glorious meeting with our Lord as you dey pass from this life to the next one. Heaven fit seem like something wey you no fit really grasp now, but when time reach to meet Jesus face to face, e no go be like that at all. Instead, at once, you go know every detail of your life here for Earth. How you remain faithful day after day, or how you fail to remain faithful day after day, go become either the source of your eternal joy or the source of regret wey no go ever end.
Lord, help me keep my eyes on You and Your holy will. Free me from selfish goals and goals wey go last only small time for life, so that I go seek to serve You only for the way wey go bring joy to Your heart. Help me keep my eyes on Heaven and prepare every day for that eternal meeting with You. Jesus, na You I trust.
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