How to Overcome Fear of Suffering
Sunday 22 for Ordinary Time (Year A)
Jesus turn tell Peter, “Go behind Me, Satan! You be obstacle for Me. You no dey think as God dey think, but as human beings dey think.” Matthew 16:23
Na so Jesus answer Peter after Peter tell Jesus, “God forbid, Lord! This kind thing no go ever happen to You” (Matthew 16:22). Peter dey talk about the persecution and death wey Jesus just talk for im presence say go happen to Am. The matter shock Peter and worry am, and e no fit accept wetin Jesus dey talk. E no fit accept say Jesus go soon “go Jerusalem and suffer well-well from the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and dem go kill Am, and on the third day dem go raise Am from death” (Matthew 16:21). So Peter talk wetin dey worry am, and Jesus rebuke am strongly.
If na any other person apart from our Lord talk this kind thing, people fit quickly conclude say Jesus talk too harshly. Why Jesus go call Peter “Satan” just because Peter show say e care about Jesus’ welfare? Even though this one fit hard to accept, e show say God thinking dey far above our own.
Di truth be say di suffering and death wey Jesus dey go face na di greatest act of love wey anybody don ever know. For God own way of seeing things, as Jesus willingly accept suffering and death, na di most wonderful gift wey God fit give di world. So, when Peter take Jesus go one side tell Am, “God forbid, Lord! This kind thing no go ever happen to You,” Peter dey actually allow im fear and human weakness to interfere with di divine choice wey di Saviour make to lay down Im life for di salvation of di world.
Jesus’ words to Peter for give am one “shock wey holy.” This shock na act of love wey help Peter overcome im fear and accept the glorious destiny and mission of Jesus.
Today, reflect on any way wey you dey resist di call to love with sacrifice. To love no dey always easy, and plenty times e fit require great sacrifice and courage from you. You ready and willing to carry di crosses wey love bring for your life? And you willing to walk with other people and encourage dem along di way, when dem too receive di call to carry di crosses of life? Today, seek strength and wisdom, and try your best to live according to God own way of seeing everything, especially suffering.
My Lord wey sacrifice Yourself, I love You, and I pray make I always love You with sacrifice. Make I never fear di crosses wey I don receive, and make I never discourage other people from following Your footsteps of sacrifice wey no seek personal gain. Jesus, na You I trust.
Wetin Dey Inside
Sọnde Nọmba 22 for Ordinary Time (Year B)
E call the crowd again and tell dem, “All of una, listen to Me and understand. Nothing wey enter person from outside fit make that person unclean; na the things wey come out from inside person dey make am unclean.” Mark 7:14-15
Jesus talk these words after E call the Pharisees “hypocrites.” E rebuke dem because dem put all their mind for things wey dey outside and fail to pay attention to wetin dey inside. Jesus make am clear say evil dey come from inside, and na the heart we suppose really concern ourselves with.
Wetin make Jesus rebuke the Pharisees strongly na say dem criticise the disciples because dem no wash their hands, and so dem chop their food with “unclean hands.” The sad thing be say the Pharisees seem to take this matter as very big issue. This one show say the Pharisees seem to think say holiness na something wey person dey get by following every small detail of the laws and customs of that time for outside. But dem fail to see how important wetin dey inside be.
St. Teresa of Ávila get two beautiful sayings wey talk about how important wetin dey inside be. “Your God dey live inside you. Enter inside, look at Am, talk to Am, listen to Am and stay with Am for your heart.” And, “Truly, we get heaven inside ourselves because the Lord of Heaven dey there.”
Jesus still point out the different kinds of evil wey dey come from inside. “Na from inside people, from their hearts, evil thoughts, sexual impurity, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, shameless sexual behaviour, envy, blasphemy, pride and foolishness dey come. All these evil things dey come from inside, and dem dey make person unclean.” Mark 7: 21-23.
So wetin dey your heart? When you spend time alone and quietly look at your life, wetin you dey see? Wetin and wetin dey make up the life wey you dey live inside your heart?
Today, think well about wetin dey inside you. Know say you must acknowledge any sin wey dey your heart, confess am and let am be cleansed away. Na only when this one don happen you fit meet God wey dey live inside you. Na only then you fit allow God, through Im presence for your soul, to change the life wey you dey show for outside.
My God wey dey dwell inside me, abeg come into my heart. Set my heart on fire with love for You. Cleanse my heart from every sin, and let Your divine presence shine out for everybody to see. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Pay Attention to Jesus
Sọnde Nọmba 22 for Ordinary Time (Year C)
For one Sabbath day, Jesus go chop for di house of one of di leaders among di Pharisees, and di people wey dey there dey watch Am well well. Luke 14:1
Dis sentence get plenty meaning. Make we no overlook am, because e show one way wey some people dey react to Jesus. Which reaction be dat? Na to stay for distance dey watch Jesus well well.
Look at wetin dey happen when Jesus talk this statement. Dem invite Jesus come di house of one leading Pharisee, and plenty other people dey there. People for don see those wey dey there as di “people wey get power and influence” for that time. Na dem be di influential, rich, educated people wey get high standing for di community. Plenty of dem for don dey worry well-well about their reputation, and dey very curious about Jesus because more and more people dey know and like Am. Na im make all of dem dey “watch Am carefully.”
Notice wetin this description of how dem respond to Jesus dey show. Unlike di people wey everybody know as sinners for that time, dem no come meet Am, fall for Im feet and beg for mercy. Instead, e be like say wetin really interest dem na how other people go accept Jesus, wetin E go talk, and wetin dem suppose think about Am. Even though e sad say no be all of dem turn to Jesus fully with faith, at least e good say dem dey pay attention to Jesus and dem recognise say E different from everybody else.
Dis their desire to know more no bad altogether. In fact, e fit lead some of dem to salvation. As dem dey watch Jesus, e clear say dem dey think deeply about Am, His words and His actions. Dis one good if, and only if, e make each one of dem turn to Am with faith and choose to accept our Lord with all their heart, no matter wetin other people think. For people wey only care about how dem appear for other people eye, dis one na risk. But na risk wey worth to take. For those wey ready to humble themselves and allow wetin dem dey observe turn to true faith, their life go change. But for dis one to happen, dem must drop any fear wey dem get about wetin other people fit think.
Today, think deeply about whether you get any habit to just stay for distance dey “watch” Jesus and wetin E want. If you notice say you want know more and you get interest for how God dey present around you, no hesitate to act on dis desire to know more. Allow His words and His presence to change your life. No let worry about wetin other people fit think hold you. Give your life to Am without hesitation, and you go dey grateful forever say you do am.
Lord, when I notice Your presence for my life, give me di courage wey I need to respond. Make I never allow pressure from society or pride stop me from turning to You. I love You, dear Lord. Help me love You without holding anything back. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Meet Christ for Other People
Monday for Week 22 for Ordinary Time
“Amen, I tell una, dem no dey accept any prophet for im own hometown.” Luke 4:24
You don ever feel say e easier to talk about Jesus with stranger than with people wey close to you pass? Why e be like dat? Sometimes, e hard to share your faith with people wey close to you pass, and e fit even hard pass to allow di faith of person wey close to you to inspire you.
Jesus talk dis thing wey dey above after E just finish to read from di Prophet Isaiah for di presence of His own people. Dem listen to Am, and wetin E talk first touch dem small, but dem quick conclude say nothing special dey about Am. For di end, dem vex for Jesus well well, drive Am comot from di town, and nearly kill Am for dat same place and time. But His time never reach.
If e hard for di Son of God to get His own people to accept Am as prophet, e go hard for us too to share di Gospel with people wey close to us. But wetin far more important for us to think about na how we dey see, or no dey see, Christ for di people wey close to us pass. We dey among those wey refuse to see say Christ dey present for our family and for people wey close to us? Instead, we dey quick find fault and judge di people around us?
Di truth be say e far easier for us to see di faults of people wey close to us pass than to see their good qualities. E far easier to see their sins than to see di presence of God for their life. But no be our work to put all our attention for their sin. Na our work to see God for them.
Without doubt, goodness dey inside each and every person wey we dey close to. Dem go show say God dey present if we dey willing to see am. Our aim no suppose be only to see am, but to look for am well. And the closer we dey to dem, the more we must pay attention to how God dey present for their life.
Today, think well whether YOU dey willing to accept Christ voice as prophet through the people wey dey around you. You dey willing to see Am, acknowledge Am and love Am inside dem? If you no dey willing, then Jesus words wey dey above show say you dey guilty.
Lord, make I see You inside all di people wey I dey relate with every day. Make I always look for You for their lives. And as I find You, make I love You inside dem. Jesus, na You I trust.
Demon Dem Dey Exist True-True
Tuesday for Week 22 for Ordinary Time
“Wetin concern You with us, Jesus of Nazareth? You don come to destroy us? I know who You be—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuke am and talk say, “Keep quiet! Come out of am!” Then the demon throw the man down for their front and come out of am without harming am at all. All of dem surprise well-well and tell one another say, “Wetin dey inside im word? Because na with authority and power e dey command spirit dem wey no clean, and dem dey come out.” Luke 4:34-36
Yes, na thought wey fit make person fear. Demon dem dey exist true-true. But e suppose make us fear? If we look everything wey happen here, we go see clearly say Jesus defeat the demon and drive am out without allowing am harm the man at all. So, to talk true, this passage suppose make demon dem fear far more than e suppose make us fear!
But wetin e dey tell us be say demon dem dey exist, dem hate us, and dem really want destroy us. So, even if that one no make us fear, at least e suppose make us sit up and pay attention.
Demons na angels wey fall from grace but still get the pawa wey dey their nature. Even though dem turn away from God and act with complete selfishness, God no dey take this pawa from dem unless dem use am wrongly and we turn to Him for help. So, wetin demons fit do? Just like the holy angels, demons get pawa by their nature to communicate with us and influence us and our world. God give the angels responsibility to care for the world and our lives. Those angels wey fall from grace now dey try use their pawa over the world and their pawa to influence us and communicate with us for evil. Dem don turn away from God, and now dem want make we too turn away from Him.
One thing wey this one dey tell us be say we must always examine things well as we dey act. E easy for demon wey dey lie to tempt person and lead am astray. For the matter wey dey above, this poor man don cooperate with this demon so much that the demon take full control of im life. Even though e no common at all for dem to get that kind influence and control over us, e fit happen. But wetin matter pass na make we understand and believe say demon dem dey exist and dem dey always try to lead us astray.
But the good news be say Jesus get all pawa over dem, and He fit easily confront dem and overpower dem if only we ask for His grace to do so.
Today, reflect on how evil and temptations from demons truly dey our world. All of us don experience dem. No be something wey suppose make fear overwhelm us. And we no suppose see dem as something wey too dramatic. Demons get pawa, but God pawa dey easily win if we allow Him take control. So as you reflect on how evil and temptations from demons truly dey, reflect too on how God want enter the matter and make dem powerless. Allow God take charge, and trust say God go win.
Lord wey get all pawa, when temptation come and I dey confused, abeg come meet me. Help me recognise the evil one and his lies. Make I turn to You, the One wey get all pawa, for everything, and make I rely on the powerful intercession of the holy angels wey You don entrust to me. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Always Long for Jesus
Wenesde of Week Twenty-Two for Ordinary Time
As day break, Jesus comot go one place wey nobody dey. The crowd go look for Am, and when dem reach where E dey, dem try stop Am make E no leave dem. Luke 4:42
Wetin dem do to show their affection and love for Jesus really beautiful. Here, Jesus dey with the crowds as sun dey set, and He spend the whole night with the people, dey heal dem and preach to dem. Maybe all of dem sleep small at one point, but e fit be say Jesus stay awake with dem all night.
For this passage wey dey above, Jesus comot go stay alone as day dey break and sun dey rise. E go pray and just stay for the presence of Im Father for Heaven. And wetin happen? Even though Jesus don give the people all Im time the evening and night before, dem still want spend more time with Am. E never go pray for long before dem begin find Am. And when dem find Jesus, dem beg Am make E stay longer.
Even though Jesus need move on go preach for other towns, e clear say wetin E do really touch these people. E touch their heart well-well, and dem want make Jesus stay.
The good news be say Jesus fit now stay with us 24/7 today. That time, He never ascend go Heaven, so na only one place He fit dey at a time. But now wey He dey Heaven, Jesus fit dey every place at every time.
So wetin we see for this passage wey dey above na the desire wey all of us suppose get. We suppose want make Jesus remain with us 24/7, just as these good people want. We suppose sleep with Am for our mind, wake up dey pray to Am, and allow Am follow us throughout every day. We suppose help the same love and affection wey these people get for Jesus for this passage grow for our heart. To help that desire grow na the first step to allow Im presence follow us all day, every day.
Today, think deeply about whether you get the desire to dey with Jesus always or you no get am. E get times wey you go prefer make E no dey there? Or you don allow this same affection for Jesus grow for your heart, so that you dey always seek Im presence for your life?
My Lord wey dey always present, I want make You dey present for my life all day, every day. Make I always seek You and always pay attention to Your presence for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
Carry the Boat Go Where the Water Deep
Tosde of Week Twenty-Two for Ordinary Time
After E don finish to talk, E tell Simon, “Carry the boat go where the water deep, and lower una net dem to catch fish.” Simon answer, “Master, we don work hard throughout the night and we no catch anything, but as You command, I go lower the net dem.” When dem do this, dem catch plenty fish sotey their net dem begin tear. Luke 5:4-6
“Carry the boat go where the water deep…” This short line get deep meaning.
First of all, e important to note say the Apostles don try catch fish throughout the night, but dem no succeed. E very likely say dem feel disappointed because dem no catch fish, and dem no really ready to try again. But Jesus tell Simon make e do am, and e do am. The result be say dem catch fish pass wetin dem think say dem fit handle.
But one meaning wey dey inside this sign wey we no suppose miss be say Jesus tell Simon make e carry the boat go where the water “deep.” Wetin that one mean?
This passage no be only about the physical miracle of catching fish; instead, e concern the mission to preach the Good News to souls and carry out God’s mission even more. And the sign of carrying the boat go where the water deep dey tell us say we must put our whole self inside and give ourself fully if we wan preach and spread the Word of God as E call us to do.
When we listen to God and act on His word, dey give ourselves fully and deeply to wetin He want, He go bring plenty souls to Himself, like plenty fish wey person catch. This “catch” go happen for way and time wey we no expect, and e go clear say na God work.
But think about wetin for happen if Simon for laugh and tell Jesus, “Sorry, Lord, I don finish to catch fish for today. Maybe tomorrow.” If Simon for behave like this, e for never receive the blessing of this plenty fish. Na so e still be with us. If we no listen to God’s voice for our life, and we no obey Im commands wey demand make we no hold anything back, E no go use us the way E want use us.
Today, think deeply about how ready you dey to act on the Savior’s voice. You ready to tell Am “Yes” for everything? You ready to follow the direction wey E give without holding anything back? If na so, wetin E go do for your life go still amaze you.
Lord, I want move enter the deep water and give myself completely to spreading the Gospel the way You dey call me to do am. Help me tell You “Yes” for everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
New Wine Inside New Wineskin Bag Dem
Fraide of Week Twenty-Two for Ordinary Time
“Nobody dey pour new wine inside old bags wey dem make with animal skin. If not, the new wine go burst the bags, the wine go pour away, and the bags go spoil. Instead, dem must pour new wine inside fresh bags wey dem make with animal skin.” Luke 5:37
Wetin be this new wine? And wetin be the old bags wey dem make with animal skin? The new wine na the new life of grace wey God don bless us with in abundance, and the old bags na our old nature wey sin don spoil and the old law. Wetin Jesus dey tell us be say, if we want receive His grace and mercy for our lives, we must allow Him change our old selves into new creations and accept the new law of grace.
You don become new creation? You don allow your old self to die so dat di new person fit rise again? Wetin e mean to become new creation for Christ so dat God fit pour di new wine of grace inside your life?
To become new creation for Christ mean say we dey live for level wey completely new, and we no dey hold on to our old ways again. E mean say God dey do powerful things for our life wey pass anything we fit ever do by our own power. E mean say we don become new “akpa skin” wey fit receive God as He dey pour Himself inside us. And e mean say dis new “wine” na di Holy Spirit wey dey take hold of our life and make am His own.
For how we dey live every day, if we don become new creation for Christ, then we don prepare well to receive di grace of di Sacraments and everything wey dey come to us through daily prayer and worship. But di first thing we must aim for na to become those new akpa skin. So how we go do dis?
We dey do am through Baptism, and then by choosing with clear intention to turn away from sin and accept the Gospel. But this general command from God, to turn away from sin and accept the Gospel, must be something wey we choose with clear intention and live out every day. As we dey make practical decisions every day with clear intention to turn to Christ for everything, we go discover say the Holy Spirit dey suddenly pour the new wine of grace into our lives with pawa and without delay. We go discover new peace and joy wey go fill us, and we go get strength wey pass wetin we fit get by our own ability.
Today, reflect on whether you truly be a new creation in Christ or not. You don turn away from your old way and remove the chains wey bind you? You don accept the whole new Gospel, and you dey allow God pour out the Holy Spirit for your life every day?
Lord, abeg make me a new creation. Change me and make me new completely. Make my new life in You be life wey dey continually receive Your grace and mercy as You dey pour dem out in full. Jesus, na You I trust.
Worry About Sin Wey Pass Measure
Satide of Week Twenty-Two for Ordinary Time
As Jesus dey pass through one grain farm for Sabbath, His disciples dey pluck di grain heads, dey rub dem for their hand, and dey chop di grain. Some Pharisees talk say, “Why una dey do wetin law no allow for Sabbath?” Luke 6:1-2
See how dem dey find fault for small-small things! Di disciples dey hungry. E fit be say dem don dey walk with Jesus for some time, then dem see some wheat and pluck am chop as dem dey go. And di Pharisees condemn dem for dis normal thing wey dem do. Dem really break di law and offend God because dem pluck and chop dis grain?
The answer wey Jesus give make am clear say the Pharisees really confuse and say the disciples no do anything wrong. But this passage give us chance to reflect on one spiritual danger wey some people dey fall into sometimes. Na the danger of to dey worry too much say person don commit sin.
We no know whether na so e happen, but if one or more of di disciples dey struggle with dis kind excessive fear of sin, and then hear di Pharisees condemn dem because dem chop di grain, dem fit don feel regret and guilt straightaway over wetin dem do. Dem for don begin fear say dem guilty of breaking God command to keep di Sabbath holy. But dem need to see dis excessive fear of sin for wetin e really be, and dem need to recognise wetin push dem towards dis kind fear.
The “thing wey bring the temptation” na the wrong way wey the Pharisees present God law, as dem carry am go too far. Yes, God law dey perfect, and we must always follow am reach even the smallest detail. But for people wey dey struggle with too much worry say dem don commit sin, e easy to twist God law and carry am pass wetin e really mean. Laws wey human beings make and the wrong way wey dem present God law fit cause confusion. And for the Scripture above, the thing wey bring the temptation na the pride and harshness of the Pharisees. The disciples no offend God in any way as dem pluck grain chop on the Sabbath. So, the Pharisees dey try put burden wey no come from God on the disciples.
We too fit face temptation to dey look God law and will with too much fear say we go offend Am. Even though plenty people dey do di opposite (dem no dey take God law serious enough), some people dey struggle with worry say dem don offend God when dem no offend Am at all.
Today, reflect on how you yourself dey struggle with too much fear say you don offend God. If na so e be for you, know say God want free you from these burdens.
Lord, help me make I see Your law and will for di light of truth. Help me drop every wrong understanding and wrong picture of Your law, and accept di truth about Your perfect love and mercy instead. Make I hold on tight to that mercy and love for everything and above everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
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