The Commandment Wey Great Pass All
Di 30th Sunday for Ordinary Time (Yia A)
“Teacher, which commandment for di Law great pass all?” Matthew 22:36
Na one of di scholars wey sabi di Law ask dis question because e wan test Jesus. From wetin dis passage talk, e clear say disagreement don dey start between Jesus and di religious leaders of His time. Dem don dey test Am and dem even dey try catch Am for word. But Jesus continue to use His words of wisdom make dem no get wetin to talk again.
As Jesus answer di question above, He give dis scholar of di Law di perfect answer wey make am no get wetin to talk again. He say, “Make you love di Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Dis na di commandment wey great pass all and wey come first. Di second one be like am: Make you love your neighbour as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
With this statement, Jesus give complete summary of the law about right and wrong wey dey inside the Ten Commandments. The first three Commandments show say we must love God pass everything and with all our strength. The last seven Commandments show say we must love our neighbour. God law about right and wrong simple like this: make we fulfil these two commandments wey cover the others.
But everything really simple like dat? Well, di answer na both “Yes” and “No.” E simple because, normally, God will no dey complicated or hard to understand. Di Gospels explain love clearly, and God dey call us to embrace life of true love for God and our neighbour wey go reach every part of our life.
But we fit see am as something wey hard, because no be only to love dem call us to do; dem call us to love with all we be. We must give ourselves completely, without holding anything back. This one reach the root of our life, and e mean say we no go hold anything back.
Think deep today about this simple call to love God and your neighbour with all wey you be. Think especially about that word “all.” As you dey do so, you go surely begin see the ways wey you fail to give everything. As you see where you fail, with hope, commit yourself again to the glorious road of giving your whole self as gift to God and other people.
My Lord wey full of love, I choose to love You with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I still choose to love everybody as You love them. Give me the grace to live by these two commandments of love and to see them as the road to holy life. I truly love You, my dear Lord. Help me to love You more. Jesus, na You I trust.
Jesus, Pity Me!
Di 30th Sunday for Ordinary Time (Yia B)
When Bartimaeus hear say na Jesus of Nazareth, e begin shout dey talk say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Mark 10:47
Dis words from Bartimaeus, di blind man, give us di perfect prayer for some reasons.
First, dis prayer show di deep humility of Bartimaeus. As Bartimaeus pray dis prayer, e show say e know say na Jesus be di source of wetin e need, and say e no fit help imself. Bartimaeus know say e weak, but Jesus na perfect strength. So, with humility, e turn to Jesus for im need, as e recognise say na Him be di source.
Second, na prayer wey dey cry for “pity.” Pity na di sorrow and compassion wey person dey feel because other people dey suffer. Pity na mercy, and na di kind love wey person show another person even though nothing force am to show am. For dis prayer, Bartimaeus ask di Lord wey get all power to show am kindness and mercy, even though e no worthy of dis kind gift. Dis prayer show say Bartimaeus know say e no deserve help from our Lord, but e still cry out for am with hope say Jesus go help am. And truly, Jesus help am.
Di third thing be say, dis prayer show deep feeling wey strong well-well. No be just to ask God for help; na to cry out for help. Na serious plea and begging. Na to open your soul to God, without worrying say you dey show your own weakness, or say other people go see am, or wetin dem go think. Dis one show how deep di blind man prayer be.
Today, reflect on dis three lessons from Bartimaeus short prayer. We must humble ourselves, beg for mercy, and do am with deep feeling and strong desire. To pray like dis go surely prepare us to receive God grace and mercy.
Lord Jesus, Son of David, pity me. I humbly dey beg You with all my heart for Your mercy and compassion. Even though I no worthy, I dey seek Your grace and I trust Your goodness. Jesus, na You I trust.
True Righteousness
Di 30th Sunday for Ordinary Time (Yia C)
Jesus tell dis parable to people wey sure say dem righteous, and wey dey look down on everybody else. Luke 18:9
This passage for Scripture na the introduction to the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This parable show clear difference between two general kinds of attitude. First, the Pharisee attitude show say e dey very pleased with imself, e rate how people dey see am very high, and e no recognise im own sin. Second, the tax collector attitude show say e really recognise im own sin, e dey sorry for am, and e know say e need God mercy. The result of these two very different attitudes be say the tax collector go house as person wey God don make righteous, but no be so for the Pharisee.
Wetin e mean for God to make person righteous? E mean say the tax collector conscience dey clear and im life stand on truth. E know say e need mercy, e beg for am, and e receive am. E no lie to imself, to other people or to God. E know who e be, and na this truth allow God to lift am up. God make the tax collector righteous by forgiving im sins and giving am His mercy for im life.
Di Pharisee fit don feel good about imself to some extent, because e lift imself up make everybody see. E believe well-well say im own righteousness sure, but for truth, e no righteous. Na only imself e dey see as righteous. E dey live for lie, and e most likely believe dat lie; e fit even don make other people believe di lie. But di truth still remain say di Pharisee no righteous, and e no really dey right with God.
Wetin we must learn from dis passage na to understand deep inside us how important e be to live for truth. People wey dey paint false picture of themselves fit deceive themselves, and dem fit even deceive other people. But dem no go ever fit deceive God, and dem no go ever fit get true peace for their soul. Each of us must humbly accept di truth about our sin and weakness, and as we accept am, beg for di only cure – God mercy.
Today, reflect on this tax collector prayer: “O God, show me mercy, because I be sinner” (Luke 18:13). Make am your own prayer. Admit your sin. Acknowledge say you need God mercy, and allow that mercy to lift you up inside the righteousness wey come from God.
Jesus Christ, Lord of all righteousness, abeg, have mercy on me, because I be sinner. I acknowledge my sin and my weakness, and I dey beg for Your abundant mercy. Abeg, pour out Your mercy and help me open my heart to everything wey You want give me. Help me to live humbly for truth, my dear Lord. Jesus, na You I trust.
Jesus Dey Heal
Monday for di 30th Wik for Ordinary Time
Jesus dey teach for one synagogue on the Sabbath. One woman dey there wey one spirit don cripple for eighteen years; her body bend, and she no fit stand straight at all. When Jesus see her, E call her come and talk say, “Woman, you don dey free from your sickness.” E lay Im hands on her, and at once she stand straight and glorify God. Luke 13:10-13
Every miracle wey Jesus do na surely act of love towards the person wey E heal. For this story, this woman don dey suffer for eighteen years, and Jesus show her compassion as E heal her. And even though this one na clear act of love directly for her, plenty more dey inside the story for us to learn.
One message wey we fit learn from dis story come from di fact say Jesus take di first step to heal. Even though some miracles happen because di person wey receive healing ask and pray for am, dis miracle happen simply because of Jesus goodness and compassion. E look like say dis woman no dey seek healing, but when Jesus see her, E feel compassion for her, and E heal her.
Na so e be with us too: Jesus know wetin we need before we ask Am. Our duty na to always remain faithful to Am and know say, as we remain faithful, E go give us wetin we need even before we ask.
A second message come from the fact say this woman “stand straight” as soon as she receive healing. This one na sign wey show wetin grace dey do for us. When God enter our life, we fit stand straight, so to talk. We fit waka with new confidence and dignity. We discover who we be and live freely inside His grace.
Today, reflect on dis two truths. God know everything wey you need, and E go meet those needs when e best for you. Also, when E give you His grace, e go help you live with full confidence as His son or daughter.
Lord of all grace, I surrender myself to You and I trust Your abundant mercy. I trust say You go help me follow Your ways every day of my life with full confidence. Jesus, na You I trust.
Heart Wey Turn to God
Tuesday for di 30th Wik for Ordinary Time
E talk again say, “Wetin I go compare the Kingdom of God with? E be like yeast wey one woman take mix with three measure of wheat flour until the yeast make all the dough rise.” Luke 13:20-21
Yeast na something wey dey amaze person. E small well-well, but di effect wey e get on dough strong well-well. Di yeast dey work slowly and for way wey almost be like miracle. Small-small, di dough dey rise and change. Children always dey enjoy to watch dis thing when dem dey make bread .
Na so the Gospel suppose work for our life. Right now, the Kingdom of God dey alive first of all and above everything else for our heart. For our heart to truly turn to God, e no dey usually happen within one day or one moment. True-true, every day and every moment dey important, and all of us fit point to some powerful moments when we turn to God. But the way heart dey turn to God be more like the way yeast dey make dough rise. This change of heart na something wey usually dey happen small-small and step by step. We dey allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our life more and more deeply, and as we dey do so, we dey grow deeper and deeper for holiness, just as dough dey rise slowly but surely.
Today, reflect on this picture of yeast wey dey make dough rise. You see am as picture of your soul? You dey see how the Holy Spirit dey work for your life small-small? You dey see yourself dey change slowly but steadily? We hope say your answer na “Yes.” Even though heart no dey always turn to God overnight, this change must continue so that the soul fit move forward towards the place wey God prepare for am.
Lord, I truly want become holy. I want make I dey change small-small every day. Help me allow You change me every moment of my life, so dat I go fit continue to follow di path wey You don set for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Dey Assume Say You Dey Right with God
Wednesday for di 30th Wik for Ordinary Time
“Then E go tell una say, ‘I no know where una come from. Make una comot from Me, all of una wey dey do evil!’” Luke 13:27
Jesus make am clear say some people go come meet Am, taking am for granted say dem go enter Heaven, but na dis words wey dey cause fear dem go hear: “I no know where una come from. Comot from My presence.”
To dey assume say you dey right with God na dangerous sin. E dangerous for two reasons. First, when people dey make this kind assumption, dem dey live as if the truth no be true. For matter wey concern God, this assumption mean say people dey behave as if dem get relationship with God when dem no get. Dem fit talk holy things, behave like holy people and even believe say dem holy, when the truth be say dem no know our Lord at all. So, this kind assumption na when person dey live as if the truth no be true.
Second, this assumption dangerous because the person wey dey assume like this no go repent of im own sin. Na because the way e dey deny the truth no dey allow am admit im sin. If e no admit im sin, e no fit then admit say e need to change. E go remain deep inside im false thinking and im sin.
Jesus give dis teaching no be to show say E dey harsh with people wey take their salvation for granted; instead, E give am as act of great mercy for people wey don trap inside dis sin. Na dis kind truth wey dey shock person fit shake person free from dis sin. For dis case, na di fear say one day dem fit hear dis words from Jesus go help people wey don trap inside dis sin of taking their salvation for granted to break free and face di truth.
Today, reflect on any way wey you no dey honest with yourself or with other people. Make the shock of how any false assumption say you dey right with God fit end for your life shake you free from this sin, so that you fit humble yourself before God now, before e too late. Remember how deeply our Lord love you, and make that love help you face your life with honesty and integrity.
My loving Lord, I love You deeply, and I dey pray make my love always dey honest, genuine and complete. Help me see any way for my life wey I no dey love You with all my heart. I give You my life, my dear Lord, without holding anything back. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Overcome the Fear Wey Threat Dey Bring
Thursday for di 30th Wik for Ordinary Time
Some Pharisees come meet Jesus and talk say, “Comot, leave this area because Herod want kill You.” E answer say, “Go tell that fox, ‘See, I dey drive out demons and I dey heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I go complete wetin I come do.’” Luke 13:31-32
This talk between Jesus and some of the Pharisees really get wetin person fit learn from. E good to look well at both wetin the Pharisees do and wetin Jesus do.
Person fit ask why di Pharisees talk to Jesus like this, as dem warn Am about wetin Herod plan to do. Na because dem dey worry about Jesus, and dem wan help Am? E no too likely. Instead, we know say most of di Pharisees dey jealous Jesus and dey envy Am. For this case, e be like say dem dey warn Jesus about Herod anger because dem wan threaten Am make E leave their area. But of course, Jesus no fear their threat.
Sometimes, di same thing dey happen to us. Sometimes, somebody fit come tell us some gossip about us, dey pretend say e want help us, when di truth be say na hidden way to threaten us so dat fear or worry go fill our heart.
Di main thing na to respond only di way Jesus respond when E face foolishness and wickedness. Jesus no allow their threat make Am give in. Herod wickedness no worry Am at all. Instead, E answer for one way wey, in a sense, tell di Pharisees say, “Make una no waste una time dey try to fill My mind with fear or worry. Na My Father work I dey do, and na only that one suppose concern Me.”
Wetin dey trouble you for life? Wetin dey make you fear? You dey allow wetin other people think, their wickedness or their gossip discourage you? Na only to do di will of di Father for Heaven suppose concern us. When we dey do His will with confidence, we go also get di wisdom and courage wey we need to stand against all deceit and foolish threats for our life.
Today, think well about how you don commit yourself to do di Father will for your life. You dey fulfil His will? If na so, you dey notice say some people dey come try to stop you? Try hard to get di same confidence wey Jesus get, and keep your mind on di mission wey God give you.
Lord, I truly trust Your divine will. I trust the plan wey You don arrange for me, and I no go let the foolishness and bad mind of other people influence me or make me fear. Give me courage and wisdom to keep my eyes on You for everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
To Invite Jesus
Friday for di 30th Wik for Ordinary Time
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
This line, from di beginning of today Gospel, show us two things wey good make we think deeply about.
First, Jesus go chop for di house of one of di leaders among di Pharisees. This one no be small thing. In fact, e likely make di people and di other Pharisees talk plenty. E show us say Jesus no dey favour some people pass others. No be only for di poor and di weak E come. E also come so that di rich and di powerful go turn to God. Plenty times, we dey forget this simple truth. Jesus come for everybody, E love everybody, and E dey answer di invitation of everybody wey want Am for their life. Of course, this passage also show say Jesus no fear to come di house of this Pharisee leader and challenge am and his guests, so that dem go change their hearts.
Second, this passage talk say people dey “watch Am well well.” Maybe some of dem just wan know wetin dey happen, and dem dey look for something to discuss with their friends later. But e likely say others dey watch Am well well because dem truly wan understand Am. Dem fit see say something dey special about Jesus, and dem wan know more about Am.
These two lessons suppose encourage us to understand say Jesus truly love us, and He go respond as we open our lives to His presence. All we need to do na to ask and open our hearts for Him to come “chop” with us. We suppose also learn from the witness of the people wey dey watch Him well. Dem show us the good desire wey we suppose get to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Even though some people wey dey watch Him well later turn against Him and mock Him, other people wey dey watch Him well welcome Jesus and His message.
Today, think well about how ready you dey to invite Jesus enter di home wey be your heart and di situation of your life. Know say E go accept any invitation wey you give Am. And as Jesus dey come to you, give Am all your attention. Watch everything wey E dey talk and do, and allow His presence and message become di foundation of your life.
Lord wey dey give with open hand pass all, I truly invite You into my heart. I invite You into every situation for my life. Abeg, come stay with me for my family. Come stay with me for work, among my friends, inside my hardships, when I dey lose hope, and for everything. Help me to pay attention to You and Your will, and lead me to everything wey You don prepare for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
Di Shame Wey Pride Dey Bring
Saturday for di 30th Wik for Ordinary Time
“When person invite you to wedding feast, no go lie down for table for the place of honour. E fit be say e don invite another guest wey get higher standing pass you, and the host wey invite both of una fit come meet you and talk say, ‘Give this man your place,’ and then, with shame, you go go take the lowest place.” Luke 14:8-9
As Jesus dey tell this parable to the people wey dey chop with Him for the Pharisee house, He touch something wey concern dem deep for their hearts. E clear say plenty people among those wey dey listen to Him dey seek honour from other people and dey worry well-well about how society rate dem. To think say dem fit take seat of honour for feast, only for the person wey invite dem to disgrace dem by asking dem to move go seat wey get less honour, for make dem fear. This kind shame clear to the people wey put their mind for high position and honour for society.
Jesus use this example wey fit bring shame to show their pride and the danger wey dey for this kind life of pride. E continue talk say, “Because everybody wey lift imself up, dem go bring am low, but the person wey humble imself, dem go lift am up.”
We no fit ever examine our conscience about pride too often. Reason dey why dem dey call pride the “Mama of all sins.” Pride dey lead to every other sin and, for many ways, na the source of all sin. So, if we wan strive to become perfect for life, we suppose seek to truly dey humble every day.
To dey humble no be any other thing apart from to see things as dem really be. Person wey dey humble dey see imself according to God truth. This one fit hard to do because e mean say we must see say we weak and we depend on God. We fit achieve plenty things for this world through our own strength and hard work. But we no fit get happiness and goodness unless we open our hearts to the truth say we get weaknesses and we depend on God for everything.
To dey humble still dey help clean our hearts from something wey hard well-well to let go. Pride dey make us seek respect from others with all our heart, and make us depend on that respect for our happiness. That kind road dangerous, because e dey leave us to always depend on wetin other people think about us. And too many times, wetin other people think dey based on false things and things wey dem only see for outside.
Think deep today about how free you dey from other people opinions wey false and fit mislead you. True, you need to dey seek advice regularly from people wey you know and love. But you must allow yourself to depend only on God and Im Truth. When you do this, you go don go far for the road of true humility.
Lord of Truth, abeg, make me humble. Remove all pride from my life so that I fit turn to only You and Your will. Help me to care only about the Truth wey You establish, and to use am as the only measure for my soul. Jesus, na You I trust.
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