(Note: If una diocese celebrate Ascension last Thursday, scroll go down to de reflection for de Seventh Sunday of Easter.)
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Listen for English
So, after de Lord Jesus talk to dem, dem carry Am go up heaven, and E sit down for God right-hand side. But dem go out preach everywhere, as de Lord dey work with dem and dey confirm de word through de signs wey follow am. Mark 16:19-20
Jesus finish His mission for Earth and go up enter Heaven to sit down for His glorious throne for all eternity. But na so e really be? Di answer na yes and no. Yes, He sit down for His glorious throne, but no, He no finish His mission for Earth. Di Ascension na both di end and di beginning. Na movement enter di next stage for di Father perfect plan. And when we understand how dis plan dey unfold, e suppose fill us with wonder and deep reverence.
True true, e fit be say de Apostles fear small and confuse. Jesus dey with dem, then E die, then E rise and appear to dem different times, and then E go up go meet de Father as dem dey look. But E still tell dem say na good thing make E go. In fact, E talk say e better make E go. Dem must don confuse. Jesus still tell dem say Im Advocate go come lead dem enter all Truth. So de Apostles move from joy to fear, then to relief and more joy, then to confusion and sorrow, and then to wanting to know wetin go happen and not being sure.
Dis one sound familiar? Maybe na so some people see their life. Better times and hard times, twists and turns, joy and sorrow. Every stage dey reveal something new, something wey bring challenge, something glorious or something wey bring sorrow. Di good news be say di Father plan dey unfold perfectly.
De part of de perfect plan wey we find ourselves inside as we celebrate dis Solemnity na de part where Jesus begin direct Im mission to establish de Kingdom of God from Heaven. For one way, Im throne be like de driver seat of our lives. From Heaven, Jesus suddenly begin come down into our lives continually, dey fulfil Im mission inside and through de Apostles, and inside and through all of us too. De Ascension no mean say Jesus don leave us; instead, e mean say Jesus now dey present to each and every person wey turn to Am and surrender im life to Im mission. From Heaven, Jesus fit dey present to everybody. E fit live inside us, and E dey invite us make we live inside Am. Na new beginning for de Church. Now, all wey de Apostles need to do na to wait make de Holy Spirit come down.
Today, reflect on how our Lord dey remain close to you and dey present for your life. Know say Jesus dey invite you to take part for His mission. From His glorious throne, He want make we “preach everywhere.” He want invite each one of us to do our own part. Di part of di Father plan wey He put for each person hand, He no put am for another person hand. All of us get part for dat plan. Wetin be your own part? How Jesus dey direct His mission through you? Think deeply about dis question today, and know say He dey go with you as you say “Yes” to your own part as His perfect plan dey unfold in glory.
Lord, I truly see say my life full of plenty ups and downs, twists and turns. Joy and sorrow dey, times wey I confuse and times wey I understand clearly dey too. For everything, help me make I continue to say “Yes” to Your plan. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Read More – Ascension
Prayer Meditation for di Ascension
Saint of Today – Saints Marcellinus and Peter
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Jesus Im Prayer
Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C
Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs – Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Listen for English
“No be only for dem I dey pray, but also for those wey go believe in Me through their word, so that all of dem go be one, just as You, Father, dey inside Me and I dey inside You, so that dem too go dey inside Us, so that de world go believe say na You send Me.” John 17:20-21 (Year C)
Dem dey call John Gospel, Chapter 17, Jesus Im Prayer as High Priest. Na long and beautiful prayer wey e good make person read from beginning to end to reflect on am.
Jesus start by telling Papa say “the time don reach.” Im time to suffer and die don reach. But E see am as chance for Am to receive glory. This na important revelation for John im Gospel, especially for this prayer. If we look the Cross only as human beings, e terrible. But if we look am as God dey see am, or as Papa Im will and wetin go save the world, e full of glory, and na the moment wey Jesus take Im place for Im throne, wey be the Cross. E full of glory because, through the suffering wey E freely accept, E carry out Papa Im will perfectly.
From there, Jesus pray especially for the Apostles. E pray for their mission so that dem go get the grace wey dem need to accept Papa Im will too and continue Jesus Im work. E know say na only when dem accept their crosses, as Papa Im will be, dem go fit receive glory.
Last-last, Jesus pray for the people wey go come get faith through the Apostles their ministry. E pray especially make dem dey united. The unity wey Jesus dey talk about na to be one because dem dey united with Papa for Heaven. Na this oneness dey lead everybody to glory. And again, na only when person dey fully united with Papa Im will, this oneness fit happen.
Today, reflect on this beautiful prayer, and as you dey do am, allow the Lord to speak to you. Hear as E dey call you to fulfilment wey complete and to glory. But know say na by accepting your “time” you go reach there. Papa dey call you to follow Im Son Im footsteps by laying down your life in complete obedience to Papa Im will. To accept this cross na the road to Heaven, and Jesus Im prayer dey provide all the grace wey you need to talk “Yes.”
Papa for Heaven, I choose to accept Your perfect and holy will for everything. I accept Your invitation to carry my crosses for life and enter the time wey You don call me to enter. Make I find true glory for this time, and make my life always give You glory. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Read More – Ascension
Prayer Meditation for di Ascension
Saint of Today – Saints Marcellinus and Peter
