Sunday, July 14, 2019
Sunday Nọmba 15 for Ordinary Time, Year C
Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest—Memorial wey no be compulsory
(For United States, dem dey move this memorial go July 18)
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin—Memorial for USA
Listen for English
“Make you love di 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 person wey sabi di Law well talk these words to Jesus. E dey quote di Law for Old Testament from Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12). Jesus praise am for wetin e talk. But after that, di man ask Jesus, “And who be my neighbour?” Jesus answer am with di story of di Good Samaritan wey we sabi well.
The story of the Good Samaritan suppose open our eyes to some truths wey no too sweet about how we dey love our neighbour, or how we no dey love am at all. First, one priest and one Levite pass by the man wey dem beat and wey dey suffer for roadside. Dem no mind am; dem pass for the other side of the road. Then the Samaritan pass by, compassion fill im heart, and e make special effort to help the man.
Wetin we suppose learn clear. We suppose be like di Good Samaritan wey show mercy to di man wey need help. For our mind, e easy to agree say na so e be. But for wetin we dey do, no be so e dey always be.
E worth to notice say na priest Jesus use for di story as di first person wey pass for di other side of di road. One thing wey this one dey tell us be say, plenty times, we dey look for wetin dem dey call “holiness for outside,” while, for true, we no get real “holiness for inside.” We fit see di priest as sign of people 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 di way we dey live, we be pretenders, and we no dey live as di holy calling wey we receive demand.
Today, think well about how holiness for outside take different from holiness for inside. Di way e suppose be na say love for God go fill your inner life so completely that e go overflow enter wetin you dey do for outside. If your love for God no dey fully alive deep inside your heart, no way dey wey you fit truly be holy.
Lord, help me make I truly love You with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Help me make my love for You sincere so tey e go overflow enter the love wey I get for other people. Make Your precious gift of holiness fill every part of my life and help me make I love You and other people completely. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of the Day – Saint Camillus de Lellis – Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
