March 27, 2020
Friday for the Fourth Week of Lent
Readings for Today
Listen for English
As Jesus dey teach for the temple area, E raise Im voice talk say, “Una know Me, and una still know where I come from. But I no come on My own; the One wey send Me, wey una no know, na true One.” John 7:28
Sometimes, the more we know person well, the harder e dey be for us to really see the goodness wey dey inside am and how God dey present for im life. Plenty times, temptation dey come make we look at dem and assume say we “know everything about dem.” Because of this, wetin we often dey do na just to put their faults and weaknesses for front of our mind, and na only through those faults and weaknesses we dey see dem.
Na wetin happen with Jesus be this. When Jesus go up for the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, some people wey know Am dey there. E fit be say dem know Am as just this ordinary carpenter pikin. Maybe dem even come from Im hometown. Because dem know Jesus like this, dem immediately doubt whether E fit be the Messiah. But, of course, dem really make mistake.
This one teach us one big lesson. Na lesson about how we dey quick judge and find too much fault with people wey we know well. The more we know about person, the more we go know im faults and weaknesses. And if we no take care, na those things we go put mind on, instead of the good qualities wey God want make we see.
Na wetin happen with Jesus be this. No, E no get any bad quality at all. E dey perfect. But e most likely get plenty things for Im life wey make other people judge Am wrongly and find fault with Am. The confidence wey E get in Himself, the authority wey E show for Im teaching, the extraordinary compassion wey E get for sinners, and other things like these, na all special good qualities wey some people no fit understand. Because of this, dem choose to find fault with Am. Dem talk say, “We know where E come from.” For another way to talk am, dem no believe say person wey dem know fit get that kind greatness.
Wetin you dey think about the people around you? Wetin you dey think about the people wey close to you pass? You fit look beyond any weakness wey dem seem to get, and see how the hand of God dey work? You fit look beyond wetin eye dey see and see the value and dignity of their lives? When you fit see the goodness of other people, point am out, and dey grateful for am, na the goodness wey God dey show you really dey see and love. God dey alive and dey work inside every soul around you. Na your responsibility to see that goodness and love am. This one need true humility from you, but for the end, na one way to love God wey dey among una.
Today, reflect on how you dey look at the people wey close to you pass, and take some time to think deeply about the ways wey God dey alive for their lives. If you do this, you go dey love God wey dey right there among una.
Lord, I truly love You. Help me to see You and love You inside other people. And help me to leave any temptation wey dey make me quick judge people, and with humble heart, make the goodness of all Your sons and daughters draw me close. I love You, dear Lord; make I still love You inside other people. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Image: Jesus for Middle of the Teachers of the Law, Paolo Veronese
