May 18, 2020
Monday for di Sixth Week of Easter
Di Readings for Today
Saint John I, Pope and Martyr—Memorial wey no be compulsory
Listen for English
“Dem go drive una comot from di synagogues; in fact, di time dey come when anybody wey kill una go think say e dey worship God. Dem go do this because dem no know either di Father or Me. I don tell una this so that when their time reach, una go fit remember say I tell una.” John 16:2–4
E fit well be say, as di disciples dey listen to Jesus tell dem say dem go drive dem comot from di synagogues and even kill dem, di words enter one ear, comot for di other. True, e fit don worry dem small, but e fit well be say dem quick move on without worrying too much about am. But na why Jesus talk say, “I don tell una this so that when their time reach, una go fit remember say I tell una.” And you fit dey sure say when di scribes and Pharisees persecute di disciples, dem remember these words wey Jesus talk.
E go don be heavy cross for dem to suffer this kind persecution from their religious leaders. Na di same people wey suppose show dem di way to God come dey scatter their lives. Dem go don face temptation to lose hope and lose their faith. But Jesus know beforehand say this heavy trial go come, and na why E warn dem say e go happen.
But wetin draw attention na wetin Jesus no talk. E no tell dem say make dem fight back, start riot, organize revolution, and things like that. Instead, if you read di other things wey Jesus talk around this statement, we go see say Jesus tell dem say di Holy Spirit go take care of everything, lead dem, and give dem power to testify about Jesus. To testify about Jesus na to be His witness. And to be witness to Jesus na to be martyr. So Jesus prepare His disciples for di heavy cross of persecution wey dem go suffer from di religious leaders. E let dem know say di Holy Spirit go give dem strength to stand as His witnesses and testify about Him. And once these things begin happen, di disciples begin remember everything wey Jesus don tell dem.
You too must understand say to be Christian mean say persecution go dey. We dey see this persecution for our world today through different terrorist attacks against Christians. Sometimes, some people still dey see am inside di “Church for House,” wey be di family, when people dey mock dem and treat dem harshly because dem dey try live according to their faith. And, sadly, e dey happen even inside di Church itself when we see fighting, anger, disagreement and judging of one another.
Na di Holy Spirit be di key. Di Holy Spirit get important work wey E dey do for our world right now. Na to give us strength as we dey bear witness to Christ, and to help us no pay attention to any way wey di evil one fit use attack us. So if you dey feel di pressure of persecution in any way, understand say Jesus no talk these words only for His first disciples, but for you too.
Today, think deeply about any way wey you dey experience persecution for your life. Allow am become opportunity to get hope and trust for di Lord through di Holy Spirit wey God dey pour out. E no go ever leave your side if you trust in Am.
Lord, when I feel di weight of di world or persecution, give me peace for my mind and heart. Help give me strength through di Holy Spirit so that I go fit bear witness to You with joy. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for di Day – Saint John I, Pope and Martyr
Picture: Di Last Prayer of di Christian Martyrs by Jean-Léon Gérôme
Di Road to Holiness:
To Become Living Sacrifice of Love
