July 10, 2020
Friday for the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus tell im Apostle dem: “See, I dey send una like sheep for where wolves dey; so make una get sense like snake and make una dey innocent like dove. But make una beware of people, because dem go hand una over to court and flog una for their synagogue dem, and dem go carry una go stand before governor dem and king dem because of Me, so that una go bear witness before dem and the people wey no know God.” Matthew 10:16-18
Imagine say you be one of Jesus followers for the time wey E dey preach. Imagine say people dey very excited about Am and dem get strong hope say E go be the new King and say na Im be the Messiah. People go get plenty hope and excitement about wetin dey come.
But then, when nobody expect am, Jesus give this sermon. E talk say dem go make Im followers suffer and flog dem, and say this suffering go continue again and again. This one must don make Im followers pause, begin seriously question Jesus, and wonder whether to follow Am really worth am.
People don dey make Christians suffer because of their faith throughout the ages. E don happen for every age and every culture. E still dey happen today. So wetin we go do about am? How we go respond?
Plenty Christians fit fall for the trap of thinking say Christianity na just to “dey get along with everybody.” E easy to believe say if we get love and kindness, everybody go love us too. But no be wetin Jesus talk be that.
Jesus make am clear say the Church go face suffering because of the faith, and say e no suppose surprise us when this kind thing happen to us. E no suppose surprise us when people for our culture oppress us and act with wickedness towards us. When this one happen, e easy for us to lose faith and lose heart. We fit lose courage and feel like say make we begin practise our faith for secret. E hard to live our faith for open when we know say our culture and the world no like am and dem no go accept am.
Examples dey all around us. Na just to read news wey no be religious news, and we go see say hatred for the Christian faith dey grow. Because of this, we need to take Jesus words today seriously pass before. We need to remember Im warning and put our hope for Im promise say E go dey with us and give us the words wey we go talk when we need am. Above everything, this passage dey call us to get hope and confidence for our God wey love us.
Today, reflect on how ready you dey and how willing you dey to face the hatred of the world. Make you no use hatred answer dem. Instead, you must try your best to get courage and strength to endure every kind suffering wey dem cause you because of your faith, with the help, strength and wisdom of Christ.
Lord, give me strength, courage and wisdom as I dey live my faith for world wey dey against You. Make I respond with love and mercy when people treat me harshly and misunderstand me. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Picture: Sermon for the Mountain, by Henrik Olrik
