July 20, 2020
Mọnde for di Izu 16 for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial wey No Be Obligation
Listen for English
“Teacher, we wan see sign from You.” E answer dem say, “Na generation wey wicked and wey no dey faithful dey find sign, but dem no go get any sign except di sign of Prophet Jonah.” Matthew 12:38-39
Na Jonah be di sign. E spend three days and three nights inside di belle of one whale. Di people wey throw am comot from di boat enter water surely think say e don die. But God use di whale take carry out His will, as e carry Jonah go Nineveh to preach make people turn from sin come meet God. And dem truly turn from sin and change their lives! For di end, di darkness inside di whale belle come turn blessing and sign for di generations wey go come.
Now, make we move from Jonah story come di story above, where Jesus followers dey ask Am for sign. Dem want some kind “proof” of who E be. Or maybe dem just wan know wetin go happen and want make miracle “entertain” dem. No matter wetin make dem ask, Jesus make am clear say di sign wey E go give na di sign of Jonah.
E clear say Jonah story show ahead of time how Jesus go die, spend three days inside tomb, and rise from di dead. Na dis be di sign wey Jesus go give, and na di sign wey E still dey give. Na sign of great hope when we understand am well.
But plenty times, we fit fall into di same temptation as Jesus followers for di story above. Plenty times, we too dey want another sign apart from di signs wey Jesus don give us. We want some other proof from God about wetin E want. We want make E speak loud and clear. But no be every time e dey happen like dat. Most times, wetin we dey experience be like say God keep quiet. We fit dey wonder, “Lord, where You dey? Why You no dey speak to me?” But Jesus go speak to us for di same way. E go gently remind us of His life, death and Resurrection. E go remind us say we must believe everything wey E don talk, and even if we feel like say we dey inside whale belle or we don die inside tomb, hope never finish. God dey present for everything, and E dey present with us and dey work, even when e be like say E keep quiet.
Today, think well about how strong your faith be, even if you no get di sign from Heaven wey you want. Make you remember say di Father don speak to you clearly through di life, death and Resurrection of Jesus, and na so E still dey speak to you today. Listen to dat lesson and accept di truths wey e dey proclaim. Even if you feel like say you dey inside tomb or say God keep quiet, know say E no keep quiet. E dey speak to you all di time. You only need to recognize His voice.
Lord, help me believe in You even though I no dey see miracles or signs from Heaven. Help me believe in You despite any doubt or weakness wey I get for my life. Give me strong faith to answer Your call for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
