Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Listen for English
“Oga, if na you carry am comot, tell me where you lay am, and I go carry am.” Jesus tell her, “Mary!” She turn come tell am for Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” wey mean Teacher. Jesus tell her, “No continue to hold Me tight, because I never go up go meet the Baba.” John 20:15b-17b
See the kind privilege wey she get! Mary Magdalene na the first person wey see the Lord wey don rise from death, and no doubt say plenty people for don conclude say na she no deserve this kind blessing pass anybody.
Scripture talk say Mary Magdalene na the woman wey Jesus drive seven demons comot from her body. E clear say person wey seven demons possess don live life of sin. Near the end of the 6th century, Pope Saint Gregory the Great still identify her as the sinful woman wey dem nearly stone to death. Jesus no condemn this woman, and E tell the people wey want stone her say make the person wey no get sin throw the first stone. One by one, dem comot, and Jesus forgive her come reconcile her with the Baba.
After Mary meet our Lord, she come become His faithful follower, and she dey among the holy women wey dey serve am and take care of His needs every day. Na because of this we dey call her “saint” now. But this passage above tell us even more about Jesus and His mercy.
This passage come from the account of how Jesus rise from death. Mary don go the tomb, only to see say e empty. She sit down there dey cry, as she dey think say somebody don carry Jesus body comot. But suddenly, right before her eyes, Jesus dey there, and E dey alive. His words touch her deep for heart and carry deep meaning. E talk say, “No continue to hold Me tight, because I never go up go meet the Baba.” Two things dey wey we fit talk about this passage.
First, na really wonderful blessing say Jesus appear to her first. This sinful woman don now become the first witness and the first messenger of the Resurrection. This tell us say Jesus no dey discriminate against us because of our past sins. E no dey keep wetin we don do for past for mind, come dey hold us responsible for am forever. When E forgive us, His forgiveness dey complete, and e dey bring us fully back into grace if we open ourself to am. Na this happen to Mary. Jesus choose her, this woman wey bin dey live life of sin, to be His first witness say E don rise from death.
Secondly, this passage show say Jesus really want make we hold am tight, but no be just for the way human beings dey do. Mary don come know Jesus for Earth, and now Jesus want make the bond between am and Mary deep pass before, once E don go up enter Heaven. For that time, E no want make E just dey with her for body alone; E want live inside her soul and join Himself to her, and to us, for the closest and deepest way.
Today, reflect on the desire wey dey our Lord Heart, say make we hold am tight for Heaven. Hear am as E dey tell you, “I don now go up go meet My Baba, and I dey invite you to hold Me tight with all your heart. Let Me enter, and allow Me live inside you with the closest bond. I love you and I want be one with you. You go let Me enter your heart?”
Lord, I really want hold You tight. I truly choose to be one with You for every way. Come live inside my heart and make me one with You. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of the Day – Saint Mary Magdalene
Article wey fit help you understand who Mary Magdalene be – New Advent
Picture: Christ Appear to Mary Magdalene after E Rise from Death, wey Alexander Ivanov paint
