July 23, 2020
Thursday for di Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious—Memorial wey no be Obligatory
Listen for English
Di disciples come meet Jesus, come ask am, “Why You dey use parables talk to di crowd?” E answer dem, “Na because una don receive di gift to know di mysteries of di Kingdom of Heaven, but dem never receive am. Anybody wey get, dem go give am more, and e go get plenty; anybody wey no get, dem go take even di one wey e get comot from am.” Matthew 13:10-12
This one look like wetin fair? When you first read am, e fit no look so. Why Jesus go promise more to people wey get more, and less to people wey no get? This one reach di very heart of di mystery of grace, and di mystery of di Kingdom of Heaven!
First of all, we see say Jesus use parables talk to di crowds, but E talk to His disciples clearly and directly. Jesus explain say na “Because una don receive di gift to know di mysteries of di Kingdom of Heaven, but dem never receive am.” Na for this reason Jesus dey use words wey their meaning dey hidden when E dey talk to di big crowds.
To talk am plain here, wetin Jesus dey talk be say some people dey more open to di truth than other people. When person no dey open, wetin Jesus fit do get limit, and so E must use parables talk. One purpose of parable na to make person think. Na way to draw di person near so that e fit use im mind think deeply about di Word wey dem don speak.
When person dey open to di Truth, like di disciples, Jesus fit remove di veil and talk clearly, deeply and beautifully about di mysteries of di Kingdom of Heaven. Na this one suppose be our goal. We must try to be among people wey “understand am.” We must try to understand everything wey Jesus dey talk and believe am with all our heart. In fact, once we begin believe and, after that, live according to wetin we don believe, we go begin one wonderful journey of faith and understanding wey we no even know before say e dey.
Na this Jesus mean when E talk say, “Anybody wey get, dem go give am more.” Life of grace be like this: once we begin accept everything wey be true, and then allow am change our lives, we go receive more and more, far pass anything wey we ever imagine. But for di other side, when we refuse to listen and understand, even di small faith and understanding wey we get go dey slip away small-small until confusion take their place.
Today, think deeply about how you dey open to di Word of God and everything wey God wan tell you. Try to listen and understand. If you do this, you go discover say one glorious life of grace dey wait, wey God wan pour on you in full measure.
Lord, I really want know You. I really want seek You and discover everything wey You wan talk. Help me to turn to You for everything, and to continue to grow deeper for di life of faith. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious
Picture: Jesus Dey Discuss with His Disciples, by James Tissot
