July 24, 2020
Fraide for Di Sixteenth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest, Hermit—Memorial Wey No Be By Force
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“Di seed wey dem sow for ground wey get plenty stone na di person wey hear di word and receive am at once with joy. But e no get root, and e dey last only for some time. When trouble or persecution come because of di word, e dey fall away at once.” Matthew 13:20-21
You be “pop-Kristian?” Dat fit be new word. But e show di main thing about dis kind Kristian wey dem describe above. Dis passage describe one out of di four kinds of Kristian wey dey for di Parable of di Sower. Some be like seed wey dem sow for path, some be like seed wey dem sow for ground wey get plenty stone, some be like seed wey dem sow among chuku-chuku, and some be like seed wey dem sow for good soil. Each of dese descriptions give us plenty things to think about.
Make we look at di Kristian wey be like seed wey dem sow for ground wey get plenty stone, di one wey no get root. For everyday life, na dis kind person we fit call “pop-Kristian.” Na person wey dey profess faith in Christ when people dey like am and accept am well. When e easy and convenient, dis person dey put all im body inside. But as soon as people begin oppose di Gospel, di Word of God, and to follow Christ suddenly no dey popular again for di culture, dis person no dey waste time to choose di culture instead of di Truth.
Dis na something wey dey really happen for dis our time. Di culture and di whole world dey oppose di truth of our Christian faith more and more. Di world dey get more power, more influence, and dey bully people more, and e be like say na im dey win di battle. Dis na problem. And di real problem come from di fact say too many Christians no get deep root for their life of faith.
Di best thing na make di Word of God enter deep inside our hearts like seed wey dem sow for good soil. When dis happen, di Word dey grow, dey strong and dey stand firm. And when di “storm” of culture or society dey blow, di Kristian wey get deep root and deep faith no go shake.
Today, think well whether you really ready to stand with Christ and stand for di Truth, no matter how hard e fit be or how people fit reject am. You ready to endure how di world dey mock di Truth and twist am to make am look like wetin e no be? You ready to remain strong for your faith inside society wey dey leave God out more and more? If you dey struggle with being “pop-Kristian,” pray make God send His roots deep inside your heart so dat you no go shake, no matter wetin e go cost you.
Lord, I want make Your Word enter deep inside my heart. I want remain strong for my faith, no matter wetin e go cost me. Help me make I no hold anything back for my faith and my love for everything. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest, Hermit
Picture: Di Appearance for di Mountain for Galilee, by Duccio di Buoninsegna
