August 1, 2020
Saturday for di Seventeenth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of di Church—Memorial
Listen for English
“Give me di head of John di Baptist here for tray.” Matthew 14:8
Chai, even to just call am bad day no reach. Dem cut off Saint John di Baptist head because Salome, di daughter of Herodias, ask for am. John dey prison because e tell Herod di truth about im marriage, and Herodias heart full of hate for John. So Herodias make her daughter dance for front of Herod and im guests. Di dance sweet Herod so much wey e promise Salome anything, even up to half of im kingdom. But instead, na di head of John di Baptist she ask for.
Even as we first look am, dis request strange well-well. Dem promise Salome up to half of di kingdom, but instead, she ask make dem kill one good and holy man. In fact, Jesus talk about John say nobody wey woman born great pass am. So why Herodias and her daughter get all dis hate?
Dis sad thing wey happen show di power wey anger get when e reach im worst level. When anger dey build up and grow, e dey stir strong feelings so much wey person no fit think or reason clearly again. Hate and desire to revenge fit take over person completely and lead am to do things wey foolish well-well.
Herod too show for here how person fit act without sense at all. Pressure push am to do wetin e no want do because e fear to do di right thing. Di hate wey dey Herodias heart overpower am, and because of dis, e agree make dem kill John, di same person wey e actually seem to like and wey e dey enjoy to listen to.
Normally, we dey look for encouragement from di good example of other people. But for dis case, we see say we fit get “encouragement” for another way. We suppose use wetin happen when dem kill John as chance to check any struggle wey we get with anger, bitterness and especially hate. Hate na ugly feeling wey fit enter our heart small-small and cause plenty destruction for our life and di life of other people. Even when dis feeling wey no dey right just dey start, we suppose confess am and overcome am.
Today, think well about whether you see any hate for your heart. You still dey hold any grudge or bitterness wey no gree go? Dat feeling dey grow and dey damage your life and di life of other people? If na so, make up your mind to let am go and forgive. Na di right thing to do.
Lord, give me di grace wey I need to look inside my heart and see any way wey I dey tend towards anger, bitterness and hate. Abeg, cleanse me of all dis things and set me free. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of di Church
Picture: Di Cutting Off of Saint John di Baptist Head by Caravaggio
