August 7, 2020
Friday for Week Eighteen for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr, and Im Companions, Martyrs—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Saint Cajetan, Fada—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Listen for English
“Anybody wey wan follow me must deny im own self, carry im cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
One word dey very important for this thing wey Jesus talk. Na the word “must.” Notice say Jesus no talk say some of una fit need to follow me by carrying una cross. No, He talk say anybody wey wan follow me must…
So the first question suppose easy to answer. You wan follow Jesus? If na only for our mind, that question easy. Yes, of course we want am. But this no be question wey we fit answer only for our mind. We must also answer am by choosing to do wetin Jesus talk say we must do. That is, to want follow Jesus mean say you go deny your own self and carry your cross. Hmmm, so you wan follow Am?
We hope say the answer na “Yes.” We hope say we don firmly make up our mind to accept everything wey following Jesus involve. But that kind commitment no small. Sometimes, we dey fall enter the foolish trap of thinking say we fit follow Am “small-small” for here and now, and everything go dey fine, and we go surely enter Heaven when we die. Maybe that one true reach some level, but if na so we dey think, then we dey miss the real meaning of life and everything wey God don keep for us.
To deny your own self and carry your cross na life wey get far more glory than any life wey we fit plan by ourselves. Na blessed life of grace, and na the only road to the fullest satisfaction for life. Nothing fit better pass to enter fully into life of complete self-sacrifice by dying to our own self.
Today, think well whether you ready to answer this question with “Yes,” no be only for your mind, but with your whole life too. You ready to accept the life of sacrifice wey Jesus dey call you to live? How that kind life go be for your own life? Talk “Yes” today, tomorrow and every day through wetin you dey do, and you go see glorious things happen for your life.
Lord, I really wan follow You, and today I choose to reject every selfish thing for my life. I choose to carry the cross of living without selfishness, as You don call me to do. Make I accept my cross with joy, and make You change me through this choice. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saints for Today –
Saint Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr, and Im Companions, Martyrs
Image: Christ with the Cross for Im back, wey Titian paint
