August 9, 2020
Sunday Number Nineteen for Ordinary Time, Year A
Readings for Today
Listen for English
For the fourth watch for night, Jesus come towards them, dey waka on top the sea. When the disciples see Him dey waka on top the sea, fear catch them well-well. “Na ghost,” dem talk, and dem shout because of fear. At once Jesus tell them, “Get courage, na Me; make una no fear.” Matthew 14:25-27
Jesus dey make you fear? Or, to talk am better, His perfect and divine will dey make you fear? We hope say no, but sometimes e fit make you fear, at least for beginning. This story dey show us some spiritual truths and how we fit respond to wetin God want for our life.
First of all, the setting of this story dey important. The Apostles dey inside boat for middle of the lake for night. We fit see the darkness as the darkness wey we dey face for life as we dey pass through different challenges and difficulties. From tradition, people don dey see the boat as sign of the Church, and the lake as sign of the world. So the setting of this story dey show say the message na for all of us wey dey live for this world, wey remain inside the Church, and wey dey face the “darkness” of life.
Sometimes, when the Lord come meet us inside the darkness wey we dey face, fear of Him dey catch us at once. No be really God Himself we dey fear; instead, we fit easily begin fear wetin God want and wetin He dey ask us to do. Wetin God want dey always call us to give without putting ourselves first, and to love with sacrifice. Sometimes, this one fit hard to accept. But when we hold on to faith, our Lord go gently tell us, “Get courage, na Me; make una no fear.” Wetin He want no be something we suppose fear. We suppose try to accept am with full confidence and trust. This one fit hard for beginning, but with faith and trust in Him, wetin He want go lead us to life wey go fulfil us to the fullest.
Today, think deep about anything wey our Lord fit dey call you to do for your life right now. If e first look like something wey pass your power, keep your eyes fixed on Him and know say He no go ever ask you to do anything wey go too hard for you to do. His grace dey always enough, and wetin He want always deserve make we accept am fully and trust am.
Lord, make wetin You want happen for my life in everything. I pray make I always welcome You into the darkest challenges for my life, and make I keep my eyes fixed on You and Your perfect plan. Make I never give in to fear, but make I allow You use Your grace drive that fear away. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall for Sunday
Picture: Le Christ marchant sur la mer wey Amedee Varin paint
