Monday, August 24, 2020
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Listen for English
Jesus see Nathanael as e dey come meet Am, and E talk about am say, “See true pikin of Israel. Two-face character no dey im heart.” Nathanael ask Am, “How You take know me?” Jesus answer am say, “Before Philip call you, I see you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answer Am, “Rabbi, na You be the Son of God; na You be the King of Israel.” John 1:47-49
When you first read this passage, you fit feel say you need to go back read am again. E easy to read am and think say something pass you. How e take be say Jesus just tell Nathanael (wey dem also dey call Bartholomew) say E see am as e sit down under the fig tree, and that one alone reach for Nathanael to answer, “Rabbi, na You be the Son of God; na You be the King of Israel.” E easy for person to confuse about how Nathanael take reach that kind conclusion so quick from wetin Jesus talk about am.
But notice how Jesus describe Nathanael. Na person wey “two-face character no dey im heart.” Other translations talk say “deceit no dey im heart.” So wetin that one mean?
If person get two-face character or deceit for heart, e mean say e dey show one face but hide another, and e sabi use cunning deceive people. E don master how to deceive. This kind character dangerous and e fit bring death. But to talk the opposite, say person “no get two-face character” or “no get deceit for heart,” na to talk say e dey talk true, e dey straightforward, im heart sincere, e no dey hide im real self, and e no be fake.
As for Nathanael, na person wey dey talk wetin e think freely. For this case, no be really say Jesus give am some strong argument wey appeal to im sense to convince am say E be God; Jesus no talk anything about that one. Instead, wetin happen be say this good virtue wey Nathanael get—to no get two-face character—help am look Jesus and understand say na truly who E be E be. Nathanael good habit of telling truth, having sincere heart and not hiding im real self help am not only reveal who Jesus be, but also see other people more clearly and truthfully. And this character help am well-well as e see Jesus for the first time and fit understand at once how great Jesus be.
Today, think deeply about how free your heart dey from deceit and two-face character. You too na person wey dey always talk true, get sincere heart and no dey hide your real self? You truly be who you dey show people say you be? To live like this na the only good way to live. Na life wey person dey live inside truth. Pray make God help you grow for this virtue today through the intercession of St. Bartholomew.
Lord, help me make I free from two-face character and deceit. Help me make I be person wey dey talk true, dey upright and get sincere heart. Thank You for the example wey Saint Bartholomew show. Give me the grace wey I need to follow im good virtues. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of the Day – Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
Picture: Nathaniel Under the Fig Tree, wey James Tissot paint
