August 26, 2020
Wednesday for Week Twenty-One of Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus talk say, “Wahala dey for una, scribes and Pharisees, una hypocrites. Una be like tombs wey dem paint white: dem fine for outside, but inside dem full of dead people bone and every kind of dirty thing. Na so una too dey look righteous for outside, but inside una full of hypocrisy and evil deeds.” Matthew 23:27-28
Ah! Once again, Jesus dey talk to the Pharisees for one very direct way. E no hold anything back at all as E dey condemn dem. E describe dem as both things wey dem “paint white” and “tombs.” Dem be like things wey dem paint white because dem dey do everything wey dem fit do to make dem look holy for outside. Dem be like tombs because dirty sin and death dey live inside dem. E hard to imagine how Jesus for fit talk more directly or condemn dem pass like this.
One thing wey this tell us na say Jesus na person wey dey completely honest. E dey talk things as dem be, and E no dey twist His words. E no dey praise person with lie or pretend say everything dey fine when e no fine.
What of you? You fit dey completely honest for the way you dey act? No, no be our work to do wetin Jesus do and condemn other people, but we suppose learn from wetin Jesus do and apply am to ourselves! You ready and willing to look your own life and talk how e really be? You ready and willing to dey honest with yourself and with God about the condition of your soul? The problem be say, many times, we no dey ready. Many times, we just dey pretend say everything dey fine, and we no dey mind the “dead people bone and every kind of dirty thing” wey hide inside us. E no fine to see, and e no easy to admit.
So, once again, what of you? You fit look your own soul with honesty and name wetin you see? We hope say you go see goodness and virtue, and rejoice because of dem. But you fit dey sure say you go still see sin. We hope say e no go reach the extent wey the Pharisees get “every kind of dirty thing.” But even so, if you dey honest, you go see some dirt wey need cleaning.
Today, think deeply about how willing you dey to 1) honestly name the dirty things and sin wey dey your life and, 2) sincerely work hard to overcome dem. No wait until the matter push Jesus reach where E go cry out, “Wahala dey for you!”
Lord, help me to look my own life with honesty every day. Help me to see no be only the good virtues wey You don form inside me, but also the dirty things wey dey there because of my sin. Make I seek cleansing from that sin so that I go fit love You more fully. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Picture: Wahala Dey for Una, Scribes and Pharisees, by James Tissot
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