September 17, 2020
Thursday for di Twenty-Fourth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of di Church—Memorial wey no compulsory
Listen for English
One Pharisee invite Jesus make He come chop with am, and Jesus enter di Pharisee house, come lean back for table. One woman wey be sinner for di town hear say Jesus dey for table inside di Pharisee house. She carry one alabaster bottle wey ointment dey inside, come stand behind Jesus for His feet, dey cry, and she begin use her tears wash His feet. Then she use her hair wipe His feet, kiss dem, and rub dem with di ointment. Luke 7:36-38
Part of dis Gospel na about di Pharisee. If we read further for dis passage, we go see say di Pharisee begin judge and condemn dis woman and Jesus well-well. Jesus rebuke am, just as He don do many times before with di Pharisees. But dis passage no be only rebuke of di Pharisees. Di main thing for di story na love.
Dis love na di love wey dey inside di heart of dis woman wey be sinner. Na love wey show through sorrow for sin and deep humility. Her sin big and, because of dis, her humility and love big too. Make we first look at dat humility. E show for di things wey she do as she come meet Jesus.
First, “she stand behind Him…”
Second, she fall down “for His feet…”
Third, she dey “cry…”
Fourth, she wash His feet “with her tears…”
Fifth, she dry His feet “with her hair…”
Sixth, she “kiss” His feet.
Seventh, she “anoint” His feet with her perfume wey cost plenty money.
Pause small and try picture dis scene for your mind. Try see dis woman wey be sinner as she humble herself with love before Jesus. If all dis wey she do no show deep sorrow, repentance and humility, then e hard to know wetin else e be. No be something wey she plan ahead, or carefully arrange to get wetin she want, or do to control another person. Instead, e show deep humility, sincerity and complete giving of herself. Through dis action, she dey cry to Jesus for mercy and compassion, and she no even need to talk one word.
Today, reflect on your own sin. Unless you know your sin, you no fit show dis kind humble sorrow. You know your sin? From there, think about going down on your knees for ground, bowing your head reach ground before Jesus, and sincerely begging for His compassion and mercy. Try do am like dat for real. Make am real and complete. Di result na say Jesus go treat you with di same mercy wey He show dis woman wey be sinner.
Lord, I dey beg for Your mercy. I be sinner and I deserve eternal condemnation. I acknowledge my sin. I dey beg You, for Your mercy, make You forgive my sin and pour Your compassion wey no get end upon me. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of di Church
Di main image above: Dinner for di Pharisee House, by Maria Felice Tibaldi
