September 23, 2020
Wednesday for Week Twenty-Five for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest—Memorial
Listen for English
“And for those wey no welcome una, when una dey leave that town, shake di dust comot from una feet as testimony against dem.” Luke 9:5
Na bold talk be this from Jesus. Na talk wey suppose also give us courage when people dey oppose us.
Jesus just finish to tell His disciples make dem go from town to town dey preach di Gospel. He tell dem make dem no carry extra food or clothes for di journey, but make dem depend on di generosity of di people wey dem dey preach to. And He acknowledge say some people no go accept dem. For those wey truly reject dem and their message, dem must “shake di dust” comot from their feet as dem dey leave di town.
Wetin this one mean? E dey especially tell us two things. First, when people reject us, e fit pain us. Because of this, e easy make we begin vex, withdraw from people and continue to dwell on how dem reject us and di pain wey we feel. E easy make we siddon dey vex and, because of this, allow di rejection to harm us even more.
To shake di dust comot from our feet na way to talk say we no suppose allow di pain wey people cause us to affect us. Na way to make am clear say we no go allow wetin other people think or di bad mind wey dem get towards us to control us. Na important choice to make for life when people reject us.
Secondly, na way to talk say we must continue to move forward. No be only to overcome any pain wey we get; we also need to move forward to look for those wey go receive our love and di Gospel message wey we carry. So, for one sense, this encouragement from Jesus no be first about how to handle am when other people reject us; instead, na mainly about how to look for those wey go receive us and receive di Gospel message wey God call us to share.
Today, think deeply about any pain wey you still carry for your heart because other people reject you. Try to let am go, and know say God dey call you to reach out to other people with love, so that you fit share di love of Christ with dem.
Lord, when people reject me and I feel pain, help me to let go of any anger wey I get. Help me to continue di mission of love wey You give me and to keep sharing Your Gospel with those wey go receive am. Jesus, na You I trust.
Day Two: Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux – Di Little Flower
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest
Picture – Christ for Front of Herod, wey Duccio di Buoninsegna paint
