Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Feast for Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles
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Jesus go up the mountain to pray, and E spend the whole night dey pray to God. Luke 6:12
To think about how Jesus pray all through the night na something wey dey really hold person mind. This thing wey E do dey teach us plenty things, just as e for don teach His Apostles. Na some of the things wey we fit learn from wetin E do be these.
First, person fit think say Jesus no “need” to pray. After all, na God E be. So, E need to pray? Well, this no really be the right question to ask. The matter no be whether E need to pray; instead, E dey pray because His prayer reach the very heart of who E be.
Prayer, first of all and above every other thing, na to enter deep communion with God. For Jesus, na deep communion with the Father for Heaven and with the Holy Spirit. Jesus dey always for perfect communion (unity) with the Father and the Spirit, so His prayer na just the way E show this communion here for earth. His prayer na how E dey live out His love for the Father and the Spirit. So, no be really say E need to pray so that E go fit remain close to Them. Instead, E pray because E dey perfectly united with Them. And this perfect communion call for prayer wey go express am here for earth. For this case, na prayer all through the night.
Second, as the prayer last all through the night, e show say Jesus’ “rest” no be any other thing apart from to dey for the Father presence. Just as rest dey restore us and give us fresh strength, na so Jesus’ vigil all through the night show say His rest as human being na to rest for the Father presence.
Third, wetin we suppose learn from this for our own life be say we no suppose ever think say prayer no get much value or power. Too often, we go tell God just a few things for prayer and leave am like that. But if Jesus choose to spend the whole night for prayer, we no suppose surprise if God want much more from the quiet time we dey spend for prayer pass wetin we dey give Am now. Make e no surprise you if God dey call you to spend much more time for prayer every day. No hesitate to set regular times and a steady pattern for prayer. And if you find out say you no fit sleep one night, no hesitate to get up, kneel down, and seek the presence of God wey dey live inside your soul. Seek Am, listen to Am, stay with Am, and allow Am to take over your whole being as you dey pray. Jesus don give us the perfect example. Na now our responsibility to follow that example.
As we dey honour the Apostles Simon and Jude, today, think deeply about your own calling to follow Christ and serve as His apostle to the world. Na only through life of prayer you fit fulfil this mission. Think deeply about your prayer life, and no hesitate to make your decision stronger to follow how deep and fervent our Lord’s perfect example of prayer be.
Lord Jesus, help me make I pray. Help me make I follow Your example of prayer and make I seek the Father presence deeply and continually. Help me make I enter deep communion with You, and make the Holy Spirit take over my whole being. Jesus, na You I trust.
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Saint for Today – Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles
