November 25, 2020
Wednesday for Week Thirty-Four for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Listen for English
Jesus tell the crowd say: “Dem go catch una and persecute una, dem go hand una over to the synagogues and put una for prison, and dem go carry una go stand before kings and governors because of My name. This one go give una chance to bear witness.” Luke 21:12-13
This na something wey suppose make us think deep. And as this passage continue, wetin e dey ask of us come dey harder. E continue say, “Even una papa and mama, brothers, relatives and friends go hand una over, and dem go kill some of una. Everybody go hate una because of My name, but dem no go destroy even one hair for una head. Na through una perseverance una go save una life.”
Two main points dey wey we suppose learn from this passage. First, just like for yesterday Gospel, Jesus dey give us prophecy wey go prepare us for the persecution wey dey come. As E dey tell us wetin go happen, we go ready better when e happen. Yes, when people treat us with wickedness and without pity, especially our family and people wey close to us, na heavy cross to carry. E fit shake us reach where we go lose courage, vex and lose all hope. But make una no give up! The Lord don see this thing before e happen, and E dey prepare us for am.
Second, Jesus tell us how we go handle am when people treat us harshly and with bad mind. E talk say, “Na through una perseverance una go save una life.” If we stand strong through the trials of life, and we hold on to hope, mercy and confidence for God, we go win. This message really dey important. And true-true, e easy to talk am pass to do am.
Today, think deep about how Jesus dey invite us to live with perseverance. Plenty times, na when we need to persevere pass that we no dey feel like to continue. Instead, we fit feel like to lash out, fight back and vex. But when difficult situations give us chance, we fit live this Gospel for one way wey we no for fit live am if everything for our life easy and comfortable. Sometimes, the greatest gift wey we fit receive na the thing wey hard pass, because e dey help this virtue of perseverance grow. If you find yourself for this kind situation today, turn your mind to hope, and see any persecution as call to grow more for virtue.
Lord, I offer You my crosses, my pains and the persecution wey I dey face. I offer You all the ways wey people don treat me badly. For those small injustices, I dey beg for mercy. And when other people hatred dey cause me plenty distress, I pray make I fit persevere through Your grace. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr
Main picture for up: Christ Wey Dem Arrest, wey Giuseppe Cesari make
