January 14, 2021
Thursday for First Week of Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
One man wey get kuturu come meet Jesus, kneel down beg Am, and talk say, “If na wetin You want, You fit make me clean.” Pity move Jesus, and E stretch out Im hand, touch the man wey get kuturu, and tell am say, “Na wetin I want. Make you become clean.” Mark 1:40–41
If we come meet our Lord wey be God with faith, kneel down before Am and bring wetin we need to Am, we too go receive the same answer wey E give this man wey get kuturu: “Na wetin I want. Make you become clean.” These words suppose give us hope for inside any kind challenge wey we face for life.
Wetin our Lord want for you? And wetin E want make clean for your life? This story about the man wey get kuturu wey come meet Jesus no mean say our Lord go grant every request wey we bring to Am. Instead, e show say E want make us clean from wetin dey trouble us pass. We suppose see the kuturu for this story as sign of the spiritual sickness wey dey trouble your soul. First of all, we suppose see am as sign of the sin for your life wey don turn habit and dey slowly cause serious harm to your soul.
For that time, kuturu no only dey cause serious harm to person body; e dey also separate the person from the community. People wey get am must live apart from other people wey no get the sickness; and if dem come near other people, dem must use certain signs wey people fit see to show say dem get kuturu, so that people no go come touch dem. So, kuturu get effects both on the person and on the community.
Na so e still be with plenty sins wey don turn habit. Sin dey harm our souls, but e dey also affect our relationships. For example, person wey don make am habit to dey harsh, dey judge people, dey use words mock people, or dey behave like that, go experience the bad effects of these sins for im relationships.
As we return to wetin Jesus talk above, think about that sin wey no only affect your soul pass, but wey also affect your relationships. Concerning that sin, Jesus want tell you say, “Make you become clean.” E want make your relationship strong by cleansing the sin wey dey inside your soul. And all wey you need do for Am to do this na to turn to Am, kneel down and bring your sin before Am. This one especially true for inside the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Today, think deeply about your closest relationships for life. Then think about which of your sins dey directly hurt those relationships pass. Anything wey come your mind, you fit dey sure say Jesus want remove that spiritual kuturu from inside your soul.
My Lord wey be God, help me see wetin dey inside me wey dey harm my relationships with other people pass. Help me see wetin dey cause separation and pain. Give me the humility to see this, and the trust wey I need to turn to You, confess am and seek Your healing. Na You, and only You, fit free me from my sin, so I turn to You with confidence and surrender myself to You. With faith, I still dey wait for Your words wey dey heal, “Na wetin I want. Make you become clean.” Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Picture wey we feature above: Christ dey make man wey get kuturu clean. Na Sibeaster make am
