February 6, 2021
Saturday for di Fourth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Paul Miki and Im Companions, Martyrs—Memorial
Listen for English
“Make una come with Me go one quiet place where people no dey, make una rest small.” Mark 6:34
Di Twelve just return from where dem go dey preach di Gospel for villages. Dem don tire. Because of Jesus compassion, E invite dem make dem follow Am go rest small. So dem enter boat to cross go one place where people no dey. But when di people hear about am, dem rush waka go di place wey di boat dey go. So, when di boat reach, crowd don dey wait for dem.
Of course, Jesus no vex. Di strong desire wey di people get to dey with Am and di Twelve no discourage Am. Instead, di Gospel tell us say when Jesus see dem, “pity touch Im heart,” and E begin teach dem many things.
For our own life, after we don serve other people well, e make sense if we want rest. Even Jesus want this rest for Imself and Im Apostles. But di one thing wey Jesus allow make e “interrupt” Im rest na di clear desire wey di people get to dey with Am and receive spiritual food through Im preaching. Plenty things dey wey we fit learn from this example of our Lord.
For example, many times, papa or mama fit just want dey alone for some time, but family matter go come up wey need their attention. Priests and members of religious orders too fit get duties wey dem no expect, wey come from their ministry, and at first, these duties fit look like wetin dey scatter their plans. Na so e still be for any vocation or condition for life. We fit think say na one thing we need, but duty go come call us, and we go see say dem need us for another way.
One important thing wey go help us share for Christ apostolic mission, whether na to our families, di Church, our communities or friends, na to dey ready and willing to give our time and strength freely. Na true say wisdom to judge well go show us sometimes say we need rest, but for other times, di call to show love go pass wetin we see as genuine need for our own rest and relaxation. And when true love demand something from us, we go always find say our Lord dey give us di grace wey we need to give our time freely. Na often for those moments our Lord dey choose to use us for ways wey truly dey change other people life.
Today, think deeply about wetin di people around you truly need. People dey wey your time and attention go help well-well today? Other people get needs wey go require make you change your plans and give yourself for one way wey hard? No hesitate to give yourself freely to other people. In fact, this kind love no just dey change di people wey we serve; many times, na still one of di things wey fit give us di most rest and renew our strength.
My Lord wey dey give freely, You give Yourself without holding anything back. People come meet You with their needs, and You no hesitate to serve dem out of love. Give me heart wey go follow Your example of giving freely, and help me to always say “Yes” to di work of love wey You call me to do. Make I learn to find great joy as I dey serve other people, especially for those situations for life wey I no plan for and wey I no expect. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Paul Miki and Im Companions, Martyrs
