February 9, 2021
Tuesday for di Fifth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
When di Pharisees and some scribes wey come from Jerusalem gather round Jesus, dem notice say some of His disciples dey chop with hands wey no clean, that is, hands wey dem no wash. Mark 7:6–8
E look clear well-well say as Jesus become popular so quickly, jealousy and envy enter these religious leaders, and dem want find fault with Am. Because of this, dem watch Jesus and His disciples well, and dem notice say Jesus disciples no dey follow di traditions of di elders. So di leaders begin ask Jesus questions about this matter. Jesus answer dem with strong words of correction. E quote prophet Isaiah wey talk say, “These people dey honour me with their mouth, but their hearts dey far from me; their worship of me na for nothing, as dem dey teach human rules as doctrines.”
Jesus correct dem with strong words because true worship no dey their hearts. Di different traditions of di elders no necessarily bad, like to carefully wash hand according to religious custom before person chop. But these traditions no get meaning if deep faith and love for God no be wetin dey move people to follow dem. To follow human traditions only for outside no really be act of worship to God, and na that worship Jesus want for dem. E want make their hearts dey burn with love for God and with true worship to God.
Wetin our Lord want from each one of us na worship. Worship wey pure, wey come from heart, and wey no get pretence. E want make we love God with deep devotion from inside our hearts. E want make we pray, listen to Am, and serve His holy will with all di strength of our soul. And this one fit happen only when we truly worship God.
As Catholics, our life of prayer and worship get foundation for di holy Liturgy. Di Liturgy include plenty traditions and practices wey show our faith and become way wey God dey use give us His grace. And even though di Liturgy itself different well-well from just di “tradition of di elders” wey Jesus dey criticise, e good make we remind ourselves say di many Liturgies of our Church must lead us from di actions wey we dey do for outside to worship from inside our hearts. To just dey do di actions alone no get meaning. We must allow God to work on us and inside us as we take part for di outward celebration of di Sacraments.
Today, reflect on di strong desire for our Lord heart to draw you into worship. Reflect on how well you dey allow Am draw you into this worship anytime you attend di holy Mass. Try make your participation no be only for outside, but first of all, make e come from inside your heart. To do so go help make sure say di strong correction wey our Lord give di scribes and Pharisees no go apply to you too.
My divine Lord, na You and only You deserve all worship, adoration and praise. Na You and only You deserve di worship wey I dey offer You from di depth of my heart. Help me and Your whole Church make di worship wey we dey show for outside always come from inside our hearts, so that we go give You di glory wey Your holy name deserve. Jesus, na You I trust.
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Di image wey we feature above: Di Meal for di Pharisee House, by James Tissot
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Lent 2021
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