February 16, 2021
Tuesday for the Sixth Week for Ordinary Time
Reading Dem for Today
Listen for English
“Una never understand or grasp wetin e mean? Una heart don hard? Una get eye but una no dey see, una get ear but una no dey hear?” Mark 8:17–18
How you go answer these question dem wey Jesus ask Im disciple dem, if na you He ask? E take humility to admit say you never understand or grasp wetin e mean, say your heart don really hard, and say you no dey see and hear everything wey God don reveal. True true, people dey struggle with these things for different levels, so we hope say your own struggle no too serious. But if you fit humbly admit say you dey struggle with these things reach some level, that humility and honesty go bring plenty grace to you.
Jesus ask Im disciple dem these question dem as part of the wider discussion about the yist of the Pharisee dem and Herod. He know say the “yist” of these leader dem be like yist wey dey corrupt other people. Their dishonesty, pride, desire for honour and other things like these really damage other people faith. So as Jesus ask these question dem above, He challenge Im disciple dem to see this evil yist and reject am.
Things wey dey plant doubt and confusion dey all around us. These days, e be like say almost everything wey the world wey dey put religion for one side dey promote, dey somehow go against the Kingdom of God. And yet, just as the disciple dem no fit see the evil yist of the Pharisee dem and Herod, many times we too no dey see the evil yist inside our society. Instead, we dey allow the plenty wrong teaching dem to confuse us and lead us enter the way of life wey dey put God and religion for one side.
One thing wey this suppose teach us be say, just because person get some kind authority or power for society no mean say the person na leader wey dey truthful and holy. And even though e no ever be our place to judge another person heart, we must surely get “ear to hear” and “eye to see” the plenty wrong teaching dem wey our world dey present as good. We must always try to “understand and grasp” God law dem and use dem as guide against the lie dem inside the world. One important way to make sure say we do this well na to make sure say our heart no ever hard against the truth.
Today, think deeply about these question dem from our Lord, and examine dem especially as dem concern the whole society. Think about the false “yist” wey our world and plenty people wey get authority dey teach. Reject these wrong teaching dem and commit yourself again to fully accept the holy mystery dem for Heaven, so that na those truth dem, and only those truth dem, go guide you every day.
My glorious Lord, I thank You because You be the Lord of all Truth. Help me to turn my eye and ear to that Truth every day, so that I go fit see the evil yist wey dey all around me. Give me wisdom and the gift to discern, dear Lord, so that I go fit enter deeply into the mystery dem of Your holy life. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Main picture above: The Advice and Encouragement to the Apostle Dem by James Tissot
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