February 19, 2021
Friday wey follow Ash Wednesday
Readings for Today
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āDays go come when dem go take the bridegroom comot from among dem, and na then dem go fast.āĀ Matthew 9:15
Di strong wants and desires of our body fit easily make our thinking no clear, and stop us from desiring only God and His holy will. So, to control our desires wey no dey in right order, e dey help to tame dem through acts of self-denial, like fasting. But during Jesusā public ministry, when E dey with His disciples every day, e be like say His disciples no need this self-denial. We fit only suppose say na because Jesus dey so close to dem every day, and His divine presence alone dey enough to control every desire wey no dey in right order.
But di day come when dem take Jesus away from demāfirst through His death, and shortly after, through His Ascension into Heaven. After di Ascension and Pentecost, di relationship between Jesus and His disciples change. E no be presence wey dem fit see and touch for body again. Dem no dey see miracles wey dey inspire dem or hear teaching wey carry authority from Him every day again. Instead, their relationship with our Lord begin take new form, as dem begin share more deeply in Jesusā Passion. Now, di disciples receive di call to imitate our Lord: for inside their heart, make dem look to Him with di eyes of faith; and for their outward actions, make dem serve as His instrument of love wey dey make sacrifice. Na because of this, di disciples need to keep their strong feelings and bodily desires under control. So, after Jesusā Ascension, as di disciples begin their public ministry, fasting and all other ways of disciplining their body through self-denial help dem well-well.
Each one of us receive di call, no be only to follow Christ as a disciple, but also to be Christās instrument as an apostle. And if we go carry out these duties well, we no fit allow our bodily desires wey no dey in right order to block di way. We need to allow di Spirit of God to take over our whole being and lead us for everything we dey do. Fasting and all other ways of disciplining our body through self-denial dey help us keep our attention on di Spirit, instead of our weaknesses and di temptations of our body.
Today, think deeply about how fasting and disciplining our body through self-denial dey important. At first, these acts of penance no dey usually be wetin we want to do. But na there di main thing dey. When we do wetin our body no āwant,ā we dey strengthen our spirit to get more control, and this dey allow our Lord to use us and direct our actions better. Give yourself to this holy practice, and you go wonder at how much e go change your life.
My dear Lord, I thank You because You choose to use me as Your instrument. I thank You because You fit send me to share Your love with di world. Give me di grace to make my life agree more fully with You, as I dey tame my strong wants and desires wey no dey in right order, so that na You, and only You, go take full control of my life. Make I open my heart to di gift of fasting, and make this act of penance help to change my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
40 Days for the Foot of the Cross: Reflection Two ā The Strength of the Immaculate Heart
Read the USCCB rules for Fasting and Staying Away from Meat during Lent
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Di featured image above: Na PrierlechapeletĀ fromĀ PixabayĀ make amĀ
