March 4, 2021
Thursday for the Second Week of Lent
Readings for Today
Saint Casimir—Memorial wey Person Fit Choose to Celebrate
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Jesus tell the Pharisees: “One rich man dey wey dey wear purple clothes and fine linen, and e dey chop plenty fine food every day. One poor man wey im name na Lazarus dey lie down for im door. Sores cover im body, and e for happy to chop belleful from the food pieces wey fall from the rich man table. Even dogs dey come lick im sores.” Luke 16:19–21
One reason why this story carry weight so much na because of the clear way e describe the difference between the rich man and Lazarus. No be only for the passage above we see this difference; we still see am for how each of their lives end.
For the first difference, the rich man life look like the one wey person go want pass, at least as e appear for outside. E get money, e get house to live for, e dey wear fine clothes, and e dey chop plenty fine food every day. But Lazarus poor, e no get house, e no get food, sores cover im body, and e still dey bear the shame of dogs wey dey lick im wounds. Which of these two people you go prefer to be?
Before you answer that question, think about the second difference. When both of them die, wetin dem experience for eternity different well well. When the poor man die, “angels carry am go.” And when the rich man die, e go the world of people wey don die, where torment dey continue. So again, which of these two people you go prefer to be?
One of the things for life wey fit attract person and deceive am pass na the pull of riches, luxury and the fine things of life. Even though material things no bad by themselves, strong temptation dey follow them. In fact, this story and many other things wey Jesus teach about this matter show clearly say we no fit ignore how riches dey attract person and wetin this attraction dey do to the soul. People wey get plenty things of this world dey often face temptation to live for only themselves instead of to live for others. When person get all the comfort wey this world fit offer, e easy to just dey enjoy that comfort without caring about others. And na this be the clear difference between these two men, even though the story no talk am directly.
Even though Lazarus poor, e clear say e rich for the things wey really matter for life. The reward wey e receive for eternity show this. E clear say, inside im material poverty, e get plenty love. The man wey rich for the things of this world clearly poor for love. So, when im life for this world end, e no get anything to carry go. No merit wey go last forever. No love. Nothing.
Today, think deeply about wetin you dey desire for life. Too often, the deceit of material riches and possessions for this world dey control wetin we desire. In fact, even people wey get little fit easily allow these desires wey no good to take over their mind. Instead, try to desire only wetin go last forever. Desire to love God and to love your neighbour. Make this your only goal for life, and angels go carry you too when your life don complete.
My Lord of true riches, You choose to be poor for this world as sign to us say true riches no come from material wealth, but from love. Help me to love You, my God, with my whole being, and to love others as You love them. Make I get enough wisdom to make spiritual riches my only goal for life, so that I go enjoy these riches for all eternity. Jesus, na You I trust.
40 Days for di Foot of di Cross – Reflection Fifteen – To Hear and Keep di Word of God
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Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Saint of Today – Saint Casimir
