April 29, 2021
Thursday for di Fourth Week of Easter
Readings for Today
Saint Catherine of Siena, Vajin and Doctor of the Church—Memorial
Listen for English
After Jesus don wash di disciples dem feet, He tell dem: “Amen, amen, I dey tell una, no slave dey greater than im master, and no messenger dey greater than di person wey send am. If una understand dis, una get blessing if una do am.” John 13:16–17
For dis Fourth Week of Easter, we dey return to di Last Supper, and we go spend some weeks dey reflect on di teaching wey Jesus give Im disciples dat Holy Thursday evening. Di question wey you suppose ask yourself today na dis: “I get blessing?” Jesus talk say you get blessing if you “understand” and “do” wetin He teach Im disciples. So wetin He teach dem?
Jesus do dis prophetic action as He take di role of slave by washing di disciples dem feet. As di saying be, wetin He do speak louder pass words. Dis action make di disciples humble, and Peter first refuse am. We fit hardly doubt say dis humble service, wey Jesus use lower Imself before Im disciples, touch dem deeply.
Di way di world understand greatness different well-well from wetin Jesus teach. For di world, greatness na to dey raise yourself for other people eye, dey struggle to make dem know how good you be. Many times, wetin dey push dis kind greatness na fear of wetin other people fit think about you, and desire for everybody to honour you. But Jesus want make e clear say na only if we serve we go truly be great. We must humble ourselves before other people, value dem and di good wey dey inside dem, honour dem, and show dem love and respect wey deep well-well. As Jesus wash their feet, He leave di world way of understanding greatness completely, and He call Im disciples make dem do di same.
Sometimes, to understand humility no easy. Na why Jesus talk say, “If una understand dis…” He know say e go hard for di disciples, and all of us too, to understand how important e be to humble ourselves before other people and serve dem. But if you understand humility, you go “get blessing” when you live by am. Di world no go see you as person wey get blessing, but for God eye, you go truly get blessing.
We dey especially practise humility when we make our desire for honour and high standing pure, when we overcome every fear say people go treat us badly, and when, instead of dis desire and fear, we desire plenty blessings for other people, even before ourselves. Dis love and humility na di only way to enter dis mysterious love wey deep well-well.
Today, reflect on dis humble action of di Son of God, di Saviour of di World, as He lower Imself before Im disciples and serve dem as if He be slave. Try imagine yourself dey do dis for other people. Think about di different ways wey you fit more willingly make extra effort to put other people and their needs before your own. Try remove every selfish desire wey you dey struggle with, and recognise any fear wey dey stop you from being humble. Understand dis gift of humility and live by am. Na only then you go truly get blessing.
My humble Lord, You give us di perfect example of love when You choose to serve Your disciples with great humility. Help me understand dis beautiful virtue and live by am. Free me from every selfishness and fear, so dat I fit love other people as You don love all of us. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of di Church
Di pictures wey dey above: Christ Dey Wash di Disciples Dem Feet, by Benvenuto Tisi
