May 9, 2021
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“Nobody get love wey pass this: to give im life for im friends.” John 15:13
Plenty times, people dey understand love as strong feeling or emotion towards another person. When somebody feel strong attraction to another person or something, dem go say dem “love am.” But na love be this? Na love in the fullest and truest sense be this? No be so really. Love go surely get feeling as part of am, but no be emotions or feelings go be im foundation.
So wetin be love? Love na choice. To talk am clearly, as Jesus show for the Gospel passage above, love na choice to “give your life for your friends.”
To give our life for others dey show us some things. First, e show say the nature of love na to give your whole self as gift. You no fit give your life halfway. Na either you give your life or you no give am. This show say, for love to be love in the fullest and truest sense, you must commit your whole life, 100%, to am.
This passage also show say love dey involve sacrifice. To give your life clearly show say love require one kind death to self. E require make we consider the other person first and put wetin dem need before wetin we need. This require true sacrifice and to put selfishness aside.
We dey give our life for other people in plenty ways. Some small, some big. Wetin matter pass na say we must train our heart to care deeply about wetin go good for every person. When we turn our eyes and heart towards other people, we go begin discover ways wey we no fit count to give our life for dem. Small acts of kindness, words wey encourage person, ear wey ready to listen, help with housework, and other things like these na some of the small ways we dey give ourselves every day. Greater acts fit include forgiveness wey show great courage, to show love when we no feel like showing love, to show mercy when e look like say the person no deserve am, and to make special effort to dey there for somebody even when our plenty work no leave us time.
The main thing be say, when we give ourselves reach the point wey e dey pain us, any small or big sacrifice we make go turn blessing for dem and glorious reward for us. Life of sacrifice dey give us deep satisfaction in many ways, and na wetin God make us for in the end.
Today, reflect on how well you dey give your life for other people, without holding anything back. No hesitate to commit yourself to love wey deep like this. As you give yourself completely, you go find your true self and discover the presence of our divine Lord.
Lord, help me put other people first. Help me love reach the point wey e dey pain me. And inside that sacrifice of love, help me discover the love inside Your own divine heart. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Images wey we feature above: Jesus die for cross by Giandomenico Tiepolo
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