Body Signs of Love

May 20, 2021
Thursday for di Seventh Week of Easter
Readings for Today

Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest—Memorial wey No Be Obligation

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Jesus lift His eyes look towards heaven, come pray say:
“No be only for these people I dey pray, but also for those wey go believe in Me through their word, so that all of dem go be one, as You, Father, dey inside Me and I dey inside You, make dem too dey inside Us, so that di world go believe say na You send Me.” John 17:20–21

For di past two weeks or so, we don dey read from Chapter 14–17 of di Gospel according to John. These chapters carry di things wey Jesus talk for di Last Supper, and we fit call dem Jesus last sermon. Chapter 17, wey we don dey read this past week, show us Jesus final prayer for His disciples and for all of us “wey go believe” in Him through di preaching of di disciples. Each time we read from Chapter 17, di Lectionary dey start di reading with di words “Jesus lift His eyes look towards heaven, come pray say…” Dem adapt that line from Chapter 17:1, but dem dey use am introduce di different parts of Jesus prayer each time dem read am for Mass.

E worth to notice say Jesus dey look up towards Heaven when E dey pray. Of course, Heaven no dey physically for sky, because Heaven na spiritual reality. Di Father no dey stay for one place for sky; E dey everywhere, meaning say E dey every place and for every time. Even so, Jesus dey lift His eyes look up when E dey pray to di Father. Big lesson dey inside this.

Di way we take position our body dey important sometimes. For example, when person wey we suppose respect enter room, we dey normally stand up greet am. For that kind situation, to remain dey lie relax for bed or sofa go show disrespect. And for Mass, we no dey sit back cross leg during di Consecration; instead, we dey kneel down adore God. And when we greet person for di first time, we no dey look ground; instead, we dey look di person for eye.

Jesus no “lift His eyes look towards heaven” because E think say E fit see di Father for sky; instead, E do am because of respect and love, and to acknowledge di dignity of di Father. This suppose teach us about how we take position our own body and di message wey we dey pass give others, especially to God when we dey pray.

When you dey pray, wetin you dey do? Even though you fit pray any time and no matter how your body dey, e very good to speak to God no be only with your words, but also with di position wey you take. To kneel down, raise your hands for prayer, lie flat face down before your Lord, sit upright with full attention, and other things like these, na ways wey you fit take show God your love.

Today, reflect on this picture of Jesus as E dey pray. Look well at how E for don give full attention as E lift His holy eyes look up, as body sign to honour di Father for Heaven wey get glory and all power. Try picture for your mind di devotion, deep seriousness, respect and burning love wey Jesus get. Follow this holy way of praying and giving full attention to di Father, and remind yourself say e important to use your body show your love.

My most holy Father for Heaven, I join Your Son, Jesus, to lift my eyes, my heart and my whole life to You with honour, love and respect. Make I always give You full attention and always show You di devotion wey Your greatness deserve. My dear Jesus, thank You for Your love for di Father for Heaven. Give me di grace wey I need to follow Your example and Your perfect love for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.

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Prayer wey we dey pray to prepare for Pentecost
Day Seven – Thursday, May 20

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Images wey dem feature above: Christ Dey Pray, by El Greco, through Wikimedia Commons