June 1, 2021
Tuesday for the Ninth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“E dey lawful to pay census tax to Caesar or e no dey lawful? Make we pay or make we no pay?” As He know their hypocrisy, He tell them, “Why una dey test Me? Make una bring one denarius make I see.” Mark 12:14–15
Dem send these Pharisees and Herodians make dem use wetin Jesus go talk set trap for Am. These men put mind for politics well-well, and dem like to take sides and find fault for other people. Dem dey see themselves as righteous, and dem no too care about the salvation of souls. So dem come meet Jesus with question wey look like say no bad thing dey behind am. E be like say dem expect Jesus to talk against paying census tax to Caesar, and if He do so, dem ready to report Am to the government authorities. Dem no care about the truth; na only to trap our divine Lord dem care about. When dem bring the Roman coin wey get Caesar image on top come give Jesus, Jesus talk those words wey get deep wisdom: “Give back to Caesar wetin belong to Caesar, and to God wetin belong to God.”
E clear say, if these religious leaders wey dey pretend say dem righteous come meet Jesus with humility and sincere heart, Jesus for answer them for very different way. But because dem come only to trap our Lord, twist His words and destroy Am, Jesus use divine wisdom put them for their place. He no support paying the census tax, and He no talk against am either. So this Gospel passage end with these words: “Dem wonder at Am well-well.” “To wonder” na the right response. So, for one way, we fit learn from these religious leaders wey dey pretend say dem righteous. Anytime we come face-to-face with the deep wisdom of God, e suppose fill us with reverence and holy wonder.
True-true, na because Jesus scatter their wicked trap make dem wonder like that. But even as e be so, we fit learn from this say nothing fit ever pass the wisdom of God. God wisdom dey silence the foolishness of this age and show the hidden bad mind wey dey behind that evil.
The tricks of people for our time wey no put God for mind and wey dey claim say dem “know everything” don ever face you? Another person don ever challenge you, attack your faith directly, or question wetin you firmly believe about right and wrong? If you don choose to live your faith openly and with confidence, e fit well be say another person don attack you. For people wey no get deep faith and clear gift of divine wisdom, this kind trick fit cause confusion and worry. You fit discover say you no know how to answer, and feel say the false “wisdom” of this age don trap you. For that kind situation, wetin you go do? For this world wey people dey turn away from God and deny say God dey more and more, na only the answer wey come from divine wisdom fit answer the false teachings and deceit wey all of us go meet. On our own, none of us wise reach to fight these errors. So, the only place we fit turn to for help na the wisdom of God, and we must continue to turn to am.
We dey turn to the wisdom of God through prayer and study of holy things. Our prayer dey open our minds to the clear voice of God, Who dey speak pure truth. And study of holy things, especially Scripture, the teachings of the Church and the lives of the saints, go help us hear God voice clearly and clear away the confusion wey the world dey try bring come meet us. At the end, if we no dey fill our minds deep with the true wisdom of God, we no go ready for wetin we go face for this world.
Today, think well about how you need divine wisdom to fill you, so that you fit find your way through the tricks and foolishness of the world. Accept say you no wise enough on your own to find your way through the confusion of life. Pray for the gift of wisdom, and allow our Lord give you this gift.
Lord of all Truth, Your wisdom pass all the wisdom of this world, and You dey scatter the tricks of the evil one. Open my mind, dear Lord, to Your holy Truth, so that I fit find my way through the challenges of life. Give me Your wisdom, dear Lord, so that I fit follow You wherever You lead me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to the Sacred Heart
Dates for the Novena: June 2-10, 2021
June 11, 2021: Solemnity of the Sacred Heart
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Justin Martyr
Picture wey dey above: The Tax Money, wey Leopold Layer draw, through Wikimedia Commons
