June 3, 2021
Thursday for Namba 9 Wik for Ordinary Time
Di Readings for Today
Saint Charles Lwanga na Im Companion dem, Martyr dem—Memorial
Listen for English
And when Jesus see say di man answer with understanding, E tell am, “You no far from di Kingdom of God.” And nobody get mind to ask Jesus any more question. Mark 12:34
At last, we get di witness of one of di religious leaders, one scribe, wey understand di matter well. Di passage for up na di end of di discussion with dis scribe wey ask Jesus which commandment come first and big pass among all di commandments. Jesus give answer wey get two parts: make we love God pass everything, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and make we love our neighbour as we love ourself. Di scribe come answer Jesus say, “You talk well, Teacher. You dey right…” Na im Jesus praise dis scribe with di words wey dem quote for up.
Remember say Jesus dey rebuke almost all di Pharisees again and again because dem dey carry shoulder, dey see demself as righteous. E still rebuke di Sadducees, but plenty times, di rebuke no strong reach di one for di Pharisees. And now we get one scribe wey do well pass all of dem. Di main work of di scribes na to copy or prepare different documents for worship and law. Some of di Pharisees na scribes too. And most times, when Jesus condemn di Pharisees, E still condemn di scribes. But dis scribe different. E be like say dis scribe no only get interest for Jesus’ answer, but e still show say e get “understanding” of wetin Jesus tell am. No think say dis gift of understanding na small thing.
For us to truly understand wetin our Lord dey tell us, we must open our mind and heart. And to open our mind and heart like dis, we need humility. Humility na virtue wey dey against di attitude of “I sabi everything.” Na di way mind and heart dey ready to listen as God dey talk, hear wetin E talk, understand all truth through di gift of grace, and submit to dat truth with prayer. Humility dey help us look beyond ourself to find answers to di questions wey hard pass for life. E dey help us turn to di one and only source of truth, Jesus Christ Imself. And di fruit wey dis humble, open heart dey bear na di gift of understanding. Na understanding of di mysteries of life wey pass wetin our natural sense fit understand. Di grace of God fit teach and shape di humble soul, help am see clearly and accept di truths wey deep pass.
Today, think deeply about wetin Jesus tell dis scribe: “You no far from di Kingdom of God.” Jesus dey tell you dis same words too? You don humble yourself turn to our Lord to find answers to di plenty questions of life? To talk am more clearly, you fit look your life and rejoice say God don give you Im gift of understanding too? If no be so, look inside your heart and think about di questions wey you need to bring to Jesus pass. Put dem before Am, then listen, open your mind and heart, and ready to respond when E talk. When you hear our Lord and respond to Am, e go make our Lord tell you dis same words.
My Lord of all Truth, You dey look humble souls with kindness and mercy, and You dey reveal di mysteries of di Kingdom of Heaven to dem. Abeg, give me di gift of humility, my dear Lord, so dat I go always turn to You with every question for life. Fill me with di gift of understanding so dat I go know how to love and serve You with more faithfulness every single day. 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
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint of the Day – Saint Charles Lwanga na Im Companion dem, Martyr dem
Di featured image for up: Di Scribe Stand to Tempt Jesus, by James Tissot, through Wikimedia Commons
_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg){kind=link}