June 4, 2021
Friday for di Ninth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
As Jesus dey teach for di temple area, E talk say, “How di scribes take dey talk say di Christ na David pikin? David imself, as di Holy Spirit inspire am, talk say: Di Lord tell my lord say, ‘Sit down for my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’” Mark 12:35–36
For di time wey Jesus dey do Im ministry, di Jews understand say di Messiah go come from David family line. Apart from that, plenty of dem think say di Messiah go just be leader wey go fight for im nation and free di Jewish nation from di oppression of di Romans. So, dem limit di Messiah to person from David family line wey go free dem mainly for political matter.
For di passage above, Jesus make dis common understanding of di Messiah as “David pikin” clear. Di Messiah no go only come as human being from David family line; E still be David “Lord.” Jesus show dis as E point to Psalm 110, where David call di Messiah im Lord. Even though dis small difference fit no first look so important to us today, Jesus clearly take care to teach am.
One important lesson wey we suppose learn from dis passage na say we must work hard to get correct image of Jesus. Even though today we fit no see our Lord as leader wey come fight for im nation to free us from political oppression, we fit still dey form other wrong images of Am. For di Jews for that time, di idea say di Messiah still be King David “Lord” na new thing. Dis point to di fact say di Messiah na God and say Im nature dey eternal. Jesus make dis small point clear, and “Di large crowd hear am with joy.” We too must work to find joy for clear and correct understanding of who Jesus, di Messiah, di Son of God and Son of Man, truly be. So, who E be?
To answer dis question, first think about how you see Jesus for your life. Jesus na your friend, wise teacher, person wey dey inspire people, person wey get kind soul, merciful leader and example for all of us. But E still be far more than all dis. To choose only one image of who Jesus be and then focus too much on that one image for our lives na mistake wey resemble di mistake plenty Jews make for di time wey Jesus teach dem.
Na di part wey say E be “far more” we must focus on as we dey think about who our Lord be. We must see Am as God, di Second Person of di Most Holy Trinity. As God, na worship and adoration we suppose give Am. And even though E don be God from all eternity, E still take human flesh, join humanity with divinity. And as human being, E allow Imself to die so that E fit rise for Im human nature. For dis way, if we join ourselves to Am by surrendering our lives completely, then we too go die inside our sin, but then rise with Am to new life. As we do so, we receive di gift of eternal salvation, and we fit share for di eternal life of di Most Holy Trinity. Even though plenty more things dey wey we fit and suppose talk about who our Lord be, dis small glimpse into Im life suppose help us avoid di trap of limiting who E be for our minds and hearts.
Today, reflect on di image of Jesus wey you get. Look for ways wey you fit dey limit Im greatness and glory for your mind and heart without knowing. Try to widen that image of our Lord wey you get, and open your heart to everything wey E want show you about Imself. Di more you do so, na di more “joy” go fill you too, as di Person of our Lord dey become clearer to you.
My Lord wey no get limit and wey full of glory, You pass wetin our understanding fit reach by far, but You still invite us to come to You so that we fit know You more fully. Give me di grace wey I need, my dear Lord, to let go of di wrong and limited images of You wey I get, so that I fit come know You as You be. 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
Images wey dey featured above: Di Holy One of God through flickr
