June 7, 2021
Monday for di Tenth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
When Jesus see di crowd, E go up di mountain, and after E don sit down, His disciples come meet Am. E begin teach dem, E say: “Blessing dey for people wey poor for spirit, because di Kingdom of heaven na their own.” Matthew 5:1–3
Today, we get di call of di Beatitudes to think deeply about—a call wey high pass wetin person fit imagine. Jesus teach these lessons for one hill just north of di Sea of Galilee. Plenty people dey come meet Jesus to hear Am preach and to see di many miracles wey E dey do. Dem gather come meet Am for this faraway place, and Jesus make dem rest as E preach wetin we now dey call “Di Sermon on di Mount.” This sermon dey for Chapter 5 to 7 of Matthew Gospel, and Jesus preach am shortly after E begin His public ministry.
See di way E take begin His public ministry! This teaching of Jesus na something completely new, and e must don hold plenty people spellbound. Jesus no dey teach only di commands of di Old Testament again, like di Ten Commandments; E don now lift di moral law reach one level wey nobody don ever imagine before.
As di people dey listen to this new teacher wey dey speak with new authority and wisdom, dem fit don feel excitement and confusion at di same time. Dem fit accept say person suppose hunger and thirst to do wetin right for God eye, show mercy, get clean heart, and make peace. But why dem go count poverty, sorrow, and meekness as blessings? And di one wey even hard pass: why e good make dem persecute person because e dey do wetin right for God eye, or insult am and accuse am falsely because of Jesus?
When person clearly understand this new teaching of Jesus wey dey change things from di root, e no be only His first disciples wey fit feel confusion and excitement at di same time. You too, if you truly listen to His teachings and understand wetin E mean, you go see say dem dey challenge you reach di deepest part of your being. We must accept Jesus teaching fully, without hesitation.
Di Beatitudes na our call to perfection. Dem show us di road wey we go follow reach di heights of holy life and receive di glory of Heaven. Dem be like our road map wey correct well and get every detail to lead us reach complete happiness and joy. But dem still dey call us to change our minds and actions from di root. To accept dem no “easy,” because dem require make we turn away from every selfish tendency wey we get, and choose to live free from every earthly temptation, attachment and sin. Perfection dey wait for people wey listen to di Beatitudes, understand dem, and accept dem.
Today, think deeply about di beginning of this Sermon on di Mount wey dey challenge us. Try find time to carry each Beatitude enter prayer. Na only through prayer and deep reflection we fit understand di full meaning of each of these invitations to holy life. Start with di call to poverty of spirit inside your heart. This Beatitude dey call us to detach ourselves completely from everything wey no be part of God will. From there, think about how important e be to mourn for your sin, to seek clean heart and humility for everything. Think deeply about each Beatitude and spend time with di one wey challenge you pass. Our Lord get plenty things to tell you through this sermon. No hesitate to allow Am use am lead you reach di heights of holy life.
Lord of all holiness, You dey perfect for every way. You live out every virtue and Beatitude perfectly. Give me di grace to open myself to You, so that I fit hear You as You dey call me to perfect life, and so that I fit answer You generously with my whole life. Make me holy, dear Lord, so that I go find di happiness and fulfilment wey You want give 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
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Di featured picture wey dey above: Flickr
