June 10, 2021
Thursday for the Tenth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“Una don hear wetin dem tell una ancestors, Make una no kill; and anybody wey kill person go face judgment. But I dey tell una, anybody wey vex for im brother go face judgment, and anybody wey tell im brother, Raqa, go answer before the Sanhedrin, and anybody wey talk say, ‘You fool,’ fit enter Gehenna wey fire dey burn.” Matthew 5:21–22
The passage wey we quote above show us three levels of sin wey we dey commit against another person, and each level dey deeper pass the one before am. These sins na new teachings wey no dey inside the Old Testament. Through this teaching, Jesus make am very clear say He dey call us to holiness wey reach the root of our life and to love our neighbour.
The first level of sin na simply to “vex” inside your heart. The sin of vex na when you carry strong dislike for another person inside your heart. Jesus talk say the result of to carry vex for another person na say you go “face judgment.” The second level of sin na when you tell another person “Raqa.” This Aramaic word hard to translate, but e include some kind way wey person dey take show im vex for another person. Na insulting way to tell another person say e no get sense or say e low pass you. The third level of sin wey Jesus point out na when you call another person “fool.” This word na even stronger way to talk Raqa, and na to use mouth condemn the person, as if the person don lost for the matter of right and wrong. Na strong condemnation of another person character wey person dey use mouth express.
So, you dey struggle with vex? Jesus dey call us to freedom from every level of this sin, and this call demand plenty from us. Plenty times for life, one thing or another dey stir up vex inside us, and that strong feeling dey lead us enter one of these levels of sin. Na common temptation to want condemn person wey you vex for with the strongest words wey you fit use.
E dey important to understand say this new teaching of Jesus no really be load when we understand am and accept am with all our heart. At first, e fit look like say these laws of our Lord against vex na only wetin dey restrict us. Na because to lash another person with angry words dey give us satisfaction wey no be true satisfaction, and these commands of our Lord dey, for one way, “take” that satisfaction from us. To think say we get duty before God to forgive reach the point wey vex wey no dey proper go disappear fit make person heart heavy. But e suppose make our heart heavy? This law of our Lord na load?
The deep truth be say wetin Jesus dey teach us for this passage dey, for plenty ways, benefit us pass other people. Our vex for another person, whether we keep am inside, use mouth attack the person, or condemn am completely, fit wound the person wey we vex for. But the damage wey these kinds of vex dey cause us worse well-well pass the one wey dem dey cause the other person. To carry vex, even inside our heart, even if we pretend to dey happy, dey do serious damage to our soul and our ability to dey united with God. Because of this, no be this new law of our Lord about vex be the load. Na the vex itself be heavy load, and Jesus want make you free from am.
Today, think deeply about the sin of vex. As you dey do so, try to see the vex wey no dey proper inside you as the real enemy, instead of the person wey you vex for. Pray to our Lord make He free you from this enemy of the soul, and seek the freedom wey He want give you.
My Lord wey full of mercy, You dey call us to complete freedom from everything wey dey weigh us down. Vex dey weigh us down. Help me see the load wey my vex dey put on me, and help me seek true freedom through to forgive and to reconcile. Abeg, forgive me, my dear Lord, as I dey forgive everybody wey don hurt 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
