July 6, 2021
Tuesday for di Fourteenth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr—Memorial Wey No Be Must to Celebrate
Listen for English
Jesus go round all di towns and villages, dey teach for their synagogues, dey proclaim di Gospel of di Kingdom, and dey heal every disease and sickness. As He see di crowds, pity for dem touch His heart because dem dey troubled and abandoned, like sheep wey no get shepherd. Matthew 9:35–36
Jesus get strong desire well-well to save souls. This kind strong desire na energy, passion and drive to finish one work. Di work wey Jesus get this strong desire to do na to make every heart wey He meet turn to God. As He dey waka from town to town, dey meet one person after another, Jesus fit see wetin dey inside their hearts. He see say plenty people dey “troubled and abandoned.” He fit see say dem be like “sheep wey no get shepherd.” This one move Him to get compassion for dem, with strong desire to become their Shepherd, to remove di trouble from their hearts and make dem know say He dey invite dem to belong to His new Kingdom.
This picture of Jesus as He dey meet plenty people wey dey troubled and abandoned na good picture to think deeply about. Di reason na say na us be these people. Each of us get our own troubles inside our heart. Sometimes, we fit feel say we dey alone, we dey confused, we no sure of anything, and we don lose our way. Person wey no dey feel like this na either perfect saint or person wey no dey honest with imself. True-true, deep holiness and union with God dey heal this struggle wey plenty people get inside their hearts. For that kind case, di person know clearly say e belong to God family, e understand say e be God son or daughter, and e find deep peace for this truth. But for una wey dey struggle, this Scripture passage na especially for una.
First of all, plenty things fit make person dey “troubled.” Some people dey struggle with memories of di past, relationships wey don break, lack of direction, serious sin, anger and other things like these. So di first question wey you need think deeply about with honesty na whether trouble dey your heart or not. Even di greatest saints go still find some areas wey dem dey struggle with. So, wetin be your own?
Secondly, to feel say dem don “abandon” you na heavy cross. Di reason why Jesus come na to make us fit belong to His family. Na through di gift of eternal salvation, wey must begin now, this one dey happen. As we receive forgiveness of sins and grow for prayer life, we come know God for way wey close well-well and personal. Yes, na Him be Almighty God and Creator of everything. But He still dey relate with us for way wey deep and close, and He want build real relationship of love with you.
If you dey struggle with any of these two things—trouble for your heart, feeling say dem don abandon you, or both—then think about di strong desire wey Jesus get to save you. All di long journeys wey He trek without tire as He dey do His public ministry suppose be sign to you of His strong desire to come meet you personally and become your Shepherd. He want lift every load and clear di way for you to discover your place for His family. Di “Gospel of di Kingdom” wey Jesus preach na di one wey invite everybody to become member of that Kingdom. As He dey come meet you, know say His heart full of compassion for you, just as e be when He travel round di countryside long time ago. He dey see you, dey look into your heart with love, and He no dey ever remove His eyes from you as you dey face your need, weakness and sin.
Today, think deeply about di strong desire wey Jesus get for your own eternal salvation and holy life. You no fit pass through this world without Him. Allow Jesus to search for you, come meet you, talk to you and invite you to allow Him care for you as your Shepherd. He want do this one with all His being; allow Jesus to fulfil His mission inside you.
My divine Shepherd, You dey search for everybody with di strongest desire and compassion. You dey see every heart wey dey pain and wey don break, and You want heal each one. Thank You for coming to meet me, dear Lord, and for being my Shepherd and Guide. Help me to see You as You dey look at me for my weakness and pain. And help me to open my heart to You now and throughout my life. I love You, my Lord. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint of di Day – Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
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