Love for Life Wey Holy

August 13, 2021
Friday of Week Nineteen for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today

Saint Pontian, Pope, and Saint Hippolytus, Fada, wey be Martyr dem—Memorial wey no be compulsory

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E answer, “No be everybody fit accept this word, but na only those wey dem don grant that gift.” Matthew 19:11

Na so Jesus answer for one long discussion about how marriage bond no fit break. One reason why “No be everybody fit accept this word…” na because marriage, and every other vocation, need sacrifice wey come from our whole heart and life wey no put self first. When these things no dey, and when the life wey we suppose live without putting self first turn to selfishness, every quarrel go become heavy load. Na load wey person no fit bear without grace.

Wetin be love? Which kind love marriage and every other vocation need? Which kind love parents and grandparents need to show? Na the same answer dey for all these questions. We must love without putting ourselves first at all, and in way wey involve sacrifice. True love always dey seek wetin go good for the other person, and e no dey focus on self.

Na only grace fit help us live life wey stand on true love. Our human nature wey sin don wound dey tend to “look only our own side,” meaning say, we dey tend to live our life dey think about ourselves—“Wetin go make my life better? How this thing go affect me? This person don hurt me. I no want do this one or that one, and so on.” For this life, e hard well-well to turn our eyes from ourselves so we go love other people. Na why Jesus talk say na only “those wey dem don grant that gift” fit embrace this kind love. And those wey dem grant this deep love na people wey open their life to God grace wey dey transform person.

One reason why e hard well-well to love without putting self first at all na because e require make we live by grace. Our weak human mind no fit, by itself, reach this high calling to love. Na only through grace we go understand say life wey no put self first no just be the best for those wey God call us to love; na the best for us too. And for married life, for work of raising children, for other vocations and every other situation for life, if our love always focus on wetin go good for the other person, and if our life follow the example of Christ wey sacrifice Himself completely, we go see God do great things through us. As E dey do so, we go also see God do great things inside us. The main thing be say na only when we live like Christ we go become the people wey God create us to be. And E live life of sacrifice without condition, wey no put Himself first.

Today, reflect on this high calling to love wey you don receive. You fit accept this teaching of our Lord? Through grace, you don receive understanding of wetin true love be? And if na so, you dey do everything wey you fit do to live life of love wey no put self first and wey involve sacrifice, in union with Christ Jesus? As you examine your life and your relationship with people, especially those wey close to you pass, think about how well you dey act like Christ towards them. Think whether you dey forgive, turn the other cheek, seek mercy, compassion, understanding, gentleness and every other virtue and fruit of the Holy Spirit. For any area wey you fall short and see selfishness for yourself, no hesitate to beg our Lord make E grant you grace, no be only to understand your high calling to love, but also to embrace am fully for the things wey you dey do. Na then, and only then, you go fit live out the vocation wey God don call you to.

My Lord wey love me, Your love pass everything wey person fit understand. Na love wey person fit understand only through the gift of Your grace. Abeg, grant me the grace wey I need, no be only to understand and receive Your love for my life, but also to offer Your love to everybody. Make my life become instrument wey You go continue to use to show the perfect love wey You live out. Jesus, na You I trust.

More Reflections on the Gospel

Reflection Dem about God im Mercy

Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time

All Saints/Feasts

Saint for Today – Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Fada, Martyrs

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Special picture wey dey above: Jesus Dey Preach Inside Ship, wey James Tissot draw, through Wikimedia Commons

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