August 17, 2021
Tuesday for Week Twenti for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
I dey tell una again, e easy for camel to pass through di hole for needle pass for rich person to enter di Kingdom of God.” When di disciples hear this, dem surprise well-well come ask, “Who then fit get salvation?” Jesus look dem come talk, “For human beings, this one no possible, but for God, everything possible.” Matthew 19:24–26
According to one tradition, di “hole for needle” mean one gate for di wall wey surround Jerusalem. For daytime, one big gate dey open, and camel fit easily pass through am. But for night, dem dey close di big gate, and one smaller opening dey di middle of di gate wey people fit pass through. But camel no fit pass through that smaller opening unless e kneel down, dem remove di load wey dey im back, then e crawl pass. As Saint Anselm refer to this story, e talk say “rich person no go fit pass di narrow road wey lead to life until e don put down di load of sin and riches, that is, until e stop to love dem” (Catena Aurea). So, camel fit pass through di “hole for needle” and, in di same way, rich person fit enter Heaven? Yes. But na only if dem kneel down, humble demself, and free demself from di “load” of their riches.
For people wey really get plenty riches for this world, this Gospel passage fit hard to read and reflect on. Jesus talk am because of di rich young man wey ask Am how e fit enter eternal life. Jesus answer am say, “go, sell wetin you get and give to poor people, and you go get treasure for heaven.” When di rich young man hear this, e go away with sorrow, because e clear say im heart hold im wealth tight.
But wetin Jesus explain above suppose give hope to anybody wey dey struggle to meet this high demand. Wetin Jesus talk really trouble di disciples, and na why Jesus come add say, “For human beings, this one no possible, but for God, everything possible.” For God, everything possible! Anybody wey dey struggle because im heart hold worldly riches too tight suppose think deeply about this truth and believe am. Make we also note say person heart fit hold riches tight even if di person no get riches. Na di desire to get more be di attachment wey need cleansing, no be to get riches itself. In fact, person fit get plenty property without im heart holding any of dem tight. Na this be di beauty of poverty of spirit. But take care make you no too quick assume say you don practise this beatitude perfectly. Na love make Jesus talk wetin dey above to people wey their heart hold things of this world too tight. So if na so you be, show yourself mercy, and pay close attention to Jesus words and di struggle wey dey inside you about this matter.
Today, reflect on this clear talk of Jesus wey no get two meanings. “E easy for camel to pass through di hole for needle pass for rich person to enter di Kingdom of God.” You believe this? You fit accept am? Jesus dey speak to you through this passage? Again, even if you no get material wealth, your desire for riches strong? If na so, this passage concern you too. Let this passage settle for your heart as you pray, and try to tell yourself di truth as much as you fit as you dey read am. No hesitate to choose di true riches of Heaven instead of things of this world wey no go last. For di end, di value of spiritual wealth pass anything wey you get for your short time here for earth by measure wey no get end.
Lord of true riches, You want make spiritual wealth fill each of us—wealth wey great pass anything wey we fit get for this world by measure wey no get end. Abeg, free me from di way my heart hold material wealth tight, so that I fit live free from that load. Help me see di value of di treasures of Your grace and mercy, and make this true wealth be di one thing wey my life dey focus on. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
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Ordinary Time: September 1–November 27, 2021
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