Reaction to Jesus Wey Come From Strong Feeling

August 30, 2021
Monday of the Twenty-Second Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today

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When di people for di synagogue hear this, all of dem vex well-well. Dem stand up, drive Am comot from di town, and lead Am go di edge of di hill wey dem build their town on top, to throw Am down head first. But E pass through their middle and go away. Luke 4:28–30

E hard to believe say those people wey know Jesus, the people from the town where E grow up, react to our Lord for this kind harsh way. Jesus just enter the synagogue and read from Prophet Isaiah, wey talk say “the Spirit of the Lord” dey upon am and say e don come to “proclaim freedom to people wey dem hold captive.” Jesus mission clear. Na Him be the Messiah wey the Father send, to fulfil wetin the prophets teach. Even with all this, the people reject Jesus reach the point wey dem drive Am comot for the town and try push Am down from the edge of one high rock near the town to kill Am. Again, e hard to understand the strong feelings wey people get about Jesus. Some come love Jesus with all their heart, while others vex for Am well-well and look for how to kill Am.

One thing wey these strong feelings wey plenty people get suppose teach us be say we no fit just no care about Jesus when we truly listen to His words. Na when people ignore Jesus dem dey no care about Am. But when dem hear Am and understand Am, e clear say His message need response. If we no fully accept Am as we dey listen to His message, temptation go come make us reject Am and everything wey E dey talk.

Jesus want do the same thing with us. E want make we respond to Am. First, E want make we hear Am, understand how His message dey call for complete change, and then make we choose. E want make we follow Am with all our heart and with zeal, believe everything wey E dey teach, and change our life completely because of am. And if we no gree change, Jesus words go challenge us and make us respond.

One example of this wey common today na the strong reaction wey sometimes dey come from teenager or young adult when papa or mama wey love am face am about the wrong road wey e don begin follow. When person face another person with love and truth like this, e dey often stir up strong feelings. But no be every time this one bad. The temptation wey papa or mama fit face na to draw back and bend the truth to please the pikin. But no be wetin Jesus do with the people of His town be that. E talk the truth with love and accept how dem respond. Na so e still be with the people for our life. Sometimes, we must talk the truth wey hard but full of love, wey other people need hear, even if we know say dem go react with anger. For the end, to challenge dem with compassion and truth fit win dem over. We no know wetin later happen to those people of the town wey try kill Jesus that day because of anger, but e dey fully possible say the strong feeling wey dem get later lead dem to the truth.

Today, reflect on the courage and love wey Jesus get as E directly face the people of His own town and challenge dem because dem no get faith. Try understand say as Jesus challenge dem, na mercy E dey offer dem, to move dem comot from the way dem no dey care. For your own life, any area dey where you need person to challenge you? Things dey wey you don react to strongly, even with serious anger? Try see yourself as one of those people of the town wey vex well-well because of our Lord. Open your heart to recognise any way wey you don react badly to wetin Jesus don tell you. Still think about any way wey Jesus fit want use you to tell another person His clear message of love, even if you know say the person fit no accept am immediately. Pray for courage, compassion, the ability to talk clearly, and love, so that you go fit imitate Jesus as E try move the people of His own hometown comot from the way dem no dey care.

My Lord wey dey challenge me, You want make all Your children turn to You with their whole heart. The corrections and punishments wey You dey give us na acts of mercy to move us comot from the way we no dey care. Abeg, tell me the truths wey I need hear today, and use me to share Your holy word with other people, especially people for my own family. Jesus, na You I trust.

More Reflections on the Gospel

Reflection Dem about God im Mercy

Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time

Saints/Feasts for Today

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Main picture above: Jesus Dey Unroll the Book for the Synagogue, by James Tissot, through Wikimedia Commons

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