September 16, 2021
Thursday for Week Twenty-Four for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr dem—Memorial
Listen for English
E tell her, “I don forgive your sins.” The other people wey dey for table ask themselves, “Who be this wey dey even forgive sins?” But E tell the woman, “Your faith don save you; go in peace.” Luke 7:48–50
Na Jesus talk these words wey full of love to one woman wey be sinner. She come without notice to one dinner wey Jesus dey chop for one Pharisee house. The Pharisee condemn her and look her down, but she no mind. As she dey feel sorrow for her sins, she anoint Jesus feet and humble herself before Am. She use her tears wash Im feet and use her hair dry dem.
The conversation end as Jesus look her and tell her, “I don forgive your sins.” Notice how the people wey dey for table react. The passage show us wetin dem dey think inside their heart. Dem ask themselves, “Who be this wey dey even forgive sins?”
People wey dem born and raise inside the faith don always understand say God dey forgive. Dem teach us this thing from when we small, we learn plenty about am as we dey prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and we don dey hear this message one way or another all through our life. But imagine say you never hear about God forgiveness or experience am all your life, then suddenly one day, you hear about am and experience am. Imagine wetin these people go don dey experience as dem encounter forgiveness of sins for the first time through Jesus Himself, as E forgive this woman wey be sinner. This thing fit don confuse dem small, but maybe pass every other thing, wetin God do go don fill dem with holy respect and iyanu. Dem see this woman wey be sinner come inside, dem sense how the Pharisees dey condemn her and look her down, dem see as she show sorrow and humble herself, and then dem see Jesus forgive her.
The gift of forgiveness for your sins and other people sins dey fill you with iyanu? Or you dey take forgiveness as something wey no need special appreciation? The wonder and holy respect wey the people show when Jesus forgive this woman sins suppose help us examine our own attitude towards God mercy and forgiveness. We need to continue to nurture inside us the same iyanu for God mercy wey these people get. We must make effort so that we no go ever take forgiveness as something wey no need special appreciation, or see am as just another normal part of life. Instead, we must see am as something wey pass ordinary, wey always new, wey always full of glory, and wey go forever dey fill us with holy respect and iyanu.
Today, reflect on these words wey the first followers of Jesus talk as holy respect and iyanu fill dem: “Who be this wey dey even forgive sins?” As you dey do so, allow God fill you with the deepest gratitude for the forgiveness wey E don offer you. Renew how you dey appreciate this gift from God wey you no earn, and allow that gratitude become the source of the iyanu wey God mercy go continue to dey give you.
My Lord wey dey forgive, Your mercy and compassion for sinners truly dey fill person with holy respect and iyanu. Thank You for loving me and all Your followers with love wey deep like this. Abeg, fill my heart with holy respect and iyanu for Your mercy wey wonderful so. Make Your forgiveness always dey fill me with iyanu, and make the deepest gratitude always fill me as I dey experience am for my life. 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 – Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr dem
