October 16, 2021
Satide for Week 28 for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Hedwig, Religious—Memorial wey no be compulsory
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin—Memorial we no be compulsory
Listen for English
When dem carry una go before synagogues and before rulers and people wey get authority, make una no worry about how una go defend unaself, wetin una go use defend unaself, or wetin una go talk. Because the Holy Spirit go teach una wetin una suppose talk for that very moment.” Luke 12:11–12
Jesus live out this Gospel passage perfectly for His own life. Dem arrest am, question am, condemn am wrongly, and the Chief Priest, Herod and Pontius Pilate question am. As dem dey question am, sometimes He talk, and other times He keep quiet. To prepare for these questions, Jesus no first study each ruler to work out wetin He suppose talk and wetin He no suppose talk. He no prepare how to defend Himself. Instead, He depend on the perfect union wey He get with the Holy Spirit and with the Father, so that dem go guide am every moment for His human nature.
Even though e fit no too likely say civil authorities go arrest you because of your faith and carry you go court because you be Christian, e still possible say you go face other kinds of questioning and condemnation wey go require make you respond. And wetin fit happen more often be say, if another person judge you, temptation fit come make you defend yourself with anger and attack the person back.
When you understand this Gospel passage well and live am out, e suppose help you calm down and give you confidence any time people judge you, no matter how e happen. The Catechism of the Catholic Church talk say, “To avoid judgment wey person rush make, everybody suppose take care to understand their neighbour thoughts, words and actions for good way, as far as e possible” (# 2478). Even though you must always try to do this yourself, e very likely say times go dey when other people no go treat you with this kind care and truth. So, if another person judge you, even if truth dey inside wetin dem talk, e important make you no rush defend yourself with anger, unless the Holy Spirit don clearly lead you to do so. The main message wey Jesus give be say you must trust say the Holy Spirit go always guide you as you dey humbly and continually try to follow every prompting wey He give you. This one fit happen only if you don build strong habit of listening well to the Voice of God inside your conscience.
Because e dey pain when people rush judge you, expose your faults to people wey no get reason to know, tell lies to spoil your name, or do other things like these, you must prepare how to defend yourself ahead of time by learning to depend only on the Holy Spirit for everything. Jesus strongly urge us to do so! So, if every day you humbly try to do wetin God want, hear His voice and respond with open heart, then you fit dey sure say when the time come and you face these kinds of judgment, you go dey ready. The Holy Spirit go speak to you, inspire you, comfort you and give you every grace wey you need to respond according to wetin God want. No doubt this. Get faith and confidence for these words and this promise of our Lord.
Today, reflect on the ways wey you don respond before when another person judge you. Try remember particular times when this happen. You judge dem back the same way? Anger fill your heart? You continue to dwell on the hurt wey dem cause you? You lose the peace for your heart? If you don fall for these temptations, then make firm commitment with faith to believe wetin Jesus talk today. Trust am. Trust say He go dey with you for those hard moments wey go come, and pray make He give you the grace to respond only as the Holy Spirit direct you.
My Lord wey no get guilt, dem carry You go court, judge You and condemn You wrongly. But for all that, You remain the Lamb wey no get guilt, wey always love and speak truth perfectly. When people judge me for my life, abeg fill me with peace for my heart and trust for Your promise say the Holy Spirit go dey with me, inspire me and guide me according to Your perfect will. Holy Spirit, I surrender myself to You now and always. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saints for Today –
Saint Hedwig, Religious—Memorial wey no be compulsory
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin—Memorial we no be compulsory
