October 17, 2021
Sunday Number Twenty-Nine for Ordinary Time, Year B
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus call di twelve come and tell dem, “Una know say people wey dem recognise as rulers over di Gentiles dey act as masters over dem, and their great men dey make dem feel di weight of their authority. But e no go be so among una. Instead, anybody wey want be great among una go be una servant; anybody wey want be first among una go be slave to all.” Mark 10:42–44
True-true, to talk this one easy pass to do am. This passage show one serious temptation wey people “wey dem recognise as rulers” fit fall into. Na di temptation to misuse power and to lead without humility.
For example, tradition tell us say na desire for power dey at di heart of wetin make lucifer and di demons fall. “I no go serve” na di words wey dem say lucifer talk. In other words, di desire to get power and make other people serve dem dey real and very strong for these angels wey fall. Na so e still be with each one of us.
Even if we no dey position wey give us plenty power over other people, e dey very likely say all of us go struggle with di desire for power. This one fit happen for almost any situation. Take friendship as example. Plenty times, even when na only small disagreement dey about something, we go want make things go our own way. We go want be di one wey dey in charge. Or take family life as example. How many people dey enter family life with di desire to serve di others and humbly submit to wetin di others want? This one hard to do. E easy well-well pass to want be di oga and to tell others wetin must happen for this or that situation.
For di passage above, Jesus make am clear to His Apostles say when dem use their “authority” over other people, dem no suppose make di people “feel di weight” of am. In other words, Jesus no dey call His Apostles to lead through force, to frighten people, to control dem with cunning, or to use their authority in any other harsh way. Di kind authority wey Jesus want different well-well.
Love and humility na wetin Christian authority dey centre on. Na “leadership” wey person dey live out with true humility. This kind leadership dey win other people heart, mind and will, and e dey invite dem to follow with charity and love. This one must happen inside di family, among friends, for church and inside society.
Today, reflect on how you dey lead other people. You dey expect to be di “oga” and expect others to follow you because of your authority? Or you dey lead others with humility and love, as your goodness dey draw dem come meet Christ? Give yourself fully to Christian leadership as Jesus intend am, and wetin e go do inside your family, among your friends and for di wider community go amaze you.
Lord, help me make I be humble leader. Help me make I allow Your heart wey full of love and mercy shine out, and make I lead through di goodness and kindness of Your merciful heart. Help me make I put all pride and selfishness aside and become servant to all. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
Di main picture above: Washing of di Feet by Palma Giovane, through Web Gallery of Art
