October 27, 2021
Wednesday for Wik 30 for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Somebody ask am, “Lord, na only few people go get salvation?” E answer dem, “Make una strive to enter through di narrow gate, because I tell una, plenty people go try to enter, but dem no go get enough strength.” Luke 13:23–24
We really need to take dis words wey our Lord talk above to heart. E easy to just assume say we go get salvation. E easy to just assume say God dey kind and say we be good people for heart, and because of dat, our salvation don sure. But no be wetin Jesus talk be dat.
So who go get salvation? If God will and we reach Heaven, who get salvation and who no get am fit surprise us. Dis na clearly one of di messages for today Gospel. Jesus even talk say when some people die, dem go assume say dem go enter Heaven, but dem go hear our Lord tell dem, “I no know where una come from. Make all of una wey dey do evil comot from Me!” Once again, we need to take dis words to heart.
One of di most dangerous sins wey we fit fall into na to just assume say our salvation don sure. Dis kind assumption dey deadly because e dey affect us for two ways. First, di person wey dis assumption don hold na person wey don commit mortal sin but never repent from am. But di person still no fit repent because e refuse to accept say e don sin. Im conscience no dey work. E don cover im eyes so e no go see, and e expect God to cover Im own eyes di same way. But God dey see everything, and E dey judge according to wetin E see.
Di “narrow gate” wey Jesus talk about na comparison wey E use tell us say to reach Heaven no easy. E need serious effort from our side, together with God mercy wey no get end. But for our own part, we fit reach Heaven only if we deliberately seek wetin God want and respond to Am with open heart, without holding anything back. First, dis mean say we confess our sins and turn away from dem. After dat, e mean say we make every effort to do God will for our lives.
If dis one hard to accept, just remind yourself say dis teaching come directly from Jesus Himself. Wetin E talk clear well-well, and na wetin E mean be dat. If dis one make you get some kind holy fear, then na good thing. “Holy fear” na gift wey dey give us conscience wey dey work as e suppose work, so we fit recognize di things for our lives wey don become obstacles wey no gree shift, wey dey block di way to eternal salvation. Di same conscience wey dey work as e suppose work go lead us to dat narrow gate wey be di only way to eternal life.
Today, reflect on di fact say all of us must take eternal salvation seriously. If you notice say you don dey slack for your spiritual life, make dis Gospel move you to change. No allow yourself become one of those people wey go dey knock for Heaven gates, only to discover say our Lord no know you. Do everything wey you fit do to root out di sin of just assuming say your salvation don sure, and your reward for Heaven go truly great.
My Lord wey get mercy pass all, na You and You alone fit open Heaven gates for us, and na You and You alone go do so, only for those wey don respond to Your holy will. Abeg, open my eyes to any way wey I dey turn away from You and still dey slack for my spiritual journey. Give me di grace wey I need to see clearly and respond to You with all my heart. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Saint Jude
For Situations and Cases Wey Be Like Say Hope No Dey Again
Person fit pray am any time for the year, especially October 19–27
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Main picture above: Di Last Judgement by Jose Luiz, through Wikimedia Commons
