November 3, 2021
Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Martin de Porres, Religious—Memorial Wey No Be Must to Celebrate
Listen for English
Plenty people dey travel with Jesus, and He turn tell dem, “If anybody come meet Me wey no hate im papa and mama, im wife and children, im brothers and sisters, and even im own life, e no fit be My disciple.” Luke 14:25–26
After this first statement from our Lord wey fit shock person, Jesus end today Gospel as He talk say, “For the same way, any one of una wey no give up everything wey e get no fit be My disciple.” So, when we first read am, e be like say God dey call us no be only to give up everything wey we get, but also to hate people for our own family. But na wetin our Lord really mean be this? Make we start with this matter of to “hate” people for our family and even our own life.
E clear say the word “hate” for this Gospel passage no be the same thing as the sin of hatred and anger. As one of the Church Fathers dey explain this passage, e talk say some situations dey when the best way to love another person na through one kind of hatred. That one mean say, if another person become obstacle wey dey block our way to God, and dey try turn us away from wetin our Lord want, then we must show clearly and firmly say we “hate” wetin the person dey do. But this na love. When we refuse to turn away from God by rejecting another person actions wey no follow the right order, na one way to share the Gospel with the person. Make we take one example wey serious well-well.
Imagine say you live for one time and situation where to be Christian na crime. Dem arrest you and command you to deny your faith for public. Instead, you reject that command with all the strength of your soul. For this situation, you dey show one kind of holy “hatred” for the persecution wey the person dey put you through. But this one still na act of love towards the person, as you completely reject wetin e dey do by refusing to obey im command.
Or think too about how you go hate even your “own life.” Make we say you dey fall into serious sin again and again. The right thing to do no be only to repent and turn back to God, but also to get one kind of holy hatred for the habit wey you don fall into. This na true hatred for yourself, for the sense say na hatred for wetin you don become because of your sin. But the final aim of this holy hatred na to overcome your sin with all your heart, and so e really na act of love for yourself.
The last statement for today Gospel wey we mention above dey call us to give up everything wey we get. For another way to talk am, we must give up anything wey our heart cling to for way wey go against wetin God want. Of course, as God dey provide and arrange things, E dey call most people, apart from those wey take vow of poverty, to get different things so dem fit meet the material needs of life. But even for this situation, we must “give up” everything wey we get. This one mean say we must no allow our heart cling to anything apart from God. But this na freedom for the truest sense. Even if you get plenty things, you must understand say no be those things dey make you happy. Na only God and wetin E want fit fully satisfy you. Nothing else. So, we must learn to live as if God, and God alone, don do for us. And if na God want make you get house, motor, computer, television and other modern things wey dey make life easier, then make e be so. But to truly “give up” all these things simply mean say, if you lose dem at any time, you go still dey all right. Na there complete freedom from attachment dey. To lose any material thing no go in any way stop you from loving and serving God and doing His holy will.
Today, reflect on these words of Jesus wey dey call for complete change. Try hear dem the way our Lord mean dem. Work to free your heart from everything wey go against wetin God want, and everything wey dey become obstacle wey block your way to God for your life. For the end, to get God alone pass anything wey you fit ever hope for. And na only if you fully get our merciful God you go fit love yourself and other people with the pure heart and love of Jesus our Lord.
My Lord wey dey ask much from us, You dey call all of us to life of complete holiness. You want make I come to love You pass everything with all my heart. Abeg, give me the grace and wisdom wey I need to give up everything wey dey block my way to love and serve You. Make na You, and You alone, receive glory for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Martin de Porres, Memba of Religious Order
Main image wey dey above: Christ Dey Preach, by Rembrandt, through Wikimedia Commons
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