November 4, 2021
Thursday for Week Thirty-One for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop—Memorial
Listen for English
“Which man among una wey get one hundred sheep, if one lost, no go leave di ninety-nine for desert go find di one wey lost until e see am? And when e see am, e go put am for im shoulders with plenty joy. When e reach house, e go call im friends and neighbours together, tell dem, ‘Make una rejoice with me because I don find my sheep wey lost.’” Luke 15:4–6
Some of di great saints point out say di number one hundred stand for perfection. One hundred mean di perfection of God Kingdom, wey no be only all di saints for Heaven e represent, but di angels too. Di one sheep wey lost stand for all human beings as we dey pass through dis life. Jesus, as we know, na di Shepherd wey turn Im attention to human beings wey don fall, and wey dey search for us with all care so E fit carry us go house.
First, notice say no be anger make di Shepherd search for di one sheep wey stray, but na care and love. We need to understand dis well if we wan understand how our Lord dey see us when we stray. We must see how deeply E care, how E dey search with all care, and how E no dey give up on finding us as we dey stray. Dis no be God wey just sit back dey judge us with anger, but na God wey come meet us, take our human nature wey don fall, and endure all suffering so E fit find us and bring us go house.
Notice too say for dis parable, di Shepherd put di sheep wey lost for Im shoulders and carry am go house. Many times, we fit fall for di trap of thinking say na by our own effort we must find our way back to God. But di truth be say God dey there always, dey wait to lift us up and carry us go house. Our duty na to surrender ourselves into Im hands wey full of mercy, and stop to dey run. We dey do dis when we turn to Am and allow Am come meet us and care for us. Once we surrender ourselves into Im gentle Hands, na our Lord dey do di main work.
Finally, notice say na di Shepherd dey rejoice for dis parable. True-true, we too go rejoice as E lift us up and carry us go house, enter di perfection of God Kingdom. But na because our Lord dey rejoice make we too dey rejoice. Na Im joy E invite us to share. Na Im heart dey full of thanks as we allow Am carry us go house with tender care. E talk say, “Make una rejoice with me because I don find my sheep wey lost.”
Today, think deeply about dis holy picture of di Good Shepherd. As you dey reflect on dis parable and di picture wey e show, pay attention to di different thoughts, memories, feelings and fears wey e bring up inside you. Each of us different, and our Lord really desire to come meet each of us right where we dey, even inside our sins. As you dey think deeply about di compassion of dis Good Shepherd, e go open door for our Lord to speak to you and invite you personally to come to Am, as you turn away from di ways wey you yourself don stray. No run away. Continue to trust Am as E dey come meet you. Listen to Im voice and tell Am “Yes” as E dey lift you up to carry you go house.
My gentle Jesus, na You be di Good Shepherd. You love me, and You dey search for me with all care and faithfulness. Make I trust You reach to stop to dey run from You and hide from Your gentle voice. Abeg, come meet me, lift me up, put me for Your shoulders and carry me go house. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of Today – Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Di main picture wey dey above: na Myriams-Fotos do am from Pixabay
