November 15, 2021
Monday of di Thirty-Third Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Albert di Great, Bishop and Doctor of di Church—Memorial wey no compulsory
Listen for English
As Jesus dey near Jericho, one blind man sit down for roadside dey beg. As e hear crowd dey pass, e ask wetin dey happen. Dem tell am, “Jesus of Nazareth dey pass.” E shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Di people wey dey walk for front scold am, tell am make e keep quiet, but e continue to shout even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Luke 18:35–39
This beautiful story of how Jesus heal this blind man, wey Gospel of Mark call Bartimaeus, give us example of how we suppose come meet Jesus for prayer. Bartimaeus and how e meet Christ na holy picture wey we suppose reflect deeply on, so that we go follow im example for im weakness, how e open im heart, im confidence and how e no give up.
To start, this “blind man sit down for roadside dey beg.” We suppose see this as di right picture of how to begin our prayer. When we start to pray, we must recognise how small and weak we be, and how poor we really be for our spiritual life. We come meet God with nothing. We no fit see. We be beggars. And we no fit meet our own spiritual needs. Na so Bartimaeus be, and na so we must come meet our Lord for prayer. Sometimes, we fit deceive ourselves say our prayers dey so high and holy that dem must impress God well-well. If na this you dey struggle with, then you resemble di Pharisees more. But this blind man na di example we suppose follow. So when you begin your prayer, come meet our Lord as beggar wey poor and need help for spiritual life.
As you humble yourself like this, just as e happen for this Gospel story, you fit dey sure say “Jesus of Nazareth dey pass.” So as you sit down for your humble condition and recognise say you need help, wait and pay attention to Jesus wey dey pass. Wait for Im gentle voice, di quiet way wey E dey move your heart, and Im presence wey dey bring peace and wey you no fit mistake.
If you fit humble yourself like this, and then sense say di divine presence of our Lord dey touch you for some way, follow Bartimaeus example further by calling out inside your heart, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Di cry wey come from deep inside your heart for prayer must come because Jesus “dey pass.” E must be your response to Him as E come meet you by Im own choice. As Jesus dey pass, for spiritual sense, E dey wait make you call Him. E want make you call Him. And E want make you do am with firm confidence and without giving up.
Notice say as this blind beggar dey cry out, some things stand for im way. Di people “scold am, tell am make e keep quiet.” But even this one na gift, because e help Bartimaeus cry out even more. Na so e be for us too: when things stand for di way of our prayer, like things wey dey distract us, temptations, when we no feel comfort for spirit, or any other challenge to our prayer, we must see these things as hurdles wey we must overcome. If we do so, our union with Jesus go grow deeper, and wetin look like obstacle go turn to source of blessing.
Today, reflect on these four parts of deep prayer life wey di example of this blind beggar show us. First, think deeply about your weakness and poverty as you turn to God for prayer. Second, pay attention to di presence of God as E dey pass, dey wait make you call Him. Third, cry out to Him and beg Him make E come closer. And fourth, work to overcome everything wey stand for di way of prayer, and see those things as chances to call out to God even more.
My Lord wey full of compassion, I come meet You for my weakness and poverty. I come because I need Your divine touch and healing. As You dey pass, I recognise Your presence and call You. Jesus, abeg, come meet me, have mercy on me. Help me overcome everything wey stand for di way of Your love, and make I always trust You, without ever shaking for my commitment to You. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Christ the King
November 12–20, 2021
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Albert di Great, Bishop and Doctor of di Church
