November 19, 2021
Friday of the Thirty-Third Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Every day, He dey teach for the Temple area. Meanwhile, the chief priests, the experts for the Law, and the leaders of the people dey find how dem go kill Him. But dem no fit find any way to carry out their plan, because all the people dey listen closely to every word wey He dey talk. Luke 19:47–48
Jesus just enter Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover wey dey come. He arrive for that holy city, then He return again the next day and enter the Temple area. When He see the corruption among the people wey dey sell animals for Temple sacrifices, Jesus begin preach with great zeal to cleanse the Temple from this corruption. He quote Prophet Isaiah and shout, “Dem don write am say, My house go be house of prayer, but una don turn am to hideout for thieves.” The Gospel of Luke show how the chief priests, the experts for the Law, and the leaders of the people react. Dem dey “find how dem go kill Him.” But as the Gospel still tell us, “dem no fit find any way to carry out their plan, because all the people dey listen closely to every word wey He dey talk.”
E important make we consider this passage together with the things wey surround am. The words wey Jesus talk na words wey aim to cleanse the Temple from corruption. With permission from the Temple priests, wey dey benefit from the Temple tax, plenty people dey use the worship of God to make profit for their own selfish gain, and dem dey turn the Temple to market. Jesus see this thing clearly, and many of the people too for don sense the corruption inside these practices. Even though dem need to buy animals for the ritual sacrifices and the Passover meal, most likely, this abuse dey trouble many of dem. So, as Jesus preach with zeal and condemn wetin dey happen, the people wey dey responsible for the corruption vex, but the other people receive comfort. Na why dem dey “listen closely to every word wey He dey talk.”
The Gospel dey always bring comfort, and for people wey open their hearts, e dey make dem hold on to every word wey dem hear. E dey refresh person and give am new strength; e dey make things clear and move person to act. Normally, when we think about the Gospel, na gentle words wey dey invite people we dey think of—words of mercy for the sinner and compassion for people wey dey struggle. But sometimes, the pure Gospel message from our Lord dey strongly attack sin and evil. Even though this one fit shock people wey dey do evil, for people wey get pure faith, these words still dey refresh dem and give dem strength.
Today, we need the full Gospel message. Plenty people need to hear the gentle invitation wey Jesus dey give dem to turn their lives to God, so that the heavy load wey dem carry go comot. But plenty others need to hear His firm words wey condemn evil. And the whole Church need make dem proclaim these two messages if we wan take full part for the apostolic ministry of our Lord. Na only our Lord get the right to condemn, correct with discipline, and call others to repent. But He don call all of us to share for this mission wey be His own. And even though we no get the right to judge wetin dey other people heart, when we see things wey truly be evil and disorder for our world, and even inside our Church, we must join our Lord shout, “My house go be house of prayer, but una don turn am to hideout for thieves.” And when we hear the holy words wey God inspire His messengers to speak, as dem proclaim the truth with boldness and courage and call others to repent, those words suppose inspire us, give us fresh strength and comfort us, as we dey listen closely to every word wey dem talk.
Today, reflect on the Gospel messages wey people need to preach for this our time—messages wey God inspire and wey also speak with great zeal against corruption for the world, and even inside our Church. Allow yourself to support this kind holy preaching and make e inspire you. Listen closely to these holy words from God’s prophets today. As you dey do so, God go protect dem and inspire dem to continue His holy mission to cleanse.
My Lord wey dey cleanse, the corruption inside our world, and sometimes even inside our Church, need Your holy preaching and Your work of cleansing. Abeg, send Your messengers go meet people wey need help, so that all of dem fit become clean as You cleanse the Temple. Make I share for this mission for the ways wey You call me, and make I always hold on to every word wey come from Your merciful heart wey full of zeal and love. 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
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Main picture above: The Pharisees Dey Question Jesus, by James Tissot, through Wikimedia Commons
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