January 13, 2022
Thursday for di First Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of di Church—Memorial Wey No Be Obligation
Listen for English
The man comot go begin tell everybody the whole matter. E spread the news everywhere, sotey Jesus no fit enter any town openly again. Jesus stay outside for lonely places, and people continue to dey come meet Am from everywhere. Mark 1:44-45
We fit understand why the man wey comot go “begin tell everybody the whole matter” do like that. E don dey suffer from the terrible sickness wey dem dey call leprosy, and e most likely don dey lose hope. E come meet Jesus, kneel down humbly for His front, and show the deep faith wey e get. E talk say, “If You want, You fit make me clean.” Of course, Jesus want make the man clean, and immediately, He heal am of the leprosy.
Wetin draw our attention be say, after Jesus heal the man, He tell am make e no tell anybody. But because of the joy wey full im heart, the man comot go dey tell everybody. This one make Jesus name and reputation spread well-well, and people everywhere begin want know more about Am. People get strong interest to find Am, sotey, as this passage talk above, “Jesus no fit enter any town openly again.”
This story suppose naturally make some questions come our mind. One thing wey we suppose think deeply about be say Jesus no seem to get any interest to dey “popular.” E for easy for Am to go from one town to another, and as He enter new town, announce say, “Make everybody listen…I don come!” People for immediately rush come meet Am. But instead make He welcome the sudden fame, He go lonely places. People come meet Am for these lonely places wey no easy to reach.
Jesus go lonely places dey wait make people find Am, because the whole purpose of His life na to help souls get real change of heart, no be to get popularity for society. He no dey find the respect wey people of this world fit give Am; na only to change people heart He dey after. So, as He withdraw go lonely places, He allow the Father for Heaven to bring those wey dey open to real change of heart come meet Am.
Na so e still be for us. The “Jesus wey people make popular” no always be the “real Jesus.” That mean say the true Gospel message no normally be wetin the way of life wey many people follow today go praise as something wey dey excite dem. Jesus and His true Gospel message no go always become the main news for the country. Instead, if we want find Am, we must take am serious to look for Am for the hidden and quiet places where He dey wait for us.
Today, think deeply about Jesus as He dey wait for you inside the silence. Where that quiet “lonely place” dey, where He dey wait? Where He dey wait make you come meet Am? Look for Am, and when you find Am, you go thank God forever say you make the effort.
My Lord wey dey hidden, I dey look for You, but I still know say I never dey look for You reach as I suppose. You dey there, dey wait for me in ways wey nobody fit count. You dey call me make I enter deeper silence and spend more time alone. For di lonely places for life, You want care for my soul. Help me make I listen to You and make di journey come meet You. And as I find You, help me make I truly accept di change of heart wey You want for me. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor
Book Wey We Feature:
Daily Reflections for Ordinary Time:
Weeks 1-17
Reflections for Every Day for Ordinary Time: Weeks 1–17 from the Catholic Daily Reflections Series na devotional book for every day wey get reflections on the Gospel of the day, for way wey person fit practise, wey remain faithful to the faith, and wey connect with everyday life. Dem arrange the eBook and paperback versions so that person fit use this book year after year. The reflections no get specific dates for Ordinary Time 2022; instead, dem cover every option for this liturgical year and the ones wey dey come, so person fit use this devotional book from year to year.
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