January 18, 2022
Tuesday for the Second Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
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“Na because of human beings dem make Sabbath, no be because of Sabbath dem make human beings.” Mark 2:27
Jesus talk this word to answer some Pharisees wey dey criticize His disciples because dem pluck di heads of grain plants on Sabbath as dem dey pass by di farms. Hunger dey catch dem, and dem do wetin person wey dey hungry go naturally do. But di Pharisees use am as chance to find fault without good reason. Dem claim say as di disciples pluck di heads of grain plants, dem dey break di Sabbath law.
First of all, if we use ordinary common sense look this matter, e no make sense. God wey love us and wey full of mercy go really vex because di disciples pluck di heads of grain plants chop as dem dey pass by di farm? Person wey dey fear too much say everything na sin fit think so, but even ordinary common sense suppose tell us say this kind thing no dey offend God.
Di last thing wey Jesus talk about this matter make di truth clear. “Na because of human beings dem make Sabbath, no be because of Sabbath dem make human beings.” This one mean say di whole purpose of Sabbath Day no be to put heavy load of fear about sin on top our head; instead, na to give us freedom to rest and worship God. Sabbath na gift wey God give us.
This one get meaning for how we dey celebrate Sabbath today. Sunday na di new Sabbath, and na day to rest and worship God. Sometimes, we fit see these things wey we must do as heavy load. Dem no give us these commands to invite us to follow dem with too much fear of sin and with mind wey focus only on di letter of di law. Dem give us these commands to invite us into di life of grace.
This one mean say we no need to always attend Mass and rest on Sundays? No, no be so at all. These commandments of di Church na clearly wetin God want. Di real question na how we dey see these commands. Instead make we fall for di trap of seeing dem as just rules wey we must follow, we must try our best to live by these commands as invitations to grace, wey dem give us for our own good. Di commands na for our sake. We must follow dem because we need Sabbath. We need Sunday Mass, and we need one day to rest every week.
Today, think deeply about how you dey celebrate di Lord Day. You dey see di call to worship God and rest as invitation from God to make you new again and give you fresh strength through His grace? Or you dey see am only as duty wey you must do? Try get di right attitude today, and di Lord Day go get completely new meaning for you.
My Lord wey dey invite me, I thank You say You establish the New Sabbath as day to rest and worship You. Help me make I live every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation the way You want. Help me make I see these days as gift from You, to worship You and make You renew me. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
