February 14, 2022
Monday for di Sixth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop—Memorial
Listen for English
The Pharisees come forward come begin argue with Jesus. Dem ask Make He show dem sign from heaven, to test Am. He breathe out heavily from deep inside His spirit come talk, “Why this generation dey look for sign? Amen, I dey tell una, dem no go give this generation any sign.” Mark 8:11-12
Jesus “breathe out heavily from deep inside His spirit.” E clear say this one no be ordinary heavy breath. E pass just wetin person dey feel. E come from “deep inside His spirit.” Wetin dey happen to Jesus?
This heavy breath show say Jesus dey feel pain and suffering for His spirit. Na pain and suffering wey come because other people reject Am. But no be just say dem hurt His feelings or offend Am, because no be so. The suffering wey He feel come from His love. E come because He love the Pharisees deeply, and He see say dem dey reject the grace wey He want give dem. This thing pain Am, no be because His feelings dey quick hurt, but because His love for dem no get limit.
E dey worth to notice say we no dey often think about the love wey Jesus get for the Pharisees. Many times, na only how He dey talk hard to dem and condemn dem we dey think about. But every strong word wey He tell dem na out of love, to help dem turn back to God. Na His way to try wake dem up from their attitude of not caring and their rejection of grace. Na love make Am do am.
Today, think deeply about the “Pharisees” for your life. Maybe you no dey meet people wey get pride or dey look down on others, or maybe you dey meet dem. The Pharisees for your life na those wey reject the free gift of love wey you dey try give dem. Na those wey pain, confusion or bitterness don fill their heart so tey e hard dem well-well to let love enter. Dem dey use every kind of defence to stop your love from entering their heart. And when you see this rejection, e dey pain you. This one fit then tempt you to vex or condemn dem.
But how you suppose respond? You suppose do as Jesus do! You suppose breathe out heavily, and make that breath “come from deep inside.” You suppose feel the pain of their rejection and feel holy sorrow for dem. Sometimes, you fit need to face dem about their behaviour as Jesus do. But make e never be because their rejection wound your pride. You suppose face dem only because you judge say na the best way to win their heart. You go know say na love make you do am when you feel that heavy breath rise from deep inside your spirit.
Lord wey full of love, help me to love with love wey pure and holy. Help me to feel sorrow wey holy for my sins and other people sins when I come across their sins. Make dat holy sorrow push me to love more deeply. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
