February 17, 2022
Thursday of di Sixth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Seven Holy People Wey Start the Servite Order—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Listen for English
Jesus begin teach the Apostles say the Son of Man must suffer plenty, and the elders, the chief priests and the scribes must reject Am. Dem go kill Am, and after three days, E go rise. E talk this one openly. Then Peter take Am go one side and begin correct Am sharply. Mark 8:31-32
Why Peter go take Jesus go one side and correct Am sharply? Na because e dey vex for Jesus? No, na most likely because of the fear wey Peter dey feel for im heart.
This passage talk say Jesus “begin teach” the Apostles say soon E go suffer plenty, dem go reject Am and kill Am. This one for hard for the Apostles to accept and understand. At first, dem for feel all the feelings and get all the thoughts wey all of us dey get as we dey try understand some news wey hard to take. We fit first refuse to believe am, then begin vex, look for way out, begin panic, confuse, and so on. To pass through different stages of sorrow and acceptance na normal thing, and e be like say na this one Peter dey experience.
As Peter dey struggle for im heart to accept wetin Jesus dey begin reveal to dem, e try block am. For Matthew account of this story, we hear the exact words wey Peter talk: “God forbid, Lord! This kind thing no go ever happen to You” (Mt. 16:22).
True-true, Peter words show say e care about Jesus, but e important to note say, just because Peter care about Jesus, that one no mean say im words dey help.
As the story continue, Jesus correct Peter sharply, but na out of love for Peter, to help free am from im fear and confusion. We fit understand why Peter dey fear as e hear wetin Jesus talk say go happen for the Cross. We fit understand am when any of us dey fear as we face any serious cross or hardship. The main thing here na to know say Jesus no want make we remain inside fear. E no want make we run from the crosses wey dem give us because of our human weakness. Instead, E want make we turn to Am and try think as E dey think, act as E dey act, and face our hardships as E do when E accept to carry Im Cross.
Today, think deeply about how you dey react to the hard things wey God dey call you to do. Yes, you fit dey sure say every day, E dey call you to do things wey need great sacrifice and great love. This one fit pain you. But make you never allow the pain of any cross stop you from carrying am. Pray make you get courage to face your crosses and, if e need am, dey ready to accept the correction wey Jesus give you out of love when you see say you need correction to put you for the road to freedom from fear.
Lord wey get strength, I know say You face di holy sacrifice of Your glorious Cross with courage and without fear. As You dey call me to follow Your footsteps, I dey see say fear fit overpower me as e do Peter. Abeg, give me strength for those times and give me di grace wey I need to tell You “Yes” no matter wetin You ask. 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 – Di Seven Holy Founders of di Servite Order—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
Main picture above: Di Money for Tax Wey Masaccio Paint, through Wikimedia Commons
Two very good books for Lent:
Reflections for Lent and Easter
We don update am for Lent & Easter 2022, with more reflections and Table of Contents wey give more details
Reflections for Lent and Easter na one of the four books wey make up the Catholic Daily Reflections Series. As book for devotion, e dey help person well-well to tink deep and pray every day. E get reflections on the Gospel of each day wey remain faithful to the faith, easy to understand, and useful for everyday life. The way dem arrange am, person fit use am for any liturgical year. E get reflections for every Gospel option, including Sunday Years A, B & C, every option for daily Mass, and all Feasts and Solemnities. Allow the death and resurrection of Christ to change your heart more fully this Lent and Easter! You fit also get am as paperback & eBook!
40 Days for the Foot of the Cross:
To Look with Love from the Heart of Our Blessed Mother
Through this book for daily devotion, dem dey invite you to use prayer think deep about wetin dey the mind and heart of our Blessed Mother as she endure the great suffering wey dem make her own dear Son suffer. Mother Mary face her Son Cross with perfect faith, love and devotion. She remain faithful to her Son throughout Im life without shaking. As she stand before the Cross during those three long hours, she no stop to dey faithful.
