April 4, 2022
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
(Make we note: For Year C, if dem use the reflection for Year A, dem fit use the readings for Sunday of Year C today.)
Saint Isidore, Bishop and Dokita of di Church—Memorial wey No Be Compulsory
Listen for English
But nobody arrest am, because im hour never reach. John 8:20
This short sentence dey for the end of today Gospel, after Jesus once again face the Pharisees directly. For this situation, He face dem by telling dem the truth about how He and the Father dey united, and the power and authority wey He get because of this unity. The Pharisees try to face and challenge am, but He answer dem back with the truth for clear language. Dem no record wetin dem talk after dem hear Jesus’ words, but e clear say dem no know wetin to talk, and e clear say dem still dey doubt am and dey look for how to trap am.
This passage wey we quote above show us this deep truth: the wickedness of the Pharisees or any other person no fit win for the end, because Jesus’ “hour never reach.” Wetin this one mean? Na two truths we suppose learn from this sentence.
First, wickedness no fit overpower wetin God want. Since God the Father no allow dem to arrest Jesus for that time, the people wey get evil plans no get power to do am. Jesus fit speak clearly and openly, and use the truth challenge the Pharisees, and dem no fit do anything to stop am. Even though His words pain dem reach their heart, dem no fit do pass to listen as their anger and stubbornness against our Lord dey grow. But dem no fit harm am. This one show say, for the end, even the wickedness of other people dey under God control. He go only allow wickedness to look as if e don win when He see one greater purpose for allowing that kind thing to happen.
Secondly, e show say one “hour” dey come when dem go hand Jesus over to sinful people. But for John Gospel, this hour no be hour of shame and disgrace for Jesus; instead, na hour of complete victory over sin and death. As the world dey see am, we know say the hour wey dem arrest am, persecute am and crucify am look like something terrible and disgraceful for Jesus before everybody. E look as if He lose and the Pharisees win. But as God dey see am, wey be the only true way to see am, Jesus win with glory. In fact, for the end, the Father allow the wickedness of the Pharisees to become the means wey go bring glory to Jesus through the suffering wey He endure for this hour. As God dey see am, His hour no become hour of defeat; instead, e become hour of final victory.
Today, reflect on the hour of Jesus wey dey come. Soon we go enter the glory of Holy Week and think deeply once again about how the Father allow Jesus to pass through the cruellest suffering and death wey person fit imagine. We go face the arrest wey look like disgrace for am, and the victory wey the wicked leaders of that time seem to get. But their victory only look real; e no be true victory, because the Father get another purpose for wetin He allow. Begin prepare for this yearly celebration of the hour of Jesus, and enter am with full confidence and faith.
My Lord wey full of glory, I glorify You for Your wisdom and power, and I rejoice for the perfect will of the Father for Heaven. The Father send You on a mission to redeem and save us, and for the end He allow You to suffer and die. But through this suffering, He bring final victory over death and every evil. Give me faith to know and believe this truth with all my heart. Bless this Holy Week wey dey come, dear Lord, and allow me to rejoice for Your glorious victory. Jesus, na You I trust.
Reflection Thirty-One – “Today You Go Dey With Me for Paradise”
(Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent)
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Saint of the Day – Saint Isidore, Bishop we also be Doctor of the Church
Main picture above: Jesus Dey Speak Near the Treasury, by James Tissot, through Wikimedia Commons
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