April 8, 2022
Friday for di Fifth Week for Lent
Readings for Today
Listen for English
The Jews pick stones to stone Jesus. Jesus answer dem, “I don show una plenty good works from my Father. Na because of which one of these works una wan stone Me?” John 10:31–32
As we dey near Holy Week and Good Friday, we dey begin see say the hatred wey people get for Jesus dey grow. Just as we see for yesterday reflection, this thing no get sense. To hate Jesus and want stone Am to death na something wey no get sense at all. But na wetin happen be that. Small small, the people wey dey against Jesus come dey get more mind, until that final day reach when He lay down His life for us and willingly accept His death.
For these next two weeks, e good make we face this senseless hatred and persecution without dodging dem. E good make we see the hatred wey plenty people get and call am wetin e really be. No, e no be something wey sweet to think about, but na the reality. Na so the world wey we dey live inside be. And na reality wey all of us go face for our lives.
When we dey face evil and persecution, make we do am as Jesus do. He face am without fear. He face am with the truth, and He no ever accept the lies wey plenty people talk against Am to spoil His name.
The truth be say, the more we dey draw near God, the more persecution and hatred we go face. Again, this one fit no make sense to us. E easy to think say if we dey close to God and dey try live holy life, everybody go love us and praise us. But no be so e be for Jesus, and no be so e go be for us too.
One important thing wey go help us live holy life na to stand firm for the truth, even inside persecution, suffering, hardship and sorrow. When things no go as we want, we dey always get the temptation to think say we must dey do something wrong. E easy for the lies wey the world dey talk against us to spoil our name to confuse us when we dey try stand for wetin good and true. One thing wey God want from us as we dey carry our own crosses na to make our faith pure and make up our mind to stand firm for His Word and Truth.
When we face one cross or persecution, e fit be like say dem hit us for head. We fit feel confused, and panic and fear fit take over us. But na these times, pass any other time, we need to stand strong. We need to remain humble, but make our conviction about everything wey God don talk and reveal to us remain deep and firm. This one dey help us trust God more for everything. E easy to talk say we trust God when life easy; e hard to trust Am when the cross wey we dey carry heavy well well.
Today, think well about this truth: no matter wetin your cross be, na gift from God, because He want use am strengthen you for one greater purpose. As Saint John Paul the Great talk again and again during the time wey he be Pope, “Make una no fear!” Face the things wey dey make you fear, and allow God change you as you dey face dem. If you do so, you go discover say the greatest struggles for your life actually come turn to your greatest blessings.
My Lord wey get courage, as we dey near di time to commemorate Your own suffering and death, help me join my crosses to Your own. Help me see Your presence and strength inside di struggle wey I dey face every day. Help me see di purpose wey You get for me even as I dey face these challenges. Jesus, na You I trust.
(Friday for di Fifth Week for Lent)
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
