June 3, 2022
Friday for di Seventh Week of Easter
Readings for Today
Saint Charles Lwanga na Im Companion dem, Martyr dem—Memorial
Listen for English
E ask am di third time, “Simon, son of John, you love Me?” Peter feel pain say E ask am di third time, “You love Me?” and e tell am, “Lord, You know everything; You know say I love You.” Jesus tell am, “Feed My sheep.” John 21:17
Jesus ask Peter three times whether e love Am. Why three times? One reason na so Peter fit “make up” for di three times wey e deny Jesus. No, Jesus no need make Peter beg Am pardon three times, but Peter need to express im love three times, and Jesus know this.
Three na number wey still dey show perfection. For example, we dey talk say God na “Holy, Holy, Holy.” This expression wey repeat three times na way to talk say God na di One wey holy pass all. As Peter get di chance to tell Jesus three times say e love Am, na chance for Peter to express im love from di deepest part of im heart.
So here, Peter dey declare im love three times, and e dey undo im denial three times. This suppose show us say we too need to love God and seek Im mercy for a “threefold” way.
When you tell God say you love Am, how deep that love reach? Na more of mouth talk, or na complete love wey carry your whole being? You mean di love wey you get for God with your whole heart? Or na something wey you still need to work on?
True-true, all of us need to work on our love, and na why this passage suppose mean plenty to us. We suppose hear Jesus dey ask us this question three times too. We suppose understand say just to talk, “Lord, I love You,” no dey satisfy Am. E want hear am again and again. E dey ask us this because E know say we need to express this love from di deepest part of our heart. “Lord, You know everything, You know say I love You!” Na this suppose be our final answer.
This question wey E ask three times still give us di chance to express how deeply we dey long for Im mercy. All of us dey sin. All of us dey deny Jesus for one way or another. But di good news be say Jesus dey always invite us to let our sin move us to make our love deeper. E no dey sit down remain angry with us. E no dey sulk. E no dey use our sin take hold us down. But E dey ask for di deepest sorrow for sin and complete turning of heart to God. E want make we turn comot from our sin completely.
Today, think deeply about how deep your love for God be and how well you dey express am to Am. Choose to express your love for God for a threefold way. Make e deep, sincere and something wey you no go ever take back. Di Lord go receive this act wey come from your heart and give am back to you a hundredfold.
My Lord wey dey love me, You know well well say I love You. You also know how weak I be. Make I hear as You dey invite me to show my love for You and my desire for Your mercy. Make I offer dis love and desire as fully as I fit. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to di Holy Spirit
Wey we dey pray to prepare for Pentecost
Day Eight – Friday, June 3
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of the Day – Saint Charles Lwanga na Im Companion dem, Martyr dem
