July 15, 2022
Fraide for Week Fifteen for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor—Memorial
Listen for English
“If una bin know wetin dis mean, Na mercy I want, no be sacrifice, una for no condemn dis men wey no get fault.” Matthew 12:7
Jesus Apostles dey hungry, and as dem dey waka, dem pluck heads of grain to take satisfy dia hunger. Because of dis, di Pharisees condemn di Apostles for doing wetin dem claim say “dey against di law” on di Sabbath. Dem claim say to pluck heads of grain as dem dey waka na “work,” and so di Apostles don break di law wey say make dem rest on di Sabbath.
Na so? Di Pharisees really think say di Apostles sin because dem pluck grain as dem dey waka to satisfy dia hunger? We hope say e no hard for us to see how dis condemnation no make sense at all and no get good reason. Di Apostles no do anything wrong, but dem still condemn dem. Dem na “men wey no get fault,” as Jesus point out.
Jesus answer di Pharisees for dis thing wey no make sense by reminding dem of wetin Scripture talk: “Na mercy I want, no be sacrifice.” And He point out say dem condemn di Apostles wrongly because di Pharisees no understand dis passage and dis command from God say make dem show mercy.
Na God give di commandment say make people rest on di Sabbath. But God no give di commandment to rest just for people to keep rule for rule sake. E no be just one demand of di law wey go somehow honour God simply because person keep am strictly. Di main thing be say Sabbath rest na gift from God to human beings, because God know say we need rest and fresh strength. He know say every week we need time to slow down, worship God in special way and enjoy to dey with other people. But di Pharisees turn di Sabbath rest to heavy load. Dem make am look like strict keeping of rules wey no do anything to glorify God or refresh di human spirit.
One important truth wey we fit learn from dis passage be say God dey call us to use mercy understand wetin His law mean. Mercy dey always refresh us, lift us up and fill us with fresh strength. E dey move us to worship God and fill us with hope. Mercy no dey put heavy load of strict rule-keeping on us; instead, God mercy and His law dey work together to give us fresh strength and refresh us.
Today, think deeply about how you dey see God commands and His law. You dey see am as strict rules wey person must follow and wey be heavy load? Or you dey see am as blessing from God mercy wey dey meant to make your load light?
My Lord wey get mercy, help me make I love Your law. Help me make I truly see am for di light of Your mercy and grace. Make everything wey You command refresh me, and make Your will lift me up. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today: Saint Bonaventure
Main Picture: James Tissot, Public domain, through Wikimedia Commons
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