July 25, 2022
Feast for Saint James, Apostle
Listen for English
“Una fit drink di chalice wey I dey go drink?” Dem tell Am, “We fit.” E answer dem, “Una go surely drink My chalice, but to sit for My right and My left, no be Me go give dat one. Na for di people wey My Father don prepare am for.” Matthew 20:22b-23
Na correction wey Jesus give dem with plenty gentleness be dis. James and John mama ask Jesus to do someting for am. E want make im sons sit for Jesus right and left inside Im Kingdom. Jesus tell am gently, “Una no know wetin una dey ask,” and E come talk di words wey dey above.
“Una no know wetin una dey ask.” Why Jesus talk dis one? One reason be say di road to glory, wey mean di road to sit for Im right and left inside di Kingdom, na di road of di Cross. Na di road wey person go freely accept to suffer di sufferings of di Cross with Jesus. Person no fit enter Im glory without first following Am through Im death.
So E ask dis Apostles, “Una fit drink di chalice wey I dey go drink?” For anoda way, una fit accept My Cross? Una fit accept My suffering? Una fit follow Me through My final sacrifice and take part for dat sacrifice by offering una own lives too?
Di Apostles confirm say dem fit, and true-true, dem later follow Jesus for Im sacrifice as dem give demself completely to oda people.
You fit drink dat chalice? You fit willingly accept di Cross for your life? You fit endure hardship, make sacrifice and, maybe, even suffer persecution because you dey follow Jesus? You fit follow Am through Im suffering? If your answer na “Yes,” den you go share for Im glory. Maybe dat glory no go be to sit for Im right and left, but e go be glory wey pass anything wey you fit ever imagine. E worth am, and na invitation wey you no go ever regret say you accept.
Lord, I really want drink from di chalice wey You drink from. I want receive Your Precious Body and Blood, and as I receive dem, make I receive di strength and grace wey I need to follow You for Your sufferings. As I dey follow You for Your sufferings, help me make I share for Your glory too. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today: Saint James, Apostle
Readings for Mass Wey You Fit Choose
Picture wey dem feature: Peter Paul Rubens, no copyright dey on am, through Wikimedia Commons
