July 30, 2022
Satide for Wik 17 for Ordinary Time
Di Readings for Today
Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor—Memorial Wey No Be Must to Celebrate
Listen for English
“Give me di head of John di Baptist here for tray.” Matthew 14:8
To talk am small, na really bad day. Dem cut off St. John the Baptist head as Salome, Herodias daughter, ask. John dey prison because e tell Herod di truth about im marriage, and Herodias heart full of hatred for John. So Herodias make her daughter dance for front of Herod and im guests. Di dance please Herod so much sotey e promise Salome anything, even up to half of im kingdom. Instead, wetin she ask for na John the Baptist head.
Even as we first look am, dis request strange well-well. Dem promise Salome up to half of di kingdom, but instead, she ask make dem kill one good and holy man. In fact, Jesus talk about John say nobody wey woman born great pass am. So why Herodias and her daughter get all dis hate?
Dis sad thing wey happen show di power wey anger get when e reach im worst level. When anger dey build up and grow, e dey stir strong feelings so much wey person no fit think or reason clearly again. Hate and desire to revenge fit take over person completely and lead am to do things wey foolish well-well.
Herod too show for here how person fit act without sense at all. Pressure push am to do wetin e no want do because e fear to do di right thing. Di hate wey dey Herodias heart overpower am, and because of dis, e agree make dem kill John, di same person wey e actually seem to like and wey e dey enjoy to listen to.
Normally, we dey look for encouragement from di good example of other people. But for dis case, we see say we fit get “encouragement” for another way. We suppose use wetin happen when dem kill John as chance to check any struggle wey we get with anger, bitterness and especially hate. Hate na ugly feeling wey fit enter our heart small-small and cause plenty destruction for our life and di life of other people. Even when dis feeling wey no dey right just dey start, we suppose confess am and overcome am.
Today, think well about whether you see any hate for your heart. You still dey hold any grudge or bitterness wey no gree go? Dat feeling dey grow and dey damage your life and di life of other people? If na so, make up your mind to let am go and forgive. Na di right thing to do.
My Lord wey dey set me free, give me di grace wey I need to look inside my heart and see any way wey my heart dey turn towards anger, bitterness and hatred. Abeg, cleanse me of all these things and set me free. Jesus, na You I trust.
Starting from Sunday, July 31:
Ordinary Time: Weeks 18-34
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today: Saint Peter Chrysologus
Readings for Mass Wey You Fit Choose
Main Image: Caravaggio, Na public domain work, through Wikimedia Commons
