August 9, 2022
Tuesday for the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr—Memorial wey No Be Obligation
“Amen, I dey tell una, unless una change and become like children, una no go enter di Kingdom of heaven. Anybody wey humble imself like dis child na im great pass for di Kingdom of heaven. And anybody wey welcome one child like dis for my name welcome me.” Matthew 18:3-5
How we fit become like children? Wetin e mean to be like child? See some words wey likely match wetin Jesus mean by to become like children: to trust, to depend on another person, to be yourself, to act freely as e come from your heart, to dey full of wonder, not to form wetin you no be, and to get innocent mind. Maybe some of dem, or all of dem, fit describe wetin Jesus dey talk about. Make we look at some of dis qualities as dem concern our relationship with God and other people.
To Trust: Children dey trust their papa and mama without any doubt. Dem fit no always want obey, but hardly anything dey make children doubt say their papa or mama go provide for dem and care for dem. Dem believe say food and clothes go dey, and dem no even see dem as something to worry about. If dem dey big city or shopping mall, dem dey feel safe when dem dey near their papa or mama. Dis trust dey help remove fear and worry.
To Be Yourself: Children often dey free to be who dem be. Dem no dey worry too much whether dem go look foolish or whether shame go catch dem. Many times, dem go just be themselves and act freely as e come from their heart, without worrying about wetin other people think.
To Get Innocent Mind: Children never get mind wey don bend, and dem never begin doubt whether anybody get good intention. Dem no dey look at other people and just assume di worst about dem. Instead, dem often dey see other people as good people.
To Dey Full of Wonder: New things often dey amaze children. Dem go see lake, mountain, or new toy, and dis first time wey dem see am go fill dem with wonder.
We fit easily use all dis qualities for our relationship with God. We must trust God to care for us for everything. We must try hard to be ourselves and dey free, to show our love without fear, and not dey worry whether dem go accept am or reject am. We must try hard to get innocent mind for di way we dey see other people, without allowing prejudice or partiality control us. We must try hard to always dey full of wonder before God and all di new things wey He dey do for our lives.
Today, think deeply about any of dis qualities wey you see say you lack pass. How God want make you become more like child? How He want make you become like children so dat you fit truly become great for di Kingdom of Heaven?
Lord, help me make I be like pikin. Help me make I find true greatness for the humility and simplicity wey pikin get. Pass everything, make I trust You completely for all things. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr
Main Picture: Make the Children Come Meet Me by Anthony van Dyke, from Wikipedia
