Wenesde, August 10, 2022
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Listen for English
Jesus tell Im disciples: “Amen, amen, I dey tell una, unless one grain of wheat fall for ground and die, e go remain just one grain of wheat; but if e die, e go bear plenty fruit.” John 12:24
Na statement wey person fit remember easily, but e dey show one truth wey hard to accept and live by. Jesus dey talk straight about why e dey necessary to die to your own self so that your life go bear plenty good fruit. Again, e easy to talk, but e hard to live by.
Why e hard to live like this? Wetin make am hard? Di hard part start with first accepting say to die to your own self dey necessary and e good. So make we look wetin this one mean.
Make we start with di example of one grain of wheat. Di grain must separate from di head of di wheat and fall for ground. This picture show wetin e mean to let go completely. That single grain of wheat must “let go” of everything. This picture dey tell us say if we want make God work miracles inside us, we must ready and willing to let go of everything wey we hold on to. E mean say we truly surrender our own will, wetin we prefer, wetin we desire and wetin we dey hope for. This one fit hard well-well to do because e fit hard well-well to understand. E fit hard to understand say to let go of everything wey we want and desire really good, and na di way wey we take dey ready for di new life wey get far greater glory, wey dey wait for us through di change wey grace dey bring. To die to our own selves mean say we trust God pass di things wey we hold on to for this life. E mean say we believe say God plan better pass any plan wey we fit make, and no limit dey to how much better e be.
When di grain of wheat die and enter ground, e fulfil wetin e dey for and grow into much more. E change and produce plenty.
Saint Lawrence, one deacon and martyr for di third century wey we dey remember today, give us one real example of person wey give up everything, even im own life, so that e go fit tell God “Yes.” E give up all im wealth, and when di prefect of Rome command am to hand over all di treasures of di Church, Lawrence bring di poor and di sick come meet am. Di prefect vex and sentence Lawrence to death by fire. Lawrence give up everything to follow im Lord.
Today, think deeply about wetin God fit dey call you to let go of. Wetin be that thing wey E want make you surrender? Na to surrender be di key to allowing God do glorious things for your life.
Lord, help me make I let go of the things wey I prefer and my own ideas for life wey no agree with Your divine will. Help me make I always believe say You get plan wey better pass my own so much wey no measure fit reach am. As I accept that plan with all my heart, help me make I trust say You go make plenty good fruit come out from am. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Lawrence, Deacon wey be Martyr
