December 3, 2022
Satide for di First Week of Advent
Readings for Today
Saint Francis Xavier, Priest—Memorial
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“Harvest plenty, but workers no plenty; so ask the master of the harvest make e send workers go gather im harvest.” Matthew 9:37–38
Wetin God want from you? Wetin be your mission? Some Christians wey dey serious with their faith fit dream to become popular evangelists. Some fit dream to do great acts of love wey everybody go praise. And others fit wish to live quiet life of faith wey people no too notice, close to their family and friends. But wetin God want from YOU?
For the passage above, Jesus dey urge His disciples make dem pray for “workers for im harvest.” You fit dey sure say you dey among the “workers” wey our Lord dey talk about. E easy to think say this mission na for other people, like priests, people wey don consecrate their life to God, and lay evangelists wey dey do the work full-time. E easy for plenty people to conclude say dem no get much to offer. But that kind thought no near the truth at all.
God want use you for ways wey get special glory. Yes, “special glory!” Of course, this no mean say na you go be the next evangelist wey popular pass for YouTube, or say everybody go know you like dem know Saint Mother Teresa. But the work wey God want make you do dey real and important just like the work of any of the greatest saints of old or the ones wey still dey alive today.
We dey discover holiness for life through prayer, but also through wetin we dey do. As you dey pray every day and dey draw closer to Christ, He go urge you to “Heal sick people, raise dead people, cleanse people wey get leprosy, drive evil spirits comot” (Matthew 10:8), as di Gospel for today go on to talk. But He go call you to do this for di special way wey fit your own vocation. You no suppose neglect your daily duty. So, among di people wey you dey meet every day, who be di sick people, di dead people, di people wey get leprosy and di people wey evil spirits possess? E likely say all these people dey around you, for one way or another. Take, for example, people wey be “lepers.” Na people wey society don “reject” be these. Our world fit dey harsh and cruel, and some people fit feel say dem don lost and dem dey alone. Who you know wey fit dey among this kind people? Who need small encouragement, understanding and compassion? God don give you daily duty wey He no give another person, and na because of this some people need your love. Look for dem, reach out to dem, share Christ with dem, dey there for dem.
Today, reflect on this calling wey get special glory, wey God don give you, to be Christ for another person. Accept this duty of love with all your heart. See yourself as person wey God call to work for Christ, and give yourself fully to carry out this mission with all the glory wey dey inside, no matter how you go live am out for your life.
My dear Lord, I give myself to Your divine mission. I choose You and Your holy will for my life. Send me, dear Lord, to di people wey need Your love and mercy pass. Help me know how I fit bring that love and mercy to di people wey You don put for my care, so that dem go experience Your glorious grace wey dey save for their lives. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to the Immaculate Conception
November 29-December 7
See All Our Materials for Advent
Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
As tradition be, dem dey pray di Saint Andrew Christmas Novena prayer wey dey below 15 times every day from November 30, di Feast of Saint Andrew, reach Christmas Eve.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Advent
Saint of the Day – Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Main image wey dey above: Communion of di Apostles by Luca Signorelli, through Wikimedia Commons
