Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Weekday for Advent
Readings for Today
Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of di Church—Memorial Wey No Be Compulsory
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For those days, Mary set out, travel quick-quick go di hill country, to one town for Judah. There, she enter Zechariah house and greet Elizabeth. Luke 1:39–40
Today, we hear di glorious story of di visit wey Mary pay Elizabeth. When Mary belle don reach about two months, she travel go stay with her cousin Elizabeth, wey go born within one month. We fit talk plenty about how this visit show di family love wey Mary get for Elizabeth, but di main thing wey draw our attention straightaway na di precious Pikin wey dey inside Mary belle.
Picture wetin happen. Mary don just travel about 100 miles. E most likely say she don tire well-well. When she finally arrive, her mind for don rest, and she for don happy say she don finish her journey. But for that moment, Elizabeth talk something wey really lift everybody spirit and increase di joy of everybody wey dey there, including Mother Mary. Elizabeth talk say, “Because di moment wey di sound of your greeting reach my ears, di baby for my belle jump for joy” (Luke 1:44). Again, picture wetin happen. Na this small pikin inside Elizabeth belle, John the Baptist, notice di presence of di Lord straightaway and jump for joy. And na Elizabeth notice straightaway di joy of her pikin wey dey live inside her belle. As Elizabeth tell Mary this, Mary, wey don already happy say she don finish her journey, suddenly get even greater joy as she realise say she don carry di Saviour of di World, wey dey live inside her belle, come meet Elizabeth and John.
This story suppose teach us plenty about wetin matter pass for life. Yes, e dey important to show other people love. E dey important to care for our relatives and friends when dem need us pass. E dey important to sacrifice our time and strength for di good of other people, because through this humble service, we dey surely share di love of God. But di one wey important pass na say we must carry Christ Jesus Himself go meet other people. Di first and main reason why joy fill Elizabeth no be because Mary dey there to help her as she carry belle. Instead, di main reason why she get so much joy na because Mary bring Jesus, her Lord, wey dey live inside Mary belle, come meet her.
Even though we no dey carry Christ di same way wey our Blessed Mother carry Him, we must still make this our main mission for life. First, we must grow for love and devotion to our Lord so deeply that He go truly live inside us. Then, we must carry Him wey dey live inside us go meet other people. Without any doubt, this na di greatest act of love wey we fit ever show another person.
Today, think well not only about your mission to invite your Lord to live inside you, as our Blessed Mama do, but also about your duty as Christian to carry Him wey dey live inside you go meet other people. When other people meet Christ wey dey live inside you, dem dey receive Him with joy? Dem dey sense His presence for your life and respond with thanksgiving? No matter how dem respond, give yourself fully to this holy calling to carry Christ go meet other people, as act of love wey come from deep inside your heart.
Lord, abeg, come live inside me. Come and change me through Your holy presence. As You come to me, help me make I become missionary wey dey carry Your presence as God go meet other people, so dem fit experience di joy of Your presence. Dear Lord, make me instrument wey pure, and use me to inspire everybody wey I meet every day. Jesus, na You I trust.
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.
See our resources for Advent and Christmas!
O Antiphons for Advent
December 17–23
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor
Main image wey dey above: Di Visitation, by Domenico Ghirlandaio, through Wikimedia Commons
