May 19, 2023
Friday for di Sunday of Easter wey be number six
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“When woman dey labour, e dey suffer pain because im time to born don reach; but when e don born pikin, e no dey remember di pain again because of di joy wey e get say pikin don enter di world.” John 16:21
We fit surely apply dis truth to any kind of deep pain wey we dey pass through for good reason. Make we note say di pain wey woman dey feel when e dey born na pain for good and holy reason. So, for one sense, di mama dey forget di pain when e see and carry im newborn pikin. E dey forget dat suffering for di sense say di birth of di pikin dey turn am to joy.
Plenty things for life fit cause deep pain. For today Gospel, Jesus still tell Im disciples say: “So una too dey suffer deep pain now.” E talk dis one because E just finish to tell dem about how E go soon leave dem go meet di Father, and about di suffering wey all of dem go face through persecution. But E come tell dem say after E don leave and dem no dey see Am again, dem go see Am again and dem go rejoice. And E talk say, “For dat day, una no go ask Me question about anything.” Dis na important statement wey we need to understand.
Deep pain, or any kind of suffering, fit tempt us to begin question our life and even question God. E clear say after dem kill Jesus, di disciples begin question everything. Dem confuse and fear catch dem. E be like say everything don lost. Then, after Jesus ascend go Heaven and before E send di Holy Spirit, di disciples go don still feel confusion, even though e no go reach di first one. Why Jesus leave dem? Why E no stay longer? Who go lead dem now? Dis kind questions and plenty others like dem go don come for their mind.
Na so e still be with us: when things no go as we plan, or when things for our life turn to pain, we fit immediately begin question and even doubt God perfect plan. If things scatter because of our sin, then di remedy na to repent and turn from sin to God. But if things scatter for di sense say life become difficult, then we suppose pay special attention to wetin Jesus talk today.
When we dey suffer deep pain for life because we dey do wetin God want, we must see dat pain as way to reach good wey far greater. Just as di pain of labour dey lead to di gift of pikin, na so di pain wey we dey pass through to make wetin God want happen for our life go lead us to di presence of God Imself. To endure with patience na virtue wey especially matter for dis kind situation. For example, di deep pain of overcoming addiction, or of praying when we no feel like to pray, or of forgiving person wey hurt us, na all examples of deep pain wey dey turn to blessings. Many times, to fight against our own selfish will dey difficult. But di fruit of dis kind battle inside us na joy. Joy dey when we overcome sin. Joy dey when we no give up for prayer. Joy dey inside every difficulty wey we endure for di Kingdom of God. But no be joy we always dey first experience. Na only when we endure di situation with patience we dey experience am.
Today, reflect on any kind of deep pain wey you dey endure now for di glory of God, or anything wey you dey avoid now because e look difficult to do. No draw back from dis difficulties. See dem as way to reach glorious end. Endure di “pain of labour” of di purification and mission wey God dey call you to. Look beyond di difficulties wey you first dey experience, so dat you go see di final result wey dey wait for you.
My glorious Lord, You endure Your Passion with perfect virtue. You no ever draw back from doing wetin di Father want, and di fruit of Your perseverance na di glory of di Resurrection. Abeg, help me to endure di crosses for my life with patience, and give me hope to see say through dem, You go bring di good fruit of joy wey no go ever end. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to di Holy Spirit
Prayer wey we dey pray to prepare for Pentecost
Day One – Friday, May 19
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Main picture for up: Stained glass wey show di Virgin Mary as e carry baby Jesus, through flickr
