July 13, 2023
Tọzde for Wik 14 for Ordinary Time
Di Readings for Today
Saint Henry—Memorial wey no be compulsory
Listen for English
“Anybody wey no go welcome una or listen to una words—make una comot from dat house or town and shake di dust comot from una feet. Amen, I dey tell una, on di day of judgment, e go dey easier for di land of Sodom and Gomorrah to bear wetin go happen than for dat town.” Matthew 10:14–15
Remember how Jesus condemn di Pharisees with strong words because dia hearts hard. For Matthew Gospel, Chapter 23, Jesus condemn dese Pharisees seven times with di words “woe to una,” because dem be hypocrites and blind guides. Dis condemnation na acts of love from Jesus, because di aim na to call dem to turn from sin come back to God. Na so too, for today Gospel, Jesus give His Twelve Apostles instruction about wetin dem go do if dem preach di Gospel for one town and di people reject dem. Dem must “shake di dust” comot from dia feet.
Jesus give dis instruction when E dey send di Twelve Apostles go meet di “sheep wey don lost for di house of Israel,” with di work to preach di Gospel. For dat time, dem suppose go meet di people wey God don already entrust with di message of di Law of Moses and di prophets. But now, dem suppose announce say di Kingdom of God don arrive. Jesus na di Messiah wey God promise, and now E don come. As for di people for di house of Israel wey reject Jesus, dis prophetic action of di Apostles shaking di dust of dia town comot from dia feet go stand as condemnation against dem.
At first, dis fit look like say e too harsh. Person fit think say patience, to continue to discuss with dem, gentleness and things like dat go work better. And even though na so e fit be for plenty things wey we dey experience today, di truth still remain say Jesus give di Twelve Apostles dis command.
Just like di condemnation of di Pharisees, dis prophetic action of shaking di dust comot from dia feet na act of love. For sure, di Apostles no suppose do am because of anger wey no get good reason. Dem no suppose do am because rejection wound dia pride or because dem look down on dese people. Instead, di Apostles suppose do am to show wetin go follow from di actions of di people for di town. When dese towns of di chosen people reject di Messiah wey God promise, dem need to understand wetin go follow from wetin dem do. Dem need to know say as dem dey reject di messengers, na di grace of di Gospel wey dey bring salvation dem dey reject.
First of all, e important to think about di people wey Jesus dey talk about. Na people wey “no go welcome” di message of di Gospel or even “listen” to am E dey talk about. Na people wey don completely reject God and His message wey dey bring salvation. By dia own free choice, dem don separate demself from God and His holy Gospel. Dem stubborn, dem no gree change, and dia hearts hard. So, na for dis most serious case, when people don completely close dia hearts to di Gospel, Jesus tell His Apostles make dem leave with dis prophetic action. Maybe when some people see wetin dem do, dem go feel say dem don lose something. Maybe some go realise say dem don make mistake. Maybe some go feel guilt for dia sin in a way wey go draw dem to God, and dia hearts go later soft.
Dis teaching of Jesus suppose open your eyes too. How fully you dey welcome and listen to di message of di Gospel? How well you dey pay attention to di announcement of God Kingdom wey dey bring salvation? As you dey open your heart, na so di floodgates of God mercy dey open and His mercy dey flow come out. But as you no dey open your heart, na so you go dey experience loss.
Today, tink deep about as you dey for one of dese towns. Tink about di plenty ways wey you don close your heart to all wetin God wan tell you. Open your heart well-well, listen with all your attention, humble yourself before di message of di Gospel, and ready to receive am and change your life as you dey receive am. Give yourself fully to be member of di Kingdom of God, so dat everything wey God tell you go change your life.
My Lord wey get compassion, di way You dey stand firm and correct people with punishment na how You dey show Your mercy wey great pass to people wey get hard heart. Abeg, make my heart soft, my dear Lord, and when I dey stubborn and close my heart, abeg, rebuke me with Your great love, so dat I go always turn back to You and Your message wey dey bring salvation with all my heart. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Henry
Di pictures wey dey above: Jesus dey bless di College of Apostles, from flickr
