July 23, 2023
Sunday number 16 for Ordinary Time (Year A)
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus tell the crowd another parable. E say: “We fit compare the kingdom of heaven to one man wey plant good seed for im farm. As everybody dey sleep, im enemy come plant weed among all the wheat, then e comot. When the crops grow and begin bear fruit, the weed too show.” Matthew 13:24–26
This parable for make plenty sense to the people for Jesus time. For that time, enemy fit take revenge on another person by planting one weed wey dem dey call “cockle” among the person wheat. As the cockle begin grow, e resemble wheat well-well until the grain form. And if e mix with the wheat and person chop am, e go make the person belle turn seriously, like say e wan vomit. Because of this, farmers wey get enemies dey often put servants to watch their farms after dem don plant. So, this parable show say the servants wey suppose keep watch no do their duty well.
As Jesus dey explain this parable, E say, “The person wey plant good seed na the Son of Man, the farm na the world, and the good seed na the children of the kingdom. The weed na the children of the evil one, and the enemy wey plant them na the devil. The harvest na the end of the age, and the people wey dey gather the harvest na angels” (Matthew 13:37–39). One trick wey the evil one dey often use na to mix im lies with the truth in way wey people no go easily notice. E know say if e bring one serious lie wey clear well-well, plenty people go reject am straight. So, e dey try cause division and confusion by suggesting im false teachings small-small, in way wey go make people believe them more easily. So, we fit understand “the children of the evil one” as people for this world wey dey under the devil influence, and also the plenty groups of demons wey dey try plant confusion for our lives and inside the Church.
One way wey fit help you reflect on this parable with prayer na to see yourself as one of those servants wey dem give the duty to guard the farm. Since the farm na the world, all of us get duty to stop the lies of the evil one from spreading and growing strong. To do this, we must surely stand against the most serious false teachings wey we come across. For example, we must protect the dignity of the pikin wey never born, and the devilish practice of abortion must stop. Also, we must work to protect the Church, our communities, friends and families, no be only from the serious false teachings of our time, but also from the ones wey hard pass to notice. For example, quarrels and confusion dey often arise inside the Church. These divisions na part of the hidden lies wey the evil one plant.
We must also see our own souls as good soil wey fit bear fruit. Surely, dem don plant God Word, but many times we dey allow ourselves believe false teachings wey no easy to notice. This dey bring struggle inside us, sin and confusion. So, we must always guard our souls from these lies by relying on the true teachings of our Church and the teachings of the saints.
Today, reflect on your holy duty to dey watch well and always look out for the seed of false teaching wey dem plant for our world, the Church and your own soul. To dey watch well dey very important. The evil one dey always prowl around. If we wan learn one of the main messages of this parable, then we must learn to guard and protect everything wey God don reveal, and hold firmly to the Truth alone.
Word of God wey full of glory, You don plant Your seed of truth for our world, inside Your Church and for my life. Make I always listen to Your Word and respond to am with all my heart. Abeg, also show me the many lies of the evil one, so that I fit reject them with all my heart. Jesus, na You I trust.
Sound of Freedom
E dey show for cinema now!
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today –Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious—Memorial wey no be Obligation
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
Picture wey dey above: Parable of the Sower, from flickr
