July 30, 2023
Sunday Nomba Seventeen for Ordinary Time (Year A)
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“Again, the kingdom of heaven be like net wey dem throw inside sea, wey dey catch every kind of fish. When e don full, dem drag am come shore and sit down put the good fish inside buckets. Dem throw the bad ones away. Na so e go be when this age end. The angels go come out, separate wicked people from righteous people, and throw the wicked ones inside furnace wey fire dey burn, where dem go dey cry and grind their teeth.” Matthew 13:47–50
This parable na the third out of three parables wey Jesus tell one after another. The first one compare the Kingdom of Heaven to “treasure wey dem bury for one field.” When person find am, e go sell everything wey e get so e fit buy that field. The second parable compare the Kingdom of Heaven to trader wey dey look for fine pearls. “When e find one pearl wey get great value, e go sell everything wey e get and buy am.” For these two parables, to discover the Kingdom of Heaven dey bring great joy. The person wey discover the treasure or the pearl go happy so much that e go ready to give up everything wey e get so e fit get am.
But the third of these three parables different well-well. For this one, Jesus compare the Kingdom of Heaven to net wey go gather everybody when this age end and separate the good people from the bad people. The parable then end with one picture wey dey frighten person. Dem go throw the wicked ones “inside furnace wey fire dey burn, where dem go dey cry and grind their teeth.”
For the end, those wey enter the glory of Heaven go get joy wey no go ever end. We need to understand this truth so e go draw us enter all that richness of grace. As we dey look forward to this kind gift, e suppose move us to dey seriously seek the many graces wey our Lord want give us. But sometimes, we need something more to push us. E easy for us to begin feel say we don do enough for our life of faith and for how we dey seek wetin God want. Na because of this Jesus add the third parable, wey show the consequences wey some people go suffer when time end. Even though this thought fit no make us happy, na holy thought because e dey reveal God justice and final judgment when time end.
You believe say God dey act with justice? You believe say E go pass final judgment on those wey reject Im holy will for this life? You believe say Hell dey real and say any of us fit end up there? If this thought hard for you to accept, e go good make you pray and think more deeply about this third parable. Justice and judgment dey real. If the desire to seriously seek the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven no dey fully move us for this life, then at least make we honestly face the truth about the consequences wey dey wait.
Today, think deeply about God glory, beauty and splendour. Try use your eyes of faith look the Treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven. As you dey pray and meditate on this, allow am move you to make getting the Kingdom of Heaven your only mission for life. But if e hard for you to discover this joy, no hesitate to think deeply about the consequences wey fit follow. The Lord dey talk about these consequences of God justice and judgment for our good, so that we no go experience them.
My Judge wey dey judge with justice, You dey see everything and You know everything. You know my heart completely. Abeg, cleanse me from every sin and from every feeling say I don do enough for this life. Fill me with holy zeal for Your Kingdom. Make the joy wey come as I discover You move me fully to continue to dey serious for my journey to Heaven. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint of the Day – Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
Picture wey dey featured above: The Last Judgment by Michelangelo, through Wikimedia Commons
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