August 5, 2023
Satide of Week Seventeen for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Dedication of di Basilica of Saint Mary Major—Memorial wey no be obligation
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Herod wey be tetrarch hear about how Jesus name don spread, and e tell im servants, “This man na John the Baptist. E don rise from the dead; na why mighty powers dey work inside am.” Matthew 14:1–2
Herod wey be tetrarch dey among three brothers and one sister wey become rulers for the 1st century to take over from their papa, Herod the Great, when e die for 4 B.C. Herod rule plenty of the land for the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Na for that area Jesus spend most of Im time during Im public ministry. Herod still rule one area just for the east side of the Dead Sea, where e put John the Baptist for prison and later kill am. People know Herod as person wey dey do plenty building work, and dem especially know am because of the part wey e play for the deaths of Saint John the Baptist and Jesus.
Remember say Herod don take im brother wife, Herodias, as im own wife, and John the Baptist speak openly against this. Na because of this Herod order make dem arrest John, and later cut off im head as Herodias request, because she take wetin John the Baptist talk against her as personal attack. But Herod get one kind strange admiration for John the Baptist.
The Gospel passage wey we quote above show one kind unusual thing wey Herod talk. After e don kill Saint John the Baptist, e hear about how Jesus name don spread as Jesus dey travel all through the land wey Herod dey rule, dey preach and dey do plenty mighty works. News about Jesus spread fast and soon reach even Herod ear. So why Herod come think this strange thing, say Jesus must be John the Baptist wey don rise from the dead? Even though we no know for sure, we fit still consider wetin fit make am think so.
For the way the Gospel of Mark tell this story, we read say, “Herod fear John, because e know say John na righteous and holy man, and e keep am for prison. When e hear John speak, e dey very confused, but e still like to listen to am” (Mark 6:20). E fit be say Herod get small spark of faith, but na im strong desires and hunger for power dey control am in the end. Maybe na why e first keep John the Baptist alive for im prison. E still look like say Herod get some kind regret or fear because e cut off John head. And na most likely because of this Herod think of John straightaway when e first hear about Jesus and the “mighty powers” wey dey work inside Am.
Regret, fear and guilt na things wey conscience wey dey divided dey often cause. Herod di tetrarch na good example of wetin dey happen when we no settle that conflict inside us. Di only way to settle di confusion inside conscience wey dey divided na to humble ourselves and accept di truth. Just imagine say Herod turn from im sins go back to God. Imagine say e look for Jesus, confess im sins, and beg for forgiveness. Wetin for be glorious story be that! Instead, wetin we see na di example of one man wey don miss road and still stubbornly hold on to im sin.
Today, reflect on this example of Herod wey no holy. God fit use everything for Im glory, and E fit even use Herod example to show us any way wey we too dey behave like am. You dey struggle with regret, fear and guilt? This one dey cause conflict inside you? Di good news be say, with humble heart wey dey seek di truth, e easy to settle this conflict. Seek di truth by admitting any sin wey don remain for your life for long wey you need to settle, and allow God mercy to enter so e go set you free.
My merciful Jesus, You want make everybody experience freedom from the sins of the past. You want enter deep inside our hearts to settle the things wey dey trouble us and bring peace. Abeg, help me open my mind and heart to You for those areas wey still dey cause pain and regret, and help me make Your mercy wey no get end set me free. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Read More – Dedication of di Basilica of Saint Mary Major
Main picture wey dey above: Herod the Great by James Tissot, through Wikimedia Commons
