August 12, 2023
Saturday for di 18th Wik for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious—Memorial wey No Be Obligation
Listen for English
Then the disciples come meet Jesus for private and ask, “Why we no fit drive am comot?” He tell dem, “Na because una faith small. Amen, I dey tell una, if una get faith wey small like mustard seed, una go tell this mountain, ‘Move from here go there,’ and e go move. Nothing go dey impossible for una.” Matthew 17:19–20
One man come meet Jesus, kneel down for His front and beg Jesus make He heal im son wey demon dey possess. The man explain say Jesus disciples don try to drive the demon comot, but dem no fit. The first thing wey Jesus tell the man na, “Una generation wey no get faith and wey don turn go bad way, how long I go stay with una? How long I go bear with una?” But after that, Jesus tell dem make dem bring the boy come meet Am, and He drive the demon comot.
The words wey we quote above show the talk wey happen immediately after that between Jesus and His disciples wey no fit drive the demon comot. Na because dem no get enough faith make dem no fit do am. Make we note say Jesus strongly rebuke dem because of this lack of faith, to show how important e be to get faith wey pure pass.
Na true say if you get “faith wey small like mustard seed,” you go fit move mountain? Yes, na so e be, without any doubt. But we must take care understand this statement well. First of all, we fit only get “faith” for wetin dey God mind and wetin He want. Faith na how we respond to wetin God tell us. We listen, understand and believe. Na this be faith. Faith no be just to believe something so strongly say we go try use our own will make am happen. So, if God truly want make mountain pull comot from where e dey and move, and He tell you this thing, ask you make you do am, then if you listen to His Voice and respond with complete trust, e go happen. But, of course, to move real mountain no be wetin dey fulfil God glory, so e no likely at all say this kind thing go ever happen through the gift of faith.
But Jesus tell His disciples and us this thing to assure us say we must listen, understand and believe everything wey He talk. For the healing of the boy wey demon possess, e clear say God want make the disciples drive the demon comot. But dem fail to believe, so dem no fit use their faith bring about wetin God want.
As for to move mountains, this one dey happen all the time for spiritual life, even though no be real mountains. Any time God work for our life for way wey pass wetin nature fit do, or any time God use us work for another person life for that kind way, wetin dey move big pass “mountain” well well. If we look am with eternity for mind, which one glorious pass, and which one dey give God greater glory? Na to move real mountain? Or na make grace change person and make God transform the person from inside, so that the person go give Am glory forever? And which one wonderful pass? Na to fit do wetin no follow the laws of physics, for way wey go happen and finish within one moment, or na make God use person change another person soul forever? Without any doubt, for God to use person transform another person soul forever na something wey great pass beyond any measure.
Today, think well about how important e be to listen to God Voice and respond with complete obedience and love. Na this be faith. Which “mountain” God want move for your life? Which change He want bring about? Listen to Am and believe with your whole being. As you dey do so, God no go only do things wey person no fit imagine for your life; He go also use you do things wey person no fit imagine for other people life.
My Lord wey dey save me, You don do wonderful things for plenty people life. You don transform souls and make dem new again through Your mercy. Abeg, give me the gift of faith so that I go hear Your Voice and respond with belief and with heart wey ready to give everything. Use me, dear Lord, make I too become instrument of Your grace wey person no fit imagine for other people life. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saints for Today – Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious
Picha wey dem show for up: Jesus and di Centurion, wey Jorge Afonso do, through Wikimedia Commons
