August 13, 2023
Sunday Nọmba 19 for Ordinary Time (Year A)
Readings for Today
Listen for English
After Jesus don feed the people, He make the disciples enter boat go the other side before Him, while He send the crowd go. After He don do this one, He go up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening reach, na only Him dey there. Matthew 14:22–23
Our Gospel today show us two different scenes wey we go think deeply about. The first one na the one wey dey above, and the second one na the story of Jesus wey waka on top water. For the second story, the disciples dey paddle their boat against wind and waves early for morning before sun come out. Jesus appear to dem as He dey waka on top water, and fear catch dem. Jesus face the fear wey dem dey feel and call Peter make he waka on top water as sign of the faith wey he get for Him. Peter begin waka on top water, but as fear catch am, he begin sink. He cry out to Jesus, wey hold am and then gently correct Peter because he no get enough faith.
E go help us if we understand the first scene for this Gospel passage as the background to the second one. For this first scene, we see Jesus as He send the crowd go after He don feed five thousand people, and as He go up one mountain to pray all alone. Even though Jesus always dey perfectly united with the Father and, because of this, He no need prayer, He still pray because na the way He take express, as human being, the deep union wey He get with His Father. As He dey pray, He also show example to everybody wey go follow Him. With His example, He teach dem how important e be to pray for private. The main lesson wey He teach for this occasion na say prayer na the preparation wey we need to make well before trouble come, so that we fit overcome all the things wey look like obstacles for life and face fear with complete faith.
First, His waka on top the sea wey storm dey blow show the clear “obstacle” wey Jesus overcome through His prayer. Nobody dey waka on top water. E no possible by the laws of nature. But na the point be that. When we put our life of personal prayer first, God go lead us to do wetin look like say e no possible for us. E fit no mean say we go really waka on top water, but His waka on top water after He don spend the night for prayer na sign of all the things wey we face for life wey look like say dem no possible. The lesson be say, if na wetin God want, nothing dey impossible. We go know this if we put personal prayer first before every other thing.
Another obstacle wey Jesus face na fear. Fear fit make us no fit do anything, and e fit make us begin “sink” when life hard. Again, personal prayer na the preparation wey we need to overcome fear. Wetin dey interesting be say we get two people wey show us example of prayer. The first na Jesus. He pray because e good and e right to pray. The second na Peter. He pray when he begin sink. He talk say, “Lord, save me!” This na the prayer of person wey fail to get faith, and wey pray because of wetin he need for that moment, instead of pure love for God. Too many times, Peter show the kind prayer life wey many Christians get. Many times, we dey wait until we need help and we dey sink before we pray. But what if Peter too don spend the night for prayer just because of love for God? What if he just finish to pray all night when Jesus call am make he waka on top water? Maybe then he for waka go meet Jesus without difficulty, and he for no let fear overcome am.
Today, think deeply about how you go make your prayer life the number-one thing for your life. Maybe you get plenty responsibilities for life. Nothing dey more important than prayer—and no be only when you feel say you don enter corner or you feel say you dey sink. Instead, all of us must build the habit of praying to God wey nothing fit break, just because e good and e right to do so. The fruit of this kind prayer life na say, no matter the obstacle wey come our way, we go get the faith wey we need to follow every command of our Lord, and overcome even wetin look like say e no possible.
My Lord wey dey pray, You spend the night for prayer to Your Father, no be because You need help, but because of Your love. Your prayer express that love, and na wetin that love naturally require. Abeg, help me too to build the habit of prayer wey nothing fit break, so that my love for You go remain strong and I go fit follow You through every obstacle wey appear for my life. 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 Pontian wey be Pope, and Saint Hippolytus wey be Priest, both of dem na Martyrs
Dem no go celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
