August 14, 2023
Monday for di Nineteenth Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr—Memorial
Listen for English
Na from who di king dem for dis world dey collect toll or census tax? Na from di people wey dey under dem, abi from foreigners?” When e talk say, “From foreigners,” Jesus tell am, “Then di people wey dey under dem no need pay. But so dat we no go offend dem, go di sea, put fishing hook for water, and take di first fish wey come up. Open im mouth, and you go see one coin wey im value na two times di temple tax. Give dem dat coin for Me and for you.” Matthew 17:25–27
Before dis small miracle, Jesus don just tell His disciple dem for di second time about di suffering wey He go face. Again, e hard dem to hear dis. Remember say after Jesus first tell dem about His suffering and death wey dey come, He carry Peter, James and John go up di mountain, and His appearance change with glory for their front. Part of why dis Transfiguration happen na to drive fear comot from di disciple dem and give dem hope for wetin dey come. And now, after Jesus tell dem di second time about His suffering, another miracle happen for Peter personally, to encourage am and give am hope.
Imagine say na you be Peter. Imagine as you follow wetin Jesus tell you: you go di sea, put fishing hook for water, pull one fish comot, then open im mouth. Hope and excitement must don fill Peter as e dey pull dis fish comot, dey wonder whether wetin Jesus talk go happen. And as soon as Peter see di coin, just as Jesus talk, great wonder must don fill am. Small-small, di fear and worry wey e dey feel because Jesus don talk for di second time about His suffering and death for don begin reduce, as Peter see yet another amazing sign from im Lord.
God dey do miracle dem for our life every day. Di problem na say plenty times, we no dey recognise dem. Any time His glorious power work inside us to strengthen us, or fill us with courage, hope, love for God and our neighbour, and every other virtue, na miracle of grace wey dey change us. God always know wetin we need for life. He know di things wey we dey struggle with and di doubts wey we get. Sometimes, He dey silent so dat He go draw us closer to Himself through prayer wey we pray with full attention and acts of faith. And sometimes, we just discover say we don receive fresh understanding about life because His grace dey work inside us.
Jesus know say Peter need dis extra grace from dis miracle wey happen for am personally, so dat e go fit move pass im fear and struggles and put all im trust for Jesus. Jesus na Person wey person fit trust. Na dis conclusion Peter for don reach. Na Person wey person fit trust. So, we suppose believe everything wey He talk. Na wonderful conclusion for all of us to reach.
Today, think deeply about di ways wey God don assure you say He dey with you and dey work for your life. Even if di miracle dem wey God don use assure you no be things wey you fit see with your eye, di things wey God dey do fit convince us just as much, if we recognise dem well. Wetin God want assure you of for your life? Which struggle or doubt dey trouble you? If you dey struggle, turn your mind to di ways wey God don dey with you and dey work for your life. Think deeply about how He don step in to help you, and di ways wey He don care for you and lead you. Give thanks, and let di memory of wetin God don do be your strength today and di source of hope when you need am pass.
My Lord wey dey do miracle, wetin You dey do for my life truly full of glory and wonder. You no dey ever fail to provide for me when I get need. Help me turn to You any time I dey struggle, so dat fresh hope for You go fill me. You always dey faithful, dear Lord. I put all my hope for You. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint of Today – Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
