August 23, 2023
Wenesde for di 20th Wik for Ordinary Time
Di Readings for Today
Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin—Memorial Wey No Be Obligation
Listen for English
As e go out around five o’clock, e see other people wey stand around, and e ask dem, “Why una stand here all day without work?” Dem answer am, “Na because nobody hire us.” E tell dem, “Make una too go work for my vineyard.” Matthew 20:6–7
This landowner words show say e get open hand well-well. As the parable explain, this landowner hire workers for im vineyard early for morning, then again for nine o’clock, twelve for afternoon, three o’clock, and last-last for five o’clock. But when the day end, e pay all of dem the same daily wage, as if all of dem don dey work since early morning. The ones wey e first hire vex because dem think say e no fair to pay people wey work only one hour the same wage as dem. But the landowner conclude say, “What if I want give this last person the same thing wey I give you? Abi I no free to do wetin I want with my own money? You dey envy because I get open hand?” God, for His mercy, get open hand pass wetin anybody fit understand. But we human beings wey get fallen nature dey always check whether we dey get our fair share, and we dey compare ourselves with other people. We dey like to want more and more, and envy fit easily enter our heart when we see other people succeed or receive blessings wey we no get. For example, if person get more popularity pass us for social media, or dey drive better motor, or get bigger house, or travel go enjoy holiday wey cost plenty money, we dey often notice am with one kind sadness because we no get wetin dem get. Na that be envy.
The cure for envy na to dey give with all your heart. No be only to get open hand with our money, but to get open heart for the love wey we show, and to fit rejoice for the blessings wey other people receive. For example, if person tell you say e dey go enjoy fine holiday next month for one place wey you don always want visit, how you go react? You fit talk as joke say, “Ah, I dey jealous o!” Jealousy fit quickly turn to envy, wey be one kind sadness because another person get blessings wey you no get. And that sadness over another person blessings fit later turn to anger.
These workers for the vineyard wey work all day and receive the same amount as the people wey work only one hour fit don congratulate the workers wey come later. Dem fit even talk as joke say, “Na una get luck! I wish say na five o’clock I come!” But instead, dem grumble and try to stop the landowner from giving with open hand. Dem talk say, “These last people work only one hour, and you don make dem equal to us wey carry the heavy work and suffer the heat for the whole day.” Again, na envy be this, because their sadness over how the landowner give with open hand make dem try to stop the blessing wey the other people receive.
Anytime you notice this kind sadness wey no holy inside you, pay attention to am. E mean say you never get enough of the spirit to give other people with open heart without thinking of yourself. And if you see say God dey bless another person with spiritual riches, try to rejoice with open heart for that blessing. Praise God and thank Am for His goodness. No keep your mind only on yourself, and reject every temptation to compare yourself with others. For many ways, those people wey work only one hour and receive the full daily wage represent each one of us. Na because we no fit ever earn the grace of salvation. The one and only reason why we fit receive the gift of eternal salvation and every other grace wey God give us na because God open hand no get limit. So, na God goodness and the way E dey give with open hand we suppose always keep our mind on. And we must rejoice for this open-handed giving, both when na we receive am and when na other people receive am.
Today, reflect on any way wey you dey tend to envy other people. Think about the blessings wey other people don receive wey you never receive. With honest heart, look at how you dey react inside, and pray make God give you the gift to rejoice with open heart for those blessings. Every blessing wey God give must be reason for us to get joy, whether na we receive the blessings or na other people receive dem.
My Lord wey get open hand pass all, You dey pour Your blessings on everybody in great abundance. When I see the different ways wey You dey bless other people, help me make true gratitude grow for my heart for everything wey dem don receive. Help me to truly rejoice for the many ways wey You dey bless all Your people. Free me from envy, my dear Lord, so that this ugly sin no go weigh me down. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Saint Monica
(Dem dey pray am especially for children wey don go astray)
August 18-26
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin—Memorial wey no be compulsory
