August 28, 2023
Monday for di 21st Week for Ordinary Time
Di Readings for Today
Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of di Church—Memorial
Listen for English
“Wahala dey for una, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, una hypocrites. Una dey lock the Kingdom of heaven against people. Una no dey enter, and una no dey allow people wey dey try enter to enter.” Matthew 23:13
Today, we begin hear how Jesus condemn the teachers of the Law and Pharisees with the words, “Wahala dey for una…” He give seven condemnations one after another. The one wey we quote above na the first one. For that time, most of these religious leaders no gree hear the words wey Jesus use condemn dem. Dem stubborn, and dem no wan listen to wetin Jesus get to talk. But e good make we notice say e be like say Jesus actually talk these words of condemnation about the teachers of the Law and Pharisees to the disciples and the crowds wey He dey address.
Even though plenty lessons dey wey we fit learn from our Lord, make we consider the first thing wey He talk. He condemn hypocrisy. Hypocrisy mainly mean to talk one thing and do another thing. Na when wetin we dey talk and wetin we dey do no agree. Hypocrisy fit also mean say person dey try present imself as if e get every good quality under Heaven, but for reality, e hardly care about the clear doctrine and rules for right living wey God give us. For this Scripture passage, the teachers of the Law and Pharisees claim say dem dey lead people to salvation, but dem dey condemn the very source of salvation. For one side, some things wey dem teach na truth, but dem fail to teach with the good character wey dey come from God. For the other side, some things wey dem teach no correct at all, because dem care more about how people see dem than about the truth. The main thing be say dem be hypocrites, because their words and actions no join together for truth, and dem no live by the good qualities wey God give.
These two opposite ways of thinking seem to dey cause plenty division inside our Church today. For the extreme “right,” we get people wey dey preach doctrine but no dey show the good character wey dem need to fit serve well as instruments of those truths. And for the extreme “left,” we get people wey dey act as if wetin dem call good character na the only thing wey matter. Dem dey reduce the importance of the clear truths about right living and doctrine wey our Lord give us, wey no get double meaning, so that other people go praise dem because dem appear kind, ready to accept everybody, and full of compassion for all. The problem be say person no fit remove truth from good character or remove good character from truth. Compassion no be true compassion if truth no dey inside am, and truth no be true if dem no present am with the good qualities wey our Lord want make dem use bring am out. And even though the teachers of the Law and Pharisees seem to focus more on their own explanations of different truths while dem leave good character out, people for both extremes today dey face this same struggle with hypocrisy.
Today, reflect on how e dey important to accept every single teaching about right living and doctrine wey our Lord give. We must accept everything wey He talk with our whole being. Reflect too on how you dey pass these teachings of Jesus to other people. You dey try present the full Gospel with the best good character wey you fit show? The deeper the truth be, the more e dey necessary to present am with good character. And the more good character you get, the better you go fit serve as instrument of the full truth. Try overcome every kind of hypocrisy for your life as you dey work towards true holiness. Holiness mean to dey whole. Na Truth wey join with good character. Na only then you go escape our Lord condemnation, and you go also flourish as pure instrument of His grace wey dey save.
My Lord wey dey save, You deeply desire make the religious leaders of that time be powerful instruments of Your Gospel wey dey save, as dem dey present all truth with pure love. Abeg, free me from every error so that Your holy Word go dey alive inside me and go reach other people through the many good qualities wey You wish to give, as dem dey show 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 for Today – Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of di Church
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