September 6, 2023
Wenesde for di Week Twenty-Two for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
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After Jesus comot from di synagogue, E enter Simon house. Serious fever dey worry Simon mama-in-law, and dem beg Jesus on her behalf. E stand near her, command di fever make e comot, and di fever leave her. She get up immediately and begin serve dem. Luke 4:38–39
If you want share one important message with some people, you go first need make dem pay attention to you. Plenty ways dey to do this: e fit be through di way your character dey draw people, one story wey touch dem well-well, one brave act wey show goodness, or any other thing wey go impress people or even amaze dem. Once all their attention don dey on you, you fit share di message wey you want share. Na this Jesus do for di Gospel for today.
Jesus begin His public ministry for Nazareth, but people for His hometown reject am and drive am comot from their synagogue. So, E immediately waka about 20 miles go Capernaum, one town just north of di Sea of Galilee, where Jesus go spend plenty of His time. For this first visit to Capernaum, as E just begin His public ministry, Jesus teach for their synagogue, drive one demon comot, then go Simon house (na this Simon dem later give di name Peter) to do di first healing of person body wey Luke Gospel record. E heal Simon mama-in-law, wey serious fever dey worry. Later that evening, plenty people bring sick people and people wey demon possess come meet Jesus, and Jesus “Put His hands on each of dem and heal dem.” True-true, E make dem pay attention to am. Di next morning, as Jesus dey prepare to leave Capernaum after this first visit during His public ministry, di people try persuade am make E stay. But Jesus tell dem, “I must proclaim di Good News of di Kingdom of God for other towns too, because na for this purpose dem send Me.”
Jesus don ever get all your attention? Even though e fit be say you never use your own eye see miraculous healing or see as dem drive demon comot from person wey demon possess, Jesus still want all your attention. E want make you so marvel at am and make wetin E do touch you so much that you go dey seek am, so that His divine teaching go nourish you more fully.
Some people give our Lord all their attention after one powerful experience for retreat. Na powerful sermon touch some other people deeply. And plenty other ways dey wey Jesus don use get your attention, so that E go fill you with desire to listen to am and dey with am. Experiences like these dey lay strong foundation wey dey continually invite us to turn to our Lord. If you never get any experience like this, ask yourself, “Why?” Why you never marvel at our Lord reach di point wey you go dey seek am with all your heart, so that you fit listen to His Word wey dey nourish you?
Today, reflect on this first way wey our Lord use get di attention of di people of Capernaum. Even though some of dem later turn away from am, plenty of dem become faithful followers because of these personal experiences. Reflect on any way wey you don experience our Lord powerfully before. You don allow that experience continue to move you to seek am? And if you no fit point to any experience like that, beg our Lord make E put strong desire inside you to want more of am, and make His holy Word and divine presence nourish you.
My Lord wey dey do miracles, I know say You want make I give You all my attention for my life. And I know say many things wey dey struggle with You for my attention dey often distract me. Give me di grace wey I need, make You and wetin You dey do for my life amaze me so much, so I go seek You with all my heart, and Your holy Word and Your divine presence for my life go continue to nourish me. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena wey we dey pray to Our Lady of Sorrows
According to tradition, dem dey pray am September 7–15
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
