September 19, 2023
Tuesday for Week Twenty-Four for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial Wey No Be Obligation
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Jesus travel go one town wey dem dey call Nain, and His disciples with plenty crowd follow Him. As He dey near the town gate, dem dey carry one man wey don die comot. Na the only son wey im mama get, and her husband don die. Plenty people from the town dey with her. Luke 7:11–12
Try picture this mama for your mind. She don marry before, she and her husband born one pikin, dem raise their pikin, she and her son see her husband die, and later she see her son die too, and she dey follow for im burial. Since na her only son, she don dey alone now.
When we think about this woman, e easy to feel for her. Her heart for don full with sorrow wey anybody wey fit understand another person pain go feel. Fear fit don full her heart too. For that time, e for hard well-well for woman wey her husband don die to take care of herself for village. As her husband don die, na her son she for depend on to provide wetin she need as she dey old. But now wey her son don die, no be only the pain of losing am she for feel; she for still dey fear wetin her future go be. Wetin go happen to her? Who go dey provide food for her year after year? She go come end up for poverty and dey beg?
Na inside this real sorrow and fear Jesus enter her life. We no know whether she know anything about Jesus. E be like say she no be one of His followers, and she fit never even hear about Jesus, because He never dey do His ministry for public for long. E be like say nobody plan or expect this meeting between Jesus, the woman and her son wey don die. Wetin move Jesus to raise this man from death? E no be like say na because of anybody faith for the village. Nobody even ask Him to do am. Instead, e be like say na only because Jesus feel for this mama He do am. At least, na so e look when person first read am. And even though e clear say Jesus act because He feel for her, if we look everything wey surround the matter, another reason fit still dey.
Jesus, His disciples and plenty crowd dey walk together through this village. Since Jesus normally dey do miracles as response to people faith, e most likely say faith join for wetin bring this miracle. But the faith wey bring about this miracle fit only come from the crowd wey dey follow Jesus from Capernaum. The day before, this same crowd see Jesus heal the servant of one centurion. E clear say dem get faith in Jesus. As dem dey walk with Him and meet the people wey dey go bury the dead man, no be only Jesus heart feel for the woman; His followers feel for her too. So, as Jesus followers see this mama sorrow, and then see Jesus own sorrow and how He feel for her as human being, dem for get hope say He go do something. Their hope for come from God, no be from human power, and this mean say faith join the hope too. Through faith, dem know say Jesus go act. So, for real, the way the people wey dey travel with Jesus feel for the woman, together with their hope and faith, for don call His almighty healing power into action, and Jesus respond.
Plenty ways dey wey we fit be channels wey God grace dey pass through reach others. One way na to grow for how we dey feel for others and for our hope in God. When we see other people suffering, allow ourselves to feel for dem, show hope for God power to heal, and then stand there with faith, dey wait for God to act, God go be moved to act. The holy way wey we dey feel for others, together with our hope and faith, dey act as prayer wey God always dey answer. E be like say na this way the crowd wey follow Jesus through Nain village act. As their example dey inspire us, we too must pray for others for this same way.
Today, think deeply about anybody for your life wey resemble this woman of Nain wey her husband don die. Who God want make you notice and feel for? As your heart wey dey understand other people pain dey notice those wey need you to feel for dem, open yourself too to receive the gift of hope wey come from God, no be from human power. Get hope wey come from God say He go heal dem. As you do so, allow that hope to show faith in God, and offer the way you feel for dem, your hope and your faith to God as your prayer for those wey dey in need.
Lord wey get compassion pass all, You dey always pay attention to wetin we need and wetin dey cause us sorrow. Your Heart full of compassion for everybody. Abeg, give me obi wey go truly feel wetin other people dey pass through, so that I go notice people wey need help. As I dey do so, fill me with hope and faith say You go pour Your mercy on dem, so that I go become person wey dey pray to You for everybody. 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 Januarius, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial wey no be compulsory
