September 27, 2023
Wednesday for Week Twenty-Five for Ordinary Time
Di Readings for Today
Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest—Memorial
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Jesus call di Twelve come together and give dem power and authority over all demons and to cure sicknesses, and He send dem to proclaim di Kingdom of God and heal sick people. Luke 9:1–2
Na di first time be this wey Jesus send His Apostles go on mission. For this mission, He dey prepare dem for di main mission wey dem go receive for Pentecost, after Jesus don die, rise and ascend go Heaven. But for now, Jesus give these Apostles work to do three things: to drive demons comot, heal sick people and proclaim di Kingdom of God.
Just like di Apostles, God call us to fight against di devil and im demons. Dem be angels wey fall, but dem still get di power wey belong to their nature, and dem dey use that power try deceive us, oppress us and, for some cases, even possess us. But demons no get power before God, and God dey give us spiritual authority over dem. And even though na some people receive di special ministry of exorcism inside di Church, all of us get spiritual authority over demons, especially over di temptations wey dem dey use their natural spiritual power bring against us.
Di main way wey we dey fight against demons na to expose their lies and bring dem come light. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, for im well-known spiritual book Di Spiritual Exercises, explain to us some of di usual tricks wey these demons dey use and how we fit overcome dem. E talk say, for people wey don sink deep inside life of serious sin, di demons dey always put di lie for their mind say their sins dey sweet and dey bring reward, so that dem go continue to choose those sins. And for people wey dey strive to live holy life, these demons dey try discourage dem as dem dey turn more and more to God. Dem dey “bite, make person sad and put obstacles, dey use false reasons disturb person, so that di person no go continue” (Rule 2). Di way to overcome these temptations na to turn to di truth. First, make we understand say di false “enjoyment” of sin na just wetin e be: e no be real, e no dey last, and for di end e dey bring person low. Also, we dey overcome these temptations when we receive from God “courage and strength, comfort, tears, inspiration and peace, as He dey make things easier and remove all obstacles.” For another way to talk am, we dey overcome demons when we allow God strengthen us, make our thinking clear, remove all false obstacles for di road to holiness, and when we receive di plenty comfort wey God dey give to help us for di journey.
Today, reflect on how our Lord want take care of you for these three ways. If you fit work to overcome di obstacles wey these demons put for your road, then you dey good position to share for di other two missions wey Jesus give di Apostles. You go fit experience healing for your mind, your feelings and your spirit, and you go fit allow di Kingdom of God grow strong and powerful inside your own soul. From there, our Lord go send you on mission to carry these graces go meet other people wey need dem.
My Lord wey get all power, You get authority over evil, power to heal and to offer all di gifts of eternal salvation. Help me make I open my heart to di ways wey You want take come meet me. Abeg, free me from di attacks of di evil one, bring healing and hope, and make di plenty blessings of Your glorious Kingdom show for my life. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: September 22-30
Day Six- September 27
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Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
