September 28, 2023
Thursday for Week Twenty-Five for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr—Ncheta Wey No Be Iwu
Saints Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs—Ncheta Wey No Be Iwu
Listen for English
Herod wey be tetrarch hear about everything wey dey happen, and the matter really confuse am because some people dey talk say, “John don rise from the dead”; others dey talk say, “Elijah don appear”; still others say, “One of the prophets of old don rise.” Luke 9:7–8
Herod wey be tetrarch, wey dem also know as Herod Antipas, rule the Jew people for Galilee for about forty-two years. E begin rule for 2 BC and continue until the Roman Emperor send am go exile for 37 AD. During im reign, e spend plenty time for Tiberias, one of the main cities for the western side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus do most of Im ministry inside the area wey Herod dey rule, wey be all of Galilee, so Herod know well about the many stories wey people dey tell about Jesus.
The Gospel for today end by saying say Herod continue to try to see Jesus. Of course, Herod, just like any other person wey dey live for that area, fit travel go where Jesus dey preach to listen to Am any time. But e no do so. Instead, e continue to receive reports about Jesus and still dey curious about Am, as e dey try to find way to understand who Jesus be.
Try imagine wetin for happen if Herod travel go where Jesus dey preach, to listen to Am with open heart. If e do so and truly listen, Herod for receive one of the greatest gifts wey person fit imagine. E for receive the gift of faith and conversion, and e for begin follow the road wey dey lead to eternal salvation. But Herod dey live life wey no follow God’s law. People know am as wicked ruler and as person wey dey commit adultery without repentance. E love im power and e no want make anybody threaten am. E very likely say Herod know, even if na deep inside im mind, say if e listen to Jesus, e go need to change. And e very likely say e no want change.
This one teach all of us one strong lesson. Each of us fit easily brush aside different messages and invitations from our Lord because, deep inside us, we no want change. God dey speak to us throughout the day, every day of our life. E dey always offer us Im message of the full Gospel. And even though you fit dey open to plenty things wey God dey talk, e very likely say some parts of Im divine message dey wey you no dey listen to, whether you know am or you no know. The key to hearing everything wey God want tell you na to dey ready to change completely in any and every way wey God want make you change.
Today, reflect on Herod. First, reflect on how e dey curious about Jesus. This na good quality, because e far better than not caring at all. From there, also think about how Herod never go meet Jesus to listen to Am. The first time wey e meet Jesus na the night wey dem arrest Jesus, when e question our Lord and mock Am. As you dey think about Herod stubbornness, use am examine your own life. Anywhere wey you see even small sign of stubbornness, fear to change or heart wey close, try correct am by turning to our Lord. Tell Am say your heart dey open to everything wey E want talk, and say you dey ready and willing to change in any way wey E call you to change. No fear the change wey our Lord want from you. If you accept that change, e go put you for the narrow road wey go lead you quickly to true holiness of life.
My Lord wey dey with me every time, You dey call me day and night, dey invite me make I change as I dey listen to Your holy Word. I thank You for how Your grace dey move me all the time, and I commit myself to continue to dey open to everything wey You ask of me. I choose You, my Lord. And as I dey turn to You, I pray make I get di courage wey I need to answer Your call with all my heart. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: September 22-30
Day Seven- September 28
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saints for Today –
Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr—Ncheta Wey No Be Iwu
Saints Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs—Ncheta Wey No Be Iwu
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