November 10, 2023
Memorial for St. Leo the Great, Pope na Doctor of the Church
Reading dem for Today
(Friday for Week Thirty-One for Ordinary Time)
Listen for English
Jesus tell His disciples, “One rich man get one manaja wey people report to am say e dey waste im property. E call di manaja come and tell am, ‘Wetin be dis wey I dey hear about you? Prepare full account of how you don manage my property, because you no fit continue as my manaja.’” Luke 16:1–2
Plenty things dey to think deeply about for dis parable, and plenty lessons dey wey we fit learn. To start, make we understand say di rich man represent God, and you be di manaja. Dis na important first lesson to learn because e show us say, when e concern material things for dis world, na God really own everything—we only be people wey dey manage dem. Think about dis well. For everything wey you get, all your money and property, you dey hold dem as if na you get complete control over all dis material things? E clear say na so most people dey think. Dem fit work hard to earn their living, save money and buy dis and dat, build up di money for their bank accounts, and still hold on tight to all dis material things, dey see dem as “my own” instead of God own. So di first lesson wey really dey challenge us na say everything wey we “own” actually belong to God. Na only permission He give us to manage di things of dis world. You believe dis?
As people wey dey manage property, we must put mind to use di riches wey dey under our care only di way God want make we use dem. For dis parable, people report di manaja to di rich man say e dey “waste im property.” We too dey guilty of wasting God property when we use money according to wetin we ourselves want and desire, instead of wetin God want. Dis na something wey people dey do very often, especially people wey dem don put to manage plenty money. So, di more money person dey manage, di more temptation e go face to waste am, wey mean to use am for selfish purposes instead of for God glory according to wetin He want. Dis teaching hard to accept and live by. But na dis parable truly show us all dis truth, so e dey very important make we listen.
Di words wey di rich man talk, “Prepare full account of how you don manage my property,” na words wey all of us must expect to hear one day. If dat day na today, how dat “full account of how you don manage my property” go be? You don work hard just to gain for yourself? Or you don work hard to take proper responsibility for di things wey God don put for your care?
As di parable continue, we read say di manaja act “with sense” because e arrange one plan to make sure say e go get di material things wey e need after e lose im position as manaja. But di “sense” wey dem talk about here mean di worldly, and therefore evil, way wey plenty people dey use their sharp thinking, cleverness, hard work and full commitment to pursue di material riches wey dem want get for dis world. Even though e good to take work serious and work hard for life, too often people dey do am for selfish gain. Just imagine if everybody wey dey work so hard to get rich put even more effort into building up God Kingdom for earth! How different dis world for be if we get plenty people wey dey work hard like dat for God mission.
Today, think deeply about dis simple truth: when e concern di riches of dis world, you only be di manaja of wetin you get, no be di owner. God want make you free from holding on tight to material riches, so dat you go dey free to use everything wey you get for His glory and according to His purpose. Dis no mean say you must give everything wey you get to charity organisations. Instead, e mean say make you continue to offer everything wey you get to God and try to use am according to wetin He want, and only wetin He want. If dis mean say, after you pray and think well, you understand say God want make you buy something new, then buy something new. If e mean say make you give more things out, then give more things out. If e mean say make you live simple life more as holy sacrifice, then do just dat. Money no fit buy happiness. Na only when you fully accept and follow wetin God want you go get di happiness and fulfilment wey you dey deeply desire.
My Lord wey get all riches, na You and only You be di Master of everything wey You don create. Everything wey I get and own na Your own, my dear Lord. Help me make I believe this and live my life only as person wey dey manage di property wey dey my care. Free me from wasting wetin You don put for my care. Make I use everything for Your glory and only as Your holy will want. 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 Leo the Great, Pope na Doctor
