Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Memorial for St. Cecilia, Virgin na Martyr
Readings for Today
Readings for Wednesday for di Thirty-third Week for Ordinary Time
Listen for English
“One man from noble family travel go one far country to receive authority as king for imself, and then come back. E call ten of im servants, give dem ten gold coins and tell dem, ‘Make una use these ones do business until I come back.’ But im fellow citizens hate am, and dem send some people follow am go announce say, ‘We no want make dis man be our king.’” Luke 19:12–14
Three groups of people dey inside dis parable. Di first group na those wey receive one gold coin and do wetin their master ask dem: to “do business” until e come back. Di second group na those wey receive di same command but dey lazy and no produce any good fruit from wetin our Lord give dem. And di third group na those wey “hate” our Lord and no want make E be their King.
When di king come back, na di two servants wey take di gold coins, do business, and gain five and ten more represent dis first group of people. Na dem be those wey get strong zeal for apostolic work. God no only call us to use di gifts wey we don receive to spread Im Kingdom for earth; E also expect make we do am. Wetin E expect from us na command of love. Those wey understand dis command see am as glorious invitation to bring change wey go last forever into di lives of many people. Dem no see di apostolic work wey dem call dem to do as burden. Instead, dem see am as joy, and dat joy dey give dem strength to continue their work. Di result go bring effects wey go dey multiply more and more for God Kingdom.
Di one servant wey keep di one gold coin “hide inside handkerchief” because of fear show us di second group of people. Na these people dey avoid to spread di Gospel and move God Kingdom forward because of fear. Fear fit make person no fit do anything. But to surrender to fear na sin. E show say faith and trust in God no dey enough. To serve God go surely require courage from us. E go demand make we leave where we dey comfortable and do wetin we fit no feel comfortable to do at first. But as dat servant for di parable talk beforehand, God na God wey dey demand plenty from us. And E no go accept fear as good excuse for person not to help build God Kingdom with zeal.
Di third group of people na di group wey you surely no go want belong to. Na those wey dey deliberately work against God authority as King and reject Am as God. Dis world full of people like dis. Di only thing we need to talk about those wey belong to dis group na wetin our Lord talk about dem. “Now, as for those my enemies wey no want make I be their king, bring dem here and kill dem for my front.”
Today, think deeply about which group of people your life resemble pass. Most likely, na one of di first two groups. You get strong zeal for God Kingdom? You ready to do everything wey you fit do to help build Im Kingdom? You ready to do am even if e go cost you great personal sacrifice? If na so, make you rejoice and know say plenty reward dey wait for you. But if you be person wey dey struggle with fear, especially if you dey fear to spread di Gospel, to share di Good News and to live out your faith openly with humility and love, then spend more time to reflect on dis parable and wetin happen to dat one servant wey hide di coin inside handkerchief. Put hand for apostolic work. Give yourself fully to di work of moving God Kingdom forward. Drive away every fear and know say you no go ever regret to put your whole heart and soul into serving God and building Im Kingdom.
My Lord wey dey demand much from me, You don entrust plenty things to me, and You demand make I use everything wey You don give me to help build Your Kingdom of grace. Na great privilege for You to call me and use me for dis apostolic mission. Abeg, free me from every fear, dear Lord, so dat I no go ever hesitate to serve You in di ways wey You call me to serve. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Christ the King
November 17–25, 2023
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Cecilia, Virgin wey be Martyr
