November 23, 2023
Tọzde for Wik 33 for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr—Memorial wey No Be Must to Celebrate
Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Fada wey be Martyr—Ncheta wey no be iwu for USA
Saint Columban, Abbot—Ncheta wey no be iwu
(For USA, see di reflection for Thanksgiving Day)
Listen for English
“Because days dey come when your enemies go build fence of strong wooden poles against you; dem go surround you and block you for every side. Dem go smash you and your children wey dey inside you reach ground, and dem no go leave one stone on top another inside you, because you no recognise di time wey God come visit you.” Luke 19:43–44
Jesus talk these words as E dey look Jerusalem from far, as E dey prepare to enter dat holy city for di last time to prepare for His suffering and death. As E talk these words, di Gospel tell us say Jesus cry for di city. True-true, di main reason for His tears no be because dem go later destroy di Temple and Roman soldiers go invade di city. Di first and main reason for His tears na because plenty people no get faith; na dis be di real destruction wey E dey mourn.
As we mention above, na true say di army commander Titus surround Jerusalem with soldiers for di year 70 A.D. Titus dey act under di authority of his papa, di emperor, and e destroy no be only di Temple, but plenty parts of di city itself, and di Jewish people wey dey live there too.
As Jesus dey near Jerusalem city, so that He go enter di Temple one last time to offer Im life as di final Lamb of Sacrifice for di salvation of di world, Jesus know say plenty people inside dis holy city no go accept Im sacrifice wey dey bring salvation. He know say plenty people inside dat city go become instruments for di death wey dey come for Am, and dem no go feel any regret for killing di Savior of di World. And even though person fit easily miss dis one point, we suppose stress am say Jesus no react with fear, anger or disgust. Instead, na holy sorrow He show. He cry over di city and di people wey dey live there, despite wetin plenty of dem go soon do to Am.
When people treat you with injustice, how you dey respond? You dey attack dem with words or actions? You dey condemn dem? You dey rush to defend yourself? Or you dey imitate our Lord and allow sorrow wey holy to fill your soul? Sorrow wey holy na act of love, and na di right way for Christian to respond to persecution and injustice. But too many times, no be sorrow wey holy we dey show, na anger. Di problem with dis be say to respond with anger wey no holy no dey achieve anything good. E no dey help us imitate Jesus, and e no dey help di people wey we dey vex for. Even though person fit sometimes use di strong feeling of anger do good, e dey become sin when e come from selfishness and na response to some injustice wey dem do us. Instead of dis anger wey no holy, try to grow sorrow wey holy as you dey imitate Jesus. Dis virtue no go only help your soul grow for love for people wey don hurt you; e go also help dem see wetin dem don do more clearly, so dat dem fit repent.
Today, reflect on how you dey face di evil wey you dey encounter for your life. Think well about how you dey respond inside your heart and for wetin you dey do outside. You dey mourn with love over di sins wey you dey see and di ones wey dey affect you? You dey mourn with sorrow wey holy over your own sins and other people sins? Work to make dis kind love grow inside you, and you go discover say e fit move you to help bring change to di sins wey you dey commit and di sins of other people wey you dey endure.
My Lord wey sorrow fill Your heart, You endure di sins of many people. Dem treat You with cruelty and injustice. For all these sins, even di ones wey You see before dem happen, You respond with di love of sorrow wey holy. And dat sorrow lead You to true compassion and care for everybody. Abeg, give me di grace to imitate dis same love of Yours, so dat I too fit share for di holiness of Your heart wey sorrow fill. 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
Saints for Today –
Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr—Memorial wey No Be Must to Celebrate
Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Fada wey be Martyr—Ncheta wey no be iwu for USA
Saint Columban, Abbot—Ncheta wey no be iwu
For USA, see di reflection for Thanksgiving Day
