December 7, 2023
Memorial for St. Ambrose, wey be Bishop and Doctor of di Church
Readings for Today
Readings for Thursday for di First Week of Advent
Listen for English
“No be everybody wey dey tell Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ go enter the Kingdom of heaven, na only the person wey dey do wetin My Father wey dey heaven want.” Matthew 7:21
E dey fear person to think about the people wey Jesus dey talk about. Imagine say after you don leave this life for earth, you reach front of God throne, and you cry out to Am, “Lord, Lord!” You expect say E go smile and welcome you, but instead, you come face the truth say all through your life, you dey continue to stubbornly disobey wetin God want. You suddenly realise say you dey behave like Christian, but na only pretence. And now, for judgment day, the truth don show clear for you and everybody to see. This kind thing truly dey cause fear.
Who this kind thing go happen to? Na only our Lord know. Na Him be the one and only Judge wey dey judge with justice. Na only Him know wetin dey person heart, and na only Him get the right to judge. But as Jesus tell us say “No be everybody” wey expect to enter Heaven go enter, we suppose pay attention.
As e suppose be, na deep and pure love for God suppose dey direct our lives, and na this love, only this love, suppose dey direct our lives. But when pure love for God no dey show clear, the next best thing fit be fear wey holy. The words wey Jesus talk suppose make this “fear wey holy” rise inside each of us.
Wetin we mean by “holy” be say one kind fear dey wey fit move us to change our lives for real. E possible say we dey deceive other people, and maybe even ourselves, but we no fit deceive God. God dey see and know everything, and E know the answer to the one and only question wey matter for judgment day: “I do wetin the Father wey dey Heaven want?”
One practice wey Saint Ignatius of Loyola recommend again and again na to look all the decisions wey we dey make now and everything wey we dey do as we go see dem for judgment day. For that moment, wetin I go wish say I for don do? The answer to that question dey very important for how we dey live our lives today.
Today, think deep about that important question for your own life. “I dey do wetin the Father wey dey Heaven want?” As I stand before the judgment seat of Christ, wetin I go wish say I for don do here and now? Anything wey come your mind, take time think about am, and try make your mind stand stronger to do anything wey God show you. No hesitate. No wait. Prepare now so that judgment day go also be day of joy and glory wey pass measure!
My God wey dey save me, I pray make You help me understand my life well. Help me make I see my life and everything wey I dey do for di light of Your will and Your Truth. My Father wey love me, I want live fully according to Your perfect will. Give me di grace wey I need to correct di way I dey live, so dat di day of judgment go be day of di greatest glory. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to the Immaculate Conception
November 29-December 7
See All Our Materials for Advent
Christmas Novena of Saint Andrew
As tradition take be, dem dey pray am 15 times every day from November 30 reach Christmas Eve.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Advent
Saint for Today – Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor
Main pictures wey dey above: Ascension of di Lord, through flickr
