December 11, 2023
Monday for di Second Week of Advent
Readings for Today
Saint Damasus I, Pope—Memorial Wey No Be Must
Listen for English
Some men carry one man wey paralysis hold come on top stretcher; dem dey try bring am inside and put am for Jesus front. But because of the crowd, dem no see way to bring am inside. So dem climb go roof, open the roof tiles, and lower am with the stretcher enter the middle, for Jesus front. Luke 5:18–19
One thing wey worth to notice be say, as di friends of di man wey body paralyse, wey get strong faith, dey lower am from di roof put for Jesus front, Pharisees and teachers of di law surround Jesus. Dem come “from every village for Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem” (Luke 5:17). Di religious leaders come in large numbers. Dem dey among di Jews wey get di highest education, and dem dey among di people wey gather to hear Jesus speak that day. And na partly because plenty of dem gather round Jesus make di friends of di man wey body paralyse no fit reach Jesus without taking this bold step to open di roof.
So wetin Jesus do when He see as dem lower di man wey body paralyse from di roof put for Im front? He tell di man say He don forgive am im sins. Sadly, immediately these religious leaders hear those words, dem begin condemn am strongly inside their minds. Dem talk among demself, “Na who be this wey dey talk words wey insult God? Who fit forgive sins apart from God alone?” (Luke 5:21).
But Jesus know wetin dem dey think, and He decide to do one more thing for di good of these religious leaders. Di first thing wey Jesus do, to forgive di sins of di man wey body paralyse, na for di good of di man. But one thing wey worth to notice be say di healing of di man body appear to be mainly for these Pharisees and teachers of di law wey full of pride and dey see demself as righteous. Jesus heal di man so that dem go “know say di Son of Man get authority for earth to forgive sins” (Luke 5:24). As soon as Jesus perform this miracle, di Gospel tell us say everybody “full of wonder and reverent fear” and give God glory. E appear say even di religious leaders wey dey quick to judge others join dem.
So wetin this one teach us? E show how deeply Jesus love these religious leaders, even with their great pride and di way dem dey quick to judge others. He want win their hearts. He want make dem turn from sin, humble demself and turn to Am. E dey somehow easy to show love and compassion to person wey body paralyse, wey people don already reject and humiliate. But to still care deeply for people wey full of pride and dey carry demself high, e need love wey strong well-well.
Today, think deeply about the love wey Jesus get for these leaders for religion. Even though dem come to find fault with Am, judge Am wrongly and continue to try catch Am for trap, Jesus no ever stop to try win their hearts. As you dey think about this mercy of our Lord, think also about the person for your life wey hard you pass to love, and commit yourself again to love that person with all your heart, as you dey follow the example of our divine Lord.
My Lord wey full of mercy pass all, give me heart wey dey forgive and show mercy to others. Help me especially to care deeply for those wey I find most difficult to love. As I dey follow di example of Your divine mercy, give me strength to show everybody love wey no hold anything back, so that dem go come know You more deeply. Jesus, na You I trust.
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
Saint of the Day – Saint Damasus I, Pope
