February 25, 2024
Sunday Number Two for Lent (Year B)
Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus take Peter, James and John, lead dem go on top one high mountain, where na only dem dey. For dem front, His appearance gbanwee, and His clothes come dey shine white well-well, pass as any person wey dey wash cloth for this world fit make dem white. Mark 9:2–3
Just six days before this glorious event of the Transfiguration, Jesus talk to His disciples for the first time about how dem go nail Am for cross and how He go die. He teach dem say “the Son of Man must suffer well-well, and the elders, the chief priests and the scribes must reject Am, and dem must kill Am, and after three days He must rise” (Mark 8:31). Remember say e hard Peter to accept this teaching. Jesus come rebuke Peter because he refuse to accept this teaching about wetin go happen, and He explain further say “Anybody wey wan follow me must deny imself, carry im cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). So these disciples get six days to think deeply about this prophecy of our Lord before dem witness the Transfiguration.
For your life, anything dey wey God dey try tell you, but e dey hard you to accept? If e dey, e most likely go concern how God dey call you to carry your cross and follow Am. The Cross of Christ dey come in many forms throughout life. We fit experience am when we allow the anger wey dey burn inside us to die, so that we fit show pure mercy to person wey don hurt us. Or e fit be say God dey call you to take step with faith and begin something wey need courage and trust. Or e fit be say God dey call you to accept some hardship for life wey hard to accept, like when person wey you love die, sickness, when you lose your job, or any other difficulty wey you dey struggle to accept with love and trust. Bitter mind, grudge, anger, fear and other things like these na often the crosses wey hard us pass to accept and allow to die.
If this touch wetin you dey experience, then this story of the Transfiguration na for you. After Jesus give these disciples six days to think deeply about the hard news of His Cross wey dey come, He give dem hope and encouragement through this holy encounter. Even though e last only small time, this way wey Jesus show His glory na all wey these disciples need to begin accept wetin Jesus talk about His suffering wey dey come. For one side, dem fear wetin Jesus say go happen. But for the other side, dem see His glory and majesty. As these two experiences join together, the disciples receive new hope and strength to trust say no matter wetin go happen for future, God dey in control.
We too need our Lord to reveal His glory to us in a way wey go console us and help us pass through the difficulties wey we go face. For some people, life good, e good well-well, and dem dey walk with our Lord with joy and ease. But for others, life don turn hard and confusion don enter. If life good for you now, then rejoice say you dey taste part of the glory of the Transfiguration. Thank God and join Saint Peter tell Am say, “Rabbi, e good say we dey here!” Thank Am for the joy and consolation wey you dey experience now. But if life hard for you now, think deeply about those six days when the disciples struggle to accept wetin the Lord talk about His suffering wey dey come. Think about their confusion, doubts and fear. As you dey do this, look up towards the mountain. Know say the glory of God dey wait for you, and say He wan free you from all fear and worry. Na with firm faith wey get prayer as im foundation person dey climb the mountain. Make this journey with our Lord through prayer.
Today, think deeply about this holy mountain wey God dey call you to climb. Know say as you dey climb am without giving up and with strong determination, you go receive hope and joy. Pray for the ability to trust God, wey no only die cruel death, but wey also dey shine in glory for all eternity. Trust Am, turn to Am and commit yourself to the journey wey dey ahead.
My Lord wey show Your glory for the Transfiguration, You reveal Your glory to these disciples to help dem accept Your Cross. Help me too to accept Your Cross for my life and to see clearly the glory wey dey come from accepting am. I trust You, dear Lord; help me to trust You more. Jesus, na You I trust.
Meditation for Sunday Number Two for Lent:
40 Days for Desert
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Pictures wey we feature above: The Transfiguration of the Lord, through Flickr
