February 26, 2024
Monday for di Second Week of Lent
Di Readings for Today
Listen for English
Jesus tell im disciples: “Make una get mercy, just as una Father get mercy. Make una stop to judge others, and dem no go judge una. Make una stop to condemn others, and dem no go condemn una. Make una forgive, and dem go forgive una.” Luke 6:36–37
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, for im guide for retreat wey dey last thirty days, direct di person wey dey do di retreat to spend di first week dey think deep about sin, judgment, death and hell. At first, this one fit look like wetin no dey inspire person at all. But di wisdom for this way na say, after one week of thinking deep about these things, people wey dey do di retreat go come understand well-well how much dem need God mercy and forgiveness. Dem go see their need more clearly, and deep humility go grow for their soul as dem see their guilt and turn to God for Im mercy.
But mercy dey go both ways. One main thing about mercy na say, na only if person give am too, e fit receive am. For di Gospel passage above, Jesus give us command wey clear well-well about judgment, condemnation, mercy and forgiveness. Di main point na say, if we want mercy and forgiveness, then we must show mercy and forgive others. If we dey judge and condemn others, then dem go judge and condemn us too. These words clear well-well.
Maybe one reason why many people dey struggle to stop to judge and condemn others na because dem no truly understand their own sin and how dem too need forgiveness. We dey live for world wey often dey find excuse for sin and dey make am look like say e no too serious. Na why di teaching of Saint Ignatius dey so important for us today. We need to wake up again to how serious our sin be. We no dey do this one just to make ourselves feel guilty and ashamed. We dey do am so that di desire for mercy and forgiveness go grow for us.
If you fit grow to understand your own sin more deeply before God, one thing wey go come from am na say e go easier for you to reduce how you dey judge and condemn others. Person wey see im own sin go dey more ready to show mercy to other sinners. But person wey dey struggle with di habit of counting imself righteous go surely struggle too with di habit of judging and condemning others.
Today, think deep about your own sin. Spend time to try understand how ugly sin be, and try make di right kind of hatred for sin grow for you. As you dey do this, and as you dey beg our Lord for Im mercy, pray too say you go fit show others di same mercy wey you receive from God. As mercy dey flow from Heaven enter your own soul, you must share am too. Share God mercy with people all around you, and you go discover di true value and power of this Gospel teaching of our Lord.
My Jesus wey get mercy pass all, I thank You for Your mercy wey no get end. Help me make I see my sin clearly, so that I too go see how I need Your mercy. As I dey do this, dear Lord, I pray make my heart dey open to that mercy, so that I go fit receive am and share am with others. Make me be true instrument of Your divine grace. Jesus, na You I trust.
Meditation Dem for Day 11:
40 Days for di Desert & 40 Days for di Cross
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Di main picture wey dey above: Di Last Judgement wey Michelangelo do, from Web Gallery of Art
