March 10, 2024
Fourth Sunday for Lent (Year B)
Readings for Today
Note: When dem use the Scrutinies for Mass, dem fit use the reflection and readings for Year A instead of this one.
Listen for English
Jesus tell Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lift the snake up for desert, na so dem must lift the Son of Man up, so that everybody wey believe in am fit get eternal life.” John 3:14–15
The words wey dem quote above na the end of one discussion wey Jesus get with Nicodemus, one Pharisee wey also be member of the Sanhedrin. Na the first of three times wey dem mention Nicodemus for the Gospel of John be this. The second time wey he appear na when he remind the other members of the Sanhedrin say dem must first hear wetin person get to talk before dem condemn am. The third time na when dem kill Jesus, and Nicodemus bring myrrh and aloes wey dem mix together to prepare Jesus body for burial.
Most of the Pharisees and people inside the Sanhedrin no accept Jesus. Because of this, Nicodemus put himself for risk as he go meet Jesus for night to talk with am. But Jesus clearly know say faith dey Nicodemus heart, and na why Jesus answer am when he ask about His teaching. Nicodemus no be like the other Pharisees: he no dey try trap our Lord; he really want understand.
For the beginning of this discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus, Nicodemus show say he don begin get faith in Jesus when he talk say, “Rabbi, we know say You be teacher wey come from God, because nobody fit do these signs wey You dey do unless God dey with am” (John 3:2). One interesting thing be say Jesus then use picture-talk to tell Nicodemus say person fit enter the Kingdom of God only when dem “born am from above” and “born am from water and the Spirit.” Nicodemus try understand, but he no fit. Jesus then gently correct am, say, “You be the teacher of Israel, and you no understand this?” (John 3:10). Jesus continue to use symbols and picture-talk, and He end with the beginning of today Gospel wey dem quote above, where He talk in hidden way about how dem go nail am to cross.
One important thing wey we need understand from this discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus be say Jesus use symbols wey hide the full meaning of His words because, even though Nicodemus dey the right path, he never ready for the full revelation of the Gospel. He never fit fully understand everything wey our Lord come reveal. So, Jesus use words wey their full meaning dey hidden, and He invite Nicodemus to continue to find that hidden meaning.
For our own life, we fit come meet God and want make He talk to us clearly and without leaving any doubt, make He reveal His perfect will for our life. But many times, He no dey do so. Why? Because God know say we never ready for the full truth. When He talk to us and we come understand something in one way or another, this one good, and e show say we dey the right path. But the Gospel, for all its fullness, dey call for change wey reach the root of our life and dey demand so much from us that most people never ready for the full truth. So, because of His compassion, God dey give us only wetin we fit handle at that time. But this truth wey dey humble us suppose encourage us, as e encourage Nicodemus, make we no give up, but continue to open ourselves to the fullness of the Word of God.
Today, reflect on how you dey open yourself to the fullness of God Word. Wetin go happen if God reveal to you, through personal revelation of divine knowledge wey come at once, everything wey dey His holy mind? E go too much for you to handle? Yes, e go too much. But to humbly admit this na important step towards that same goal. Today, humble yourself more fully before the Word of God wey get deep mysteries, and pray make you continue to change and open yourself, so that the clear light of God truth go enter your soul more fully.
My Lord wey dey teach me, Your holy Truth deep so much, and e dey change person so much, that e still pass wetin I fit fully understand and accept with all my heart. Because of this, I thank You for the mercy wey You dey show as You dey speak to me in ways wey their full meaning dey hidden, so that You go continue to draw me deeper into faith and knowledge of You. Abeg, continue to open my mind and heart to You so that, one day, I go understand Your Truth as fully as possible. Jesus, na You I trust.
Meditation for Fourth Sunday for Lent:
40 Days for Desert
Novena to Saint Joseph. Dem dey pray am from March 10-18.
Rosary Novena for Nine Months with Cardinal Burke
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
