April 14, 2024
Di Third Sunday for Easter (Year B)
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“Why una dey worry? And why questions dey rise for una hearts? Look My hands and My feet, make una know say na Me Myself. Touch Me and see, because ghost no get flesh and bones as una dey see say I get.” Luke 24:38–39
Imagine say Jesus appear to you. What if He show you di wounds for His hands and feet and invite you make you touch Am so that you go believe? You go believe? E likely say you go believe, reach one level. Na di beginning of one experience wey fit change your life e go be, just as e be for these disciples. As our Lord appear to di disciples, dem change from men wey dey confused and dey doubt to men wey joy and zeal fill their hearts. Later, dem go go out dey preach about Jesus as witnesses to His death and Resurrection, with courage and with di desire say everybody wey hear dem go turn to Jesus as their Saviour.
For di first reading for today Mass, dem record say Saint Peter do this same thing. After e heal one man wey no fit walk for di Temple gate, crowd gather with surprise, and Peter preach to dem about Jesus. E end im sermon by saying, “Na so God don fulfil wetin He announce before through di mouth of all di prophets, say His Christ go suffer. So, make una repent and turn to God, so that dem fit wipe una sins away.”
Today, dem don entrust us with di same mission wey dem give our Lord disciples, and we must preach with di same zeal, courage and strong conviction wey dem use preach. First, we must dey as sure as dem dey say Jesus don overcome sin and death. We must turn away from every sin and believe say na only for Christ Jesus we fit find fullness of life. But after that, we must give our whole selves to di work of proclaiming this faith.
Start by thinking about how deep you believe in Jesus as di Saviour of di World. Even though you fit feel say if Jesus appear to you in person, e go help make your faith in Am deeper, di truth be say no be mainly because dem see Jesus with their physical eyes di first disciples come dey convinced. Instead, this gift come mainly as He touch their minds spiritually. After He appear to di disciples physically, we read say Jesus “open their minds make dem understand di Scriptures.” Na this one convince dem pass every other thing—di spiritual gift of understanding. And dem dey offer you that gift today, just as dem offer am to di first followers of Jesus.
Saint Thomas Aquinas explain say di spiritual gift of understanding na gift wey dey reveal to us wetin God be for His very being. E explain say this kind knowledge deep well-well pass di one wey we dey get through our five senses. So, just to see something with our eyes, touch am or hear am no fit convince us reach di knowledge wey we dey get through di spiritual gift of understanding. Di gift of understanding dey help us to “read from inside” and enter deep into wetin something really be. Na why Jesus appearing physically fit don be di first step towards believing, but na only when these same disciples encounter our Lord inside their souls and understand deep inside wetin His Resurrection really be, dem change forever. Na only this kind knowledge fit then convince dem to go out and proclaim di message of salvation.
Today, reflect on your own knowledge of Jesus and how di power of His Resurrection dey change your life. God don speak to you deep inside your soul? You don receive this knowledge wey dey come from inside, and your mind don open? Listen well to our Lord—no be only with your ears, but mainly with your spirit. Na there, inside you, you go come know and believe in di life, death and resurrection of Christ, like di first disciples, so that you fit then go out with di power to proclaim these truths to other people.
My Lord wey dey reveal Yourself, You show Yourself to Your disciples no be only physically but spiritually too, as You reveal wetin You be for Your very being deep inside dem. Abeg, give me this gift, dear Lord. Make I come know You and believe in You with all my heart. As I dey do so, abeg use me as instrument of Your mercy to other people. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditations for Easter Season
