May 2, 2024
Thursday for di Fifth Week for Easter
Di Readings for Today
Saint Athanasius, Bishop wey be Doctor—Memorial
Listen for English
“If una keep my commandments, una go remain for my love, just as I don keep my Father commandments and remain for His love.” John 15:10
After Jesus talk di words wey dey above, E follow am talk say, “I don tell una this so that My joy go dey inside una and una joy go complete.” When we put these two statements side by side, dem help us see how Jesus teaching about holy obedience to Am join together.
First, Jesus talk about how e dey necessary to keep His commandments. For some people, if dem look this statement on im own, e fit look like heavy load, like command wey person dey force on dem, wey dey oppress dem and no give dem freedom. But na so e really be? We go see the answer clear as we continue to read.
Di next thing wey Jesus teach na say, when we keep His commandments, di result na say we go “remain for His love.” E explain further say E no dey ask us to do anything wey E Himself no ready to do. E obey di Father will, and E keep di Father commandments perfectly. So, we suppose hear His command as instruction wey come from di choice wey E freely make and live out to obey. As di Son of God wey become human, E obey di Father perfectly for His human nature. Di result na say E remain perfectly full of di Father love. But no be only that. We go also experience joy for “complete” way when we follow Jesus example of perfect obedience.
As you consider this teaching from our Lord, how you see holy obedience to wetin God want? Take each of the Ten Commandments as example. E dey hard you to obey dem without wavering? You dey experience dem as restrictions wey dem force on you to oppress you, instead of wetin dem really be? When we understand dem well, the Ten Commandments, and every other thing wey God want us to do, na exactly wetin we need. Even more than that, na exactly wetin we deeply desire for life. We want make order dey inside us, no be confusion. We want make our whole life dey upright and complete, no be weak and easy to break. We want joy, no be sadness. And we want make we dey united with God love, no be to lose God. The road to this life wey we desire so deeply na to obey everything wey God command according to His will.
Today, reflect on di first reaction wey dey come from inside you towards holy obedience. If you notice say you dey resist this teaching of Jesus for any way, then na clear sign say you need this teaching pass as you fit know. Try to look at obedience with di light of truth. Try to see say, deep inside, your soul dey long for obedience and di order wey e dey bring inside you. Check especially any area where you dey struggle to obey, and firmly commit yourself again to obey each and every command of our Lord without wavering.
My Lord wey dey obedient, You obey di will of Your Father for Heaven perfectly. Through this obedience, no be only di full love and joy of di Father You experience for Your human nature; You also give us perfect example and pattern of holiness. Help me see di areas of my life where I need to obey more, so that I too go share for Your holy life and di holy life of di Father. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor
Featured pictures wey dey above: I Come to Fulfill di Law for flickr
