May 11, 2024
Saturday for Easter Week Six
Readings for Today
Listen for English
“I don tell una dis things with figures of speech. Di time dey come when I no go use figures of speech talk to una again, but I go tell una about di Father make e clear.” John 16:25
Na when Jesus go speak clearly about Papa? Na when be that “hour” wey E dey talk about? First, we fit understand this “hour” as the time after E die, rise from death and go up to Heaven. Na then the Holy Spirit go come upon dem for Pentecost to open their mind, so dem go understand everything wey E don teach dem more deeply and clearly. But for John im Gospel, the “hour” still dey point to Jesus Im death for the Cross. Na Im hour of glory, the hour wey the Son of Man save us through Im holy Passion. So, we suppose read this thing wey Jesus talk with the understanding say E dey point to Im Passion wey dey come. Remember say this sermon wey Jesus give na part of Im “Talk for the Last Supper.” E give am just before E go out to the Garden of Gethsemane, where dem go arrest Am.
When we understand this “hour” as Jesus Im Passion and death for the Cross, make we know say Im death no be only the act wey redeem and save us; na still one of the clearest ways wey E take speak about Im Papa for Heaven. Truly, Jesus Im suffering and death show the disciples who Papa be in ways wey Im “figures of speech” no fit show dem. The words wey Jesus use, wey their meaning no too clear, na truth, but na truth wey words no fit fully express. But the suffering and death wey Jesus freely accept show who Papa be clearly, for the deepest way possible. The Cross na pure love, and Papa na pure love. Jesus Im death for the Cross, as E obey Papa Im will, show everybody say Papa love us so much that E ready to sacrifice Im only-begotten Son, so that if we just believe in Am, we go inherit life wey no go ever end.
The message of the Cross na true teaching about Papa Im love. Na teaching wey come through an act of the purest love wey sacrifice itself pass anything we fit imagine. For the Cross, Jesus dey speak “clearly about Papa,” because the Cross show how deep Papa Im love for all human beings be. If you find am hard to understand this, no be only you. Even the disciples struggle to understand am. Na why, for the end, dem need the Holy Spirit to come upon dem and open their mind. We too need the Holy Spirit to remove the veil wey cover our understanding, so we fit understand this powerful message about God Im love wey no get limit.
Today, think deeply about how Jesus really dey long to remove the veil wey cover Im teaching and show you clearly how deep Papa Im love for you be. Allow the Holy Spirit to open your mind to this thing wey God dey reveal through Jesus wey dem nail to the Cross. Pray for that gift. Listen as Jesus tell you say E want give you this understanding; then wait for the grace wey you need to see and understand Papa Im very heart and Im divine love for you.
My precious Jesus, Your hour of glory for the Cross na the clearest and fullest way wey the Father’s love take show. For the Cross, You show all of us how deep the love wey You and Your Father for Heaven get for us be. Abeg, dear Lord, open my mind to everything wey You want reveal to me, so that as I come know You, I go also come know Your Father for Heaven. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to di Holy Spirit
Wey we dey pray to prepare for Pentecost
Friday, May 10 – Saturday, May 18
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Main picture for up: Strong Advice to the Apostles wey James Tissot paint, through Wikimedia Commons
