May 22, 2024
Wenesde for Wik Seven for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Rita of Cascia—Memorial wey No Be Must to Celebrate
Listen for English
John tell Jesus, “Teacher, we see one person wey dey drive demons comot in Your name, and we try stop am because e no dey follow us.” Jesus answer, “Make una no stop am…” Mark 9:38–39
Why John and di other disciples go try stop person wey dey drive demons comot? To understand this one, imagine wetin happen. John and di other disciples don come believe say Jesus na di Christ, di Messiah of God. Dem see as E do plenty miracles and change plenty people life. Because of this, no doubt say dem want make everybody discover who Jesus be and come get faith in Am. But later, dem meet one person wey dem no know, wey dey drive demons comot in Jesus name, and dem try stop am.
Just before this passage, we read di story of one man wey bring im son wey demon dey possess come meet Jesus disciples. E ask dem make dem heal di boy, but dem no fit do am. Maybe as di disciples no fit drive di demon comot, e make dem feel small. Then dem see another person wey no dey their group, wey fit drive demons comot in Jesus name. This one fit don make dem feel more weak and ashamed, and maybe na part of wetin make dem try stop di man from using authority in Jesus name.
One common temptation wey di wicked one dey bring to members of di Church na division among dem. As people wey dey follow Christ, God don trust all of us with di same mission, but for different ways. God call us to become instruments of Im grace so that souls go get salvation and God go receive glory. But sometimes, we no dey work together as one. Instead, we dey see di people wey dey work with us as our opponents.
Inside our Church today, plenty divisions dey among us wey must stop. Maybe di best way to do this na to put support for one another among di things wey matter pass. Instead of allowing pride make us jealous of people wey dey do “mighty works” by di grace of God, we must try to rejoice for every good thing wey we see. This one fit look like something wey everybody suppose know, but pride and di feeling say we no good enough na real temptations wey dey make us look down on people wey dey carry out God will in powerful ways. When we see person wey dey do something good, many times we dey quickly think about ourselves, dey wish say na we dey do di good work. And when God use another person in powerful way, temptation fit easily make us focus on where we no good enough and where we don fail, instead of giving God glory for di good works wey another person do.
Today, reflect on this simple truth: every Christian dey di same spiritual team. God call all of us to work so that E go receive glory and souls go get salvation. With humility, try think about di people for your life wey dey do this well, and consider di attitude wey you get towards dem. If you see any kind of jealousy, envy or fault-finding, make up your mind to comot those attitudes. Instead, try get grateful heart as you dey rejoice for di many ways wey God dey use other people to fulfil Im purpose.
Lord wey get power and strength, You dey do countless good things through di generosity and faithfulness of Your people. You dey always use all di people wey dey follow You to carry out Your will. Abeg, use me, dear Lord, as instrument of Your will, and help me to always rejoice for di ways wey You dey give Your grace through other people. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Rita of Cascia
