July 4, 2024
Thursday for Week Thirteen for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Independence Dei—USA Memorial wey no be compulsory
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal—Memorial wey no be compulsory
(Dem dey celebrate am for July 5 for USA)
Listen for English
After Jesus enter boat, E cross the water come reach Im own town. For there, people bring one man wey paralysis hold come meet Am; the man lie for stretcher. When Jesus see their faith, E tell the man, “My pikin, get courage; I don forgive your sin dem.” Matthew 9:1–2
Just before this passage, Jesus drive demons comot from two men from the town of the Gadarenes. After that, the people for the town tell Am make E leave their town, so Jesus enter boat leave, come reach Capernaum, where E don dey live since E leave Nazareth. Na this meeting with one man wey paralysis hold, wey lie for stretcher, dey wait for Am when E come down from the boat.
Remember say when Jesus return to Nazareth, where E grow up, E no fit do any miracle for there because dem no get faith. As dem know Am well, this familiarity tempt dem make dem no believe say E be somebody special. But now, for the new town where E just move go, Jesus fit do mighty miracles because the people show clear faith.
For the passage above, try put yourself inside the scene. The Gadarenes just reject Jesus, E enter boat come Capernaum, E come down from the boat, and one group of people wey clearly don dey wait for Am meet Am at once. Try imagine wetin dem dey discuss while Jesus dey the other side of the lake. Dem know say E go return to Im new home, dem prepare stretcher for the man wey paralysis hold, then dem wait, get hope and pray say Jesus go come heal the man. E still clear say Jesus fit notice their faith at once, and their faith touch Am deep for heart. One of the most important parts of this passage be say Jesus no just say “Yes” to healing the man’s body and stop there. Instead, wetin E do for the man na to first forgive im sin dem. One important lesson dey here for us to learn, wey go help us know the best way to pray.
Many times when we pray, we dey ask our Lord for this favour or that one. We dey pray for wetin we want make Jesus give us. But this story show us say wetin Jesus want for us dey different. First, E want forgive our sin dem. Na this E put first, and na this we too suppose put first. Once Jesus don forgive the sin dem of this man wey paralysis hold, E still heal am, to show say E get power to forgive sin. This story suppose help us arrange wetin we put first for prayer according to wetin Jesus put first. If we make sorrow for sin the first thing, we fit dey sure say Jesus go answer us. After that, Jesus know everything we need. We fit bring dem before Am, but na only when we don reconcile with Am inside our own heart.
Today, tink well about how you dey pray every day. Try understand how e dey important to examine your sin dem every day. This must become the first and most important part of your daily prayer. Even though many people no like to look at their sin, e go dey much easier when you no focus too much on the sin, but on the mercy of forgiveness and the spiritual healing wey you need. The more you dey aware of the sin wey you dey commit every day, the more mercy you go receive. And the more mercy you receive for forgiveness of your sin dem, the more our Lord go fit bless you plenty for other ways. Always start with the mercy of our Lord and how you yourself need that mercy every day, and our Lord go take care of every other thing.
My Lord wey full of mercy, You want make reconciliation with You, deep inside my heart, be wetin I put first for my daily prayer. You want forgive me and heal me so that I go draw closer to You. Abeg, my dear Lord, forgive my sin dem, and help me pay more attention to the ways wey I dey sin against You and other people every day. I thank You in advance for this grace wey dey save and for this mercy. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Read More –
Independence Dei—USA Memorial wey no be compulsory
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
(Dem dey celebrate am for July 5 for USA)
