July 5, 2024
Fraide for Week 13 for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest—Memorial wey Person Fit Choose to Celebrate
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal—Memorial wey no be iwu
(Dem dey celebrate am on July 4 outside USA)
Listen for English
“People wey dey well no need doctor, but people wey dey sick need am. Go learn wetin these words mean: Na mercy I want, no be sacrifice. I no come to call people wey dey do wetin right, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12–13
You go describe yourself as person wey “dey well” or person wey “dey sick?” You dey among “people wey dey do wetin right” or among “sinners?” Take care how you answer this question. True true, the pride wey dey follow our human nature wey sin don spoil dey often tempt us to claim say we “dey well” and we “dey do wetin right.” But humility go show us the truth say we dey among “people wey dey sick” and “sinners.”
Jesus talk this one to answer the Pharisees wey notice say Jesus dey chop for the house of Matthew, the tax collector wey He just call to follow Him. Matthew truly leave everything behind and follow Jesus, and after that, e prepare evening meal for Jesus for im house. For that meal, “plenty tax collectors and sinners” come sit with Jesus and His disciples, and this one make the Pharisees mock all of them.
Jesus’ answer na something wey dey very important for us to hear. As He talk say He no come for people wey dey well and dey do wetin right, but for people wey dey sick and be sinners, e tell us two important things. First, e tell us say all of us dey sick for spirit and get sin. Second, e tell us say if we no fit accept this one with humility, but because of pride we claim say we dey well and dey do wetin right, then wetin we really dey do na to reject Jesus, the Divine Doctor, from our lives. Wetin we really dey talk na, “Lord, I no need You.”
E go also help us to notice say Jesus no shame to make people see Him with sinners. He no hesitate at all; in fact, He talk am clear say na for them He come. Because of this, make we no fear or shame to admit say we be sinners wey dey sick for spirit and need our Lord. To deny that fact na to deny wetin be true and to deny the very source of the healing wey we surely need to dey receive for life. Na to deny say we need Christ Jesus Himself.
You need our Lord? You need cleansing for your inside, healing and forgiveness every day? If e hard you to use all your heart answer “Yes” to that question, then e fit be say you dey struggle with the pride of the Pharisees pass as you know. No matter how holy you become, no matter how deep your prayer life be, and no matter how much love you show to God and your neighbour, you go always need the healing and forgiveness of the Divine Doctor every single day.
Today, think deeply about how you need forgiveness for your life now. Which sin you dey struggle with pass? One thing wey dey interesting be say, the more person dey holy, the more clearly e dey see im daily sins and how e need forgiveness and healing. If this one dey hard you at all, take time examine your conscience. Find ways to do am more thoroughly and with more honesty. If you do this, you fit dey sure say our Lord, the Divine Doctor, go really desire to chop with you today and always.
My Lord wey dey forgive, na You be di Divine Doctor wey don come to forgive us and heal all our sickness. Remove my pride and di way I dey claim say na me righteous, so dat humility go fill my heart and I go fit see di sin for my life clearly. As I dey see my sin, help me make I turn to You and trust Your mercy wey plenty well well. Na for sinners You come, dear Lord, and I be one of those sinners wey need Your help. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saints for Today –
Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest—Memorial wey Person Fit Choose to Celebrate
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal—Memorial wey no be iwu
(Dem dey celebrate am on July 4 outside USA)
Pictures wey dey above: Di Meal for Matthew House, wey James Tissot paint, through Wikimedia Commons
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