September 1, 2024
Sọnde Nọmba 22 for Ordinary Time (Yia B)
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When di Pharisee dem and some scribe dem wey come from Jerusalem gather around Jesus, dem notice say some of His disciple dem dey chop with hand wey no clean, that is, hand wey dem no wash. Mark 7:1–2
See di foolish thing wey these Pharisee and scribe dem dey worry about! Dem dey for di presence of di Son of God, di Saviour of di World, a man wey get perfect virtue and pure goodness, but all wey dem fit do na to notice say some of Jesus disciple dem no follow di strict teaching wey get plenty small-small rules about how dem suppose wash their hand before dem chop. Na their pride cause this thing. These teacher dem for Israel don make plenty detailed human law wey dem no write down, and dem treat dem as law wey bind person just like di Law of Moses wey dem receive from God. But di human tradition dem of di scribe and Pharisee dem no come from God; na rules wey come from their need to see theirself as righteous people wey get right to explain di Law. So, anytime person no follow di tradition dem wey di Pharisee and scribe dem teach say everybody must obey, dem take am as personal offence and judge di person.
One lesson wey we fit learn from these religious leader dem be say we no suppose ever take things as personal offence. Anytime we allow anything at all to offend us personally, na our own pride we dey show. We truly need to feel sorrow for di sin wey we see, but that one different from to allow am offend us personally. For example, even if na di very Law of God we teach and somebody reject di teaching, di way we must respond na to feel sorrow for di person as we reject im error.
Jesus continue to answer di Pharisee and scribe dem as E quote Prophet Isaiah to dem: “These people dey honour me with their lips, but their heart far from me; di worship wey dem dey give me na for nothing, as dem dey teach human rules as doctrine” (See Isaiah 29:13). Di interesting thing be say Jesus no really enter discussion with dem about this matter to defend Himself or His disciple dem before dem. Instead, E rebuke di Pharisee and scribe dem generally to show say their criticism no true, then E turn away from dem and speak to di crowd.
All of us go face condemnation wey no just from time to time. If na we dey wrong, then we must accept di condemnation as if na from God e come, and repent. But if di condemnation come from somebody pride wey dem don wound or from im error, then Jesus don show us example of how we suppose respond. Di best response na to reject their error, then refuse to continue di discussion. Too many times, when people criticise us unjustly, we too dey take am as personal offence. We dey quick fight back and defend ourself, as we dey try prove say di other person dey wrong. But when we do like that, e most likely be say na our own pride wey dem don wound dey push us. This one go make us vex, keep malice, and feel di oppression wey di evil one dey put on us. Jesus example na to reject di lie, then refuse to get involved with am again. Di reason be say di unjust condemnation na actually seed wey di evil one plant. Di person wey dey bring am na only di instrument. So we rebuke di lie of di evil one and refuse to enter personal fight with di person wey dey bring di lie. When we do this, we go free from oppression and our heart go fit remain for peace, no matter wetin we endure.
Today, reflect on any way wey you don take some discussion as personal offence, and allow am weigh you down with anger, make you dey defend yourself or dey argue. Know say anytime this one happen, na attack from di evil one as e dey try oppress you. No accept that abuse. Wetin suppose guide each of us na di peace and joy wey come from di Holy Spirit. Even di greatest martyr dem remain for peace and feel joy inside di persecution wey dem face. Reflect on any way wey you don allow di evil one to disturb you and leave you upset because dem wound your pride. No fall inside im trap. Hold on to di truth and remain for peace, and that one go be all di defence wey you need.
My Lord wey dem persecute, You endure plenty criticism for Your life, but You never allow am steal Your peace. You remain completely strong, as You reject di lie dem and turn away from dem. Abeg, give me di grace wey I need to always turn away from di lie dem of di evil one and to listen only to Your clear and gentle voice. Jesus, na You I trust.
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Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
