October 3, 2024
Tọzde for di 26th Week for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
James Tissot, dey for public domain, through Wikimedia Commons
Listen for English
Jesus choose seventy-two oda disciples, and He send dem two by two ahead of am to every town and place wey He plan to visit. He tell dem, “Di harvest plenty, but di workers no plenty; so make una ask di master of di harvest to send workers go for im harvest. Make una dey go; see, I dey send una like small sheep among wolves.” Luke 10:1–3
Why our Lord go send Im disciples out like small sheep among wolves? At first, dis fit worry us and make us wonder whether our Lord dey send dem enter situation wey dem go suffer harm. As Saint Ambrose dey explain dis matter, e talk say no reason dey for di disciples to fear, because Jesus na di Good Shepherd wey dey always protect Im sheep. E go help us to reflect on di kind danger wey di disciples go face for dis mission and all di missions wey go follow, and compare dat danger with di only kind danger wey we suppose fear.
Di “wolves” for dis situation na especially some of di wicked religious and government leaders of dat time, together with people wey go reject di disciples and wetin dem dey teach. When we look di danger wey our Lord and Im disciples face for dis world, we see say na danger of persecution. But na “danger” wey person suppose fear be dat? Clearly, no, because Jesus no ever let fear make am draw back when He face am. For Acts of di Apostles, we see how dis same persecution reach di followers of Jesus. But as God dey see am, true “danger” na only wetin fit cause damage to person soul forever: sin.
Na sin, and only sin, fit cause real damage, no be persecution or even death. So when Jesus send Im disciples out “like small sheep among wolves,” He know well di persecution wey dem go suffer for dis world. But He encourage dem and send dem, because He know say even if dem later suffer persecution and death, di faith and courage wey dem show inside am go bring dem merit for eternal life and become means wey grace go take reach oda people for dia life of faith. As people dey often talk for di early Church, “Di blood of martyrs na di seed of Christians.” Na why, as Jesus send dis sheep out among wolves, He still follow dia souls as di Good Shepherd, dey protect dia virtue, dey strengthen dem as dem dey bear witness to di faith, and dey keep dem from fear and sin. He no want make dem fear di death of dia body or di loss of dia good name for dis world—rather, make dem fear only di death of dia souls, wey He, as di Good Shepherd, dey defend with all Im strength.
Reflect today on dis glorious truth: our Lord dey send you too to be like small sheep among wolves. To fulfil wetin God want for your life go need strength of spirit and courage, as you trust say our Lord go keep you free from di countless temptations to sin. As you dey go, no surprise if oda people for di world treat you harshly, judge you, or even persecute you for different ways. When dis happen, respond with virtue. Keep faith, hope and love for God and your neighbour alive for your life, and no fear people wey fit harm you for ways wey no go last forever. Instead, stand firm for your mission to love and to share God mercy and truth for our world, no matter wetin e go cost you. If you do so, e go bring countless blessings of grace inside your soul and allow God to use you as instrument of Im grace for ways wey pass anything you fit ever imagine.
My Lord wey get strong mind, You face hard-heartedness and cruelty for dis world, wey for di end make am possible for You to bear witness to Your divine love as You freely give up Your life. Abeg, send me go do Your mission and strengthen me with every virtue wey come from You, so dat I no go fear any kind persecution, but I go always stand firm for my love for You, and overcome all fear through di gift of faith. My life na Your own, dear Lord. Do with me as You want. Jesus, na You I trust.
Prayers for di Election and di Nation
Novena for nine weeks from September 3 – November 4
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Di main picture wey dey above: E Send Dem Out Two by Two by James Tissot, through Wikimedia Commons
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