October 11, 2024
Friday for Week Twenty-Seven for Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
Saint John XXIII, Pope—Memorial wey no dey compulsory
Rembrandt, Public domain, through Wikimedia Commons
Listen for English
“Anybody wey no dey with Me dey against Me, and anybody wey no dey gather with Me dey scatter.” Luke 11:23
Dis words dey among several powerful teachings of Jesus, but for many ways, dis one sentence fit stand on im own as one important Christian truth. Wetin e tell us in particular be say we no fit refuse to take side concerning Jesus and everything wey He don teach us. Dis na important message for di world today.
Today, e be like say one value of dis world dey grow, wey we fit call “I no dey any side.” Plenty people for di world dey tell us say we must accept any idea of wetin good or bad, any way of life, and any choice wey other people make. And even though na true say we must always love and accept everybody and treat dem with di highest dignity and respect, no be true say we no suppose take side concerning di choices and values of dis world wey some people choose to follow and express. Sadly, when we talk di full truth, especially di many truths about wetin good and wetin bad wey our Lord don reveal, people often dey call us people wey dey judge others. But no be so e be.
Dis quotation above from today Gospel make am clear say we no fit treat our Lord teachings like something wey no concern us and still remain for His favour. In fact, Jesus make am clear say na di opposite be true. He talk say if we no dey with Him, meaning say if we no accept everything wey He don reveal, then we really dey against Him. To refuse to take side for matters of faith and wetin good or bad no really mean say person no dey any side. Na choice wey some people dey make, and di clear result be say e dey separate dem from Jesus.
For example, concerning matters of faith, if person talk say, “I no believe in di Eucharist,” then di person really dey reject God. And even though no be our duty to judge di person, na our duty to acknowledge say wetin di person talk say e believe dey against di truth. Di person belief dey wrong, and if e continue to hold dis wrong belief, then e dey separate imself from God. Na wetin Jesus dey talk be dat.
Na so e still be concerning wetin good and wetin bad. Plenty examples dey for how people dey live, wey their opposition to our Lord teaching dey become more and more open. So, we must remind ourselves say when we reject any teaching about wetin good and wetin bad wey our Lord give us, we dey reject Jesus Himself.
Jesus even go further when He talk say “anybody wey no dey gather with Me dey scatter.” In other words, no be enough for us to just believe everything wey Jesus teach by ourselves; we must also teach am to others. If we no do so, and instead we show one false kind of “acceptance” for another person wrong belief, then we really dey work against Jesus. All of us get di duty to actively spread di truths of di Gospel wey our Lord give us.
Today, reflect on how fully you dey “with” our Lord and dey “gather” with Him. You fully accept everything wey He don teach, and you still dey try to gather plenty other people for di Kingdom of God? If you no see say you dey actively believe in our Lord mission and take part for am, then take dis words of Jesus seriously. Allow dem to challenge you gently but firmly, so dat you go work more fully to build up God Kingdom for your own heart and for di world all around you.
My King wey get glory, You want make Your Kingdom grow for my life and, through me, for other people life. Give me di grace and courage wey I need to accept everything wey You don teach me completely, and to work as instrument of Your grace and truth for di world. Make I dey with You for everything, my dear Lord, and gather plenty people enter Your arms wey full of love and grace. Jesus, na You I trust.
Saint of Today – Saint John XXIII, Pope
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