October 25, 2024
Fraide for Week 29 for Ordinary Time
Ridins for Today
Братья Белоусовы (Палех), Public domain, we get through Wikimedia Commons
Listen for English
“Why una no dey judge for unaself wetin right? If you and the person wey get case against you dey go meet magistrate, try settle the matter for road; otherwise, the person go hand you over to the judge, the judge go hand you over to the court officer, and the court officer go throw you inside prison. I dey tell you, dem no go release you until you don pay the very last penny.” Luke 12:57–59
The Church Fathers give plenty different meanings for this passage. Among dem, Saint Bede talk say we fit see the person wey “get case against us” as the Word of God, because the Word of God dey fight against our weaknesses and sins. When we listen to the Word of God, our Lord go make us see and accept our faults, so that we fit bring our lives into agreement with the Truth of the Word of God Onwe Ya.
When you think about the whole of God holy Word, wetin dey make you see your fault pass? Sometimes, we dey try make these things wey dey prick our conscience look like small matter. We dey find reasons to justify wetin we do, and we dey brush aside wetin God dey tell us. You remember any teaching of Jesus wey don really pierce your heart? If so, this na grace, and na opportunity to put the lesson wey our Lord teach for the passage above into practice. God no dey show our hearts our faults because He wan condemn us. Instead, He dey show us our faults, as Person wey dey oppose our sin, so that we fit “try settle the matter for road.” Conscience na wonderful gift from our Lord, and we fit compare am to this passage above. E be like court where our Lord no want make e reach the point wey He go need punish us. Instead, He want make we pay attention to His holy Word, listen to wetin He talk, and settle our sin matter by turning from sin to God immediately.
Among the plenty lessons wey our Lord teach, na often the lesson wey catch our attention sharply, even shock us, we need to pay attention to pass. God often dey bring His most urgent teachings to us by making us feel guilt wey we no fit deny. If we listen when our conscience dey show us our faults like this, then we no go need stand before the Judge. But if we no listen, if we bury wetin our conscience dey tell us, make am look like small matter and ignore am, then our Lord go see say He need to continue to press us. We go begin experience His judgment, and we go see wetin dey happen when we no dey enjoy His favour. And for the end, if we no turn away from the more serious sins for our lives, we go even answer for the smallest sins. We go need to “pay the very last penny.”
Today, reflect on this truth: the Word of God, everything wey our Lord don teach us, dey oppose the sin for your soul. This good and holy opponent want only wetin best for you. Commit yourself to dey read God holy Word continually, so that your heart go always dey ready to hear everything wey God want tell you, and so that you go fit reconcile with our Lord before e reach the point wey He must pronounce His judgments.
My Judge wey get mercy pass all, You want make I listen to Your holy Word, wey You don reveal through Scripture, so that I go receive the way You dey show me my sin with Your great mercy. I pray make my heart always dey open to hear everything wey You want tell me, so that I go fit respond with open heart and trust, and continue to reconcile with You and other people throughout my journey for life. Use Your holy Word make my conscience come alive, dear Lord. Jesus, na You I trust.
Novena to Saint Jude
For Situations and Cases Wey Don Reach Desperate Stage
You fit pray am any time for di year, especially October 19–27
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Prayers for di Election and di Nation
Novena for nine weeks from September 3 – November 4
Readings wey You Fit Choose for Mass
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