Monday, November 11, 2024
Memorial for Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Readings for Today
Readings for Monday for Week Thirty-two for Ordinary Time
James Tissot, e dey public domain, tru Wikimedia Commons
Listen for English
Jesus tell His disciples, “Things wey dey lead people enter sin must surely happen, but wahala dey for di person wey dem go come through. E go better for am make dem hang big grinding stone for im neck and throw am inside sea, than make e cause one of these little ones to sin.” Luke 17:1–2
To hang big grinding stone for your neck and throw you inside sea na description wey clear well-well. Jesus dey use words wey dey touch mind and make person picture wetin E dey talk. Grinding stone na big round stone wey get hole for middle. If dem hang am for person neck and throw di person inside sea, e clear say di person go sink reach bottom and die. So, Jesus dey talk am clearly say this terrible thing wey go happen to di person still better pass wetin go happen to people wey cause “one of these little ones to sin.”
First of all, make we clear one thing: nobody fit actually force us to sin. Sin na wetin we choose by our own free will, and na we, only we, go answer for our own sin. One thing wey Jesus dey point out here be say, even though every person must answer for wetin dem do and for their own sins, we must also answer for di ways wey we dey tempt other people. All of us na sinners. So, through our sin, all of us go also tempt other people to sin. Sometimes, we go tempt people to sin by making dem vex. Other times, we go tempt other people to sin through di bad example wey we show. But for di other side, we also get di ability to “tempt” people to get good character. Or, to talk am better, to inspire and encourage dem.
With all this wey we don talk, Jesus explain say wetin go happen to people wey dey tempt others, especially di “little ones,” go worse pass death wey come before time. Make we understand di little ones wey Jesus dey talk about as people wey their faith weak, wey things dey touch their feelings too much, wey dey especially easy to hurt or lead astray for that time for their life, and wey other people fit easily influence. This person fit be pikin, or person wey dey almost give up hope, wey confusion or anger dey almost carry away, or wey dey almost fall into any serious sin. When you meet people like this, how you dey treat dem? Jesus get deep pity for these people, and E want make we get that same deep pity for dem. But sometimes we dey fail. We fit neglect our duty to reach out to dem. Even this neglect fit be one way to cause “one of these little ones to sin.” Of course, e worse well-well if we deliberately disturb their mind, judge dem harshly, make dem vex, or tempt dem enter sin because dem weak and dey find false comfort, and other things like that. Di simple truth be say Jesus love people wey weak, wey dey easy to hurt or lead astray, and wey dey live for sin, and E want make we love dem with His own heart. When we fail to do so, Jesus go hold us responsible as dem fall further away from grace.
Today, think deeply about di person or people for your life wey, for this time, seem especially easy to hurt or lead astray, wey dey live for sin, wey confuse and wey don lose their way. Who dey struggle with anger, or addiction, or one way of life wey full of sin? Think about your attitude towards dem. You dey judge dem, condemn dem, look dem down, and do other things like that? You dey tempt dem to fall deeper into any sins wey dem dey commit because dem weak and easy to lead astray, and so lead dem enter more sin? Or, when you meet person wey dey struggle well-well, you dey turn to am with very deep pity and mercy, forgive any way wey e fit sin against you, and do your best just to stand by am for im need, no matter how hard e be for you? Make you commit yourself to love all God “little ones” deeply, and try to serve dem with di heart of Christ, so that one day dem go rejoice with you forever for Heaven.
My Lord wey get di deepest pity, You love di sinner, and You really want make e turn to You for im need. Abeg, give me Your heart wey full of pity, so that nothing go hold me back from loving dem as You love dem. Make I never become wetin go tempt dem to fall further away from You. Instead, make I become instrument of Your mercy wey no dey ever fail. Jesus, na You I trust.
Saint of the Day – Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Readings wey You Fit Choose for Mass
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