November 13, 2026
Memorial for Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Readings for Today
Readings for Friday of the Thirty-second Week for Ordinary Time
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“Anybody wey try to keep im life go lose am, but anybody wey lose im life go save am. I dey tell una, for that night, two people go dey for one bed; dem go take one, leave the other one. And two women go dey grind grain together; dem go take one, leave the other one.” Dem answer am say, “Where, Lord?” E tell dem, “Where the dead body dey, na there vulture dem go gather too.” Luke 17:33–37
For today Gospel, Jesus remind us of the terrible things wey happen during the flood for Noah time, and how Sodom and Gomorrah take destroy for Lot time. E use these stories wey people know well to show how God judgment go come suddenly, and the danger wey dey when person no care about im spiritual life. For the two cases, people just dey live their everyday life—dey chop, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant and build—without knowing at all say judgment don near. These things no be sin by themselves, but dem show how people fit put all their mind for things of this world and neglect the things of God.
Remember say God command Noah to build ark to prepare for one great flood. Even though the people around am likely mock am and no take am serious, Noah stand firm for faith. E obey no be because e see rain, but because e trust the word of the Lord. The way e remain watchful and obedient when everything look normal show say e faithful deep inside im heart. When the flood come, Noah and im household dey ready, no be because dem know the time wey e go happen, but because dem dey live for right relationship with God.
In the same way, remember say angels warn Lot to run comot from Sodom before the city destroy. Even though e first hesitate, e later obey and leave with im family. Sadly, even for this moment of grace, Lot wife look back. The way she look back show say her heart divide, and she still hold on to the life wey she dey leave behind. Because of this, she turn to pillar of salt (cf. Gen 19:26). Wetin happen to her remain warning say obedience wey no come from the whole heart, and attachment to sin wey person no gree let go, dey block salvation. Na warning wey we suppose take serious.
Jesus bring up these two stories to show wetin go happen “for the day wey the Son of Man go reveal Himself,” that is, the day wey Christ go come the Second Time. E go happen suddenly and interrupt everyday life. Time no go dey to go collect property or make last preparations. For that moment, wetin go matter no be person wealth, position or success, but whether im heart remain faithful to God.
Na why Jesus warn say, “Anybody wey try to keep im life go lose am, but anybody wey lose im life go save am.” Person wey hold on tight to life for this earth as if na the highest good—without regard for God and truth wey last forever—dey risk to lose everything. But person wey willingly die to self every day, live in obedience to God will, and let go of things wey hold im heart because of the Kingdom, go gain eternal life.
Christ also make am clear say judgment go concern each person one by one. “Two people for one bed… dem go take one, leave the other one.” This one mean the final separation of righteous people from unrighteous people. Even people wey live very close to each other—husband and wife, brothers and sisters, people wey dey work together—God go judge each one according to how faithful e be. Person no fit borrow holiness from another person; e must live holy life.
Jesus end with one picture wey im meaning no clear at first: “Where the dead body dey, na there vulture dem go gather too.” This saying bring to mind a scene of death and final ending, and remind us say everybody go clearly recognise the judgment wey dey come, and e go reach the whole world. Just as vulture dem naturally dey gather around dead body, na so the final judgment go come upon a world wey don become spiritually dead. Na both warning and call to dey watch well for our spiritual life.
Reflect today on this clear warning wey Jesus give about why we need to live every day ready and obedient. You dey prepare with care for the Lord coming and for your own particular judgment for the end of time? If na so, that thought no be something to fear; na something wey dey give hope. Continue to obey God voice even if people around you seem satisfied with themselves and no dey worry about anything. Blessing dey for those wey the Son of Man go find watchful and faithful when E return in glory.
My Lord and Judge wey dey judge with justice, I believe and I dey declare say You go come back for the end of time to judge the living and the dead, and to establish Your Kingdom wey go last forever for the New Heavens and New Earth. Lord, open my eyes to how serious that day go be. Help me make I live this life dey prepare for that moment, so that, for me, e go be day to rejoice and no be day of fear. Jesus, na You I trust.
Saint for Today – Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
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