CLEVELAND, Ohio — Every Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic dey share scripture reflections for di faithful. Dis year, him reflect on di message wey Jesus give about division within di Kingdom.
In di Gospel, Jesus talk say, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.” Na serious warning wey Jesus give to his apostles and disciples, because division dey endanger di essence of di church. One of Jesus last prayers, as recorded for di Book of John, na say make we all be one.
Yet, on di night wey Jesus take celebrate di Last Supper, betrayal don show face. Judas betray am while di remaining disciples run enter di darkness when di soldiers carry am away. Peter, wey be one of his closest, even deny am three times. Dis period represent di lowest moment in di history of di Church — a church wey dey fight against demself.
After di Resurrection, na wetin Jesus come do? He gather his disciples back together with di Eucharist and di power of di Holy Spirit. But di devil don try over di years to scatter us. Di devil happy when we dey divided, not just among ourselves but against God. Jesus warn say, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Bishop Malesic encourage di faithful to unite around di message of love and di Eucharist. He remind dem say gathering together na wetin Jesus dey promote, while scattering na wetin di devil dey push for.
As we dey observe dis 2025 Lent, di Bishop urge all Catholics make dem reflect on di ways wey division don enter their lives and di church community. He talk say, “We must recognize di importance of unity and di strength wey we go gain from coming together in Christ.”
In his reflection, di Bishop also share personal experiences on how unity don help him support and minister to di community. “Every time we unite, we strengthen di very fabric of our faith and our community,” him talk. “Lent give us di opportunity to acknowledge our weaknesses and seek forgiveness, so we fit live in true unity.”
Bishop Malesic dey invite all to join am in prayer for di grace to overcome division, and embrace love as we dey go through dis holy season together.
