The officiating priest, Rev. Fr. Peter Ulam, Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles Catholic Parish, Central Business District, has admonished Christians to imbibe the virtue of humility and repentance, which the Lenten season symbolises.
He urged Nigerians, especially those in position of authority, to always seek forgiveness from God in order to attract His intervention in the challenges facing the country.
Ulam assured Christians of God’s willingness to always welcome back to His fold, those who had gone astray.
“This is a time that our leaders, especially those in the government, should get up and pray for God’s intervention on the challenges we have as a country.
“ This period is for all Christians to have a sober reflection to humble themselves and ask for forgiveness from God,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Job Chechet of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish, Gwarinpa 2, also urged parishioners to change from all negative attitudes.
Chechet said that the season calls for abstinence from sin and most importantly for Christians not to go back to old ways even after the Lenten period.
“This is an opportunity to change, pray and intercede more for others; we should have the zeal of helping the poor and needy which serves as another way of preaching the gospel,’’ he said.
Similarly, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria said that the period was more of God’s mercy towards the Church.
“Repentance does not necessarily means abstinence from drinking or smoking but a move from a lower good to a higher good.
“Prayer, fasting and alms giving can mean nothing if we do not know God, for those who know God do not do evil thing,’’ he said.
Samjumi said that the main aim of fasting was self-denial.
Rev. Fr. Reginald Ibe in his Wednesday homily at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual parish, Galadima, Abuja, admonished Christians not to be hypocritical in this season of Lent.
He urged them to observe the season in sober reflection taking into the cognisance the objective of the ash, which signifies that “from dust we come and from dust we return’’.
Ibe also urged Christians to improve on their dealings with Christ and abstain from anything that would affect their relationship with God.
He advised Christians to keep up with the good habits and virtue they have taken in the season of Lent beyond the season.
