The Chaplain of St Lazarus Catholic Chaplaincy, Nigerian Correctional Service, Owerri Command, Rev. Fr. Jude Onyeakazi has urged Christians to be humble and seek reconciliation with God in order to obtain forgiveness, favours and salvation.
Fr. Onyeakazi, disclosed this while officiating the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Correctional Centre along Okigwe Road. He noted that the yearly religious observance by Catholics worldwide, opens the Season of Lent; a period that renacts the 40 days of Jesus Christ passion, suffering and death in His mission of redeeming mankind.
The Catholic clergyman, making reference to the readings of the day, raised the awareness of the worshippers that ashes placed on the foreheads of the faithful, signified that mankind came from the dust and would ultimately return to dust. He added that such knowledge should inspire Christians to humble themselves and seek reconciliation with God with the opportunity provided by the season.
He disclosed that God uses the Lenten Season to draw His straying children back, adding that God in His mercy, required Christians to use the period to demonstrate genuine repentance from their sins and not to rend their clothes. The priest informed the worshippers that true observance of the season would guarantee forgiveness, renewal, spiritual growth and blessings.
He decried evil activities common in the society because of
lust for wealth and fame, wondering how individuals involved have forgotten the transiency of life and the vanity of earthly possessions. He, therefore, called on those involved to rethink and desist from such negative behaviours.
Fr. Onyeakazi, however, proffered advice to Christians on ways of making the Lenten Season worthwhile, including embarking on fasting, prayers and almsgiving. He also called on worshippers to be focused on doing good and avoiding bad habits like drunkenness, bribery, theft, harlotry gossiping and other vices.
He prayed for God’s grace for the worshippers to be able to follow Jesus Christ faithfully in His period of suffering in order to emerge victorious with Him at the end.
