As Christians observe Lent

The 2016 Lenten season commenced last week with the Ash Wednesday.  Christians, especially Roman Catholics all over the world trooped to churches for the distribution of ashes on their foreheads as “a reminder that they are dust and to dust they shall return”. The 40-day Lenten season which terminates on Holy Saturday, is a period […]

The 2016 Lenten season commenced last week with the Ash Wednesday.  Christians, especially Roman Catholics all over the world trooped to churches for the distribution of ashes on their foreheads as “a reminder that they are dust and to dust they shall return”. The 40-day Lenten season which terminates on Holy Saturday, is a period where Christians are expected to engage in practices of self denial. In all sermons, Christians were called upon to be diligent and moderate in their actions during this period, to minimize or do away with activities that glorify the self and to be more spiritual.
Besides preparing the people for the resurrection of the lord, which is celebrated on Easter Sunday, Lent predisposes them to God’s favour and grace.  Rev. Father Christopher Bologo of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Utako, in his homily said the ashes distributed should neither be taken lightly nor treated as a ceremonial affair, as it is indeed a mark of the readiness to repent. He said Lent is a period when “old things anchored on the flesh are done away with and Christians are given new lives in the spirit of Christ. It is a time for conversion, a time to discard evil activities and return to God for good, a time for penance and purification and a time for people to make peace with those they have wronged”.
He harped on the four most important spiritual exercises of the season which include fasting, prayers, alms giving and abstinence. He lamented a situation where people return to their evil ways at the end of the period, saying true repentance should be everlasting. He urged that the spiritual exercises should be expressive and rational.  “During this period, people make various resolutions only to return to their normal lives of sin after Easter. It is expected that whatever habit is given up now, is given up totally”, he said. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, in an article, said it is a time for Christians to pause “a time to come down from the high horse of human arrogance inflated by the comfort of material possessions and power. It is a time to remind ourselves of the difficult to swallow but painful reality that we are here today, gone tomorrow.  For us as men and women of faith, during this Lenten period, our main contribution to the task of making Nigeria work should be to turn to God in prayer and supplication while carrying out our civic duties diligently. No amount of human preparedness can guarantee us the peaceful outcome we are hoping for. Happily for us as Christians, Jesus is the prince of peace. This is the time to turn to Him in prayers”.
We congratulate Christians for witnessing another Lenten season and pray God to give them the strength and will to observe the period and carry out exercises that are expected of them. We must note that the season has given us a great opportunity to fervently seek the face of God for peace in the country, especially in the North-east region. There are many less privileged people in the society in dire need of assistance. Through one of the exercises of the season, almsgiving, an opportunity has been provided to reach out to them, especially displaced persons scattered across the country. Efforts should be made to put smiles on the faces of such persons.
This year’s Lent is coming at a time when the spate of crime across the country appears to have gone up. Therefore, let us all, religious or otherwise embrace the idea of Lent by discarding all evil activities and pray for God to tackle all the problems bedevilling the country.   Christians are also urged to use this period to live in peace among themselves while extending hands of fellowship to others outside the fold.   The lessons of the seasons should not be discarded after the 40-day period. they should remain with us and guide our everyday actions. We are hopeful that the virtues of the season transcend the church and make a mark on the larger society.