YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: LENT: DAY 17 – FAST FROM LAZINESS; EMBRACE ZEALOUSNESS AND DUTIFULNESS

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: FEAST OF ST PATRICK SECONDARY PATRON OF NIGERIA

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: LENT: DAY 17 – FAST FROM LAZINESS; EMBRACE ZEALOUSNESS AND DUTIFULNESS

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

 

HOMILY: FEAST OF ST PATRICK SECONDARY PATRON OF NIGERIA

READINGS: 1PETER 4:7b-11, PSALM 96, LUKE 5:1-11

The Nigerian Church celebrates today, her secondary patron, Patrick, a humble but courageous servant of Christ whose determination to accept suffering and success with equal candour guided him in winning most of Ireland for Christ. Like Peter, James and John who followed Jesus leaving their work to become fishers of men, Patrick, after his escape from enslavement in Ireland, chose to follow Christ and become a propagator of the good news. Until his death, he was a man of serious prayer, never relaxed his penitential exercises and mortifications. He defended the Church’s teaching on the Trinity even in the face of the dangerous and demoniacal powers of the Druid priests. His commitment to prayer saw him through.

Nigerians have a lot to learn from their second patron: HE WAS SERIOUS AND SOBER IN HIS PRAYERS (1Pet. 4:7) and God always helped him. In the wake of the many difficulties, challenges, vices and evils prevalent in our dear nation, SERIOUS PRAYER AND REDEDICATION TO GOD are needful requisites to be embraced. God alone can save Nigeria and Nigerians from their many perils. More so, Patrick was VERY HUMBLE YET GRACIOUSLY COURAGEOUS; if there is one thing we need as Nigerians, missionaries or not, I think it is INFORMED COURAGE. Like Patrick, we must learn to CORRECT WHAT OUGHT TO BE CORRECTED, REBUKE WHAT IS NOT RIGHT, QUESTION WHAT IS QUESTIONABLE AND BE ADAMANTLY STUBBORN IN OUR DENIAL OF CORRUPTION, EMBEZZLEMENT, TERRORISM, INSECURITY, AVARICE and the many other evils ubiquitous in Nigeria.

As advised by St. Peter (4:8-11), Patrick while discharging his Episcopal duties, had unfailing LOVE FOR HIS FLOCK, he was KIND AND HOSPITABLE, EMPLOYED ALL HIS TALENTS for the success of Christianity in Ireland. He was a DUTIFUL SERVANT WHO DISCHARGED HIS DUTIES NOT FOR PERSONAL GLORY BUT FOR THE PRAISE OF GOD ALONE. What if our shepherds had unflinching love for us, they wouldn’t abandon us to be devoured by the claws of insurgents, terrorists, greedy despots and so on. What if all of us went about our commitments with only one goal in mind; the glorification of God? There would be no place for pride and personal glory, hence the unnecessary competition and rivalry that often result in hate, enmity and bloodshed would be vanquished.

We pray for Nigeria in the words of Patrick, that; God’s hand becomes our cover, his path ours to pass over; his buckler to guard us and his army our ward against evil and terror. Amen.

FEED AND EDUCATE ONE

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