Victor Ezeja
With the socio economic challenges that one faces on daily basis in Nigeria, one can only move on by having a strong faith in God, says Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke.
Archbishop Okeke in his Easter message titled “In Faith and Prayers we Move on”, urged Christians and Nigerians generally not to lose focus in seeking God due to challenges in the environment, but should gird themselves with the armour of faith and hope.
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He said that doing so coupled with constant prayer, would enable us believe that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
Okeke, who stated that human life on earth, especially for Christians, can be called a journey of faith, cited examples in the Bible of how faith enabled people achieve things that were not possible from the perspective of human imagination.
He said: “In our world today especially in our country, Nigeria where so many things are far from what they are expected to be one needs faith to move on without stumbling. Where there are so many unfulfilled promises, insecurity, lawlessness, joblessness, disregard for due process….and many more, one needs faith to draw near to God, believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him (Heb. 11:6).
“One needs faith to move on with life without losing hope, without distraction and without losing focus.
“One needs faith to believe and sing with the psalmist ‘our God is in Heaven; he does whatever he wills’ (Ps. 115:3).
“We need the faith with which Jesus commanded the wind and there was a great calm on the sea (Mtt. 8:26). The faith which healed the leper who approached Jesus with the request if you will…. I will be clean (Mtt. 8:3). The faith that healed the servant of the Centurion (Mtt 8:10ff). The faith which healed the blind man Bartimaeus with the words. ‘Go, your faith has made you well’ (Mk. 10:52). The faith that healed the woman already sick for 12 years; ‘Have no fear… your faith has saved you’ (Mtt. 9:22). We know that faith is a condition for miracles and faith is nourished by prayer.”
The Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province further admonished the people to carry out their daily duties with dedication, truthfulness and integrity, adding that when backed up with faith and prayers, God would lift them beyond human reckoning.
“As we walk by faith according to the Apostle Paul (cf. 2 Cor. 5:6), we need to heed the admonition of St. James that faith without good work is dead (James 2:17).
“Faith beckons us to do our duties with dedication, with truthfulness and integrity. When we do our duties in faith and follow it up with prayers, God will lift us up beyond human abilities. Jesus Christ assures us that if we have faith, we can move mountains (cf. Mtt. 17:21). Faith shows itself in good works.
“In Nigeria today, we need to walk by faith nourished by prayers and good works. Therefore, I urge you dear brothers and sisters let us move in faith and prayers and never lose hope,” Archbishop Okeke admonished.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
