BENIN CITY – Catholics yesterday marked Ash Wednesday to start off the season of Lent, a forty day fasting period which strengthen and renew spiritual life as practiced by Jesus Christ.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan in his homily at the Government House Chapel enlightened on the fact that Ash Wednesday was just an outward sign of aligning with God but what was moat important was the need for the implanting of the spirit of God in the interior of man’s heart.
Obiyan reminded the congregation that they were to keep away from feeding on meat as a mark of respect to Jesus Christ as well as fast, to help them break sin while trying to renew faith which was of spiritual good which helped at reconciliation between man and God. The acknowledgement of sin, he stated, helped at keeping to a routine for a better prayer life.
Reminding communicants that they were nothing but dust and ashes, he reminded all that everyman commits sin as well as made mistakes but the difference between a Christian and unbeliever was the ability to recognize that you have sinned.
He sued for humility even among Catholics when he noted that it was difficult for people to acknowledge and confess their sins before God or in the presence of a priest. He nonetheless reflected that God did not acknowledge those who walked in pride hence when people went before the presence of God it should be done in humility and deep contribution for sins.
Speaking on the use of Ash to sign the forehead of Catholics to mark Ash Wednesday, he stated, “When Adam and Eve sinned, they realized their nakedness. This was the entrance of sin and shame.
Believers ought to realize there comes a time to be ashamed of themselves realizing they have done something wrong. We begin to receive the grace of God flowing into our hearts.”
Father Obiyan while speaking on the significance of ash reminded that, “We are dust, sinners, but we belong to God.” Through observance of the ceremony he encouraged all to move away from trivialities, working to stop dominant sins and pride based on the realization that no one can go to the father except the father draws him.
Moreover he reaffirmed that the ashes used to sign the mark of the cross foreheads of Catholics (sourced from the palm fronds of the previous year’s triumphant entry of Christ, into Jerusalem) was placed there as a reminder that Jesus Christ has claimed us for his own.
He urged Christians especially Catholics to take advantage of the finished work of Christ at Calvary to turn to God at this season, seeing it as an opportunity not just to offer something that is so trivial but something that is really important to our spiritual wellbeing and welfare.
Such giving up he said could relate with giving up on a predominant sin in our lives, or weakness, which heightens our ability to tell God we are truly reconciled to him and neigbour. He affirmed that If people lived by the tenets of this practice the world would be a better place.
He opined that the world would be truly reconciled to God. He stated that the ceremony was an opportunity given to this generation by the church to embrace true repentance and offer something that would help us truly to be more like Christ who came to save us and redeem all of us
Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu in his online sermon observed that during this Lenten season, the church offered certain great keys to aid our return to God which included prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Fasting from food he observed helped to discipline the flesh and put its desires to check but it must be accompanied by more time devoted to prayer. Secondly, if we must fast from food, we must feed the hungry. Your fast will not be complete without charity and almsgiving.
Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Establishment, Training and Manpower Services, Office of the Head of Service, Deborah Enakhiomion Esq speaking shortly after Mass at the Government House Chapel said Ash Wednesday was a period for sober reflection, a reminder of the fact that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. It is a period to wash ourselves off those things that hinder us from working in the vineyard of God.
