OWERRI- As Christians celebrate Easter, some clerics have called on them to sustain the virtues of Jesus Christ and His exemplary lifestyle.
Rev. Fr. Hilary Iheonu, the Parish priest of Immaculate Conception Parish, Amakohia Uratta Owerri, in a sermon said Christians must learn to forgive and love like Christ.
Mr Ejike Ibeh, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception in Owerri, said the lessons acquired during the Lenten season strengthened his faith.
He noted that the 2015 Lenten period afforded him another opportunity to rediscover the full essence of his belief in Christ, calling on other Nigerians to emulate the virtues of Christ.
Another parishioner, Miss Monica Nwosu, described Easter as “a solemnity which refreshes the essence of Christ faith.’’
In the same vein, Rev. Fr. Joseph Oriyomi of St Anne Catholic Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun, advised Nigerians to embrace peace and emulate the lifestyle of Jesus Christ during and after Easter.
Delivering the Easter homily he said that Nigerians, particularly Christians should live exemplary lives.
He urged Christians to share in the sufferings of others through prayers and alms giving, saying “my message is for us to look up to cross of Christ.
“One way to share in the sufferings of our brother and sisters is to pray for and assist those who have been affected in one way or the other in various crises in the country.
Oriyomi also called on Christians to live a life worthy of emulation at all times, saying that Christians were expected to live holy lives.
Rev. Kehinde Adewunmi, the Parish priest of the Christ African Cathedral Church, Igbore Abeokuta, in his sermon, advised Christians to use the lessons of lent to show love irrespective of ethnicity and religion.
“It will be impossible for one to say he loves God if he cannot share what he has with his neighbours.
“We must use what God gave us to serve him by being kind to people around us, especially motherless children.
“No amount of kind gesture will be too much for us to show our fellow human beings, considering the supreme sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross of Calvary,’’ he said.
In his sermon, Rev. Fr. Valentine Anaweokhai of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Auchi, Edo, called on Nigerians to pray for smooth transition to a new political dministration in the country.
He said that President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and his team required prayers from every Nigerians to succeed.
“As Christians, we must continue to offer prayers for the incoming administration. All Nigerians must render the necessary support to the incoming government,’’ he said.
The cleric urged Christians and Muslims to show love to each others for the unity and stability of the nation.
In Abuja, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, called on Nigerians to be patient with the incoming administration.