By Our Correspondent
THE Parish Priest of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Rev. Fr Nathaniel Efe Ajogri has urged Nigerians not to be despair at the celebration of Christmas, saying they should be hopeful.
Specifically, he advised victims of MMM not to kill themselves for any reason, saying life was worth more than any amount just as he charged Government on jobs creation and basic amenities for the people.
Speaking on his Christmas message to Nigerians, Rev. Fr Ajogri said even though times are hard, the 2016 Christmas was worth celebrating
According to him, Christmas has come to bless the earth, imploring Nigerians to open their hearts and welcome Christ.
Rev. Fr Ajogri of the Catholic Diocese of Warri said that; ” We really need to celebrate His presence among us irrespective of economic recession. One may be tempted to ask, what do we use to celebrate the Christmas when there is no money? I will say here that we should be hopeful. The most important thing we should do first is the good disposition of our minds and hearts first in welcoming Christ. When He comes in, He will raise hope upon hope for us as He did in Abraham and Zechariah”.
“Christmas is a time to live in love and trust. Trust is not just waiting for what we want. It is embracing God’s ways. Like the Spring Time described in Song of Songs 2: 8-14, the Lord says to us each Christmas that our spiritual winter is over, the rains are gone. Now we embrace God’s truth and His will as the path of our life. Let us live in love at this time. It is love that spurs us to do charity to people. We ought to send gifts to one another. This is an ingredient that sustains friendship. We must settle our differences at this time so that true peace and love can abide with us, because Christ has come to reconcile us with God; that was why the Angels sang “Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace to men of goodwill” (Luke 2:14)”, he said.
The Catholic Priest added thus; “Christmas can be a time to revive friendships with people and resolve to maintain them throughout the New Year. Let the friends and family ties we make during Christmas not be for a moment but be sustained. An important question for all to ask is whether our celebration of Christmas season results in a deeper connection to Christ in ourselves and with others”.
He said;”To all MMM participants, I strongly advise that you should not kill yourselves for any reason. Life is worth more than any amount. Jesus that is incarnate into our world, will give you fresh hope. To our government, provide jobs for the populace, infrastructures in our cities and villages”.
Rev. Fr Ajogri also advised that;”Let us all eat, drink and drive carefully so that we do not cause hazards for road users” and prayed that;” May the newly born Messiah be born anew in your lives. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a supernova new year.”
In his words;”Christmas has come to bless the earth. It is the celebration of Deus incarnatus, God who is born for us. When Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, the message was that she will conceive in her womb and bear a Son, and he will be called Emmanuel which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). So, what we celebrate in Christmas is God who lives with us. I think this is great and it is worth celebrating; the celebration of God who has come to dwell with men”.
He also said that;”Even the Angels celebrated him. In the old, when a male child is born, the family of the newly born hires a singer who sings for them; at the joy of newly born boy. This process is called Minstrelsy. In the case of Jesus, it was not just a singer that was hired but a multitude of great singers; celestial choir of heavenly minstrels that sang His birth, Cf. Lk.2:13-14. If Angels can celebrate him why can’t us?
When God mingles with men, great things happen. God visited Abraham near the Oak of Mamre, and the blessed news of the birth of Isaac emanated (Gen. 18:1-15). Similarly, when God visited Zechariah, the news that came was the birth of John (Luke .1:5-25). In the two instances above, age was never a barrier to conception. In the case of Mary, virginity was never a hindrance to conception. Time and space is never a barrier to God acting greatly in our lives. We really need to celebrate His presence among us irrespective of economic recession”.
Meanwhile, the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Kosini, Warri, Delta State, Rev. Fr Thaddeus Okpowodu has called on Nigerians to share with one another at Christmas.
He said in his Christmas message that; “We should bring the joy of Christmas to one another. The season calls for sharing. Christ brought joy to the world and so let us share Christmas joy with one another. I wish my fellow Nigerians a fruitful, joyful, peaceful and Merry Christmas”.
Another Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Edaghware said in his Christmas message said that;” My message to Nigerians at Christmas is that we should dethrone Satan and Enthrone Christ by living uprightly.”
Also, the chairman of Abigborodo Trust community Comrade Monday Agbeyi has urged Christians in the country to use this yuletide celebration’s to emulate the good virtues of Christ.
Comrade Agbeyi made the call while presenting his score card of stewardship to the people of Abigborodo community for the year.
2016, in spite of all our short comings will must all embraced Christ in our ways.
He said although, this was a challenging moment in Nigeria, he prayed that it will be overcome soon, “we must still have all the reasons to thank God Almighty for giving us life. Because its only the living who can praise God”.
He however, charged the people of Abigborodo community to continue in their steadfastness and prayers for a more robust 2017 that will have a multiplier effect of economic prosperity on the community.
He said prayer is the key that will turn around every situation “so we all must pray without ceasing for the betterment of our country”.
He said, this period calls for all Christians all over the world to emulate Christ as Christmas is being celebrated.
