By Chikezie Ogbonna
We have to understand that the need to support a Bishop and his administration of the local church (the diocese) has always been recognized as something each Christian is obliged to do – just as the early Christians supported the Apostles and other ministers.
However, the 2021 Cathedraticum has not just been a peculiar gathering of grateful hearts; it has proved to be a cardinal place where strength, hope and faith have been restored in the general lives of the people.
Rising from the ashes of the debilitating effect of the Coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the world last year as well as the many challenges the country has continued to face, economically and socially, this year’s Cathedraticum has set the stage for a perfect platform to express the undying love and care from God.
Across the six deaneries of the diocese, the Bishops of Enugu diocese, Bishop Onaga and his Auxiliary, Bishop Obodo has maintained major messages centered on hope, trust in God, the powerful forgiving nature of Jesus as well as his inalienable nature to hear, answer and meet the desires of our heart.
From Agbani which was the first port of call, Bishop Onaga spoke on the essence of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is something all of us want to receive but most of us hesitate to give. Jesus makes it clear, however, that we can’t have it without giving it. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15). These words allow no room for doubt or discussion. Forgiveness flows two ways. We cannot separate receiving forgiveness from extending forgiveness.
Forgiveness is at the core of emotional well-being. Perhaps, it is fair to say that unforgiving people are emotionally sick.
Of this, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and knowing how important giving with a forgiving heart means, Bishop Onaga stressed the need for forgiveness as God forgives us as was seen from the story of the unforgiving servant in the Gospel of the day of Matt. 18:21-35.
“If not for God’s forgiveness, none will be worthy of his mercies, and if God in heaven can be merciful and forgiving towards terrible sinners, then we need to do same,” the Bishop said.
His Lordship further enjoined everyone gathered not to be like the servant in the Gospel who refused to forgive his fellow servant a little debt he owed him, after he was forgiven by his master of a bigger debt. He rather asked that we look unto Jesus Christ, who is forgiving both as God and man as he forgave those who crucified him on the cross.
In Aguobu-Owa Deanery, the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo reminded the faithful on the essence of the Cathedraticum and why it is as essential as every other thing is connected to the effective espousal of our faith.
From the many projects the diocese has embarked on and the many more on the way, His Lordship raised the consciousness of support and partnership towards the furtherance of the gospel.
The healing power of Jesus as we express our gratitude through giving was reverberated as a reminder of the loving and caring personality of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bishop Onaga made sure to draw the attention of the faithful to the never failing power of God in visiting us at the very point of our need.
His Lordship at the Emene Deanery Cathedraticum urged Catholics to strengthen their faith in God and stand strong in their belief. Reaffirming that God can heal all our infirmities and solve all our problems whether we ask or not.
“Jesus heals all our infirmities and solves all our problems. Even for the ones we ask him and the ones we didn’t ask, he heals and answers all”, his Lordship said.
According to His Lordship who further reemphasized on the need for Cathedraticum, said that it is a time to support the diocese and not just the Bishop and also a time the diocese expresses her gratitude to those who keeps supporting them.
Making reference to one of the significant bible story about Jesus’ many miracles in the bible, it is recounted in the Gospel of John, where Jesus heals the paralytic at the Bethesda Pool (John 5:2-9). His Lordship noted that the man never saw the miracle coming, but, God saw his need and came to the place of his need.
“God knows our problem and is always willing to come to our aid. Our problem has always been our inability to tell him, and if we tell him, it even makes it better.
“Faith is an essential expression of what we need to possess to see God act for us, let our faith be strong especially now and he will answer”, His Lordship said.
Bishop Onaga further reminded the faithful that the church is a place of supplication where our expression and attitude should depict our unalloyed love for Christ in all forms.
As this year has been earmarked as the year of St. Joseph, Bishop Onaga reminded all that every liturgical celebration should reflect the virtues of St. Joseph in our attitude and dispositions in general. He urged them to draw their program to effectively be part of the year of St. Joseph celebration, especially in a time of this pandemic.
Just as the this will be a celebration that certainly cuts across the six deaneries of the diocese, it has become paramount to all that the 2021 Cathedraticum will be remembered as one which has reignited that much needed hope and faith the faithful needs in facing the many uncertainties facing us as citizens in Nigeria.
To grow stronger in your faith as well, a copy of the newly released Lenten pastoral Letter authored by him and titled SPERO IN DEO! (HOPE IN GOD) is a sure faith booster.
Comment here