Lent for
Nigeria and Nigerians
The season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is a forty-day period
of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Christians are marked with ashes on their
forehead with the words: “Remember, man, you are dust and unto dust
shall you return”. This activity serves to draw the attention of man,
from the usually overwhelming ups and downs of everyday living, to the purpose
for which he was created, which is service to his maker and to fellow humanity
and creation for which man shall render account of his stewardship on the last
day.
The period of lent is an imitation of the Lord Jesus Christ who, before
beginning his public ministry of service and redemption, went into the
wilderness, having been baptised by John, to fast and pray so as to prepare
himself for the task ahead. During this period Christians are called, as
earlier mentioned, to pray more earnestly, to fast and to give alms. While
indeed the life of a Christian should be one of prayer in season and out of
season, prayer during lent is deliberately emphasised for reflection and
meditation on one’s service to God and stewardship to creation. As a Christian,
one may need to ask: “of how good a service have I been to my neighbour and to
Nigeria?”
Fasting during lent is to, amongst other things, discipline the physical
body from pleasures and indulgences. When one fasts from food, for example, one
is able to be in solidarity with the many poor people who do not have food to
eat and one is able to feel their pain and in so doing, work for a more just
and better society, where the dignity of every human being is upheld and put
before any other interest. 70% of the Nigerian population lives below the
poverty line: Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority, are
invited during this period of lent to self-denial and to enter into solidarity
with the many poverty-stricken others in order to work to give some dignity to
their personhood.
The almsgiving emphasised during lent, apart from also meaning the
giving out of alms in the literal sense, is a metaphor for charity in its
broader sense. Christians are invited to always be of a generous spirit, which
is the basic disposition of service. They are invited to work for the good of
the other and the society at all times. That can be done in the way and manner
they dedicate themselves to their duties in their work places and how they
engage in and transact business. The focus must be service to God through
humanity, and Nigeria today so badly needs this kind of disposition in order to
move forward!
During this year’s forty days of lent, Christians and indeed all people
of goodwill are invited to join in prayer so as to examine our commitment to
God and humanity and rededicate ourselves to service; to enter into solidarity
with the underprivileged so as to work for a better society; and to be people
of goodwill and generosity of heart for the sake of neighbour and country.
Of critical attention here are the victims of the terrorism and
insurgency now on in Nigeria. In the last few weeks, there is no day that has
passed without innocent people being murdered in the most heinous of
circumstances. Nigerians, especially persons in positions of authority of
whatever kind, must use this opportunity that Lent provides to really examine
their roles in the whole equation that has engendered this quandary that we
find ourselves in, directly or indirectly, either by commission or omission, by
action or inaction. It is pertinent to very specifically call on the President
of the Federal Republic, the National Assembly and the top brass of the Armed
Forces of the Federation. Nigerians are dying in the hands of mindless and
criminal elements; you have been entrusted with the responsibility to protect
them. Clearly, there is failure on your side. Whatever has occasioned this
failure remains another question. This is an apt period for you in your various
individual capacities to examine yourselves in the light of the Lenten tripod
of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Do you truly think you have done your best in
the light of the prevailing circumstance? Can you go to sleep and truly sleep
because you have done what is expected of you with every sense of goodwill and
charity? Keep the answers to your respective selves.
(Published, wrongly with the name of Prof Ujo, on BLUEPRINT Newspaper, Thur Mar 6, 2014)
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