(A homily by His Lordship Most Rev Donatus Akpan, Bishop of OGOJA at a Solidarity Mass in St Marys Quasi Parish Katchuan-irruan Boki, this 2nd Sunday of Lent, March 1st 2026.)
The son of God had to suffer on the Cross and be mocked by men, yet he did not retaliate, because he had a greater mission ahead of him to accomplish: the cross and then his resurrection. Those who followed him were disappointed at his sudden defeat and wondered if God was still with them. But Christ said; don’t give up. There is more than this you will see. Our God will always manifest himself at the right time. We are not afraid.
At the Transfiguration scene, Jesus proved to his disciples that he was not a failure. God himself bore witness to Jesus supreme nature by affirming him as “my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”. Don’t stop listening to God especially when what you are seeing appears contradicting. The Bible explains that the appearance of three men including Moses and Elijah tells the world that everything is fulfilled in Jesus and in God’s own time. We should Listen to him.
We are the followers of Jesus. Sometimes when we see strange things happen, we should not think or say is God still alive?. God comes to assure us that we must not give up hope. Our God is alive. We are not afraid.
Abraham was to prepare a people that were to come after him and God promised to give him a place he was to hold in perpetuity. Again God said to Abraham. Go! those who support you shall be blessed. Those who curse you shall be cursed. Abraham became a blessing to many. You are descendants of Abraham, those who bless you, God will bless. Those who derile you, God will derile. Those who make you cry, God will make them cry… And they will cry and cry.. AMEN
We are following a God who said, no darkness is dark enough for him. He sees everything and will reveal everything at the appointed time. We are in this open space to declare to the enemy that we are not afraid
They may be here, but we say to them: We are not afraid of you because you will die shamefully, unless you repent. Tell them that God is not happy with them. We are not shivering because you are powerless and we are not afraid of you.
Thank you for coming you children of God. My priests who left their parishes to be in solidarity with us. May our efforts never be in vain and may God hear us and answer our prayers accordingly, through Christ our Lord
Amen