Lenten period: Clerics speak

Lent is the solemn religious period before Easter in the Christian calendar. The period of 40 weekdays, excluding Sunday, is spent by believers all the world over as the moment of prayer, penance, fasting, almsgiving, repentance of sins, self-denial among others.

Serving as a reminiscence of the 40days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness, where He was tempted of the devil, Christians rehearse the deeds of their Lord, so much so that even though Jesus has ascended, the40-day liturgical calendar has become a religious rite which is observed yearly.

Though, the consecrated period is usually observed mostly by the Catholic and Anglican, Methodist and other orthodox churches, it is more significant period as it stands to unify Christians, as well as seen as an avenue for an Christians across all denominations seek the face of God .

Some of the notable clerics in the country have shed more light on the fasting period, just as the have also enlightened Christians its importance.

 

Lent, a period to reflect on life, makes amends – Jatau

Reverend Father Paul Jatau, of the Catholic Archdiocese of Port Harcourt, called on Catholics all over the world to see the Lenten period as a time to reflect on their lives and make amends.

He said Ash Wednesday is one of the most important and significant holy days in the churches calendar as it opens lent, a season of fasting and prayer which lasts 40 days.

The clergy said that there was no perfect being on earth hence everyone should make efforts daily to repent from committing bad deeds and forgive others.

He also urged Catholics to be more prayerful during the period, fast and make more effort to give alms to the less privileged.

“It is not only from food you can fast from, staying away from things you derive pleasure from and cannot do without like alcohol consumption, gossiping, fornication, adultery, telling lies and so on is also a form of fast.

“Fasting is a time to mortify the flesh because all desires come from the body. Let us take our prayer life  seriously and repent from our bad ways.

“When you repent, you live according to the gospel values. Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return; the church calls us today to reflect on our nothingness,” he added.

 

‘Faithful should fast, pray, give alms’

Reverend Canon Ifeanyi Emegwa of the Church of the Pentecost, Awka, Anambra urged Christians to fast, pray and give alms during the Lenten season.

Emegwa gave the advice during a homily on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of the Lenten season in the Christendom calendar.

He noted that lent was a season of spiritual preparation and one of the five liturgical seasons in the  liturgical year.

The cleric advised Christians to be worthy followers of Jesus Christ in their daily lives.

Emegwa said that during the Lenten season, people of God were called to commemorate and reflect on the Lord’s passion through spiritual preparation, conversion and penance.

He said that the season was an invitation to renew baptismal call, live as sons and daughters of God and Disciples of Jesus Christ.

The clergyman used the book of Joel chapter 2 verses 12 to 13 to admonish his parishioners “rend your heart and not your garment.

“Return to the Lord with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning, return to the Lord for He is  gracious and compassionate,” he said.

Emegwa urged them to prepare spiritually for the lent by letting go of sinful behaviour, by seeking interior change and by practicing penance.He also urged them to follow the teachings of Christ in all their daily lives by practicing the three pillars of lent of prayer, fasting and alms giving.

‘’Christians were encouraged to practice the three pillars of lent namely: prayer which is the action that leads faithful to God, Fasting which is restricting consumption, depriving yourself of both good/bad things for God’s glory.“Alms giving which is action that leads Christians to see others as themselves, love them, listen to them , help , advice , to give alms is to be united to Christ in his poverty.

“It is action done based on charity,’’ he said.

Emegwa said the imposition of ash on the fore head was a sign of conversion and repentance as ashes used for the imposition comes from the blessed palm left over from the previous year.

“The palm is burnt to produce the ashes which are considered as sacramental and are blessed before use. The lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the mass of the Lords super and urged faithful to engage in art of penance and reconciliation,’’ he said.

 

‘Cleric admonishes Christian faithful to pray for peace’

The Assistant parish priest, St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Keffi, Reverend Father Altah Tanko says the Lenten season is a period for people to prepare for Easter through fasting and prayer.

He said that it was also a period to give alms to the needy and prayer for peace.

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Tanko said that in difficult moments like recession period, people should pray earnestly for God’s intervention to save the nation and its citizens from the hard times.

He also said that for believers to keep their faith alive they should believe in God, who made all things because He is our source and creator.

 

It calls for sober reflection —Okonkwo

Reverend Father Michael Okonkwo of St Paul’s Catholic Church, Ebute-Metta, also said that the lent calls for a sober reflection.

He said that the period was timely as it coincides with the just led general elections.

“It should be for us, a period of sober reflection. We need to reflect on all that had happened in the past and go out to vote for our preferred candidates. This is very important, especially, for us as Christians.

“Those who share our values should be voted into power because governance is all about bringing out good values,” he said.

 

It calls for a sincere repentance among Christians

In his own take, Cannon Michael Olorundare of St Luke’s Anglican Church, Amje, Alagbado, Lagos State, urged Christians to take advantage of the Lenten season to make sincere repentance from habits that were not Christ like.

“I use this opportunity to thank God for sparing our lives to be part of this year’s lent service which kicks  off today with this Ash Wednesday service.

“This is a period that we must take an overview of the way we have been living our lives in relation to our services to God and mankind, as is expected of us in the Bible.

“Let the life of Christ reflect in everything we do and let us come out from our negative ways, have a true repentance and do away from all ills in totality,” he said.

Cannon Olorundare called on Christians to fortify their prayer lives while they observe fast in the Lenten season, extend hands of fellowship to the needy and deny themselves of unnecessary pleasures.