ARCHBISHOP of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Most Reverend Gabriel Abegunrin, has called on priests to use more their lifestyles and actions, rather than words to preach the gospel of Christ.
This was his submission during his homily at the Christ Mass, on Thursday, at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Oke Padi, Ibadan, Oyo State.
At the event, which was to “celebrate the institution of the Eucharist as the true body and blood of Jesus Christ and the institution of the priesthood,” Archbishop Abegunrin said: “we celebrate Chrism Mass in which we listen to the word of God, celebrate the anniversary of that day when Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood on his apostles and on us; hence, renew our own promises as priests. In other words, this Chrism Mass raises up the priesthood as we recall when Our Lord instituted that Holy Order at the Last Supper.
“Jesus calls us priests to preach beyond the pulpit since deeds speak louder than words. St. Francis of Assisi would say, ‘Proclaim the gospel always, using words if necessary.’ This is the most effective means of evangelisation. Our lifestyle should be a witness to the kingdom of God here on earth among the people we minister to. In other words, our lifestyle should not be a scandalous life to God’s people.”
Lamenting the state of affairs in the world, which prioritised what he described as “a culture which neither respects human life/rights (from conception) nor marriage or family life; a culture which is focused on self-centredness and not on human dignity,” he stated that priests and the Catholic faithful “have no other option than to stand up for the revealed and revered truth, even when not well received. We are the ones to bring hope to the hopeless, joy to the joyless, non-violence to the violent, peace to the broken-hearted and conflict situations, resurrection to the lifeless.”