By Emeka Ilozor
The Parish Priest of St. John Catholic Church, Enugwu-Agidi, Rev. Fr. Okechukwu Otie, has urged Christians to remain steadfast in prayer and unwavering in their faith in God, regardless of fear, temptation or the challenges of life. Fr. Otie gave the charge during a Holy Mass at the parish on August 9, where he reminded the faithful that fear could become a major hindrance to spiritual growth and a strong relationship with God.
He advised christians not to allow fear to weaken their faith, stressing that genuine trust in God leaves no room for constant anxiety. According to him, once fear is allowed to take root in a person’s heart, virtually everything becomes a source of worry and apprehension.
He also cautioned christians against the proliferation of prayer houses, particularly those that could exploit people’s fears rather than draw them closer to God and urged the faithful to prepare spiritually for temptations, noting that trials and temptations are inevitable aspects of the christian journey. He encouraged christians to look up to God whenever they encounter difficult or confusing situations.
The cleric further advised christians to take responsibility for their mistakes rather than blame others for their shortcomings. He said bitterness, dishonesty and refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing could deprive individuals of inner peace, urging the faithful to admit their faults, make amends and cultivate sincerity, honesty and trustworthiness.
Fr. Otie also stressed the importance of truth and justice, reminding christians that everyone would ultimately face divine judgment and give an account of their actions.
Speaking on family life, the priest prayed for God’s blessings upon the efforts of mothers and urged them to pay greater attention to the upbringing and moral development of their children. He linked the increasing rate of failed marriages in society, among other factors, to poor parental upbringing, stressing that mothers play a pivotal role in shaping the character and future of their children.
According to him, mothers are the fulcrum of the family and have a significant responsibility to provide proper guidance, discipline and moral direction for their children. Fr. Otie also expressed concern over what he described as the increasing prevalence of indecent dressing among some mothers, urging them to conduct themselves in ways that would provide positive examples for their children.
He warned that the moral decline being witnessed in society could partly be attributed to inadequate parental care, supervision and upbringing. The cleric therefore called on parents, especially mothers, to take their responsibilities seriously by providing their children with proper guidance, discipline and moral training.
He however, urged christians to remain prayerful, truthful, just and steadfast in their faith, assuring them that those who sincerely trust in God and maintain clean hearts would overcome the challenges and temptations of life.
Emeka Ilozor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
#Ministryofinformationandvaluareformation
#Anambraisrising
#Informationiskey
#Solutionishere
#Solutioncontinues
