From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
As Christians prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, a Catholic priest in the Makurdi Diocese, Very Rev. Father Peter Apagher, has advised Nigerians to remember the poor among them.
The priest, who gave the advise yesterday, during a Homily at St. Dominic’s Catholic Mission, Shachi, Makurdi, said such pious act would keep them in touch with God.
He noted that people have been moving from one church to another, others from one adoration chapel to another saying “it is good, it is part of pilgrimages in order to be in touch with God.
“But brothers and sisters, often times we overrun Christ on our way to pilgrimage centers. As we are going, Jesus will greet us and we will not respond to the greetings and when we do that, we have bypassed Jesus on our way to worship God.”
The Parish Administrator said “there are some poor people around us, when you visit them, when you touch them, you have touched Jesus.”
He acknowledged and commended the contributions of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi to the welfare of IDPs in the state and further urged individuals to visit the poor around their domain in the spirit of the celebration.
He noted that people are going through a lot of economic, emotional and psychological hardship and urged families; wives, husbands and children, to show understanding to themselves at this period.
While stating that this period requires a lot of dialogue, Fr. Apagher said “People have suffered a lot. We don’t need to add crisis to crisis. If there is nothing, reason with your partner, reason with your children. Dialogue with one another and resolve any issue that may arise.
“As we prepare for Christmas, it is my prayer that whatever that is bothering us, whatever seems difficult for us, we will surrender, we will place it before God, we will ask for His will, and do His will quietly, He will shower blessings on us.”