From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe has urged Christians to pray fervently throughout the Lenten season for the peace and progress of the nation.
Dr Akabe gave the charge on Wednesday in an interview with journalists, immediately after Mass to mark the Ash Wednesday held at St William Cathedral, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According to him, the Lenten season was the best time to pray for the peace of the country, saying that the church has set out 40 days for prayers, fasting and alms giving.
He called on Christians to forgive one another so that God can hear their prayers during the Lenten season.
“We are reminded today that from ashes we came and to ashes we shall return and that life is vanity. No matter where we are and no matter what we are, one day we shall be no more.
“We should look back and see where we have gone wrong and correct our mistakes. This period is the beginning of a 40 days fasting and as Catholics, I urge you to be prayerful and give alms to the poor. We must also forgive everybody as we will want others to forgive us,” Akabe said.
Earlier in his homily, the Arch Bishop of Jos Arch Diocese and Apostolic Administrator of Lafia Diocese, His Grace, Bishop Matthew Audu, called on Christians to return to God by sharing in His love through prayers, fasting and alms giving.
Bishop Audu said Ash Wednesday was significant as it was a call to repentance and accepting the love of Christ, in order to gain salvation.
He challenged Christians to desist from anything that will lead them to destruction and share the love of Christ with one another.
“We must keep custody of our senses, the eyes, lest we see something that will lead us to sin. We must keep custody of our ears, lest we hear something that will lead us to sin and we must also keep custody of the mouth, lest it leads us to sin.
“Today, the well known phrase, ‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’ is quite appropriate as we begin the season of lent,” he said.
