Nigeria’s Catholics Challenged to Embrace “radical forgiveness” amid Provocation from Other Faiths

While the world teaches people to seek justice through revenge, Jesus calls his followers to “something greater, something nobler – to love without limits, to show mercy even to those who do not deserve it, and to be reflections of the Father's love,” Archbishop Kaigama said referring to the Gospel Reading of the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. 

He recalled seeing videos on social media castigating Catholics, and sometimes, Christians as a whole. “Some call Jesus offensive names, some desecrate our Bible, misinterpret it, some glaringly insult our Pope, but we refuse to be provoked to the level of retaliation,” he said.

“We may complain, but we never use violent methods. We are taught not to wish harm upon those who have wronged us. This is based on the teaching of Jesus,” the Local Ordinary of Abuja since November 2019 said.

In his homily, Archbishop Kaigama noted that the message of Jesus on forgiveness is not easy but is “central to our faith.”

Forgiveness, he said, is what sets followers of Christ apart. “Where others are taught to fight and even kill for the faith, our Lord Jesus calls us to love, give the other cheek, forgive unconditionally, and never to attack or kill anyone over matters of religion,” he said.

“In our gospel reading, we received the divine exhortation of Jesus to love our enemies; do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us,” the Nigerian Catholic Church leader said, adding, “These words go against every natural instinct.”

“When we are hurt, our first reaction is to seek justice or even revenge. But Jesus tells us that Christian love must go beyond what is natural. It must be supernatural,” he said.

According to Archbishop Kaigama, to love one’s enemies does not mean one approves of the other’s wrongdoing, but rather, “it means we choose to reflect God’s mercy instead of hatred.”

Forgiveness, he went on to say, is an invitation to break the cycle of violence and to respond with the same love that one has received from God.

The Catholic Archbishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Jalingo exalted the people of God in Nigeria to be open to forgive even those who are out to persecute them.

Referring to David who chose mercy over revenge, he said, “How many innocent Nigerians are sentenced to death either by criminals or by those with power, for selfish motives?”

“In our world and particularly in Nigeria today we see all kinds of inhuman treatment meted out to people,” Archbishop Kaigama said, and added, “It has gotten bad to the point that when we hear that ‘only 10 people died from the bandit or unknown gunmen attack’ we reason that at least not many died. You see how barbaric acts are gradually being tolerated as part of our existence?”

He, however, reminded Nigerians that forgiving and loving enemies is not about being naive or passive.

Forgiveness, the Local Ordinary of Abuja clarified, is about transforming hate into love. “This does not mean that we should allow those who want to hurt us to do so. No! It means that we should be open to forgiving those who hurt us and not wish them bad but pray for them that God may touch their heart to repent,” Archbishop Kaigama said in his February 23 homily.

Sabrine Amboka contributed to this story.

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