Bear Leadership Burden “with good cheer”: Catholic Archbishop to Nigeria’s Leaders

“Our civil leaders should be courageous like the young Jeremiah to identify the challenges at various levels with every determination to address them at the roots,” the Local Ordinary of Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese since November 2019 said.

He went on to decry the vice of corruption in Nigeria, and that little is being done to address the challenge.

“To say that our people are suffering now is a gross understatement,” the Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Diocese said during his September 3 homily.

The suffering of the people of God in Nigeria, he said, “is brought about by the very deeply entrenched culture of corruption and dishonesty at all levels including our national institutions across the different sectors.”

Making reference to the call of Jesus Christ in Matthew’s Gospel for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time for his disciples to deny themselves, take up their respective crosses, and follow Him, Archbishop Kaigama challenged followers of Christ in Nigerian to appreciate the fact that practicing their faith involves challenges.

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“That is why we are called to live in the world, but not to be defined by worldly values and inclinations,” he said about challenges that characterize authentic Christian living.

The Local Ordinary of Abuja Archdiocese continued, “Our readings today explain that being a disciple does not promise us immunity from suffering but assures us of eternal reward.”

Turning his attention to preachers in Nigeria, who are obsessed with the gospel of prosperity, the Catholic Church leader challenged them to seek inspiration from Job in the Old Testament, and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the New Testament.

“We see that those who trust in the ways of the Lord, will not go without a blessing,” he said referencing Job and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and added, “Those charged to preach, should not preach a cheap Christianity of miracles, wealth or only preaching to please leaders.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.