Opinion
By Val Obienyem
TODAY, due to commitments, I had to attend the 5:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph the Worker. The priest who celebrated the Mass, Rev. Fr. Louis Nwobi, was in his element dissecting the day’s readings. I was particularly happy when he invited the congregation to take pride in their Catholic heritage, not just by words but by embodying the values Catholics are known for, whether in private or public life.
At this juncture, Fr. Nwobi referred us to the sermon of Fr. George Ehusani. How can we do justice so briefly to such a powerful pen as Ehusani’s? His career illustrates the power of Catholicism to attract first-rate men who would excel in any field. Through the vehicle of his “Lux Terra” Leadership Foundation, he speaks to Nigerians, usually in a style warm with feeling and bright with carefully chosen words from his inexhaustible storehouse. In the sermon under reference, he encouraged Catholics to reflect on the lives of Christian heroes from the early centuries and to emulate their heroic faith.
What was Fr. Ehusani trying to say? We live in a permissive world where a 30-year-old man wake up daily and start pointing accusing fingers at the Catholic Church. How could thirty years understand more than 20 centuries? Hence, the need to become acquainted with those centuries through active conversation with those who have lived through them. This is the gift of the Catholic Church to the world.
Indeed, we see enough in the early days he talked about among the 8 doctors of the church (36 now), distinguished in the medieval church: Athanasius, Basil, and Gregory Nazianzen in the East; in the West, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great. Before them, we had names such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin, Irenaeus, among others.
I agree with Louis and Ehusani; they are right. Reading about the lives of these Christians is like conversing with them. It offers valuable insights into the foundations of Christianity, the challenges they faced, and the principles they upheld. It provides inspiration, guidance, and a deeper understanding of the faith’s origins, helping to strengthen one’s own spiritual journey and connection to the teachings of Christ.
It is also good to interact with recent ones. I still enjoy, for example, the sermons of Fulton Sheen and the debate between Copleston and Russell, which centered around the existence of God and the nature of metaphysics.
In our context, Fr. Louis mentioned Fr. Ehusani; I now add the sermons of Bishop Godfrey Onah of Nsukka, my own Bishop, Paulinus Ezeokafor. His sermon during the Chrism Mass at Awka, where, sensing the number of people who attended from different places, stressed all aspects of life, including talking to the Government about what should be done for the holistic upbringing of children. We also have the sermons of the likes of Fr. Blessed Mbang Njume and Fr. John Oluoma.
Yes, priests should listen to the sermons of those noted great preachers as well as those of one another and synthesize them for greater output. This is positive collaboration in the Lord’s Vineyard. I do not mean the sermons of “Pentecostal priests” that are annoyingly full of commercial metaphors and display of account numbers. Priests of such inclination may find guidance in the book “Vendors of the Gospel” by Rev. Fr. Dr. Modestus Anyaegbu, as they appear to be still groping in the dark.
It is fitting that we should end our reflection with the question we started with: Should Fr. Louis Nwobi leave Fr. Ehusani alone? I think he should not leave him alone. People like him should be listened to in the bid to learn more and add to existing knowledge for the continued edification of the congregation.
A.
-May 12, 2024 @ 15:18 GMT|
Tags: Fr. George Ehusani Rev. Fr. Louis Nwobi
