As the Catholic faithful begin the 2024 Lenten season with the commemoration of Ash Wednesday, the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Reverend Dr John Akin Oyejola has charged Christians and political leaders to examine their ways of life and return to God through sincere repentance
He said Ash Wednesday remains, unto dust we came and unto dust shall we return, and as such, self-examination and total repentance are necessary during this Lenten season.
Bishop Oyejola dropped these hints during the Thanksgiving Mass celebrated to mark the celebration of Ash Wednesday.
He said Nigerians need a change of heart by doing the right thing saying both the leaders and the followers must accept to change from their previous ways of life by doing the right things and also ask God for mercy.
“Every one of us needs to change his or her attitude. Lenten season is a period of self-examination, penance, personal mortification, prayer, almsgiving, and total change of heart. We must all change our attitude to life.
“If you are a government worker don’t go and hide another person’s file and deny him his promotion. Don’t hide the files of pensioners to deny them their entitlement. If you are a businessman or woman don’t sell fake products to anyone just to make a gain. Leaders must be sincere to the people they are bound to cater to.
“If you are a councilor and a policeman stops you for a check, obey him and if the policeman is not doing the right thing, please summon the courage to correct him. Change is for all of us.”h
The clergyman who enjoined the Catholics to attend every program during the Lenten season disclosed that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and as such we must all try to carry out our Lenten observance.
The Bishop urged the congregation to congruously pray for God to lead us out of the current situation. .
