Is. 61:1-3; Eph. 4:1-7,11-13; Jn 15:9-17
During this time of the year, a number of people celebrate anniversaries of their commitment to their vocation, whether it is priesthood, religious life or marriage. It is a time to give thanks to God and to countless people who have helped sustain us, encourage us, and support us. It is also a time to look ahead to see how we might best use the gifts which God has shared with us as well as to encourage others to live the same vocation. We gather here this morning to give thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood of Jesus Christ that these our brothers have been privileged to share with us for the past twenty-five years.
Fathers, in your voices preaching, teaching, and comforting; your hands baptizing, blessing, anointing, and absolving; your eyes seeing, smiling, caring, and crying; your ears listening, hearing, and understanding; your feet walking, walking, walking, walking to churches, classrooms, graduations, weddings, family gatherings, parish picnics, prisons, nursing homes, deathbeds, grave sites and many more, you have made Jesus Christ present in ways more powerful than you will ever know. You have helped our people, a cross section of whom are represented here, to realize that God is not God the way we would be God, if we were God! You have stood by Jesus in His trials, in the trials of these members of His Body, the church. We thank God for you and for your ministry. And we thank you as well! You are priests forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Our gathering here reminds me of the words of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa who addressed the pastors and bishops of his country some time ago in the following words:
My pastors and bishops,
You have a serious task more than all of us, the servants of God. Something has gone wrong with our society. I remember when I was young man. There were few churches, which means there were fewer people who went to church. But the sinners were fewer as well. Today, there is a church almost in every corner and sinners are also in millions. Something has gone wrong: How as a society we value our lives. You need to do more. We couldn't be lesser as sinners when the pastors were few. When we are so many they are more. There's something wrong.
I know they say Jesus will return to fetch us. I actually fear because we don't know when Jesus will come and how many will stay behind. "Maybe the majority." When he was still on earth, the sinners were not as many as they are now. Is it possible, as you talk to God all the time to ask God to change the plan so that Jesus comes not for the last time, not to fetch us, but just to come and cleanse us of our sins, because we have caused more damage than before. He must just come for a few years to help us so that we are ready for when he finally comes." Otherwise, there are many people who will remain here and you might be in trouble because you are the ones who must ensure that when the time comes we all go. So, you have more job to do.
Fathers, there is no doubt that our churches are overflowing with members and vibrant with societies. But the question is how much do these members translate their faith into life and why is God's kingdom of justice, love, and peace so slow in coming as is evident from so much hatred, injustice, greed, killings, and kidnappings we see around us?
The Bible says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven". (Mt 5:16). But many of our Christians are passive, indifferent, nominal and anonymous. They are contented with attending Sunday Mass as a mere obligation. For some, when you talk of the church, you are referring to the bishop and priests while Vatican ll defines church as " The people of God". (Cf LG 9).
When people today talk about politics in Nigeria and say it is a dirty game, I often wonder how else it can be purified other than with our Christian values and ethics? When there is bad governance, corruption, cultism, immorality, arm robbery, exams malpractice etc. and Christians are involved, we must ask, "where is their faith?". When there is a disagreement and baptized Christians attack one another, cause bodily harm, take lives and destroy property, we must ask where is their faith? Christians in business, academics, governance, politics etc., must make a difference by the good standards they bring to bear on their respective callings. Politics must be about issues, principles and social progress. Unfortunately, we have allowed politics in Nigeria to degenerate to politics of Naira, rigging and thuggery. Politics is about being free to hold divergent views and freedom to aspire to any elective position as long as one qualifies. We expect our laity to practice clean politics, which aims at promoting the common good. The American elections have come and gone. The manner they were conducted and the lessons are there to learn from, but we are for now more concerned about advising our brothers and uncles on how to prepare to return home.
Our responsibility today as priests, as president Zuma reminded us cannot allow us the luxury of folding our arms and continuing on the sidelines to pray in our oratories. We cannot like the people during the crucifixion, just stand by and watch." It is sad that a lot of us seem not to care anymore about social issues, as long as we are "safe" and comfortable. And so we just stand by and watch. Let us take time to take a good look at our lives, our activities, our concerns and perhaps reflect on a text message I received about the "four blessed looks": LOOK BACK and thank God; LOOK FORWARD and trust God; LOOK AROUND and serve God; LOOK WITHIN and find God especially in relation to the state of our nation today, where many Nigerians are complaining. The bricklayer, plumber, laborers, tiler are all complaining because building construction has slowed down massively. The car dealers are grumbling because their cars are begging for buyers. The private school owners are shouting because parents can no longer pay outrageous sums and are withdrawing their wards. I was shocked when I learn that in a popular private University in Abuja, parents are writing undertaking at the account section for their children to be allowed to write exams... and it goes on and on.
The fact is that a lot of people are returning to what someone referred to as ''default mode'' which we all need to return to. We mostly have been living above our REAL MEANS, by staying in houses that ordinarily our incomes can't afford; our children going to schools we can't afford; driving cars we ordinarily can't maintain. We have, in fact, been living a FAKE LIFE all along. Now the reality is before us and we don't want to accept it.
Here in Nigeria, all that the Lord wants you our jubilarians to do is simply to look round and be prepared to prophetically face the situations we find in life: situations of joy and sorrow, of frustration and fulfillment, of hostility and friendship, of arrogance and humility, of iniquity and righteousness, of grace and vice so that we can contemplate the compassionate and trustworthy high priest for the people of our time. This is the challenge that Jesus puts before you and indeed all of us his priests and people on a day like this - that we stand up for what is right without fear of what people may say or do, to declare the truth as the Gospel teaches us and translate its value into our everyday life.
Celebrating your jubilee on the heels of the conclusion of the Year of Mercy, from which we should have been schooled as missionaries of Mercy with the mandate to transmit the Christian message of the mercy and love of our heavenly father by embracing those in difficulty, by embracing the outcasts, the marginalized and the sinners, listen carefully and reflect on the words of the readings you so adequately chose for the occasion and the words of Jesus Christ during this period, for they really show us how He is the face of the Father's mercy, and how he also sends his apostles and now us to show His face to a world divided by walls, a church shuttered by cliques and hearts hardened to compassion.
Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, the world today still needs to know and has to be told that God loves us and wants us in heaven with Him. And how shall the world and its people come to know that God loves and cares for them? It shall come to know through us ... you and me ... who must be "witnesses to Christ in it. In our homes, we need parents who really care about their children, who spend time with them, and who still care for them even when they disappoint them. In our schools, we need teachers who know their pupils and who take a personal interest in their well-being. In our hospitals, we need doctors and nurses who care about their patients and who do not treat them as objects. In public life, we need people who care about the welfare of others rather than their own selfish interest. And last but not the least of all, we need men of God who are willing to give a loving service to all including parents, teachers, doctors, nurses and civil servants.
My dear jubilarians, you must become the face of Christ, the face of God's mercy to the world through preaching the good news and teaching his message of love and mercy to all. You are to be the Father's ambassadors to the world and to us. An ambassador, as you know, is an authorized representative of a country. He speaks, not in his own name but, on behalf of the one who sends him and his whole duty and responsibility is to interpret the mind of the one sending him faithfully to those to whom he is sent.
We, priests, are the ones being sent by Him to speak and do on His behalf. We say and do, not for our own benefit, but for the growth of the Kingdom of God here on earth so that God shall be known to all. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has often observed that the Church is not an N.G.O. which follows that we, priests are not executive officers or social workers or volunteers trying to do good things in society. Priests act in persona Christi (capitis) when administering the sacraments and St. Augustine says that our priestly vocation is to be of service to the baptised, to minister to our brothers and sisters as an alter Christus, indeed as ipse Christus, as Christ himself, "who did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20,28). St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians also reminds us that we are "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" and adds that: "it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." This means that Jesus continues His saving work among His people, among His Church, through the working of His priests. When the priest baptizes, it is Jesus who baptizes. When the priest anoints, it is Jesus who anoints. When the priest forgives sin, it is Jesus who forgives sin. When the priest says "This is my Body," it is Jesus who once again gives Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist. Do we deserve this great honor, this most sacred privilege? Certainly, not. We are sinful, frail human beings "called" nevertheless by God to do the most spiritual, indeed supernatural actions. Pray, my dear brothers and sisters, for these your priests. Without your prayers and the Grace of God, I don't know how any of us could stand at the altar each day.
Fathers, anniversaries always call us to look back over all that has happened in order to learn from the past and move on to the future with a renewed vision. They are occasions to remember the past events; of repentance for the faults committed; of redemption of what is lost; of return to the spirit of the founder, to the family; of rejoicing for the graces received; of reception of the freedom of the children of God, of recognition of God's mercy towards his people and of re-dedication looking forward to making 'the Kingdom of God at hand' (Mk.1:16). "Therefore, it is a time of reappraisal, rejuvenation, renewal, rebirth and restoration. Anniversaries are a new dawn, a new spring time, a new beginning, an opportune time, a new genesis and a new vision. It is also a time of celebration, of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Twenty-five years in the Lord's vineyard you have remained as a class this strong. We only pray that you continue to value this relationship with God, which they have earned as Christians, your relationship with each other as mates encouraging each other and being there for each other and your relationship with neighbours which is obvious in the number of people you have influenced towards good, restrained from evil; taught the ways of Christ; kept in the paths of orthodoxy; given words, deeds, gestures and hours of charity and kindness. Just as I see you here I am very impressed by the geographical spread you represent. Some of you are from Jos, some from Lafia, some from Kafanchan, Shendam and of course others from Pankshin Diocese. If at any time there is any reason for any of you to stress your differences on the basis of the Dioceses you come from, remember your common roots in Jos from which this rich and beautiful differences come. The second reading tells you to preserve this unity, not in the sense of cliquish and classmate mentality to gang up against other classes but in the Spirit especially as we struggle to build up the one Body of Christ.
Twenty-five years down the line confers on you the status of elders and older members of our priestly fraternity. After all these years of service with single minded devotion, you must ensure that the faith entrusted to you and which you have helped to nurture is preserved until your last days. Don't allow some misguided younger priests to derail you from the part of orthodoxy with their modern summersaults and preaching of cross less Christianity gathered from imitating their Pentecostal counterparts and so find it difficult to stand by the truth, to act on the truth and to stand on the truth." Take care not to enter directly into the political arena or party disputes which remains the duty of the laity, whom you have the important duty of ceaselessly educating and encouraging. There are enough tribal war lords and political juggernauts out there to divert your attention from your spiritual work which you alone can give the world. The sharing of Barrister Alex Jibrin at the Jos Archdiocesan General Assembly remains very fresh and I wish to place it before you for your reflection and constant consideration. According to Sir Jibrin, priests are specially blessed with powers, not earthly but spiritual powers. He said that there is power in our hands when we bless; power in our eyes which transmit compassion and therapy when we look at people. He said there is also power in our clerical garments which remind people of holiness and bring healing to many who look up to us in faith. In other words, our life is a blessing to others.
Fathers, I think that I speak for all here and for all the people who have seen you trying to live out your priestly vocation by saying "thank you" for responding to the call of Jesus and becoming His priest. Thank you for your many years of dedicated service to the People of God. May God, give you the health and the strength to serve many, many more years as His priest at His sacred altar. Ad multos annos
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