When we go to the hospital, we do not ask about the tribe or religion of the doctors, nurses, or other health practitioners before receiving the care we need.
When we go to the market to buy our daily needs, we do not concern ourselves with the tribe or religion of the sellers. We simply get what we need and move on.
When we rent houses or attend schools, we rarely pause to consider the tribe or religion of others.
What remains stunning, however, is that during elections, politicians suddenly remind us of our differences in tribe and religion, using them as distractions from the things that collectively benefit us: healthcare, infrastructure, education, security, and good governance.
Today at Mass, the Church marked Interfaith Week.
The service was beautiful and deeply moving. Three Imams visited our parish and stayed through the Holy Mass. They were given the opportunity to address us as brethren, different in faith, yet united in many core beliefs:
- 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝
- 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦
- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞
- 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝
In his homily, reflecting on the Beatitude “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,” the priest reminded us that poverty, though difficult, carries lessons. Poverty can humble us, helping us reflect, grow, and seek a way out, remembering that God gives grace to the humble and lifts them up.
God has made no mistake in allowing us to belong to different religions. Every true religion teaches righteousness, and Scripture tells us that righteousness exalts a nation.
If we choose leaders solely because they belong to our tribe or religion, without examining their character or sense of righteousness, we err. Scripture reminds us that sin is a reproach to any people.
One of the Imams made a powerful point, and I quote:
“𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐫’𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐢𝐬: 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬?”
A man is often an enemy of what he does not understand. When we keep our brothers and sisters of other faiths at arm’s length, fear and hatred grow. In the same way, when we disengage from politics, we grow to hate it, and lose the opportunity to fix our country.
Rebuilding Nigeria begins now.
Here in Abuja, this February, the AMAC elections will take place. Let us all get involved and do better, using our diversity as strength, not division.
I simply wanted to share what stirred my heart in church today.
𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞.
Shalom.
Thanks Sir for sharing this, Nigeria can only grow when we begin to consider righteous people in leadership not on the basis that this person is my tribal person or a religious person. I wish we all started thinking that way to see how Nigeria will grow beyond our imagination. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteWith deep meanings, I think if Nigerians can set aside religious differences and trust God's direction without being biased about who rules – regardless of their religion – we'll avoid fighting amongst ourselves. Coming together as one Nigeria in unity is the way forward. May God guide us.
ReplyDeleteThis is food for thought. Weldone sir
ReplyDelete