By Kate Obande-Okewu
Nasarawa – Rev. Fr Pere Grine has called on Christians to change from their sinful life and make their ways right with God in this season of lent.
Grine, who is a visiting priest to the St. Rita Catholic Church, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, made the call while delivering his sermon on Wednesday.
He said that repentance will help Christians to free themselves from the bondage of sin and build a beautiful relationship with their creator.
He stated that as Catholics receive ashes on their fore heads to mark the beginning of lent, they should forgo all worldly pleasures and be sober.
“We all need to repent and be remorseful for our sins; whether we like it or not we have all failed God and this is an opportunity for us to return to Him and say we are sorry.
“The sole reason for our creation is to love God, serve Him, obey His supremacy and to be happy with God forever in heaven,” he said.
He explained that the ashes being rubbed on the fore head signifies that “Man is dust and unto dust you shall return.”
The priest further explained that it means all men will die someday and be buried.
He stressed the need for Christians to pray, fast and give alms more during lent.
“In lent we are urged to pray more, fast more and give more alms because prayer draws us closer to God.
“Fasting enables us to deny ourselves the pleasure of food and abstain from sin; it thereby helps us grow a strong relationship with the Almighty God.”
He also called on Catholics from the age of 14, who are not ill, to fast today to mark the beginning of lent.
He also urged every Catholic to abstain from eating meat today.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Lent is a season of penitence that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter and it is usually observed by the Orthodox churches.