Daniel UGWO

The Parish Priest, SS Peter & Paul Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife; Very Rev. Fr. Peter Adeyemi has informed the faithful that love of one another is a decree not an admonition. He made this assertion Sunday 18 May while addressing the people of God. He noted that the mischievous nature of human beings is the reason for Christ’s suffering. He however notified that Christ's love is unconditional and selfless.

 According to him, going the extra mile for others, especially those considered as undeserving is not easy but practicable through the grace of God. He added that those that fail to love are walking away from the promised new Jerusalem while referring to Mother Teresa, St Francis and St Peter Claver as examples of people to emulate when aspiring to achieve unconditional love of Christ.

 According to Fr. Adeyemi, authentic love makes the faith real. The said love does not necessarily need be restricted to big situations but rather expressed in simple ways such as, rendering assistance, giving good counsel among others. The priest buttressed that anyone that practices love is never indifferent when required to take action. He educated that the new Jerusalem is so beautiful that there is no hunger and suffering, electricity failure and bad governance when placed side by side human world.

He recalled how recently he was given tickets by a politically placed person for the poor to get food from the food bank, whereas, all 25 poorest of the poor given the ticket came back empty handed from the so-called food-bank despite the ticket. He then affirmed that the new Jerusalem is a place with no need for construction of misplaced overhead bridges in the presence of dying citizens, it is a place free of bad governance according to him.

In another development, Fr Adeyemi frowned at the wrong impression of some Christian Pastors denouncing Artificial Intelligence and Robotics following their assertions that the science is satanic and an attempt to displace God by mankind. He educated that all positive scientific advancements have the blessing of God and abuse of such by human do not take away its usefulness for the good of humanity. He was disturbed that most scientific theories contributing to human knowledge and understanding of nature was somewhat met with ignorant and hostility from religious merchants pretending to be speaking for God while attempting to defend God's authority against the scientific encroachment into the divine omnipotence. To Catholics, he informed that faith and reasons are compatible in the Catholic tradition.