Bishop Emmanuel Badejo reflects on the Challenges of Lent

 

Lent is for Following Jesus’ Footsteps

Like a miracle the holy seasons of Lent and Ramadan occur at the same time this year. Surely God is calling us all to something special! Lent is the Christian religious observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by the devil, according to the Gospels at the beginning of his public ministry. We are thus called to follow the example of Jesus who was led by the Spirit to fast (Matt 4). It is a call to repentance, conversion, and prayerfulness ultimately leading to holiness of life and salvation. After His fast, Jesus went into the world and went about doing good (Acts 10:38). We too cannot ignore this significance of this Ramadan for Muslims and Lent for Christians coinciding this year as a call to go about doing good, especially as we are currently seeking solutions to our numerous, debilitating problems in Nigeria. Lent is not a burden or a punishment but an observance aimed at bringing us closer to God and our neighbours.

 

Lent is for Repentance and Good Deeds

The insecurity, terrorism, suffering, hunger, destitution and unrighteousness in our country are all consequences of human depravity and sin. None of the evil we suffer is caused by God. We have only ourselves to blame because we reap what we sow. So, we must fast and repent like the people of Nineveh did (Jonah 3:6). Of course, we all claim to pray and confess faith in God, however our faith is often far different from our work and the Bible affirms that faith without good works is dead (Jms 2:14-26). Prophet Isaiah wrote: “My people…ask God: “Why have we fasted, if you do not see, why mortify ourselves if you never notice? God’s answer (Isaiah 58:3-14) tells us that true fast consists in good deeds to the widow, the servant, the stranger and so on, is the best answer for Nigerians. Pope Leo has instructed that we fast even by controlling our tongue and refraining from harsh words. Very important! So, lent is an urgent, divine call to repent and rededicate ourselves to positive values and practices in order to create a better world.

 

Lent is for Truth and Sincerity

At lent we must all shun insincerity and hypocrisy. These demean true religion. Christ said: “Say yes when you mean yes and No when you mean no” (Matt.5:37). If all Christians live their religion of love and all Muslims live their religion of peace, this country will become paradise on earth. Many Christians and Muslims in positions of authority and power in Nigeria do not manifest the declared value of their religion, it hardly shows up. Such people must repent, and allow true faith to affect their decisions and actions. Let them all do justice and act decisively to do good. Only righteousness exalts a nation.

 

Lent is for Positive Change

Our leaders in Nigeria need to regain the trust and confidence of the people. This would be a worthwhile accomplishment at Lent. They have disappointed too many people on far too many issues.  Financial corruption, lack of transparency and outright lying and stealing of State resources are just a few. Looking around, one sees that there is no love here anymore, only selfish interests. The common people are kidnapped, killed, brutalized and robbed at will, rendered homeless, herded into displaced people’s camps with only token reaction from those who are empowered and paid to protect them. So much evil is happening around us that many wonder if Nigeria has become the capital of tragedies in the world. Lent and fast should be a turn -around period for all concerned to engender positive change in all we do. 

 

Lent is for Loving and Sharing

Lent must make us understand and demonstrate that only love can change our world for better? That’s why we are charged to do good works at Lent, give alms, reach out more to others and shun sin. If we do everything in love, we stand a chance. It is what Jesus meant when he said “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). He also said: “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). This means we share our food, drinks and goods with others in need as we expect others to do with us.

 

Lent Transforms the Heart

The prophet Joel admonishes us that Lent is essentially meant to transform our hearts: “But now… come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Tear your hearts and not your clothes, and come back to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and he relents about inflicting disaster” (Joel 2:12-13). May this period of fasting help us establish that. Lent is a holy season that attracts God’s mercy. So let us all work for God’s mercy in all we do that He may renew our lives and country.