Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

Christians have been reminded that there is great reward if they learn to grow with the spirit of sharing whatever they have with people around them. Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ikechukwu, CSJ made the reminder during the celebration of 18th Sunday of the Year at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan on Sunday 2nd August, 2026.

The priest who was making reference to the Gospel reading of the day on the story of Christ’s feeding of five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish admonished the parishioners to ensure people around them feel equitable distribution of resources by way of sharing whatever they have, not only food but also talent, presence and gift.

Fr. Vitalis condemned those that only share what they have for the purpose of keeping the beneficiaries under their control as he said what is common now is the gospel of prosperity and not that of feeling and sharing.

While explaining that only a divine person could do what Christ did by feeding multitude with just five loaves of bread and two fish, the priest drew out three lessons from Christ’s ordering of His disciples to give the five loaves of bread and the two fish to the crowd to include the need for Christians to share the words of God and celebrate the sacraments; the need to be close to the people in their deepest darkened moment of their lives and the need to serve as bridges for God’s grace to function over His people. “You’re to liberate people and not to condemn people”, the priest stated.

The homilist added that if Christians can hear the words of God and live it out, they can change the world for better. He therefore charged all to ask themselves whether their Christianity has yielded any fruit and judge themselves, even before their death. He concluded by praying that God grant all the grace to possess the spirit of sharing with people whatever they have.

The parishioners at the day’s Mass also rejoiced with Salome Ejuwa, who had a special thanksgiving for successful completion of her primary education.