As the Lenten season enters fifth week, the parish priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gegelose, Rev. Fr. Christopher Adedamola Areoye has reminded Catholic faithful that mercy is a free gift from God and not what anyone deserves. The priest said this while celebrating the fifth Sunday of Lent at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan on 6th April, 2025.

The celebrant recalled how the Church in the past two Sundays has been inviting all to an appreciation of how merciful the Lord is through the parables of the fig tree and prodigal son respectively, saying the images in both parables represent each of us wanting to have right before God.

“In the day’s Gospel also, we are shown the ever wonderful and patient love of God, in which God is offering us new opportunity. He does not demand we live differently but that we change our orientation.” The priest stated.

Fr. Areoye explained that the Scribes and the Pharisees by their action in the day’s Gospel have turned themselves to judges, bringing only the woman in order to trap Jesus. The priest admonished that each examines his/her conscience like the prodigal son did and also by practicing the love of Christ which is patient and merciful through ensuring whatever we do is done with love, for no one and no sin will be unaccounted for.

The priest added that the woman caught in adultery became a mirror to the Scribes and the Pharisees, hence, before we too condemn, we should watch ourselves from the mirror. “In our society, many do not look deep but look at the surface, hence, could do whatever they like.”

Fr. Areoye drew the attention of all to the words of “Our Lord’s prayer”, saying our prayer is a judge to us, for God sees all we do, yet, He has not condemn us.

The Chief Celebrant also enjoined the parishioners to support their priest by attending Cathedraticum Masss of Oke-Ado Deanery in large number, as a way of supporting our Chief Shepherd.

The family of Faleyimu at the day’s Mass had special thanksgiving for the tenth anniversary of their Late Mother.