It is no longer news that Rev. Father Sylvester Okechukwu of St. Mary Catholic Church, Táchira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State was killed on March 4, 2025 by kidnappers.  Oh God, they have killed your priest whom you called and anointed to preach your word to sinners and lead them to you. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, in Jesus’ Name!

   We are now in April and his killers have not been found. Those in authority do not care whether we live or die: They do not protect people and properties. They do not want us to unite, lest they be driven out for their fraudulent actions. There is corruption everywhere! So, Marley says again, “One love one heart, let’s get together and feel alright.” It is only when we get together in love that we can reason together and liberate ourselves from mental slavery.

     Bob Marley may have died but his Redemption Song lives with us even if we refuse to sing it for fear of being castigated by the power that be. Today as you read this, have courage to sing the song with me, for the Lord will protect you!

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look? Ooh!

Some say it’s just a part of it:

We have got to fulfill the book.

 

     This warning has been there, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” 1Chr. 16:22. And those before us paid heed to it but in our time, our Reverend Fathers, Sister, Brothers and Pastors are being kidnapped and killed without us raising eyebrow. Are we a generation without morality?

     Psalm 94:4-7, 14 says, “How much longer will criminals be proud and boast about their crimes? They crush your people Lord; they oppressed those who belong to you. They kill widows and orphans, and murder the strangers who live in our land. They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the God of Israel does not notice.’ The Lord will not abandon His people; He will not desert those who belong to Him.” O Lord, you called these people to serve us and they have been making a lot of sacrifices to meet our needs as our shepherds. We do not want them killed further so that we may not scatter. Hear our prayer, Lord!

    The celibates are not supposed to be harassed in any way for the fact that they are there to continue the work of salvation established by the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  “He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics” Mk. 6:8-9. Our priests and religious own nothing: No matter their qualification and level they occupy, they do not possess homes or wealth like their counterparts in the world. Yet, people decided to kidnap or kill them while we fold our hands and refuse to protest. That is very much unjust!

    The vocation to priesthood and religious life is sacred and important to us and not many can embrace it because of the sacrifices involved. Remember the rich young man who went away sad. “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” but when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Lk. 18:22-23.

    It is our duty to pray for the success of our priests and religious who voluntarily dedicate their lives to lead us to God. Let us be consistent in our prayer for them with faith and trust in God who rewards those who seek him. “For everyone who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks” says Luke 11:10.

     When Monsignor Ayodele Pedro Martins of Lagos Archdiocese said  in 2010,  “I hope I shall still be here. As for my 100th birthday, it is a race against time. Here I am at 99 years old a little fairly used, slightly weather-beaten, a few still joints here and there but I remain undaunted.” So, at 99 about to clock 100, he had no wife, children or personal wealth nor those to inherit them, yet he was happy because God has used him for others.

      We are told in Ps 105:14-15, “God allowed no one to oppress them; He rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” So, dear priests and religious, say with St Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Hence there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me” 2 Tim 4:7-8. And so shall it be in Jesus’ Name!

     The God who gave us these priests and religious to lead us will not allow them to perish. In the days of Elijah, he pleaded with God against Israel. “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.” What answer did God give him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal” Romans 11:3-4.

    “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets; you stone the messengers God has sent to you! How many times have I wanted to put my arms round all you people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! And so your temple will be abandoned. I assure you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.” Lk 13:34-35.

     Those priests and religious who have been killed will, like those who have gone before them, inherit the kingdom of heaven as they died for the Lamb of God. Go through the scripture and you will realize that all the apostles with the exception of John were killed in the course of their apostolate. We do not want that horrible experience to continue anyway: We want peace! Dear readers, let us pray for the souls of our departed priests and religious that God may grant them eternal rest, in Jesus’ Name! Lord Jesus, please wipe away my tears!