John ESENE

      On June 17, 2025 Very Rev Fr. (Retired Major) GC Oparaekwe went to settle a misunderstanding between a husband and wife in his parish. In the process, the man picked up a stick to hit his wife but mistakenly hit the priest. Though he was rushed to hospital, he died. “An angry man stirs up dissension, and hot tempered one commits many sins.” Prov. 29:22. Rather than appreciate the Priest’s concern for them, they killed him. May his gentle soul rest in peace in Jesus’ Name!

     So ended the life of a priest of God, who volunteered to bring peace to a troubled family in his parish! Peter had warned us in 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith”.

      Control your anger because it is just one letter away from danger. Do not allow anger to overwhelm you to the extent of taking the laws into your hand.  Robbison Aghedo once said, “You have no right to take anybody’s life for any reason. When your spouse or child wrongs you and you are unable to forgive him or her, relocate elsewhere until you are able to reconcile with him or her.” At a time like this, run to Jesus who has the power to stop your raging storm and He will deliver you from the evil one.

       Regina boldly told her pastor, “I’ll not forgive my husband his sin against me. No! Over my dead body, I’ll not.” The pastor was terribly upset when it dawn on him that after quoting many verses in the Bible while counseling her, she did not change her mind. Until then, the pastor had regarded Regina as one of the most righteous members of his Church. To forgive an offence is not easy but when you do, you will set yourself free from your creditors. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner is you.

      There is no marriage without hiccups! When you have a problem with your spouse, try as much as possible to involve God who waits eagerly for your supplications and recognition. He will give you the grace to manage your marriage beyond your wisdom and understanding. “Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain do its builders toil. Unless the Lord guards the city, in vain does the guard stay awake! It is in vain that you rise up early and stay up late, putting off your rest, toiling for your hard-earned bread, for he provides for his loved ones even when they are asleep.” Ps 127:1-2.

      When Joseph was dropped in a well by his brothers who later sold him, he did not get angry. And when Potiphar’s wife lied against Joseph he was jailed yet he did not allow anger to overwhelm him but at the age of 30, God made him a governor in a foreign country.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all” Ps 34:19.

      When you are doing the right thing at the right time, do not be afraid for God watches over you. Should unfortunate event come your way for doing good, God will deliver you. He will set you free someday. ”When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt; the hard trials that come will not hurt you” Is 43:2.  God does not lie! We saw how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego with an angel walked in the midst of fire (Dan 3:12-30). Daniel came out of the den of lion without being hurt (Dan 6:10-28).

     On two occasions, David had the chance to harm Saul who was after him but he refused to take his life. “Look, my father, look at the piece of your robe I am holding! I could have killed you, but instead I only cut this off. You know the old saying, ‘Evil is only done by evil men.’ And so, I will not harm you.” And Saul said to David, “How often does a man catch his enemy and then let him get away unharmed? The Lord bless you for what you have done to me today!” 1 Samuel 24:11, 13, 19.

    Jesus was betrayed by Judas but He did not pay him back. How many of us can endure like Our Blessed Mother Mary who witnessed all that happened to her Son in the hands of mere mortal men? On the way to Calvary, till they nailed Him to the cross, she watched as they humiliated Him. More so, she had the courage to stand under the cross even when blood and water gushed out of His body! She said nothing all this while, leaving vengeance for God! 

    “Be angry but do not sin; do not let your anger last until the end of the day, lest you give the devil a foothold” Eph. 4:26-27.  Make your anger so expensive that no one can afford it and make your happiness so cheap that people can almost get it for free.  When you are trapped by anger, you should slow down your speed, look unto Jesus who disagreed with Peter when he angrily struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear (Jn. 18:10-11). 

    Psalm 4:4 says, “Be angry, but sin not; commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything, every night before you go to bed. O Lord, give us the grace to forgive those who sin against us. On the cross, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” If you have no one to forgive today, then forgive John Esene for troubling you! BUT STOP KILLING OUR PRIESTS, PLEASE!