The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba has reminded all Christian and leaders at all level that Lent season is a time for consecration and total surrender to God.
He stated this in his homily at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja on Wednesday 5th of March 2025 at the Penitential service of Holy communion and imposition of ashes making the beginning of the 40days fasting known as Lent in the Church year calendar.
Archbishop Ndukuba noted that there is a false mindset that we have grown up with that the period of fast is a period of trials but we all know that the lives of humans is filled with trails and non that comes to us is uncommon and the Lord that we put our faith in will not allow us to be tried beyond what we can handle.
“Lent season is not a time of trial but a time for consecration, a time we prepare our heart to be with God and holy before him”.
The Primate who took his message from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 opined that the Lent is a period of sacrifice, servanthood and eternal hope of glory. He noted that the Lent season starts with the Ash Wednesday; the imposition of the Ash on the faithful which is practice taken from the Old Testament as a sign of penitence, repentance and seeking of forgiveness from God.
For 40days the church has continued to celebrate the 40days of fasting, prayer and reading from God and the reason it’s 40 days was symbolic to what Jesus did. 40days and nights can bring about transformation and now the holy spirit is also here to help us. And as we behold God, this season we are changed from glory to glory.
Archbishop Henry added that right from the fall of man, sin leads to perishing but God gave Himself as ransom for humans not for us to live in guilt but for us to give our lives back to God. He noted that Jesus not only died but rose and Alive forever more and we enjoy forgiveness and redemption forever more. This is the salvation that the church celebrates this season in preparation for the feast at Easter.
The holy celebration of Easter is a time we prepare to celebrate the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Primate Ndukuba tasks leaders on sacrificial service
He said God expected everyone irrespective of position or status to make sacrifices exemplifying Christ who surrendered himself as a sacrificial lamp for the attornment of sins.
“This is where we called on everyone to serve dutifully and sacrificially in every place God has called us, weather in the office, in the farm, in the market, in businesses, in our churches or in our schools, let us do all to serve God and humanity, I prayed that all of us will look beyond the gains of this words to see the Glory of Heavens and prays towards having peace with God and having peace with one another.’
He therefore urged leaders at all levels to make positive sacrifices for the good of the nation without personal interest.
He said as living creatures, it is expected of Nigerians to serve God and humanity, therefore live an exemplary lives worthy of emulations.
According to him, “we learned to sacrifice, as Jesus himself came, to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many, we should learn from Jesus as Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, is a sacrifice, we will love to see our leaders sacrifice for the good of this nation.”
Primate Ndukuba therefore called on Nigerians to use the season to seek the face of God praying together, regardless of religious affiliations, foster unity and promote tolerance among different faiths in the country.
Korede Akintunde
CoN Communication Officer
6th March, 2025
