Some clerics on Monday urged Nigerians, especially Christians to intensify prayers and reflect on their lives during the Lenten period.
The clerics told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Lenten season was a period to intensify prayers for the country and Christians should reflect on their lives and make necessary amends with God.
The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Samuel Uche, called for continued prayers for peace, unity, social and political development of Nigeria.
According to him, Christians should pray more during Lent because through prayer we come closer to God.
“It is a time to pray more for our nation, for our leaders, for peace, for security, for progress in our economic and political lives.
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“The period of lent gives us opportunity to meditate on this love of God, on the suffering of Christ, on the difficulties that we are faced with as humans.
“To unite all those difficulties with Jesus Christ, to carry our own little crosses and follow Jesus who also carried his own on our behalf,’’ he said.
Rev. Fr. Stephen Akinsowon, Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Ikeja, Lagos State, urged Christians to use the period to reflect on their lives and make necessary amends with God.
“Lent is a season where we reflect on our lives and on our relationship with God and our neighbours; it presents to us an opportunity of 40 days of fasting, prayers, alms giving, charity and abstinence.
“It is an opportunity to deprive ourselves of some of those needs and desires of ours, so that we will have a better relationship with God in prayers.
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“It also provides for us the platform to reconnect and to renew our relationship with God.
“Lent is also an opportunity to reflect on the sufferings of Christ and anticipate the celebration of the paschal mysteries at Easter,’’ he said.
Akinsowon said that Nigeria would be greater if Nigerians renew their relationship with God.
“Nigeria is a great country with great people, but Nigeria will be greater if we get reconnected and renewed our relationship with our God and our neighbors.
“It is important for us to use this period for sober reflection, to reflect on our past and see how we can be better engaged in the future.
“God loves Nigerians and we cannot afford to misuse the opportunity he has given to us to be transformers of our own society,” he added. (NAN)
