Christians in Nigeria have been urged to adopt a life characterised by love, sacrifice, and humility as they observe Good Friday with their counterparts throughout the world.
The call was made in the 2023 Good Friday Message delivered in Abuja, the nation’s capital, by Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja.
Archbishop Kaigama further described Good Friday as Good, saying because something Good has happened to the entire humanity.
According to him, “For Jesus, it was a period of torture and great mortification but he did that for a purpose, to save us from our sins. These he has done for us. So in appreciation, we commemorate very solemnly that event to offer appreciation and gratitude and to ask for strength from him, that whenever we suffer, we should remember that he has suffered already for us. Our sufferings are not meant to punish us, they are also a participation in the sufferings of Jesus Christ.”
Speaking further, Archbishop Kaigama prayed that “Good Friday be really good for all Christians, Nigeria and the world at large”.
John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Bishop Emeritus of the Abuja Archdiocese, urged Christians to emulate Jesus, whose death was intended to save all of humanity.
“There is no aspect of human life that is not touched by our religion, even dying is not as if it is an unfortunate accident, no, it is part of God’s plan that you live, pass stages of life and die innocently. So we must be part of the project and program of Jesus even when you are suffering, it’s not in vain, just be ready to live your life as a mission given to you by God”, Cardinal Onaiyekan added.
