Clerics appeal for peace as Christians observe Holy Week

Ven. Shola Igbari, an Anglican cleric, has appealed to Christians to maintain peace with their neighbours during the Holy Week this came also as Rev. Fr. Henry Kwasu, another Abuja-based priest, advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of forgiving and praying in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Igbari, on Sunday, in Abuja said that the holy week was a “time for prayer, penance, reflection and spiritual works’’.

The holy week, the last week of Lent in the orthodox Christian calendar, begins with the Palm Sunday celebration, culminating with Easter Eve or Holy Saturday.
Igbari enjoined Christians to pray fervently for peace and security in Nigeria following the recent wave of terrorist killings in some parts of the country.

On the significance of the Palm Sunday celebrations, the cleric said it marked “victory for the nation over our challenges.
“It is the triumph of good over evil, and a wake-up call for Christians to work together and ensure lasting peace in the country.’’
Igbari, who is the Vicar of St Matthew’s Anglican Church at Maitama in Abuja, also appealed to Christians to use the holy week to offer help and assistance to the less-privileged.
Cleric urges Nigerians to cultivate habit of forgiveness, prayer
Rev. Fr. Henry Kwasu, an Abuja-based priest, has advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of forgiving and praying in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Kwasu, who is of the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya in Abuja, gave the advice on Sunday during the celebration of Palm Sunday at the church.
He said Nigerians should also endeavour to pray for their enemies.
“The betrayal by a relation or close friend is more painful, but we must learn to forgive them, no matter the pains this may cause. Forgiveness is the only thing we owe them.
“We should also pray for our enemies, and we should stop praying for them to die because Christ forgave the people that crucified him,’’ the priest said.
Kwasu advised those passing through hard times to be patient as “the Lord will answer them in his time’’.
The priest cautioned Nigerians to “avoid doing bad things in order to make ends meet.
“For those who are undergoing suffering, calm down, the Lord will reward you in due time.’’
He said prayers and fasting should be part of people’s lives as they make the person spiritually strong to overcome temptations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.
During this, palm branches were placed on his path, before his arrest on Holy Thursday and his Crucifixion on Good Friday.
Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of lent when Christians celebrate the mystery of their salvation through Christ’s death and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.(NAN)