By Nna Anulumadu
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev Valerian Okeke has charged people of God to be witnesses to risen Christ by practicing real Christianity.
The Archbishop gave the advice while delivering a Homily during his pastoral visit to Holy family parish Awada Obosi last Sunday.
According to him, Christianity is all about knowing Christ and bearing witness for the risen Christ.
” If you have risen with Christ,your life will change.Knowing Christ goes with transformation of life. When Christ appeared before the apostles and strengthened them with the gift of the Holy Spirit,after His resurrection , His apostles who use to be afraid and live in fear, went out to the streets boldly and started preaching to the people about Christ”,the Archbishop said.
According to the Archbishop,”If you truly know Jesus , your life will change And you can know Christ well by partaking in the eucharist and going to church regularly . But when you join in perpetrating evil,then you have not known Christ. Always call upon on Christ”.
He further pointed out,”If you have known Christ, you will keep His commandments . As you keep His commandments , He will be blessing you .
You shall be His witness having known Christ and believed the mystery of His resurrections . In the society , if you behave like a Christian you are already bearing witness to Christ. When you do this ,your life will be a light : a light of love; a light of mercy ;a light of direction ; a light of help . When you are bearing witness to Christ , His blessings will be following you around. “
The parish priest Fr Jude Mgbeobukwa who spoke shortly after the Mass thanked the prelate for visiting them, describing his presence as an encouragement.
The parish catechist Egbusimba and Mayor Peter Dimukeje in their separate contributions expressed joy over the visit of the Archbishop stating that it will increase their faith in God.
Also, the parish CWO president Mrs Nwanneka Ezeudoye and Igwe Ifeanyichukwu Onwuka ( Igwe parish) in their similar remarks saw the prelate’s visit as a spiritual upliftment, positing that their Catholic community will witness new progress.
