By Olivia Obijiaku
The Catholic Bishop of Zaria, Most Rev Dr. Habila Tyiakonaboi Daboh has described death as a change from the earthly to eternal life, for those who die in Christ. The bishop, homilist at the requiem Mass for late Rev Fr. Abraham Adamu Kuniat, which held in Our Lady’s Parish Independence Way, Kaduna, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, affirmed that though death is always painful, and sudden death even more so, the Resurrection of Christ is the hope of resurrection and the promise of hope to all who believe and belong to Him.
Acknowledging that the bereaved are free to mourn, he reminded the faithful that their sorrow must not be without hope, consoling that, his deceased classmate has gone ahead of the living to a place where nothing can harm him anymore. He referenced the first reading, Wisdom 3:1, in consoling that, “Fr. Kunat, having lived his life and more importantly his priestly life, is now in God’s hand, where no suffering or fear can touch him anymore. This is our Christian hope that beyond this life of pain and separation lies a future of eternal reunion in God’s presence.”
“Dear friends in Christ, this is the Christian truth and faith we hold on to. The grave speaks of loss, but Christ speaks of life. The world may tell us that death is the end, but faith tells us otherwise. When we look at death, we often see only an end, the silence of a voice we love, the absence of a familiar face, the empty space at the table. It feels final, but the Gospel tells us that it is not the end, but a passage. Christ, who conquered the grave, has the last word over life and death.”
“Though his death came suddenly, his life was well spent in God’s service. Our grief is the measure of our love for him, but remember that love is stronger than death, and that bond will never be broken. In our eyes, Fr. Abraham has expired, but I want to remind you that he is not dead, he is asleep. His life is not ended, but simply changed. Fr. Kunat has now gone to that place the Lord Himself prepared for him, a place of peace, rest, and everlasting joy.”
“Therefore, let our hearts be comforted. Fr. Abraham is not lost in darkness, but embraced in the eternal light of Christ. Death did not write the last chapter of Abraham’s life; Christ did, and His final word is resurrection, peace, and everlasting joy. Let our hearts be comforted. Death does not have the final word; Christ does. Let our faith in the resurrection sustain us in our present grief.”
“In my opinion, as a classmate of Abraham, he was simple and lived simply. He loved his priestly ministry, he loved the people he worked with, and he found joy in serving Christ through them. He was not a ‘notice me’ kind of priest; he avoided unnecessary conflicts and lived with a peaceful heart. I remember when he was released from the hands of kidnappers. When I went to see him, I expected to meet a man deeply wounded or broken, but instead, he spoke to me as if nothing serious had happened. That was his spirit, humble and deeply rooted in God’s providence. He did not let fear or bitterness take away his peace. Such a spirit is the mark of a true priest of Christ.”
Bishop Daboh consoled the Archdiocese of Kaduna, the family, parishioners and everyone who mourn Fr. Kunat’s demise, reminding them that he was a gift from God who has taken him at the time He did. He told the faithful that the sudden death of the clergyman is a clarion call to them all to be prepared at all times, because, “Today, it is our brother, tomorrow or even today, it could be any of us.”
