By Olivia Obijiaku
Parish Priest of St Mary’s Parish, Samaru Zaria, Rev. Fr. Augustine Isek leaned on the readings of Sunday, February 23, 2025 in proffering easier ways to offer forgiveness to offenders.
He acknowledged that some enemies will always be there till death, as it was between Saul and David, and that some people suffer for their goodness, like David suffered in the hands of Saul for defeating Goliath for Israel.
The priest however implored parishioners to do away with the nature of Adam and imbibe the nature of Jesus the Son of God, so that forgiveness may become a second nature to them.
“By their fruits you shall know them.” Fr. Isek told them. “You will go wrong if you are not a man of the spirit. A man of dust will always retaliate and take advantage. He never forgives, and will kill everything that fights him. Those who are of heaven do not have the power to retaliate because something in them has disabled violence, because they are sons of God.”
“The man of heaven carries the nature of God. The nature of God does not take advantage. It is so powerful, that He keeps blessing the enemies. It looks like foolishness to keep blessing the person who is attacking you. But it is a demonstration of a child of God. A child of God is a bearer of the nature of God.
He is a man of heaven. Your attitude tells us where you belong.”
Fr. Isek spoke of the need to renew one’s mind, so that they may be transformed and align with the will of God. He also called for examination of one’s life, as of making the necessary change.
