By Olivia Obijiaku
The Chaplain of St Andrew’s Catholic Police Chaplaincy, MTD Zaria Rev Fr. Emmanuel Chijioke Igweokpala has identified discontentment as a major trigger of jealousy. The priest who made this known at the Mass he celebrated at the chaplaincy on Sunday, 15th December 2024 observed that many people get stuck in analyzing the blessings of other people rather than appreciate what God has blessed them with.
He also told participants to give honorably to God and to extend generosity and assistance to the poor and the needy.
“Let us be contented with what God has given to us.” He encouraged. “Many of us are not contented. We want to be like the other person. Today, the Lord is telling us to be contented so that we can be happy and receive more good things from Him. It is discontentment that leads to jealousy. You need to be happy and satisfied with whatever God has given to you before praying to the Lord for increase. If you are contented with what you have, you will be happy to receive Jesus at Christmas.”
“If God has blessed you, He expects you to give Him in return. When you give Him in return, you are lending to Him so that He will replenish you and ease your burdens. God has blessed each one of us with one thing or the other but when it is our turn to give Him back, we look for the least denomination. Many of us find it very difficult to give to God and to the poor. We think that we will be poor when we give out. I want us to change this orientation.”
“Learn to be a giver. Bless people’s lives. But do not expect those you give to give you back or sing your praises. When you give, allow God to bless you and the works of your hands. Do not take undue advantage of people. A rich person today can be poor tomorrow and a poor person today can be rich tomorrow. Do not rob people because of your position, status or possessions.”
Fr. Igweokpala cited teachers as people who attain their goals through consistency in little things. He then called on the faithful to emulate teachers whose little drops of saving empowered them to acquire landed and other properties and to see their children through tertiary education.
