By Olivia Obijiaku
The Rector of St Joseph Minor Seminary Zaria, Rev Fr Istifanus Katung has described Christians as step down transformers. He disclosed this at the Mass he celebrated in the school chapel on Monday 29th April 2024 where he also charged participants to share what they learn from the Church with others.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day, he explained that loving God should be evident in the love that people show to those who are closest to them even as he maintained that it is not enough to verbalize the love for God.“We are like step down transformers.” The priest intimated. “When we leave here, we should be able to step down whatever we receive here down to the barest level so that others will understand.
It is not just enough to come to the Church and go back home like that.Those of us who come for daily Masses cannot be the same with those who come for Sunday Masses alone, because you eat the Word and the Flesh on a daily basis.
This means that there are levels to our relationship with God. So there has to be a significant difference in your life. I expect to see an exemplary person out there.What is your relationship with your spouse, children, colleagues, boss, subordinates, and neighbours? Will they be proud of you because you are reflecting Christ? Can they trust you? Can they come to you when they have issues because they believe in you?It is in the love that we show our brothers and sisters that God sees that we love Him.
It is only when you love them that you can proudly say that you love God because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Charity begins at home.”Fr Katung acknowledged that keeping the commandments is easier said than done.
He told them that they cannot claim to love God without keeping His commandments conditioning that it is in doing the will of God that one is identified as a child of God.
