By Olivia Obijiaku
Christians have been reminded of their identity as the chosen people of God. The Dean of Samaru Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Rev. Fr. Patrick Atama, gave the reminder during the Mass he celebrated in Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Thursday, May, 28, 2026. He hinged his homily on the first reading on ‘the chosen race and a royal priesthood’ in re-orienting participants that they are not meant to join the crowd, if they cannot beat them,
The clergyman referenced the blind Bartimaeus in the day’s Gospel who defiled the crowd, that was shouting him down, to beckon on Jesus for his healing, in cautioning them against allowing the crowd to mislead them from following God and His will for their lives. He proffered struggling as Bartimaeus did and maintain their faith in God.
“We are a chosen race and a consecrated people who are supposed to stand out.” The clergyman affirmed. “We have been chosen by the Lord. But today, many of us follow the crowd and miss following the way of the Lord. The crowd will not always give you what you need. Sometimes they will support you, sometimes, they will criticize you, like the crowd that followed Jesus Christ.”
“When He was entering Jerusalem, they were singing hosanna for Him. Then on Good Friday, they shouted crucify Him! So, do not mind what the crowd will say, but what God wants from you. Bartimaeus showed strong faith in God and he received his sight. He was struggling to see and the crowd tried to silence him. But he remained focused on Jesus. Be careful with the kind of voice you listen to. Do not always follow the crowd.”
Fr. Atama noted that some Christians are afraid of standing out. He encouraged them to exhibit such strong faith as Bartimaeus’ because, “If you follow the negative things that people are saying about your challenges, you will lose your faith.”
