Lessons of Ash Wednesday for Nigeria -By Rev. Fr. Bede Cajetan Okolie

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season mirroring the 40 days of fasting Jesus Christ spent in the desert where He endured temptation by Satan. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of the participants to the accompaniment of the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). Thus following the example of the Ninevites (Jonah 3:5) who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. They help us to develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice just like Jesus Christ who is an epitome of humility taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7) and sacrificing Himself to die on the cross for the salvation of mankind (1 Peter 2:4).

Today isn’t exactly the most enticing of Christian holidays; It has no beautiful decorations, no beloved carols or festive parades. There aren’t Champagne toasts or party tables laden with hams and roast goose, rather we just have some dirt smeared on our face and informed bluntly that we are dust and will die some day. This is coming in an era where so much effort goes into looking good, and working hard, and pretending we’re in charge of life and death.
It’s rare in our society today to admit out weakness, that we’re not in total control and that basically we are not omniscience like God. Factually too, given the din of advertising and political polemic and hype and doublespeak surrounding us, it’s also rare to escape the fantasy that money or science, fame or violence or shiny objects will somehow save us from death. What a relief to have a day when you’re just another person with a smudge of dirt on your head and beating your chest in remorse for sins.

It’s a day, when we bow our heads in humility and acknowledge the profound truths of our existence – “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes… ” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). One day in a year we get to stop, look at each other and acknowledge our limitations, weaknesses and mistakes. Like the people of Nineveh, there comes a time in the life of a nation that calls for sober reflection as the Greek philosopher Socrates reminds us that an unexamined life is not worth living.

Nigeria today sits on a keg of gun power. We have known war before now, but one wonders whether we have been so divided like this along ethnic and religious line with an alarming gap between the rich and poor. The General elections have further exposed the systemic rot in our society and body polite. The recent political campaign activities and utterances have been strange with a show of decay in our values. We are now so distant from one another that we fight as enemies. One wonders where we got it wrong that we have found ourselves in such an ethno-political crossroad and economic quagmire, a situation where elephants fight and the grasses suffer, a situation that has continued to breed frustration among the populace. We now live with kidnappers, armed robbers and suicide bombers making Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

Thus the entire Christendom and Nigerians in particular are invited to live this period as a pilgrimage of repentance, conversion and renewal. With the general elections shifted, there is no doubt of its negative impact socially and economically, yet it offers us an opportunity for reflection and conversion. Dusting oneself with ashes should be the penitent’s way of expressing sorrow for sins and readiness for a new beginning. We must purge ourselves of our iniquities, for everyone is guilty (cf. Rom. 3:25) Let us then refrain from the blame game peddling around and come together as brothers and sisters to rescue our nation from collapse.

As Nigeria is a highly multi-ethnic and religious nation, we must rediscover the beauty in our diversity. Efforts should be made to prevent sectarian apostles from manipulating either Islam or Christianity to heat up the society for their own selfish political agenda. Let our political elites realize the systemic damage going on presently and the culture of rascality being entrenched. They must shun the cankerworm of greed and insensitivity to the plight of the masses. They must conquer their pride and personal idiosyncrasies that instigate violence. We as Nigerians must collectively shun politics of bitterness that is filled with hate and violence. We must be humble enough to ask for forgiveness when necessary and learn to forgive one another. That is the essence of Ash Wednesday and Lent in general, to reconcile with God and our neighbours. Government on its part through its agencies like the National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Culture must show seriousness in promoting the unity and core values of Nigerian nation.

Election is a process of nation building that ought to produce leaders on merit with integrity, patriotism and fear of God. Thus Nigerians have the duty in conscience to vote Leaders after the mind of Jesus Christ who came to serve and not to be served and offered Himself as a ransom for Many (Mtt. 20:28) Christ further said that whoever wants to be great, must humble himself to serve.

Let us then see the Co-relation between the Lenten and political campaign. Each should give birth to a better and refined person, Christian and nation respectively. After the election, Nigeria must continue to exist as an indivisible entity. All hands therefore must be on deck to save this nation from imminent danger of collapse as speculated in some quarters. Our motherland has been soaked enough with the blood of the innocent and we cannot afford to continue threading on the path of destruction. We must always realize that we have a date with history and use this Lenten period to pray for the peace and unity of our nation so that the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain. May the Lenten fast purify us and refine our life. And may the peace and love of Christ be with us all. Amen

Rev. Fr. Bede Cajetan Okolie
St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Kubwa Abuja