“ I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 6th May 2024 – JOHN 15:26-16:4.

So, how can man, a creation of the Creator arrogate on to himself the onerous rights, task and privileges to think for and act on behalf of the Almighty God.

But, isn’t it already happening?

When ‘Boko Haram’ insurgents besieged a girls secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State and kidnapped over a hundred girls, the brave Leah Sharibu was one of them. This is what one of the girls who later regained her freedom said of her:

“One of the freed girls, Khadija Grema, confirmed that the terrorists decided to continue to hold Leah because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.”

In our various neighbourhoods, what happens when some of us accost minors in unusual behaviour? We quickly attribute such attitude to witchcraft and pass a summary judgement on such little children.

So, also it is with some church leaders, especially (but not only them) of the women folk. When their daughter gets pregnant out of wedlock, they insist and ensure and abortion, just so as not to bring the name of the church and of their supposed ‘god’ in disrepute.

When someone eminently qualified for a position is denied such job, in favour of another who is supposed that is of the same religion with us, then, we have ‘killed’ that person to supposedly impress our supposed ‘god’.

Whenever we jettison the competence of people vying for elective positions but rather dwell on their religion, then we have taken a position to supposedly impress our ‘god’.

Some of us have unfortunately fallen victims of such attitude. Some unfortunately fatally and otherwise are lucky to tell their tales of woe.

I must assure us that, so long as we still draw breathe, we are bound to still have such bitter experiences at some point in our life, in one way or another.

This may not necessarily be life sentence or life threatening. Even when one is discriminated upon or treated unjustly on account of religion, then, we too, have become victims of such ill practices.

Nevertheless we have solace in the Scriptures – “Do not be afraid of what will happen to you. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you and there will be ten days of trials. Remain faithful even to death and I will give you the crown of life.” – REVELATION 2:10.

Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo