I would like to begin this reflection by wishing everyone Happy New Year! It is my pleasure to join millions round the world to celebrate the dawn of this year. We all waited with great anticipation for the ending of the previous year 2020. Which would be regarded in the annals of history as a Pandemic Year with global lockdown. The Year of solidarity between countries and cultures as a result of the lockdown. The year that saw great political upheavals locally and internationally: In faraway America, we saw the gruesome murder of George Floyd and the aftermath protest that ensued, the presidential elections in the US that has demystified its sacredness and its integrity. At the beginnings of January 2020, we witnessed the kidnapping of four seminarians at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary Kaduna that resulted in the death of Michael Nnadi. We have lost count of the spate of killings by Boko Haram, Bandits and Kidnappers. We witnessed the ENDSARS movement and its tragic ends at the Lekki Tollgate.: These are infinitesimal highlights of the just concluded year. It is our hope and prayers that this New Year 2021 brings with it lots of blessings and good tidings through Christ our Lord Amen.
In the wake of the 2020 Corona Virus outbreak, I wrote a reflection titled “A blessing in disguise” published on the 26th of April 2020, in some online and print media newspapers including The Daily Trust Newspaper. In my reflection I noted the following: As 2019 rolled to the end, no one could predict that a pandemic was in stock for us. Corona Virus was first reported to the world Health Organization on December 31st 2019. In Nigeria, public worship in the evening or night of December 31st is popularly referred to as ‘cross-over nights’. The night is filled with vigils and prayers to launch people into the New Year. Some churches have maintained a simple but profound liturgy of thanksgiving to God with moderate praises and worship. Some churches use the ‘cross over service’ to offer predictions about the incoming year; as evidence of their communion with God. Oddly enough Corona Virus blind-sided all who made predictions for 2020”.
As we journey into 2021; as usual many men and women of God will be making predictions and conveying to their flocks what they may have heard from God. We can’t dispute that. On a deeper thought, as we gracefully watch the end of the just concluded year; we have learnt a lot. And one of the lessons that comes handy is: Your ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8). The ways of God defies most human logic. We see this in the birth of Jesus, when the Angel Gabriel announced his birth to Mary. (Luke 1:26-38). That was a classic example of God acting independent of human effort. The ways of God too sometimes obeys human logic, using such logic to teach eternal wisdom. For example God entrusting the care of Jesus to Joseph and Mary his earthly parents; (Mathew 2:13-15). Signaling the normal environment that children should grow and find true love and peace. This wisdom is in direct opposition to the 21st century philosophies of Gay and Lesbian parenting of children. The 2021 is a year that is pregnant with what I don’t know. All we can hope and pray for are the blessings that are in it. As the Lord told Moses, I repeat with you all the prayers he offered to the house of Aaron: “May the Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:22-27).
After all the prayerful wishes for the coming year, and the brief recap of the tumultuous previous year, there are prophets that got my attention from the scriptures to history. If anything this coming year, let such prophets arise to speak truth to power. As we are witnessing a severe hemorrhage, in our social, economic and family life. As a result of bad governance.
In the book of Prophet Amos: who was equally known as the prophet of doom; he addressed mainly the Northern Kingdom where Israel had one corrupt leader after another, and Judah had ups and downs. His message was simple but profound. That corrupt leaders who malign and oppressed the poor ones will be chastised. He levied charges against leadership of the land and portrayed rulers as irresponsible for using their offices to betray the people and enrich themselves. The judges accept bribes and the fake prophets turn religion into business. For these irregularities, Amos portends that calamity will fall upon the nations and therefore, calls the leaders to righteousness and equity. Amos was gruesomely persecuted for daring to speak truth to power.
Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket lived between 1119– 1170. Was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a Saint and martyr by both the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion. He engaged in conflict with Henry II of England, over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after his death, he was canonized by People Alexander III. A rift grew between Henry and Becket as the new archbishop resigned his chancellorship and sought to recover and extend the rights of the archbishopric. This led to a series of conflicts with the King, including that over the jurisdiction of secular courts over English clergymen, which accelerated antipathy between Becket and the king. Attempts by Henry to influence the other bishops against Becket began in Westminster in October 1163, where the King sought approval of the traditional rights of the royal government in regard to the church. This led to the Constitutions of Clarendon, where Becket was officially asked to agree to the King’s rights or face political repercussions.
Over the centuries, there have been men of God who have had big issues with the powers that be because they dared the government. The church in communist China has dozens of bishops still in captivity, Cardinal Van Thuan of Vietnam spent years in solitary confinement because he confronted the oppressive regimes of the communist and socialist regime of his country. Fethullah Gulen of Turkey is among the few Islamic thinkers of the 21st century that have spearheaded a movement of positive change through activism and a demand for justice and reform in his country. His efforts have been met with state power of oppression and a threat to his life. He has since been living in exile in the United State. Totalitarian regimes everywhere act the same. Nigeria is not an exception.
In this year 2021, we appeal to all religious leaders from the two dominant religions to use their good offices to speak constructive truth to power. This country belongs to all of us. By our calling as spiritual leaders and gadflies, our role is to unsettle the dirty waters that has stopped flowing, thereby causing pungent smells that has become cancerous at its inhalation. The Christmas message of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Mathew Hassan Kukah. Who dared to call a spade a spade by addressing the security challenges of the country and calling the government to give an account of her inaction should serve as a standard to us all religious leaders: sometimes It is very difficult to rise above religious sentiments in such moments but that should be the spirit of 2021 if we must get the country that we all desire to have. We commend with deep appreciation Muslim professionals and academic bodies who felt the message of the Bishop should be a national wakeup call that should trigger a positive change.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS!!!
Fr Stephen Ojapah is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul. He is equally the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, a member of IDFP. He is also a KAICIID Fellow. ([email protected])
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