AS Catholics all over the world mark Ash Wednesday, a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Hilary Ibegbulem, has tasked Christians to know that it was an opportunity given by God for them to repent from their sins and to sin no more.
In his Homily shortly before administering ashes on the foreheads of Christians at the Catholic Church of the Ascension, Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday morning, Fr. Ibegbulem stated that it was a call by God for His children to abandon their evil ways and turn to Him.
He emphasized, that Ash Wednesday, signaled the beginning of the Lenten season and admonished Christians to avoid occasions of sin and draw closer to God.
“Return to the Lord with all your heart; today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season; a period for us to ask God to forgive our sins
“Sin is wrong and like the prodigal son, we should return to God and tell Him that we are sorry
“We should ask for His forgiveness and His blessings
“God has asked us to return to Him
“God is asking that we should tear our hearts, inward repentance, not just an outward show that we are sorry for our sins.
“We begin by putting on Ash on our forehead, a sign of repentance, a way of telling God that we are really sorry for our sins and we should try not to go back to our sinful nature after repentance.
“We should turn away from sin and resolve to do right.
“Ash also signifies that we are dust and dust we shall return to.
“The three pillars of Lent, prayer, fasting and almsgiving, should be adhered to and we should give arms properly, not by making it known to others so that we can get the reward from God.
“This should be an opportunity for us to go back to God,” Fr. Ibegbulem said.
The Holy Mass featured the marking of the forehead of Catholics with ash by Fr. Ibegbulem assisted by Rev. Fr. Victor Ijeh.
By FIDELIS EGUGBO
