By Rev. Fr. Jude Igho, St. Michael Parish, UmutuUmutu
Warri Diocese
A reflection on Philipian Chapter 4 Verses 1-9
The festive period of Christmas and New Year is characterised with a clarion call for Peace and love for which the saviour Jesus Christ came into the world.
Peace eluded the world with the fall of man and this was due to man’s failure to reciprocate God’s love for Him by obeying His commands. It is against this backdrop that God became man in Jesus to bring us peace and salvation, Gen. 3:1 ff, Jn 1: 1 ff ; 3:16. And so, whenever man fail God again, peace is far fetched.
While different Prophets also foretold of the coming of a messiah; it was an angel of God who related His arrival to the shepherd who watched at night when He was born.
The angel said; “Do not be afraid, listen I bring you news of great Joy . . . a saviour has been born . . . “ And suddenly with the angel was a great throng of heavenly host praising God and singing Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace to men who enjoy his favour.
It suffice to know that peace entails serenity, mind free from bitterness, enmity, rancour and good inner disposition. This is what God brought us through His son Jesus Christ. In the same vein, Jesus gave same message of peace to His disciples and others he appeared to when he rose from the death.
Also, St Paul enjoins us to stand fast in the Lord and that the Peace of God and the God of peace might be with us, Phil 4:1. Paul wants us to think of each other as ” true comrades,” who have something in common that transcends all petty differences. And so, we should be of the same mind and rejoice in the Lord always. Solidarity helps to make us stand firm in peace to fight against every enemy of peace.
Man can only have peace if we live together in harmony with one another, but that does not mean we do not or cannot have our diverse views on different issues either from the family, church or the society, but our utmost goal is to work together in harmony. This fact is clearer when we look at a picture of an orchestra made up of different people playing different notes, yet working together.
They harmonise and keep in time making beautiful music. With this, every musician enjoy the music because the whole orchestra is in together in rhythm, rhyme and harmony.
No doubt, some people may be apprehensive or anxious as the new year, 2019 begins coupled with the elections ahead, but St. Paul tells us to be anxious of nothing because anxiety create tension while tension creates aggression and aggression creates conflict and when people have conflict they lose faith, thus we need to be free from unnecessary anxiety, Phil 4: 5-7.
To trust in the Lord helps us overcome anxiety.This is where prayer, supplication and thanksgiving will bring us the secret of freedom from anxiety. ‘Oh what peace we often forfeit . . . all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Since we desire peace individually and collectively as a nation, political parties and their presidential candidates were highly encouraged to sign the Abuja Peace accord and this accord entails following the electoral laws and guide lines. Aspirants and party flag bearers are all expected with their members and supporters to abide with such guidelines before, during and after the elections.
The signing of the Peace pact presupposes they understood the tenets of the accord which will make them to accept the outcome of the election no matter who the winner maybe. At this point, a sincere heart with every intent and purposes is required/needed as it is cheaper to live in peace with our neighbours than live in war or settle crises. This implies that all violence of whatever sort must be avoided, like ballot snatching, thuggery, mob action against electoral officers, denying people of their franchise, to vote, vote buying that could lead to disaffection and crisis on the election day and so on.
We should know that election is not the end of life or should put an end to our good relationship because we remain friends, brothers and sisters of one family of one Nigeria.
To the media especially the social media, fake news should also be avoided since it can also bring disharmony, we should also remember that united we stand but divided we fall despite our divergence.
So the fear of the Lord should be our guiding principle in relating with one another whether in politics, economy, social, religion or business. This means that when we do our duty, play our role as citizens accordingly, then there is no need to be anxious which can of course bring us tension and aggression. We need not anticipate setback or shortfall in our private affairs nor in our elections, rather we need to do all we can within the law and according to God s will.
There is the need also, to back up our good actions with prayers, supplications and thanksgiving. Though some people anticipated, war, setback and division in the 2015 election due to the tension that precedes the election, but with fervent prayer and intercessions, God helped and saved us from shame and disgrace as the incumbent president simply conceived defeat, ( The path of peace).
It is a clarion call therefore, that all of us should tow the path of peace this new year and allow God to take control of our affairs and life which we are mere custodians. God Bless you and wishing a peaceful 2019.