“The cross of Christ teaches us to look upwards to God” – Bishop Godfrey Onah

CBCN ORLU 2022: Update for Day-6

“The cross of Christ teaches us to look upwards to God” – Bishop Godfrey Onah

CSN News

Day-6 of the Bishops plenary meeting in Orlu began with the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and then the Holy Mass which was presided over by the Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah who doubled as the homilist. Being September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the homily primarily centered on the unifying and saving power of the cross of Jesus.

Explaining the significance of celebrating the cross, the Bishop noted that the discovery of the relic of the cross at a time in history was a testimony that the crucifixion of Jesus is a reality. Therefore, “the Church celebrates the redemption that was brought about through the cross.”Commenting on the readings of the day, the homilist noted that God did not remove the serpents that inflicted pain and death on the Israelites, rather He gave the people a sign to force them to look up. Thus, just as the Israelites were healed because they look upon the bronze serpent, Christians are saved by uniting themselves to Christ and looking up to Him on the cross. He pointed out that “very often when we are bowed down, bent and crushed by our sins and sufferings, we seem unable to get out of the quagmire because, rather than look up to God, we are constantly looking around us.”

Therefore, “in moments of darkness, suffering and pain like we are going through now in Nigeria as a Church, let us always remember to look up to the cross which is our source of salvation and victory.”

Moreover, the Prelate warned Christians to eschew the tendency of transforming the cross or the Eucharist into a piece of idol like the Israelites who later transformed the bronze serpent into an idol by worshipping and offering incense to it. He also cautioned against the danger of being more concerned with fixing crucifix on walls or adorning our necks with them, without planting it in the heart. Bishop Onah concluded by calling on Christians to strive to always be united with the cross of Christ which is what gives meaning to the suffering they go through in life. “Let us unite our lives, our sufferings to the sufferings of Christ so that we can find meaning. Let us always look up to Him especially in the darkest moments of our lives.” After the Holy Mass, the Bishops had their meeting sessions during which they deliberated further on many issues concerning the Church and the State. Tomorrow, September 15, feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Deo Volente, their Excellencies will hold few sessions in the morning after the Eucharistic Adoration, and later hold the closing Mass at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu, by 5pm. The communique of the conference will be read during the Holy Mass.