As Lent begins, a member of the Dominican Order of Catholic religious has said fasting and prayer should push Nigerians toward active, peaceful change.
Speaking with our correspondent, the director of Dominican Media, the media arm of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Province of Saint Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana, Rev. Fr. Judemary Owoh O.P., described fasting as “spiritual surgery,” saying it helps people cut out greed and ethnic bias.
He urged citizens to adopt three public fasts: “Fasting from greed, fasting from tribalism, and silence to social injustices.”
Fr. Jude argued that leaders must stop making empty promises and citizens must stop staying on the sidelines.
Fr. Jude used the biblical story of Nineveh to make his point, stating how that city turned from violence after a collective fast, and he urged Nigerians to do the same.
“If we fast like Nineveh, we may yet see the merciful hand of God,” he said.
Fr. Jude also asked that all Christians adopt the stance of Prophet Daniel’s companion, who acknowledged the sins of the Israelites and offered their trials as atonement.
He called for humility and action, saying, “You cannot say ‘Our Father’ in the morning and then promote tribalism in the afternoon.”
He emphasised, however, that prayer should not replace action, and that it should instead strengthen people to demand justice, help the poor, and work for peace.
