Catholic Archbishop Urges Nigerians who have “lost faith” to Keep Praying for Country

Reflecting on the Biblical passage of the golden calf in which Moses interceded for the Israelites after they worshiped other gods, Archbishop Martins said, “I believe that God has sent us a story of the golden calf today and Moses’ response to assure us that prayers of intercession are not in vain and they have been shown to affect the cause of the life of nations positively.”

“God was so angry with them that in speaking with Moses he referred to them not as my people but as your people. He divorced Himself from the Israelites and was determined to destroy them and make a new people for Himself. Moses, on his part, stood in the bridge between them and the anger of God, pleading that God relents in his anger and stops the decision to wipe them out of existence,” said the Archbishop. 

The Local Ordinary of Lagos said in his reflection themed ‘The Importance of Being Witnesses to the Faith’, “Moses was the model of the faith that if we approach God in the prayer for intercession for other people, God will respond. He reminds us that our prayers and petitions can influence the cause of events.”

The Catholic Church leader added that Christians are called “to be witnesses to divine truth and the doctrines of our faith especially by our way of life.”

“As we strive to reflect the light of the love of God, and the truth in his message in words and action, our words and deeds will testify to the transformative power of faith in Christ,” Archbishop Martins said and added, “Let us try to be reliable witnesses, not just with our lips, but with the sincerity of our hearts, echoing the profound truth of our faith as we strive to live an authentic Christian life.”

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