The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, advised Christians and Nigerians in general to shun all forms of evil.

Mr Kaigama gave the advice in his homily to commemorate the 2024 Ash Wednesday at the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria, Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.

Ash Wednesday ushers in the Lenten season, which is characterised by 40-day fasting and prayers in preparation for Easter Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is marked with the blessing and administering of ashes on the foreheads of Christians.

The prelate also advised Christians to choose God over pleasure, adding that true religion goes beyond the recitation of prayer, attending Sunday or daily masses and belonging to a Church group.

He explained that the season calls for greater sacrifice, adding that pleasure doesn’t last, but God remain the same forever.

“He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. So it is better to choose God than to choose these earthly pleasures,” he advised.

Commenting on the significance of the 40-day prayers and fasting, Mr Kaigama expressed optimism that the exercise would bring about a transformed and renewed Nigeria

The archbishop, who admonished Nigerians, particularly Christians, to rejoice that the celebration of the feast of St Valentine coincided with Ash Wednesday, charged them to express their love for their friends, neighbours and, most importantly, God.

Mr Kaigama, who, however, expressed deep concern over the security challenges and high level of corruption and injustice in the country, called on Nigerians to turn a new leaf to avert God’s punishment like that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Let us avoid all forms of evil. This is the only way we will progress and grow.

”It is either banditry, kidnapping, corruption, political vandalism or injustice. We must stay away from all of these ills,” he advised.

Speaking, Collins Nnabuife described the Lenten season as an opportunity for Christians to return to God.

“This is the time to remind, recollect and reconnect ourselves with God and to renew our lives toward practising true religion,” he said.

Mr Nnabuife added that the act of putting the ashes on the forehead symbolises the fragility and mortality of the human race.

“Ash Wednesday is a day we are reminded that life is vanity, and we should make use of every time we have to do good.

“It reminds us that we came from dust, and from dust, we shall return. It is a time to reflect on our lifestyles.

“Coinciding with the Feast of St Valentine avails us the opportunity to share love with one another, especially the needy, and by doing that, we are also making peace with God,” he said.

(NAN)