Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized12 Comments

Religious Terrorism and the Hatchet Job of Politicians

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

On Easter Sunday, 21stApril 2019, 8 coordinated terrorist attacks took place in 3 churches and 2 hotels in Sri Lanka, killing many Christians and visitors. As a result, about 290 people died and over 500 injured. The sight of the remains of kids who had come to church on that fateful Easter Sunday for their First Holy Communion but ended up dead was very unsettling. Of all the reactions, particularly on Twitter, from some prominent American politicians, such as Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren, Julián Castro and Hilary Clinton, Christians who were main victims of the attacks were simply referred to as … Continue reading Religious Terrorism and the Hatchet Job of Politicians

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Solidarity Lifestyle

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

The passage from the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47) is so apt for the situation that the world is facing today, that I consider it important that we take a closer look at it once again. Read it in the light of the challenge that faces the church in this period of global crisis. Read it in the light of the fragile situation of international solidarity at the moment – with nations closing off boundaries, and WHO defunded, xenophobic and racist attacks. Enjoy: Communal Life.* 42y They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to … Continue reading #SV – Solidarity Lifestyle

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Alleluia?

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Faith is more about how we believe than it is about what to believe, Richard Rohr reminds us. And this attitude is important at a time like this. How do we exercise faith in the face of the pandemic? How do we believe in the face of global suffering and difficulty? How do we respond to God at a time like this? If faith a relationship with God in which the darkness and light are constant elements – whereby the light continually overcomes the darkness of our lives, the uncertainty of our future, the hopelessness of the moment, and the … Continue reading #SV – Alleluia?

Uncategorized4 Comments

From Calamity to Ecumenism

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Act 1, Scene 1: October 16, 2019 – tanker fire incident at Ochanja market! Act 2, Scene 1, 2, & 3: Few days after the fire incident, precisely on November 3, 2019, the maverick controversial General Overseer of Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention, Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as ‘Odumeje’ donated 4 million to the victims in a dramatic form, very characteristic of him. The Anglicans also donated a sum of 10million Naira. But before them, on November 19, 2019, the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha donated 27million Naira to the victims. The official Facebook page of the archdiocese states that the amount … Continue reading From Calamity to Ecumenism

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Who is this?

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Humility and simplicity are virtues that are sometimes rare in our world today, even among religious leaders in the church. Yet, this is one of the greatest human examples that Jesus left for us. Incarnation was all about the humility of the Son of God. The betrayal, passion and crucifixion of Christ are all about a humble surrender to God, in allowing oneself to be immolated for the life of the world. What other lesson can we easily learn? Instead, most preachers of the Word have focused on power: the power to do miracles, the power to cast and bind, … Continue reading #SV – Who is this?

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Glorious Misfortune

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

God does not remove the storm. God rather guides us through the raging storm. The birth pangs have always remained part of a mother’s experience. Yet, the praise of God resounds at the birth of a child. Sometimes the mother may not even live to see this joy. Sometimes the mother and child do not live through the pangs. Joy and sadness often seem intermingled, so also love and hate, good and evil. Jesus asks us to focus our minds on the glory of God, which the Spirit speaks to us in the midst of all our troubles, trials and … Continue reading #SV – Glorious Misfortune