Tag: #SundayVibe

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – ‘An Upright Man’

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Dear friends, Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, is around the corner. Barely three days from now. Yes, it is a joyful time. The lights are already up on the streets. The musical shows have already begun. But beyond the lights and sounds, the night of the birth would be marked by silence. A cold silent night. This points us symbolically to the need to go into our heart, the silent parts of us and renew our lives from the wealth of the messages that we have heard all through the Advent. This Sunday, the last Sunday of … Continue reading #SV – ‘An Upright Man’

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Come & Save Us

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

It is said that “the God who did not consult us without creating us, will not save us without consulting us.” Once we are created, we are given the gift of freedom. But this freedom is at the service of doing God’s will, which is for our own good, our own salvation, our own redemption. Cooperating with God is what we are called to do. This is especially the case with Christians. It is therefore disheartening to see Christians at the forefront of dehumanizing others. It is a shame to see Christians promoting injustice in the world, or even becoming … Continue reading #SV – Come & Save Us

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Utopia?

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

While preparing this piece of reflection last Friday morning, I was mortified as the news poured in concerning the ‘dance of shame’ that was happening in Nigeria. An activist, publisher and politician, Omoyele Sowore, who was arrested and incarcerated for 126 days for calling for revolution in the country, and who granted bail under stringent conditions, appeared in court that Friday, after he was released less than 16 hours by the DSS. In the court, the same DSS swooped in an re-arrested him, creating chaos in the court. Shame! Yet no one is ashamed. The President under whose watch human … Continue reading #SV – Utopia?

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV-Highest Mountain

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

It is the first Sunday of Advent and we are called to prepare for the coming of the Lord (Christmas). The prophecy of Isaiah alludes to mountain climbing, the encounter at the highest mountain, where the Lord establishes a kingdom of peace, love, righteousness and unity. Interestingly, the activities on the mountain, though spiritual, has political consequences. It has consequences on the relationship between/among nations. Rather than wars – nuclear war, tribal war, civil war, trade war, diplomatic war, and so on – peace, collaboration, partnership and friendship is to be the norm. It has consequences on the economic development … Continue reading #SV-Highest Mountain

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – The King’s Vinegar

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Well, as a leader it is not a enough that you are mocked. Being mocked is not a measure that you are on the right. But the questions are: Why are you being mocked? And who are the ones mocking you? Are you being mocked for doing the right thing or for doing the wrong things? Are you being mocked for defending the poor, the less privileged and for speaking for the oppressed? Or are you being mocked for making yourself a demi-god, silencing opposition, and privileging the rich and powerful like yourself? Are you being mocked by the poor … Continue reading #SV – The King’s Vinegar

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Modelling

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Recently, there is a viral video of a young boy who was expressing total disgust against the entire educational system (in Igbo language). For him, life has become so hard that if you are not a politician or a oversea scammer, then you have no access to what makes life enjoyable – money. When his interviewer suggested that he should stop thinking that way and focus rather on his education, the young boy retorted that ‘education is scam’, to use a popular street language in Nigeria. According to him, there is nothing there in the educational system. And he justifies … Continue reading #SV – Modelling