SOLEMNITY OF MARY QUEEN AND PATRONESS OF NIGERIA: Homily by Fr Justin Adiele
THEME: “A CRY FOR HELP”
INTRODUCTION
Nigeria had a very sweet and interesting National Anthem which was used from independence in 1960 until 1978 when it was replaced with the current National Anthem, “Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey”. The former anthem goes thus:
Nigeria, we hail thee, our own dear native land. Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. Nigerians all are proud to serve our sovereign Motherland. Our flag shall be a symbol, that truth and justice reign, in peace or battle honour’d, and this we count as gain, to hand on to our children, a banner without stain. O God of all creation, grant this our one request, help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed. And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria shall be blessed!
Today we actually cry for help more than called to celebrate, because the beautiful lines of our anthem have all been broken by Nigerians. We especially cry and fly to the patroness of our Mother Mary; that these lines (Anthem) may reecho in the minds and consciences of all Nigerians, especially our leaders, to live up to our Anthem and pledge to our country.
THE FIRST READING (IS. 11: 1–10)
The first reading can also be seen as a cry for help, a cry and prophecy for a day of positive change when a shoot (a leader) will arise; who has the Spirit of God, good counsel, wisdom, knowledge and understanding in him; who shall rule and judge with righteousness, justice and equity. And who shall bring lasting peace and security among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And there shall be no more oppression, hurting or destruction in the land. And all the nations shall seek after this promising shoot (leader). This is exactly the cry and prophecy we need for the Nigeria of today; where bloodshed, oppression, intimidation, injustice, lies, bribery, corruption, political impunity, economic and judicial decay, insecurity, ruthless embezzlement, destruction and hopelessness have become the order of the day. We have suffered all these over six decades and are in dire need of a blessed and God fearing shoot or leader; a shoot that is characterized by purity, youthfulness, liveliness and hope.
THE SECOND READING (EPH. 2: 13–22)
In the second reading, St. Paul spoke of Christ as that shoot from the line of Jesse who would break down the walls and barriers disrupting the flow of love, unity/oneness, justice, peace, equality and joy in the land. The wall that needs to be broken down in Nigeria for things to go well doesn’t seem to be the wall of religion (Christianity and Islam), but rather the wall of tribalism, criminality, lies, greed and un-patriotism (that is, milking the nation to death). A social media presenter once said that he doesn’t think that Nigerian politicians live by the code of Christianity or Islam they profess, if not, they wouldn’t be perpetrating the evil they do in government and against the nation and the poor citizens. We must break down the walls of criminality, corruption and lies that are supported in any religion. We cry for help, and for the one shoot/leader who is determined to break down these evil walls in Nigeria.
THE GOSPEL READING (MT. 2: 13–15. 19–23)
After the cry for help in the first reading, after the prophecy of the coming shoot that would deliver a positive change, when the shoot arrived, the ‘Herods’ and people in high places did not want the shoot to take root. They wanted to eliminate the shoot by any means necessary. The shoot- Jesus had to flee to Egypt for survival while a lot of innocent bloods were shed. The funniest part was that even the people for whom the wonderful prophecy was made later rejected the blessed shoot and crucified him. We cry for help through Mother Mary, that the ‘Herods’ of our time and our ignorant citizens would never succeed in smothering or crucifying our saving shoot and hope.
CONCLUSION
Mohbad, who died under mysteriously circumstances at the age of 27 on the 12th of September 2023, like every typical Nigerian today, lived all his life in fear and not sure about tomorrow. In the lyrics of all his songs, you could hear his cry for help, cry for peace, and cry for survival having been through many things and plenty ‘fre-nemies’ of progress following him around. His cry is our cry today; and his end is the lot of many if nothing is changed in the way things are run in Nigeria. With Mohbad we cry on (unto) God through Mary the Patroness of Nigeria. We cry for help for Nigeria today, that our saving shoot would rise; that our evil walls or barriers be broken down; that we may see the dawn of good governance, justice, equality and fairness; that we may breathe the air of positive change and progress; that we may have citizens and leaders with the spirit and fear of God; that we may have genuine cause to celebrate our independence in joy/happiness and not in tears! Amen.
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin