PALM SUNDAY: Cleric Charges Christians To Be Christ-Like
By Queenett Irori
EFFURUN/Nigeria: Anglicans have been asked to take after the lifestyle of Jesus Christ.
This charge was given by Venerable Friday Ejemrae, the vicar of the church, in the Palm Sunday service that was held today in St Stephen’s Anglican Church Jakpa Effurun in Uvwie local government area, in commemoration of the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ.
The Palm Sunday which is a Christian feast, usually falls on the Sunday before Easter, an event that commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Usually mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week.
The Venerable who took his message from Mathew 21 verses 1-3, and titled his sermon as “The Lord has Need of It,” enjoined Christian to make themselves available in the vineyard of Christ.
He encouraging all to be useful in enhancing and promoting the work of Christ, pointing out that even if we decide to ignore our duties in praising and worshipping God, just as the Pharisees asked Jesus to stop the people from praising him when (the people) were shouting” Hosanna in the highest,” during the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ, he said; God is capable of making dust and other inanimate objects to praise Him.
While illustrating the adverse effects of not yielding to the call of God in our lives, Venerable Ejemrae explained that calamities, as it was with Jonah who was fleeing from the instructions of God, while initially refusing to preach to the people of Nineveh, will be the reality of people who refuse to acknowledge God’s call.
“God will however, establish and honour those that submit to his will both here (earth) and heaven,” he stated.
Highpoint of the service was when palm fronts were raised up and prayed on by the priest, before it was used in praising and singing “Hosanna in the highest.”
