We must all Embrace the Gospel of Peace

We must all Embrace the Gospel of Peace

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Alao, the Associate Priest of St. Agnes’ Parish, Wuye, has called on all the faithful to embrace the gospel of peace and to make themselves available as the instruments for the propagation of peace.
Fr. Alao made this call recently at the event marking his thirty-fourth birthday anniversary celebration, in Wuye.
In the contemporary world, where fighting, insecurity, killings, hatred and all sorts of atrocity in the name of religion have become a norm, Fr. Alao on that joyous day of his life said, “There is no amount of peace, however small, that will not in any way translate to progress. Once you have peace; definitely, there will be progress”.
For the perpetrators and perpetuators of the foregoing social vices, he admonished them saying, “For those who get involved in criminality, it is not so much as the attacks and the injuries they are inflicting on their victims, but much on the fact that they themselves are actually truncating that part of progress in their lives”.
According to him, “Peace is the option that everybody must embrace. No matter who has offended you, no matter what you have been denied, once you embrace peace, you will actually promote progress”.
He therefore called on those who pick up arms to defend their right to put down their arms and embrace the option of peace that leads to progress and prosperity.
Regarding his most significant achievement over the thirty-four years of his journey on earth, he pointed out that“There is nothing greater than the gift of the priesthood and being a priest is the greatest gift and there is nothing more significant to me than being a priest and still remaining a priest up till today.”
“I thank God for the gift of life, love, friendship and vocation. It has actually made me to see myself as a servant of the people. It has always been my mission to serve the people. I thank God for the gift of this vocation and I pray that he continue to nurture that gift in me so that the spirit of service will really be a fundamental principle in my life”. He added.
However, he stated that were he not a priest, he would have been acting on the stage because he had the option of being an actor.
One specular thing about the event was the turn-out, which was very wonderful, considering that people were just returning from holidays. According to Fr. Alao, the turn-out is an evidence of the love and unity existing in the parish.
“One fundamental thing I so much appreciate about this parish is the fact that it is a church where you have a strong bond of love, and what we are doing is not just my celebration but a celebration of love and oneness that is evident in this parish: a celebration of a family united in love”.
Heappealed to the parishioners to continue to live as brothers and sisters, to embrace peace as a way of life and to continue to live as one.
Fr. Alao, who has made tremendous effort to help the youths discover their true vocation in life by organizing a weekly forum on relationship and leadership in his parish, expressed his visions for his youth, “I always believe that the youth period is a period where you bring out the best in you, and in bringing out the best in you, you must be able to reflect on the particular vocation God is calling you to”.
He continued saying “If God is calling you to the priestly life, commit yourself to it; if He is calling you to a religious life, commit yourself to it; and if He is calling you to a marital vocation, make sure you have a wonderful time of planning and choosing the right person and living out the meaning of the marital vocation.”
On a final note, he advised the youths not to take their vocations in life for granted, “My word of admonition to our youths is the fact that they must give in their best, understand the vocation that God is calling them to, and commit themselves totally to it.”