Use Easter period to pray for an end to pandemic – Bishop Agyenta

Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, has called on Ghanaians to seek the mercy of God during the Easter celebration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bishop said the world was going through difficulties and it required strong spiritual intervention to overcome the novel Coronavirus and the period of Easter afforded Christians one of fundamental weapons to seek the power of God in defeating the pandemic.

“Indeed this season is a period of special grace, during which not only our faith but our way of life as Christians have been put to the test because of the coronavirus. Our commitment to prayer, the practice of charity and self-denial has been and is being challenged by the present circumstances of the coronavirus,” Bishop Agyenta said.

The Bishop said this in a sermon preached on Radio in Bolgatanga, to mark this year’s Easter celebration.

Most Reverend Agyenta noted that the Easter celebration needed to be marked by religious favour and spiritual commitment from all Christians in order to stop the pandemic that had engulfed the earth.

“In the face of the coronavirus pandemic and the fight against it, we have been gradually led to distinguish between the things that are above and those things that are on earth. It means what is essential in life and what is useless, between what is permanent and what is contingent or passing, between what is absolute, what is eternal and what is merely temporary,” he added.

He said during the pandemic people had begun to realise that all the things of the earth they held dear to their hearts were contingent and it was necessary to seek the Kingdom of God.

The Bishop indicated that by nature Christians were resurrected beings during Easter and therefore it was imperative for all to seek things that were necessary including; the virtues of faith, charity and hope.

“Faith is certainly one of the things of the above because, it is the gift of God and we need to ask Him for an increase of it in these challenging times, when everything seems to be falling apart around us.

“Charity is another thing of heavenly origin because it is of the nature of God himself and it lasts forever and God we are told is love. In the present circumstances, our charity and love cannot afford to be exhaustible and limited. The present need of our country and around is so great and we need to respond sooner or later with very generous hearts”.

“Finally, hope is also from above because whatever the Lord promises, he would fulfil in due course. In the present difficult times we need to trust that he will not abandon us for he has promised that he will be with us till the end of time,” he added.

Whilst praying for the country to overcome the pandemic, Most Reverend Agyenta encouraged Ghanaians to trust in the Lord and observe all the health protocols being outlined.