The Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ankpa, Very Rev. Fr. Samson Adejoh, has urged Christians to stop focusing on what they lack and start sharing what they have.
Preaching on the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the cleric, who also serves as the Dean of Ankpa Deanery in the Catholic Diocese of Idah, delivered a compelling homily on divine providence.
Idah Stands Still as Kogi-Born Philanthropist, Prince Olatunji, Bags Ene-Umola Ata-Igala Title
He reminded the faithful that true Christian generosity is never measured by material abundance, asserting that no believer is ever too poor to extend a helping hand to a neighbor in need.
Addressing a packed congregation at the church, Fr. Adejoh charged all parishioners to examine their hearts and recognize that God has already equipped each person with gifts intended for the building up of the Church and society.
Drawing directly from the day’s Gospel—the miraculous feeding of the five thousand—the priest highlighted the stark contrast between human anxiety and divine grace.
Adejoh pointed out that when the disciples urged Jesus to send the crowds away to fend for themselves, they did so because they assessed their physical resources through a lens of human scarcity and concluded they had nothing meaningful to offer.
The preacher observed that the disciples fell into despair precisely because they relied on human calculation rather than placing their limited assets into the hands of Jesus. By viewing their five loaves and two fish in isolation, they failed to anticipate the miracle that unfolds whenever human limitation is surrendered to divine blessing.
He emphasized that the multiplication of bread was not born out of immediate excess, but out of total surrender. The miracle teaches every Christian family and parishioner that God does not require us to possess vast fortunes before He can work wonders through us; He simply asks for our humble willingness to bring Him what we have.
Delving deeper into the spiritual theology of stewardship, the homilist stressed that giving must never be restricted to monetary or material donations. He urged parishioners who lack financial riches to give freely of their non-material gifts—offering their time, wisdom, prayerful intercession, emotional support, and unconditional love to those enduring hardship.
Fr. Adejoh expressed deep concern over the paradox visible in many faith communities today, where the Church often lacks willing hands for essential social services and pastoral ministries, despite being filled with parishioners blessed with immense talent and capability. He noted that withholding one’s God-given abilities creates an artificial spiritual poverty within the parish.
Challenging the entire assembly to embody active compassion, the priest urged every member of the congregation to look around and share with those who are less fortunate. He emphasized that as followers of Christ, believers are called to be the visible hands of God’s limitless generosity in a broken world.
Building upon this spirit of Christian charity, the cleric underscored that spiritual faith must be matched with practical wisdom within the home and community. He reminded parishioners that building a resilient society requires addressing immediate suffering while cultivating long-term economic stability.
Consequently, the priest issued a strong pastoral call to all parents and guardians across the parish to prioritize practical skill acquisition and vocational training for their children.
Furthermore, he stressed that empowering the next generation with marketable tools is essential for fostering self-reliance and securing gainful employment in an increasingly difficult economic environment.
He reasoned that when families pair moral integrity with practical capabilities, they fortify the parish against systemic hardship. In doing so, the community transforms its perceived social and financial insufficiencies into collective strength and self-sufficiency.
Fr. Adejoh concluded his homily by charging the faithful to leave the sanctuary with a renewed mindset of trust and generosity. He reminded them that when human goodwill, individual gifts, and honest work are placed upon the altar, the Lord will bless, break, and multiply them until there is more than enough for all.
