A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr Ambrose Anene, has urged Christians to shun greed, materialism and any form of attachment to the world.
Anene made the call in his homily to mark the first Sunday of Lent at St Charles Lwanga Parish, Apo, Abuja.
Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Catholic liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later before Easter Sunday.
Anene, a Priest of Abuja Archdiocese, said materialism is a trap (temptation) to lead Christians away from gaining eternal life.
“Temptation comes from what we desire most; the devil will not tempt you from what you don’t like or what you don’t need, he tempts you with what you need most,’’ he said.
Preaching on the Gospel of Luke, Chapter four verses one to 13, the Priest said Satan tempted Jesus with food, what he needed most after His 40 days fasting and prayer.
He said the first temptation of Jesus in that passage should be a lesson to Christians that the greatest temptation could be from what to eat.
“The theory of consumerism seeks for increase in the material wealth, this explains the reason why people seeks for materialism and pleasure to satisfy needs.
“This also explains the desire to watch pornography and the desire to use social media all the times; these are causing distractions, especially for youths,’’ the priest said.
Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.
Anene said Christians should learn from the second temptation of Jesus in that passage by shunning ill- gotten wealth.
“Some people kill in the society to get wealth and power; some even enter secret cults for the reasons, these are the things Satan uses against them, ’’ he said.
The priest further encouraged Christians to be rooted in the scripture, saying “the word of God is a strong weapon to defeat the devil.
“You need to equip yourselves with the Bible because Satan knows the word of God as well.
“Satan quoted the scripture- Psalm 91 verse 11- in third temptation for Jesus Christ by telling Him to fall from high pinnacle and that the angels of God will guide Him.’’
The priest, however, gave three weapons of prayer, studying and avoiding alluring occasions to overcome the temptation of Satan.
“Prayer will help you to overcome temptation; when you pray, you get extra power to overcome the devil.
“Read the scripture; if you don’t read the word of God, the devil will use the same word to tempt you.
“Also, avoid occasions and people that will make you fall into temptation; say no to bad friends and bad relationships,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, repentance of sins, alms giving, and self-denial. (NAN)