Should Fr. Louis Nwobi Leave Fr. Ehusani Alone?

By Val Obienyem*

Due to prior obligations, I had to attend the 5:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph the Worker today. Rev. Fr. Louis Nwobi, the priest who presided over the Mass, was in his element as he dissected the readings for the day. I was especially pleased when he encouraged the congregation to take pride in their Catholic heritage, not just through words, but by embodying the values for which Catholics are known, whether in private or public life.

At this point, Fr. Nwobi directed our attention to Fr. George Ehusani’s sermon. How can we do justice to a pen as powerful as Ehusani’s in such a short space? His career exemplifies Catholicism’s ability to attract exceptional men who can excel in any field. He speaks to Nigerians through his “Lux Terra” Leadership Foundation, usually in a warm and bright style, using carefully chosen words from his inexhaustible storehouse. In the sermon in question, he encouraged Catholics to consider the lives of Christian heroes from the early centuries and to emulate their heroic faith.

What was Fr. Ehusani attempting to say? We live in a permissive world where a 30-year-old man wakes up every day and starts pointing accusing fingers at the Catholic Church. How could 30 years comprehend more than 20 centuries? As a result, active conversation with those who lived through those centuries is necessary to become acquainted with them. The Catholic Church has given this gift to the world.

Indeed, we see enough of the 8 doctors of the church (36 now) he mentioned in the early days, including Athanasius, Basil, and Gregory Nazianzen in the East and Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great in the West. Before them, we had Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin, and Irenaeus, among others.

I agree with Louis and Ehusani; they are correct. Reading about the lives of these Christians is like having a conversation with them. It provides important insights into the origins of Christianity, the challenges they faced, and the principles they upheld. It offers inspiration, guidance, and a deeper understanding of the faith’s origins, thereby strengthening one’s own spiritual journey and connection to Christ’s teachings.

It is also beneficial to interact with new ones. I still enjoy Fulton Sheen’s sermons and the debate between Copleston and Russell about God’s existence and the nature of metaphysics.

In our context, Fr. Louis mentioned Fr. Ehusani; I now include sermons from Bishop Godfrey Onah of Nsukka, as well as my own Bishop, Paulinus Ezeokafor. His sermon at the Chrism Mass in Awka, where he sensed the large number of people from various places, emphasised all aspects of life, including speaking with the government about what should be done for the holistic upbringing of children. We also have the sermons of Fr. Blessed Mbang Njume and Fr. John Oluoma.

Yes, priests should listen to sermons from well-known preachers as well as one another and synthesise them for greater output. This is a beneficial collaboration in the Lord’s Vineyard. I am not referring to “Pentecostal priests’” sermons, which are annoyingly full of commercial metaphors and the display of account numbers. Priests with such an inclination may find guidance in Rev. Fr. Dr. Modestus Anyaegbu’s book “Vendors of the Gospel,” as they appear to be still searching in the dark.

It is fitting that we conclude our reflection with the question we began with: Should Fr. Louis Nwobi leave Fr. Ehusani alone? I believe he should not leave him alone. People like him should be listened to in order to learn more and contribute to existing knowledge for the continued edification of the church.