Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity
of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria (1st October, 2016) on
the Gospel and the Solemnity
Is 11:1-10;
Ps 72:1-2.7-8.12-13.17. (R. v. 7);Eph 2:13-22;
Matt 2:13-15.19-23.
Today, the Universal Church celebrates the Memorial of
Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, but in Nigeria, this memorial is celebrated
on 3rd October. The Church in Nigeria celebrates today the Solemnity
of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria in commemoration of the
consecration of Nigeria to the Blessed Virgin Mary soon after the Independence
in 1960. Pope Saint John Paul II led the Church in Nigeria in the consecration to
Mary during his visit to Nigeria in 1982. Today also is Nigeria’s independence.
Topic: Consecrated to Mary.
In today’s gospel, after the wise men had left, an angel of
the Lord said to Joseph, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to
Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child,
to destroy him.” He did exactly as the angel instructed him and they remained
there until the death of Herod. Then the angel of the Lord appeared again and
told him to take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel. The fear
of Archelaus, Herod’s son who took over from his father coupled with the
warning he received made them to settle at Nazareth.
Saint Joseph being the husband of Mary and foster father of
Jesus Christ was among other things charged with the responsibility of
protecting the duo. Hence, in obedience to the angel, he took them to Egypt to
save them from Herod’s fierce anger. This in a loosely sense portrays the importance
of being consecrated.
On 14th February 1982, in Kaduna, Nigeria, while
leading in the consecration, The Holy Father prayed in part, “O Mother of all
individuals and peoples...I desire to consecrate and entrust to you, Mother of
the Church, in a special way, the Church in the land of Nigeria....”[1]
By this consecration, we pledged to be obedient to Mary. Certainly these words
jangle in some ears. But everything Mary wants from all her children is simple:
“Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5).
It is important to remind ourselves that everyone who does God’s will is a
child of Mary, cf. Rev 12:17. And the
love she has for all her children is unparallel, cf. Jn 2:3.
Our country Nigeria is bedevilled by various kinds of evils
right from her independence. They are far deeper than all the medicines already
applied, and the ones being applied today. Hence, no positive result so far. Often,
those who said that they look for others to cure are in worse condition than
the ones they said that they are curing or want to cure. We need to run into
the maternal protection of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria now more
than ever. The evils that bedevilled this country really need divine intervention.
Bible Reading: Jn 2:1-11.
Thought for today: Let’s take refuge.
Let us pray: Lord, we pray through the powerful
intercession of our mother to look kindly upon Nigeria that is bedevilled by so
many evils – Amen.
Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of
Nigeria – Pray for us.
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