By Regina Ingoro Osfaldo-Torit
Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Torit, Fr. John Opii Severino while giving Sunday’s homily at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral calls on believers to avoid boasting of their own tribes because such practice can threatened unity of the country South Sudan and may bring conflict He further calls on worshippers to look at each tribe as one.
Fr. Opii adds that each and every citizen has the right to be in leadership positions and in God all people are equal by nature regardless of ethnic background or races.
“Some particular people want to impose their own tradition, their own values on others, some people They want only their language to be spoken, some people say we are born to rule and you hear this kind of things and these are the sources of all conflict, if we impose our own tradition, our own values on others we are promoting conflict ,this three readings are teaching us about the presents of the holy spirit among us, that the holy spirit is our guide our counsellor ,and the holy spirit is the source of all happiness’ among us, the holy spirit is the source of joy and resurrection among us.”
The priest prays for the guardians of the Holy Spirit to inspire believers with the Spirit of togetherness, happiness and joy.
He calls on believers to maintain and promote the long lasting peace of Christ in family, community and the country as whole.
“Jesus is telling you never be afraid my peace I give to you, maintain this peace, promote this peace strengthen this peace let this peace be contagious among you, but are we following the command of Jesus Christ, live in peace in your family, live in peace in your community, live in peace in your country and you will be prosperous, that is the message of Jesus. we have hard and Jesus also says if you love me you will always follow me if you love me even if I am in difficulty you will always be with me, indeed for the person you love if that person is in prison you will go to visit them if that person is in the hospital you will to visit that person so this is what Jesus is telling us today let support each other if we love one another.”
Fr. John Opii Severino says having the peace of Christ among Christians helps strengthen and build good relationships with our brothers and sisters in needs.
The priest made the remark to the congregation during the second life Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral Church on Sunday.