By Chuol Jany
Fr. John Gbemboyo, a Catholic Priest and the Pastoral and Social Communications Coordinator at the Bishops’ Conference, has called on believers to submit themselves to God and to embrace the divine teaching of loving one’s enemies.
During his homily at the Secretariat on Monday, Fr. John encouraged the faithful to be guided by the will of God, referencing Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, who died for the sins of the world and overcame his enemies.
“When it comes to Christianity, submission is an integral part of Christian life. Jesus himself foretold his submission to suffering and torture, despite being the Son of God. Yet, he also promised that he would rise again. Without submission, such sacrifice would be unthinkable, and he made it clear to his disciples that he came with a mission,” Fr. John stated.
Addressing the workers at the Bishops’ Conference, he emphasized, “Your standard is different according to the teachings of God. When Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,’ it embodies the essence of submission. Loving your enemy often means surrendering personal desires for revenge. In ordinary terms, if someone persecutes me, I might be inclined to seek retribution, but Christ’s teaching calls us to a higher path.”
Fr. John, who also serves as the Director of the Catholic Radio Network, clarified that Christ never advocated for submission to sin, but rather for doing what is right to uphold human dignity. “It is only through faith that we can do everything with the power of God,” he said.
“As the people of this country, we are called to live as true children of God in our inner lives as Christians. We are called to aim higher, not merely focusing on evangelization, but on ensuring that our actions are rooted in respect and harmony, for it is through this that we can achieve true success,” Fr. John concluded.