Archbishop emeritus of Ibadan, Most Rev Dr Felix Alaba celebrated High Chief Tom Ikimi on his 80th birthday with a call on him to take encomiums from human beings with a pinch of salt.
The Archbishop emeritus in his homily at the thanksgiving Holy Mass held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City, Edo State capital, admonished Christians to reflect on the importance of their existence by asking the question, “What is life?”
While enjoining Christians to see life as not merely for pleasure and acquisition of wealth, but rather, a journey to express love, service to humanity and God with sincerity, Bishop Alaba said: ; “As we celebrate today, many good things have been said about the celebrant, High Chief Tom Ikimi. In all of these, I will advice the celebrant to take these encomiums, these praises, with a pinch of salt because men only say good things about us when they see us, and when they stand before us, rather you should continue to serve God and take the things of God serious.
“God created man to love and serve Him because man was created in the image and likeness of God.
“The celebration of your 80 years on earth should be about how far you have known, love and served God who created you, that is the essence of your journey in life.
“At 80 years, you should be singing; ‘Nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee’, because you must have sincerely fulfilled your purpose of why God created you, by knowing, loving and serving Him.
“It is not about the number of days you spend on earth but it is how you dedicate yourself to God and humanity.
“Arm yourself with the grace of God, by sowing seeds of generosity, love and service to humanity,” Archbishop Alaba admonished.”
Present at the church service Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi. Delta State Governor was represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme.
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