AT ST. MALACHY CATHOLIC CHURCH, SAPELE. BY REV. FR. DANIEL EVBOTOKHAI
1. Introduction: A Gospel of today (Matthew 5:13–16) is a good point of departure as we reflect and celebrate the 10ᵗʰ Priestly Ordination Anniversary of REV. FR. ORJINTA O. Orjinta (Matthew 5:13–16) Fr. Orjinta “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” The same goes for all of us believers, we cannot hide. Why do people hide?
1.1 Fear of rejection: People hide because they are afraid of losing approval, friends, followers, or relevance. You hide to do things so that people we not know your true colour and reject you! MANY PREFER ACCEPTANCE BY THE CROWD OVER FAITHFULNESS TO CHRIST. When human approval matters more than divine approval, faith is kept private. “For am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God?” (Galatians 1:10)
1.2 Inconsistent lifestyle: It’s easier to hide than to explain a life that doesn’t yet align with the Gospel. BELIEVERS HIDE NOT BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS GONE, BUT BECAUSE SHINING HAS A COST.
1.3 Refusal to change: When life no longer matches confession, hiding feels safer than repentance. Many don’t want to repent, so they prefer to hide. When you tell a child to stop smoking, rather than change, he hides from you.
1.4 Shame of scandal: Shame of scandal is the fear of being exposed because one’s public faith no longer matches one’s private life. When believers fall into sin, compromise, or hypocrisy, they often hide to protect their image rather than repent. Jesus warned about this when He said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:20). Jesus exhorts saying John 8:12 I am the light of the world anyone who follows me will not walk in darkness but we have the light of life.
1.5 Ignorance of the word of God: People hide because they lack knowledge of God’s word. (Prov 19:2, Ps.19:2, Isaiah 1:3, Dan 11:32; 2Tim 2:15)
2. ANNIVERSARY: We are discussing light of the world and salt of the earth and by Providence celebrating the tenth anniversary of Fr. Orjinta. I start by saying thank you Father, for accepting to be priest. And congratulations for staying faithful and remaining in the priesthood for these past years. Your years of formation, and your life on consecration had brought you this celebration. May it lead you to salvation. I know you personally, you have being through towns and villages of this Diocese, you have a balance view of pastoral ministry (From Alegbo as Deacon; Assistant priest at St. Patrick, Sapele; Parish Priest at Abraka, Ndemili and now St. Malachy Sapele.) You are a soldier of Jesus Christ. You don’t fake it, you faith it! These are crowd of witnesses (congregation) and I testify that it’s true!
3. REMINDER: Jesus warns “A lamp is not lit to be put under a bushel.” Light is visible! The priesthood is the visible sign of God. Remain visible, reachable, touchable, lovable, relatable, approachable, accountable, believable, dependable, and you will be unforgettable. Again, Jesus says “you are the salt of the earth” — Salt preserves. Salt gives taste. Salt prevents decay. Fr. Orjinta, your priesthood has preserved faith, truth, virtue and values. In a world where many wants to go viral, I see in you a man who wants to go valuable. You preserve values, cultural and scriptural. SALT GIVES TASTE: You add meaning to life and prevent the decay moral and spiritual decay. I can testify to this and these are crowd of witnesses.
4. DEAR CHRIST’S FAITHFUL as we celebrate Fr. Let us remind ourselves about the three Es of the priesthood. The priesthood EXALTS, the priesthood EXAGGERATES, and the priesthood EXPOSES.
4.1. THE PRIESTHOOD EXALTS: Hebrews 5.1: “Every high priest is chosen from among men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” Through this divine choice and appointment, we are exalted. We become God’s ambassadors and are specially set apart as peculiar people, not regular people (1 Peter 2:9). This particularity is seen in all things, even in our lack of conventional dwelling (Matt. 8:20). The priesthood is a position that exalts a person by conferring honor, prestige, or elevated status. This is the ontological and sufficient exaltation of the priesthood. Anything more than this is evil. You were already exalted by God — so you learned not to chase titles, applause, or thrones. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Check the equation and see what has happened to people who chased power, status and position. You have already been exalted; do not seek to be exalted. The desire to be exalted leads to pride and arrogance, potential disregard for others, lack of collaboration, anxiety disorder, restlessness, and vulnerability to disappointment (if external validation is not received, they feel dissatisfied, frustrated and depressed) and this is suicidal.
4.2. THE PRIESTHOOD EXAGGERATES: Exaggeration means overstating or embellishing the qualities or significance of something. As altar boys back in the day, we used to think that the priest was a superman. He does not eat, feel weak, or get angry. He is rich, he is well connected, both at home and abroad, everybody honours him. These were exaggerations, and funny enough, many of us are living in these exaggerations. Healer, Prof., Spiro, Master, Ose, Baba; the older you are in the ministry, the more money you will have. Beloved, it is our duty to take care of our priests and desist from living in the exaggerated mode.
4.3 THE PRIESTHOOD EXPOSES: From the very day we answered present and proceeded to the sanctuary, we have been on the stage – on the Hill top. We are constantly on the stage. Being on stage is a revelation of our qualities and capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, our private and public lives, character and credibility, temperament, and judgement. It exposes us to privileges and dangers. It exposes us to emotional and mental health, burnout and stress, isolation and loneliness, criticism and conflicts, accusations and suspicion, men and women, spiritual warfare, threats and violence, You may be getting old, but the light is not getting old. This consciousness should challenge our conscience, lest we slide off track! As you forge ahead into the future, kindly remain a priest for God’s people.
5. ACCOLADES: Father, we celebrate you. We celebrate your constructive skills, your fatherly love, your friendship, your patience, your songs, stories, laughter, and smiles. We celebrate your resilience and courage despite the challenges.
From the sanctuary to the gallary,
You revealed the truth to Calvary,
From the class to the pulpit, you explained it.
With chalice and stole, you have served.
We celebrate your honesty and integrity. True counselor, can’t sell us. You are a confidant
True teacher, true preacher. We celebrate your wisdom. God bless your parents and friends. Blessed is the womb that bore you.
Hymn:
Here we are all together as we sing a song our song joyfully; Here we are joined together, as we pray we’ll always be.
Join we now as friends And celebrate the brotherhood we share, all as one Keep the fire burning, kindle it with care And we’ll all join in & sing chorus
Let us make this world an alleluia, Let us make this world a better place Keep a smile handy, have a helping hand And we’ll all join in & sing chorus
Ten years down the road, your life still preaches. The world is watching. The Church is grateful. God is glorified.
Happy 10ᵗʰ Priestly Anniversary, Rev. Fr. Orjinta O, Orjinata.
8th, February 2026
