Amb. Edith ISIDAHOMEN

 

On Sunday, 23 November 2025, the faithful of Christ the King Catholic Parish, Odo-Ona, Ibadan, gathered for a powerful celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the Universal King, marking the 34th Sunday in Year C. The solemn Mass, presided over by Fr. Emmanuel Ajewole, was both a moment of deep spiritual reflection and a joyous recognition of parishioners who have served faithfully over the past one year.

 

In his homily, Fr. Ajewole challenged the congregation with a penetrating question thus: Do you truly know your Saviour? He underlined that accepting Jesus Christ as King is not a mere formal confession, but demands total surrender.

 

“If you accept Jesus Christ, you will rise; but if you refuse Him, you will fall,” he declared, calling for a personal commitment beyond surface-level faith.

 

Drawing on Biblical examples, the homilist cited Saul, David, and Goliath. He contrasted Saul’s fear-driven leadership with David’s confident faith, emphasizing that David recognized the battle as ultimately belonging to God. This, Fr. Ajewole said, reflects how Christians should exercise the power given to them, not in self-reliance, but in humility before God.

 

He went further to reference St. Paul’s teaching on Christ’s sovereignty, reminding the faithful that Jesus holds “all Dominion and authority.” According to Fr. Ajewole, a Christian life truly surrendered to Christ is one of authentic joy.

“There is no peace in your life without Jesus, there is no truth in your life without Jesus, there is no joy in your life without Jesus!” he stated emphatically.

 

Beyond personal conversion, Fr. Ajewole issued a timely warning about human leadership: “Anyone who is given power and does not know what to do with it is a disaster for everyone.” He urged the congregation to be discerning in choosing leaders, echoing his earlier remarks about Saul and David to illustrate how God-given authority must be matched with spiritual insight.

 

Fr. Ajewole ended his homily with a powerful exhortation: for Christ to truly reign in our lives, we must let Him rule not only in private, in our hearts and minds, but in the public and communal dimensions of our existence. His message spoke to both the spiritual and social responsibilities of Christians to live out the Kingdom of God in everyday life.

 

As part of the celebration, Christ the King Parish honored a number of outstanding individuals for their selfless service over the past year.

 

The awards presentation was not limited to individuals as other services groups in the Church were also recognized which included the Catechists, Lay readers, Altar servers, Board of Church Warden, Security Men and Church Cleaners.

 

These awards, Fr. Ajewole explained, are not simply tokens of gratitude but are meant to encourage a culture of volunteerism: “The main purpose of these awards presentation is to thank these servants of Christ and the community … and to inspire others to contribute their quotas to the body of Christ.”

 

He expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “I can categorically tell you that most of us in CKC, Odo Ona have been doing a lot to support the work of Christ. I ask God to continue to bless everyone of us through Christ our Lord!”

Following the Mass, the parish moved to Sacred Heart School, Akinyemi Road, Ibadan, for the Parish Feast Day Party, which came after the Corpus Christi procession. The event was a vibrant gathering, reinforcing community bonds and celebrating Christ’s reign in joyful fellowship.

 

As the parish celebrated with awards, procession, and fellowship, the underlying message remained clear: Christ is King, and His reign demands a committed, joyful surrender.