The Parish Priest of St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Mokola, Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Eseola on Sunday January 5, 2025 during his homily at the Feast of Epiphany urged the congregation to understand deeply the meaning of Epiphany.

 

“The Feast of Epiphany reminds us of the glory of God revealed to humanity. The journey of the wise men to seek out baby Jesus demonstrates the universal call to seek God's glory. These wise men from the East searched for God's face, believing in and understanding His glory. Their quest led them to pay homage and offer gifts to the newborn King.

 

“As humans, we are all seekers – searching for knowledge, wealth, opportunities, and more. However, we often fail to define what we're seeking and why. We must strive to understand and deepen our knowledge of our desires and aspirations.

 

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, the universal Church invites us to seek God more intentionally”. Fr Eseola encourages us to seize this opportunity, asking, "Are we ready?"

 

Fr. Eseola also explained that the Feast of Epiphany presents three types of seekers, which he outlined thus: Firstly, the three wise men, who searched for Christ seriously, sincerely, and spiritually. Their quest was genuine, and they willingly gave gifts to the King. They journeyed to seek the face of God as they saw His glory.

 

Second seeker according to Fr. Eseola was King Herod, who searched for Christ out of fear and selfish motives. His intentions were far from pure, and he sought to eliminate the newborn King.

 

The Chief Priests and Scribes, who had knowledge of Christ's birthplace but failed to search for Him. They lacked excitement and understanding of the significance of Christ's birth. Fr. Eseola regarded the Chief Priests and Scribes as the third type of seekers.

 

Fr. Eseola urged all to embark on a journey to search for Christ, emphasizing that seeking His face is accessible and rewarding. Everyone is called to undertake this journey – individually, as families, parishes, and communities.

 

“As we navigate this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us commit to seeking Christ together, deepening our faith, and becoming faithful and wise,” Fr Eseola encouraged the congregation.