The Parish Priest, SS Peter & Paul Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Adeyemi has informed Christians that absence of temptation in their lives is absence of holiness. His reason for the assertion is that, only those who are able to stand firm in God without compromise while going through sorrows of life can be considered a true Christian.

According to him, temptation is an allurement; while it is not optional for Christians, they possess the power to resist temptation if they are in one accord with God. Though the Priest agreed that overcoming temptation is not an easy task, however, it can be done. He further expanded that if Jesus Christ was tempted at the very end of his forty days and nights fasting, how much more humans. He recalled that the Israelites of old also faced a lot of challenges in the desert before getting to the Promised Land. To fall is not wrong, but failure to rise, said the Priest. He urged Christians to never dialogue with the devil despite implications.

Earlier in his address, he reminded faithfuls that all valid and urgent preoccupation of life in time must be subordinated and evaluated in terms of life and eternity. They were advised to take opportunity of the forty days of Lent as an intensive programme for conversion. According to Father Adeyemi, "Repentance involves a total and radical change of life. It entails a change of mind and heart, a change of intention, dispositions and attitudes." The cleric further invited Christians, including religious leaders to liberate themselves from every idol and follow the path of Christ. He however encouraged them like Christ, through prayer, penance and purification to leave behind their daily habits, routines of life, break unhealthy ties and insist on radical break of their past.