By EKou Richard
Bishop Eciru Urges Christians to Walk by Faith and Cherish God’s Gifts.
The Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach, has called on Christians to emulate the steadfast faith of St. James the Apostle, urging them to remain firm in their spiritual journey despite life’s challenges. The bishop made these remarks during the celebration of St. James the Apostle Catholic Parish Day at Abeko Parish.
In his homily, Bishop Eciru centered his message on the theme of faith and responsible stewardship of God’s gifts. He challenged Christians to deepen their commitment to God, echoing the words of St. James in the Bible, who demonstrated courage and unwavering trust in God’s promises even in the face of persecution.
“We must walk with faith, and we should all walk by faith,” the bishop emphasized.
He explained that faith remains the foundation of the Christian life, urging believers not to allow trials, doubts or worldly temptations to shake their devotion to God.
Bishop Eciru went further to teach the faithful about the value of God’s gifts, stressing that everything people have, including life, health, talents and resources are divine blessings entrusted to humanity.
“You should give God’s gift very well, handle with care,” he advised. “All that we have are gifts from God and above all, we must use these gifts for serving and praising Him until death, even when there are challenges.”
He underscored that proper use of these gifts brings prosperity, not just materially but spiritually, as Christians grow closer to God through service and acts of love.
One of the key points in Bishop Eciru’s homily was the gift of time, which he described as one of the most precious yet most misused blessings. He urged Christians to avoid wasting time on activities that do not glorify God, such as gossip, idleness, and immoral behavior.
“Let’s use the gift of time well and keep it well as we use it for serving and praising God, not wasting time on things that do not please God,” he said.
To illustrate his point, Bishop Eciru compared spiritual effort to the discipline of early risers, noting that achieving spiritual growth requires sacrifice, consistency and hard work, just as success in daily life does.
“Like how getting earthly things is hard, we should work harder again for God’s kingdom too,” he added, inspiring the faithful to take their Christian responsibilities seriously.
The Abeko Parish Day celebration was marked with vibrant hymns, traditional dances and prayers, reflecting the community’s strong devotion to St. James, the patron saint of the parish. Parishioners expressed gratitude for the bishop’s pastoral guidance and his timely reminder about faith and stewardship in today’s fast-changing world.
In concluding his homily, Bishop Eciru assured the faithful that serving God diligently leads to true prosperity and peace, both in this life and in eternity. He encouraged Christians to remain hopeful, even when facing hardships, because God’s grace is sufficient for those who trust and work for His kingdom.
“When we serve God, we shall prosper,” the bishop declared, leaving the congregation uplifted and determined to renew their faith.
