“As The Father Has Loved Me” — Fr. Patrick Ajayi Unveils The Blessed Assurance That Makes Christianity Unstoppable

Akahi News learnt that Rev. Fr. Patrick Ajayi of St. Mary Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Ilesa, has delivered a powerful reflection for Thursday, the 7th of May, 2026 — the Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter — drawing from Acts 15:7-21 and John 15:9-11.

In his meditation, the cleric declared that the single most attractive feature of the Christian faith is not its miracles, not its buildings, not its music — but its relentless emphasis on love. Akahi News gathered that Fr. Ajayi anchored his message on Jesus’s own words: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you” — a statement he described as far more than mere information.

It was alleged that some believers struggle to feel certain of God’s affection in the face of trials. But the priest insisted that this particular assurance cannot disappoint. Why? Because Truth does not lie. And Jesus, he reminded his flock, is the Truth that no sincere heart can doubt.

The Cross And The Empty Tomb: Proof That Love Never Quits

Fr. Ajayi took his congregation back to the defining moment of salvation history. Jesus proved His love not with poetry or promises alone — but by laying down His life on the Cross. And the Resurrection? That is the exclamation mark. That is the evidence that there is nothing Christ cannot do for those He loves, because He is alive.

“As He lives, so His love lives to give us life,” the priest said. Akahi News had earlier reported that many Christians struggle with feelings of unworthiness, constantly searching for extra conditions to meet before fully accepting God’s embrace. But Fr. Ajayi quoted St. Peter to settle the matter: those who profess their faith in Jesus Christ are already purified by His love.

No other conditions. No endless checklist. No running on a treadmill of religious performance. The only requirement? Remain in His love.

But what does that actually mean for a trader in Onitsha Market or a civil servant in Abeokuta? It means keeping His commandment: love one another as I have loved you. Not with sentimental words. Not with occasional gestures. But with the kind of love that shows up in sacrifices — the sacrifices we make for family members, for fellow parishioners, for that difficult colleague at the workplace, for the stranger at the market stall.

It is not a child’s play, this business of Christian love. It is costly. It is uncomfortable. It often goes unnoticed. But it is the very engine of the faith.

A Prayer For The Nigerian Family: Loving When It Hurts

Fr. Ajayi’s reflection could not have come at a more urgent time for Nigeria. In a nation where anger is easier to find than patience, where economic hardship tests the limits of every household, the call to love sacrificially sounds almost impossible. How do you love your neighbour when the fuel price has eaten your salary? How do you remain gentle when the queue at the bank has stolen three hours of your day?

Yet the priest’s message is clear: the Holy Spirit is not a spectator. He is a Helper. “MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT HELP US TO LOVE THE WAY JESUS LOVES — IN SELF GIVING AND SELF OFFERING.”

That is the prayer. And it is not a passive wish. It is a daily surrender. It is choosing, again and again, to give when you feel empty, to forgive when the wound is fresh, to serve when your own bucket is dry.

Consider the mother in Lagos who wakes up at 4am to prepare a meal for a household that barely acknowledges her effort. She is loving the way Jesus loves. Consider the young man in Kano who shares his last thousand naira with a friend who has nothing. He is remaining in Christ’s love. These are not headline acts. But in the economy of heaven, they are treasures.

Fr. Ajayi concluded his reflection with a pastoral embrace: “PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.” It is a simple line. But for the widow who feels forgotten, the unemployed graduate who feels invisible, the parent who is tired of being strong — those words are a balm.

The Easter season continues. The resurrection light has not dimmed. And the love of Jesus, proven at Calvary and confirmed at the empty tomb, is still the most powerful force on earth. The only question that remains for each of us is this: will we remain in it?

📌 Fact Summary Box

Reflection by: Rev. Fr. Patrick Kunle Ajayi (St. Mary Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Ilesa).

Date: Thursday, 7th May, 2026 (Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter).

Readings: Acts 15:7-21; John 15:9-11.

Central verse: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.”

Key message: Christians are already purified by Christ’s love; no additional conditions — only to remain in His love by loving others sacrificially.

Practical application: Sacrifices made for family, church members, colleagues, and strangers.

Prayer focus: Holy Spirit’s help to love through self-giving and self-offering.

Final blessing: Fr. Ajayi prays for readers and their loved ones.

Before You Go: Nurture Hearts That Know How To Love — With Akahi Tutors, Ile-Ife

While priests remind us of the greatest commandment, parents have the daily task of raising children who will actually live it out. Akahi Tutors, Ile-Ife is currently preparing students for JAMB, Post-UTME, WAEC, NECO, GCE, JUPEB, Pre-degree and School of Nursing entrance examinations. But education is not just about passing exams — it is about shaping character. A child who learns to love sacrificially today becomes the adult who transforms Nigeria tomorrow. Call Akahi Tutors on 08038644328 or send a WhatsApp message to wa.me/2348038644328. Because the best investment you will ever make is in a generation that knows how to remain in His love.

Akahi News will continue to bring you daily reflections and stories that matter to the Nigerian soul. Stay with us. Stay blessed. And as Fr. Ajayi prayed: may the Holy Spirit help you love the way Jesus loves — even when it is hard.