Rev. Fr Stevenson Olowolagba Urges Christians to Embrace Humility, Reconciliation, and Simplicity in Sunday Homily

The Sunday homily delivered by Rev. Fr. Stevenson Olowolagba on Sunday, 1 February 2026, during the celebration of the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), resonated deeply with worshippers as it addressed one of the most pressing spiritual and social challenges of the modern world: division among humanity and the loss of humility before God.

With reflections drawn from Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13, 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, and Matthew 5:1–12a, the priest presented a spiritually rich message under the theme:
“The world’s crying is for a man to see that the only answer to division is reconciliation with God and with each other, and the only way to be reconciled is to live lives that are simple and humble.”

A Call to Peace and Spiritual Awakening

Rev. Fr. Olowolagba began by extending peace and blessings to the faithful, urging them to reflect deeply on God’s word. He reminded the congregation that the Christian faith is rooted not in pride, social class, or intellectual superiority, but in humility, meekness, and absolute dependence on God.

According to Akahi News, the homily emphasised that humanity’s greatest crises—conflict, injustice, hatred, and disunity—are spiritual at their core. The priest noted that without reconciliation with God, lasting reconciliation among people remains impossible.

The “Poor and Meek” as God’s Remnant

Explaining the first reading from the book of Zephaniah, Rev. Fr. Olowolagba highlighted the significance of God’s promise to preserve a “poor and meek people” as His remnant. He explained that this description marked a turning point in biblical revelation, where survival and divine favour were no longer associated with power, wealth, or dominance, but with humility and trust in God.

He contrasted the poor and meek with the boastful and arrogant, noting that pride distances people from God. According to him, those who rely on their own strength, status, or intelligence often struggle to submit fully to God’s will.

Akahi News gathered that he linked this Old Testament insight to the teachings of Jesus, who later elevated the “poor” by granting them a privileged place in the Kingdom of God, as reflected in Luke 6:20.

Lessons from the Corinthian Church

Turning to the second reading, the priest examined the challenges faced by the Corinthian Church. He explained that the Corinthians were richly blessed with spiritual gifts, particularly eloquence and knowledge—qualities essential for leadership and influence. However, these gifts became a source of pride and division.

Rev. Fr. Olowolagba warned that gifts, talents, education, influence, and noble background can easily lead to self-exaltation if not grounded in humility. He stressed that human achievements do not earn salvation, reminding the faithful that “men are saved by the grace of God, not by self-effort.”

Citing Galatians 6:3, he cautioned against self-deception and urged believers to approach God with sincerity, weakness, and a cry for divine help. According to him, God often chooses the lowly and overlooked to accomplish His purposes, while pride and self-sufficiency remain major obstacles to genuine faith.

What It Truly Means to Be Blessed

A major focus of the homily was the Gospel reading on the Beatitudes. Rev. Fr. Olowolagba explained that being “blessed” does not mean material prosperity or worldly success. Instead, it refers to a deep spiritual joy and lasting satisfaction that remains even in suffering, grief, loss, and hardship.

He lamented that many people search for happiness in money, power, fame, position, and sensual pleasure, only to end up spiritually empty. According to him, humanity’s greatest deception is being blind to its real need—a renewed spirit and restored relationship with God.

Unpacking the Beatitudes in Daily Life

The priest carefully broke down each Beatitude, applying it to everyday Christian living.
He explained that being poor in spirit means recognising one’s total helplessness before God and acknowledging spiritual poverty.
To mourn, he said, is to have a broken heart over sin, injustice, evil, and suffering—both personal and societal.
Hunger and thirst for righteousness reflect a believer’s intense longing for holiness and moral integrity.
Being merciful involves offering help, forgiveness, and compassion without counting the cost.
The pure in heart are those cleansed by God, living with a single purpose: His glory.
Peacemakers, he noted, are active agents of reconciliation who resolve disputes and heal divisions.
Finally, being persecuted for righteousness’ sake involves enduring mockery, rejection, and suffering for Christ, as warned in John 15:21.

Compassion and Discipleship as Christ’s Method

Rev. Fr. Olowolagba further explained that Jesus carried out His mission through compassion and discipleship. He noted that Christ saw the crowds, recognised their needs, and understood that the task of evangelisation could not be accomplished alone.

According to Akahi News, the priest stressed the importance of training others and working together in fulfilling the Great Commission, as commanded in Matthew 28:18–20. He urged Christians to keep their eyes open to the needs of others and to commit themselves to service.

Gratitude, Service, and the Power of the Holy Spirit

In his concluding exhortation, Rev. Fr. Olowolagba called on believers to be grateful for the enlightenment brought by Christ. He encouraged them to express God’s unconditional love through acts of service, humility, and reconciliation in their daily lives.

He prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the faithful, asking for strength, wisdom, and grace to carry out their responsibilities faithfully. The homily ended with a message of peace, unity, and renewed commitment to living out the values of the Gospel.

Akahi News learnt that the homily left many worshippers reflecting deeply on their spiritual lives and their roles as agents of peace in a divided world.

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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