Sermon Delivered By Most Rev. Dr. George J. Dodo, the Bishop of
the Diocese of Zaria on the Occasion of Deaconate Ordination at
Christ the King Cathedral, No. 80 Yoruba Street, Sabon Gari - Zaria
on Saturday 10th January 2009

Today we are blessed again in the Diocese of Zaria with four new deacons. Within the
probationary period of six months, they are to serve at table, administer baptism and join
couples in holy matrimony. Let us thank God for the gift of these young men who have given
themselves willingly to the service of the church. I congratulate them and their parents for
this step in the right direction. Although it is not yet halleluiah, we commend them into the
hands of the Almighty God, the Lord of vocations to assist them live according to their
calling and to be ordained priests in the next six months.

Before I go further, let me stress the importance of praying for priests of which the deacons
are aspiring to be. Priests are specifically chosen from among men to serve the people. Priests
like other human beings face challenges and temptation. In fact I dare say they face more
since they have professed commitment to \u2018the things of God\u2019, the devil will always tempt
them to lead them astray. Therefore, I enjoin you all, our lay faithful, to please pray for your
priests and ask God to strengthen them in their mission of saving souls.

Allow me reflect with you young men, on the life of St Paul since we are within the
celebration of the Year of St. Paul as pronounced by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.
You deacons must learn from the example of St. Paul the greatest of all missionaries, who
sacrificed his life for Jesus, his gospel, the conversion of pagan territories and the building of
the Kingdom of God that is all embracing. In Romans 1: 1-2, St. Paul describes himself as \u201ca
servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the service of the gospel that God
promised long ago through his prophets in the holy scriptures.\u201d In Titus 1: 1- 3, Paul
describes himself, his call and his worth. \u201cFrom Paul, servant of God, an apostle of Jesus
Christ to bring those whom God has chosen to faith and to the knowledge of the truth that
leads to true religion and to gave them the hope of the eternal life that was promised so long

ago by God. He does not lie and so, in due time, he made known his message by a
proclamation which was entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour.\u201d This clearly
indicates that God chose St. Paul to propagate his work and assist in the salvation of souls.
This is what you are preparing to say \u201cyes\u201d to, and as servants chosen, loyalty, faithfulness
and commitment to the will of the Master should be your breakfast. Lunch and dinner like St.
Paul.

To fulfil this task, St. Paul undertook three major missionary journeys of which we know the
dangers he faced, but yet he was untiring in delivering the message of God to those pagan
territories. He speaks of his different identities, difficulties, hatred, rejection, suffering in the
cause of carrying these tasks etc. In 2 Cor. 11: 1 \u2013 13: 10. Suffice it to look at 11: 21 \u2013 29, \u201cI
say it to your shame; perhaps we have been too weak. Whatever bold claims makes \u2013 now I
am talking as a fool \u2013 I can make them too. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites?
So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I speak in
utter folly \u2013 I am too, and more than they are: I have done more work, I have been in prison
more, I have been flogged more severely, many times exposed to death. Five times I have
been given thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; three times I have been beaten with sticks; once I
was stoned; three times I have been shipwrecked, and once I have been in the open sea for a
night and a day; continually travelling, I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from
brigands, in danger from people masquerading as brothers; I have worked with unsparing
energy, for many nights without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty, and often altogether
without food or drink; I have been cold and lacked clothing. And besides all the external
things, there is, day in day out, the pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. If
anyone weakens, I am weakened as well; and when anyone is made to fall, I burn in agony
myself. If I have to boast, I will boast of all the ways in which I am weak.\u201d

His zeal for God was unprecedented in the whole of the Roman Empire and he demonstrated
this by his ardent desire to preach this Word of God anywhere he found himself. The efforts
of St. Paul brought honour and pain to him. Several times he was stoned and beaten by
people who could not understand his sudden change of direction. He remained relentless in
propagating the gospel of Jesus. The world and people to which this task of preaching the
gospel and spreading the faith is perhaps more hostile than before. We need to pray always
and even more harder for the conversion of hearts that are hostile to the will and wishes of the