"If God Is For You, No Enemy Can Prevail" — Fr. Ebere Charges Christians at St. Patrick's Ibeku

By Ada Ukpabia 

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IBEKU, ABOH MBAISE — Worshippers at St. Patrick's Catholic Parish, Ibeku, in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, were treated to a spiritually uplifting celebration on Sunday as Rev. Fr. Magnus Ebere, SDV, popularly known as "Edeywork," delivered a powerful homily centered on God's protection, victory over adversity, and the importance of living in His presence.

The Mass, held on the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, was concelebrated by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Chris Anyanwu, and Fr. Ebere, who serves as the Assistant Parish Priest. Due to his numerous pastoral commitments within and outside the parish, every third Sunday is specially reserved for Fr. Ebere to celebrate Mass with the parish community.

St. Patrick's Catholic Parish, Ibeku, occupies a unique place within the Catholic Church. Although it belongs to the Ahiara Catholic Diocese, it has been entrusted to the care of the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV), making it one of the homes of the Vocationist Fathers in the diocese.

Drawing from the day's first reading from the Book of Jeremiah, Fr. Ebere likened the prophet's experience to the trials many Christians face in their daily lives.

"Jeremiah had enemies waiting for his downfall, but they waited in vain because God stood by him," he declared. "The same message is echoed in the Book of Micah: 'Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; though I fall, I will rise.'"

The priest reminded the faithful that evil plots against God's children are ultimately doomed to fail because God Himself fights their battles.

"Those who conspire against God's anointed may think they are succeeding, but God laughs at them. Psalm 37 tells us that their day is coming. Anybody looking for your trouble is looking for God's trouble because you belong to Him," he said to loud affirmations from the congregation.

Referencing Jeremiah 20:11, Fr. Ebere stressed that God remains a mighty warrior who defends His people.

"The Lord is with me as a mighty warrior. If God is for me, who can be against me? Anybody who has God is already a winner," he proclaimed.

The homilist further encouraged Christians not to be intimidated by opposition, assuring them that God exposes unfriendly friends and hidden enemies at the appropriate time.

Using the biblical story of Mordecai and Haman in the Book of Esther, Fr. Ebere explained how God can overturn evil plans and elevate those who remain faithful.

"Haman prepared destruction for Mordecai but ended up falling into the same trap he set. Those pursuing innocent children of God will never succeed. Their evil plans will return to them," he said.

Fr. Ebere also reminded the faithful that by virtue of baptism, every Christian shares in Christ's prophetic, kingly, and priestly mission.

"Jeremiah is like every one of us because every baptized Christian is a prophet, a priest, and a king. God has not abandoned His children."

However, he cautioned that divine protection requires an active relationship with God.

"It is not enough to be in church; you must be in touch with God," he emphasized.

The priest outlined four practical ways Christians can attract God's presence into their lives:

First, conscious faith and belief in God. According to him, people often attract what dominates their thoughts and hearts.

Second, obedience to God's commandments. Quoting Deuteronomy 28:1, he noted that God elevates those who walk closely with Him and obey His instructions.

Third, joyful living. Fr. Ebere encouraged families and married couples to cultivate an atmosphere of happiness, noting that joy creates room for God's presence.

"If you want God to dwell in your marriage, let there be joy in your home. God is not found where bitterness and constant quarrels reign," he said.

Fourth, praise and worship. He described praise as a powerful spiritual weapon capable of drawing God's presence and intervention into difficult situations.

The celebration also featured intense moments of prayer, praise and worship, prophetic declarations, and blessings, as parishioners lifted their voices in thanksgiving and renewed faith.

Many worshippers described the homily as timely and inspiring, saying its message of hope, resilience, and trust in God's protection resonated deeply with the challenges facing many families and communities today.

As the congregation departed, Fr. Ebere's central message continued to echo in their hearts: "When God fights your battle, no enemy can prevail."