He was long gone and his soul resting already. What is being celebrated today is liturgical ceremonies according to Catholic rites, revalidating what he professed while his heart beats and the blood in his veins runs.
He was long gone, unknowing what honor done to him today. Long ago he expired and his soul resting, with good and amazing testimonials of people with no dissenting voice, all chorusing how a saintly life he lived.
He is now late, the real
Monsignor Theo Nwalo had gone back to his creator. While his remains lie in state in a white casket decorated with lights in twinkling forms and beautiful flowers in shades of colours.
Not for him to behold and admire but for the living. He was long gone and his soul not with us anymore.
The dance, the asobie, the funfair, the eulogies and the sermons all for the living not for him. He has transfigured and wouldn’t recognise any of such earthly ephemeral.
While he lived, he was human. He wasn’t a saint without faults and foibles. He was weak, but in his weakness, grace abounds to keep to his vows the best he could.
None is God to know his life in the secret. None is the Holy Spirit to know his thoughts but from what eyes could see, it wouldn’t be wrong to say he expired with his vows unbroken. His vows of chastity, obedience, poverty etc all to my eyes were kept with neither stains nor dislocation.
To the living, both the laity and the clergy he left a model of how to live a Christian life without material baggages. He died light without the weight of ostentiousness and stashing of unwanted material things.
Rest in peace Monsignor Theo Nwalo. The scent of your good nature would continue to whoosh through our noses and your memories, one that would inspire and provoke Godliness in all that had the opportunity to cross your path.
The process of your canonization wouldn’t be delayed. You lived well and your death a testament to it. Continue to rest in peace. Born empty. Lived full and died empty.
Jarlathuche@gmail.com
Dr.Jarlath Uche Opara
