The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, the Bishop of Donkorkrom Diocese, has urged the faithful not to discriminate among themselves in the society they are. He made this known during the Thanksgiving Mass of the 2026 Assumption Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Bonkrom Grotto in the Diocese.
The Bishop in his homily continued that God doesn’t discriminate among humanity. “In God’s house, there is no stranger. God doesn’t have a favourite” he stressed.
The Israelites he indicated saw themselves as the only children of God, and disregarded other nations, calling them gentiles. They became very selfish, as if to say that God is for them alone. But God was only using them to save humanity and not to indicate that they are his only children.
The Prelate again stressed that we are all called to be children of God. God has a large heart; hence he is for everybody. The only yardstick to be part of this big family of God is to believe in him. It doesn’t matter the language, race, clan, or colour that one finds himself or herself.
He indicated that the Non- Jewish Canaanite woman in the gospels trusted and believed in the power of Jesus. Jesus also attended to her because he came to save all. This woman was not a Jew but believed in Jesus, hence the reason of being part of the big family of Christ.
Again, the woman showed unwavering faith in Jesus, which must be an example for all. Her faith in Jesus gained her good results. She had courage and brought her problems to Jesus. She didn’t go to fetish priests, Mallams or any other sources of power. Bishop Asiedu therefore encouraged the faithful to learn from her and desist from going to other sources of power other than Jesus.
He also called on them to be patient in the Lord, and wait on him at the right time. It pays to be patient. Impatience he says can let us miss a lot in the Lord.
The Prelate continued that some of the faithful sometimes see themselves as superior to others, sometimes because they are the founders of the church, they support the priests than others, and other reasons we can think of.
He called on the pilgrims to show respect to all manner of people. Because everybody is somebody, everyone is important in one way or the other. We must treat people with dignity.
Sometimes we undermine people but God can change their story. Sometimes God uses these very people to bless us in life. “God looks into the heart not face, as human beings do. No one is more a child of God than others, no one is worthy before God” he emphasized.
Jesus doesn’t disrespect anybody and didn’t do so because of the training he had through Mary, his mother. Likewise our Mother Mary also doesn’t and didn’t disrespect anybody. Hence, the bishop called on the faithful to make the two people, mother and son their role models in life.
Bishop Asiedu called on the congregation to make good use of their three days stay, not making their coming to be in vain. Allowing the programme to have a positive impact on their lives. They are to learn something and keep something in their heart for a deeper reflection.
He concluded his message by calling on the pilgrims to care for one another, and show solidarity in people’s joy and sorrow.
By Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo
(DONKORKROM DIOCESE-DEPSOCOM)
