On Being Redeemed- By Justine Dyikuk

"I have decided to serve him freely who paid my ransom." - Slave-girl.            
Many years ago, a slave-master came across this elegant, charming and extremely beautiful slave-girl in one of the African slave-markets. Her physical attractiveness enriched by a refined skin tone and gracious countenance caught his gaze as he approached her owner for a deal.                                    When he asked for her price, the owner of the slave gave him the highest price ever. After accessing  the slave-girl very well, he made up his mind to buy her - after all, "she is worth the price" he said to himself.
When he paid the required sum, the slave-master took charge of his new "property" as the slave-girl was untied from the stake and released to him. He was dragging the rope upon which she was tied to as she followed behind like a sheep being taken to the slaughter.                                                                          
Something would happen that would change the course of events in the life of both the slave-master and the slave-girl - The man stopped in the middle of nowhere as they were going, untied the ropes and said to her: "You can now go your way. I bought you at a very high price to set you free. I  have released you. Go, go...  "Go away?" She couldn't believe her ears. Oh yes, she was free...                                                    As he walked way alone on the lonely road, he heard footsteps behind him and upon turning back, he saw the tearful slave-girl running after him. "What do you want" he asked? "I have set you free, go your way" he insisted. The shivering girl replied him in tears: "I have decided to serve him freely who paid my ransom." The rest is history...                   In the same say, Christ paid our ransom. Like the slave girl, we were tied to sin and "owned" by the devil. He took the initiative to pay for our ransom - He paid the supreme price by his life - Shall we  as priests, religious and laity individually say like the slave-girl: "I have decided to serve him freely who paid my ransom." - Haven't we given God conditions for our loyalty and service to him? - How sad! If you are doubtful about the price he paid or hesitant to oblige him, look at the Cross again. Be redeemed - Have a pleasant day!                                           N:B - Thanks to Very Rev. Fr. Louis Ngare the Cathedral Administrator of Saint Theresa's, Yola who shared the slave-girl story which he credited to the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev.  Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso, during the Jubilee Year of Mercy retreat for Priests of Bauchi Diocese which held at the Youth Formation Centre, Bauchi on June, 2016.