Happy Easter

Yesterday, Sunday, April 17, Christians in Nigeria joined their counterparts across the world to celebrate Easter. The celebration marked the resurrection of Jesus Christ after a journey of torture and eventual death. It also brought to an end the Lenten season which commenced about six weeks ago on Ash Wednesday. The day was marked with the holy mass and services in churches across the country.

For the past 40 days, Christians observed Lent – a period of fasting, abstinence, prayers and alms giving. The period was an avenue for repentance so that Christians who were not living right could jettison their old ways and chart a new course based on the teachings of the Almighty God.

The week heralding Easter, usually known as the Holy Week, and last leg of the Lenten season, emphasises the essence of the entire period,  just as it harps on the need to remain steadfast in prayers and to hold on to all that have been learnt in the 40 days of Lent.

In his Easter message to the faithful, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, reiterated that: “Christ’s resurrection is victory of life over death, of hope over despair, and of love over hatred; victory of good over evil, unity over rivalry, generosity over selfishness, peace over violence, coexistence over strife, justice over iniquity, and truth over falsehood.”

He, therefore, charged the faithful to ensure that going forward there was a marked difference in their lives through their actions and the way they lived with others, especially with people of other faiths.

Archbishop Kaigama added that, “Our social media platforms are sometimes filled with sad, fake and bad news; just as our world is invaded by the virus of immorality and acts causing hopelessness and needless pain. Amid the religious and political voices of hatred and violence, Muslims and Christians whose Ramadan and Easter coincide this year again should go beyond mutual courteous felicitations to be instruments of fostering social harmony and peaceful coexistence; speaking and acting against corruption, injustice and greed; doing everything to overcome ethno-religious and socio-political hostilities. The brutal killings, kidnappings, immoral and anti-social activities in different parts of Nigeria are brought about by the cumulative effect of sins in the nation. Irrespective of which Nigerian sins (Muslim or Christian or traditional worshipper), sin is a gross disobedience to God, and it also hurts the individual who sins and the entire society. It is only when we stop offending God and one another that the negative and harsh social realities we are witnessing today will be greatly minimised.’’

We congratulate Christians in Nigeria and all over the world for successfully completing the 40-day spiritual exercise and on the celebration of Easter and we pray God answers their petitions and rewards them for the sacrifices made.

It is indeed true that the Lenten season is over, but the teachings of the period which were all geared towards improving the lives of Christians, and by extension the society, must be sustained. It will not be good to jettison those acts of prayers, almsgiving, abstinence and fasting simply because Lent is over, as if that is done, then it will mean that not much has been accomplished. The reason for religious exercises such as this is to bring the people closer to God and to build a better people and in turn a better society.   So much is happening in our country Nigeria today, with insecurity toping it, there is need for the prayers that were intensified during the Lenten period to be sustained so that the nation can defeat all its problems and the architects.

We also call on the clergy not to relent, but to continue to use the pulpit to instill moral lessons in the people, especially at this point where many youths are being swayed by the get-rich-quick syndrome.  The practice witnessed in some parts where Christians and Muslims were seen eating together during the breaking of fast should help to foster peaceful coexistence among Nigerians generally.

One ultimate lesson of Easter is that, as a leader Jesus Christ died for his followers to be saved. This in itself should cause leaders of this country to note that by their positions, they are expected to serve and not be served as often witnessed, and to do everything possible to make life easy for those they lead.

We pray that the practice of Lent and lessons of the season remain with all Christians. Daily Trust wishes all Christians a Happy Easter.