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 EASTER VIGIL: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Resurrection: A Promise of Our Final Triumph.

Beloved friends, we have reached that remarkable night when the light triumphed over darkness, the night when the Most High prevented death from celebrating any victory over us. Yet, several questions linger in my thoughts, yearning for answers.

I invite you, dear friends, to ponder these questions and perhaps find responses within your hearts. Have you ever envisioned what our world might have looked like if Christ had not risen from the dead? Have you considered the values that would have dominated our lives if Christ had not resurrected from the dead? It is important to recognize that God the Father spent many years preparing humanity for the arrival of His only Son.

From the moment of humanity's fall in Adam and Eve, God made the choice to restore us to our former glory. To fulfil this purpose, He chose the people of Israel, sending priests and prophets to guide them in obedience and to prepare them for His Son's coming. The readings we reflect on tonight beautifully illustrate this narrative. The entire world awaited the arrival of this Son of God. Sadly, when He finally appeared, the world failed to recognize Him. The devil had blinded the hearts of the Jews to His presence. This same devil, who led to Adam's downfall, sought to lead humanity into another defeat. Instigated by the devil, the Jews captured the Son of God, subjected Him to an unjust trial, and crucified Him. They condemned the very one who came to liberate them from the devil's grasp. What a tragic moment in history, marking the end of the long-anticipated Messiah! In the devil's scheme, the death of Jesus was meant to signify humanity's second defeat, following the first in Adam.

Dear friends, if Christ had not risen from the dead, the plan to free us from the grip of evil would have suffered a significant setback. Without His resurrection, the narratives surrounding Him would merely be trivial anecdotes, easily forgotten amidst the vast tapestry of history. If Jesus had not triumphed over death, the forces of evil would have reigned supreme, and injustice would have become the norm. In such a scenario, darkness would have overshadowed light, and malevolence would have prevailed over goodness.

However, dear friends, death did not claim the final victory in the story of Jesus. God ensured that the narrative of His beloved Son did not conclude with His crucifixion; instead, it unfolded into a new chapter that said, "He defeated death and rose again."

Therefore, beloved ones, we stand victorious through Christ's triumph. With His victory as our foundation, we can face the cross with confidence, knowing that in our personal journeys—amidst struggles, hardships, trials, and tribulations—death and despair will not have the final say. The resurrection of Christ assures us of our own victory over life's challenges.

Today, the Church encourages us to lift our voices, focusing on the cross of Christ, and to confidently declare that our personal struggles will eventually come to an end. Our experiences of childlessness will also come to pass. Joblessness will also be overcome. Hatred will also fade away. Sicknesses will also be healed. Hunger will also be satisfied. The resurrection of Christ serves as our assurance. Easter represents a season of miracles for Christians, because St Paul assured us that if we suffer and die with Him, we shall live and reign with Him in glory.

Happy Easter

Fr Isaac Chima