EASTER SUNDAY: HOMILY BY FR. ISAAC CHIMA

They thought they have conquered Him, but God disappointed them.

Readings: Acts: 10:34a.37-43; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9

Dear friends, we have arrived at that day that defined our faith. The day that gave birth to the gospel we proclaim. If Christ had not risen from the dead, our faith would have been in vain. In fact, we would not have been here under this banner; there wouldn’t have been any Christianity. The resurrection of Christ is at the centre of our faith, it is the beginning of our faith. The resurrection narrative was always the beginning of every homily in the life of the early Christians, it was their reference point, it gave them authority and power.

Dear friends, we are lucky to be beneficiaries of this absolute power of God over the power of darkness and death. We are blessed to be associated with the resurrection power of Christ, the power that conquered the evil forces that wanted to rule the world, the power that shattered the stone that was used to cover the tomb, the power that defeated the dominion of the devil, the power that fulfilled the plan of God’s redemption of humanity from the failure of our first parents.

Today, light has conquered darkness, life has conquered death, grace has conquered sin, freedom has prevailed over slavery, justice has returned to the seat of judgement, Jesus has won the battle for us. Our hearts should be jubilating over this victory. Once more, we can smile, laugh and dance, because God did not allow death to have the last laugh in the history of our salvation. We can stand with our heads raised high because we are children of victory. Jesus has given us victory. Let us raise this banner of victory high in everything we do and say.

At the center of the victory of Christ’s resurrection is a saying that has a lesson for us. It goes this way: ‘it was at that time when his enemies thought that they have conquered Him that God in his infinite power raised Him to the heights.’

Dear friends, Jesus came into the world with the mission to set us free from the dominion of the devil and to return to God the Father. But the devil wanted to halt that mission, he wanted to keep us his slaves forever. To achieve his plan of thwarting the mission of Christ, the devil instigated the men of authority and they killed Jesus. With His shameful death on the cross, His burial, the heavy stone that was used to cover the mouth of the tomb and the heavily armed guards at the grave, the enemy thought he has conquered the Prince of life and have put an end to his mission.

However, it was at that time when the devil and his cohorts were rejoicing, that God, in his infinite power, disappointed them by raising Jesus from the dead. It was at that point when they thought that they have conquered him that they actually hastened the realization of his mission on earth, which was to die for us and to return to the father.

What does this tell us? It tells us not to lose hope whenever we feel we have been conquered by the difficulties and realities of life. It tells us that there will always be a joyful development in the sorrowful stories of those who believe in God. It tells us that failure will not be the end of the story for those who believe in God. It tells us that God is capable of disappointing our enemies in their evil plans against us. It tells me not to give up when I have been hit down by the problems of the world. The power of the resurrection of Christ gives me this assurance, it is my guarantee of ultimate victory in life. Remember, it was at that time when they thought they have conquered Jesus that God disappointed them by raising Him from the dead.

The challenge for us is to open our eyes of faith and look beyond the source of our sorrows. In the extension of the gospel reading of today, Mary Magdalene focused her entire attention on the grave. Hence, she was unable to recognize the risen Christ. She was at the grave sweeping, asking God to give her back her Lord and consoler, asking God to bring Jesus back to life. But then, when the answer to her prayer stood before her, she couldn’t recognize him, because she was soaked in her sorrows.

Dear friends, it is not wrong to cry when we have been hit down by problems or when we have been disappointed, but it would be wrong if we become absorbed in our sorrows to the point that we fail to look up to God. Most times, when we become absorbed in our sorrows and keep focusing on the closed door (the empty tomb in the case of Magdalene), we will not notice that God has opened another door – a better door – for us. Through the power of Christ’s resurrection, God opens an alternative door, a better door to those who focus on Him with faith during turbulent times. May the power of Christ’s resurrection open our eyes to see the solution God has given to us in our problems. Amen

Happy Easter

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Easter Vigil: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Resurrection: A guarantee of our ultimate victory

Dearest friends, we have arrived at that night when the power of light conquered the power of darkness, that night when the Most High didn’t allow the power of death to rejoice over us. But some questions keep ringing in my mind. They are begging for answers.

Dear friends, I would like you to reflect over these questions and, possibly, answer them in your heart. Have you ever imagined what the world would have looked like if Christ never resurrected from the dead? Have you ever thought of the values that would have been supreme in this world if Christ did not resurrect from the dead? Do you realize that it took God the Father many years to prepare humanity for the coming of His only begotten Son?

Right from the fall of man in Adam and Eve, God took the decision to restore man to his lost glories. To achieve this plan, God adopted the people of Israel, sent priests and prophets to teach them to obey Him and to prepare them for the coming of His Son. The readings of this night give us a beautiful storyline in this regard. The entire world waited in anticipation for the coming of this Son of God. But, unfortunately, when the Son of God finally came, the world did not recognize him. The devil locked the hearts of the Jews from recognizing Him. The same devil, who caused the failure of Adam, wanted to drag humanity to another failure. Instigated by the devil, the Jews seized the Son of God, judged him unjustly and crucified Him. They crucified the one who had come to save them from the power of the devil. What a historic disaster, an end to the long-awaited Messiah! In the plan of the devil, the death of Jesus was to be the second defeat of humanity: the first was in Adam, the second was to be in the elimination of Jesus.

So, dear friends, if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, the plan of saving us from the dominion of the devil would have received a heavy punch. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, all stories about him would have been reduced to mere curiosity, a forgettable footnote in the crowded history of lost courses. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, the values that support evil would have been supreme on earth, injustice would have been the order of the day. If Christ had not risen, darkness would have conquered light, evil would have conquered the good.

However, dear friends, death did not have the last laugh in the story of Jesus. God did not allow the story of His only begotten Son to end with His death on the Cross, rather, His story developed another chapter, the part which says, ‘He conquered death and rose from the dead’.

So, dear ones, we are victorious because of the victory of Christ. Relying on the victory of Christ, we can comfortably look at the cross and affirm that in our individual stories, in our life’s struggles, death, hardship, trials and tribulations will not have the final laugh or the final word. The resurrection of Christ has given us assurance of victory over our own problems.

The church wants us to raise our voices today, with eyes fixed on the cross of Christ, and affirm with faith that our own trials will also come to pass. Our childlessness will also come to pass. Joblessness will also come to pass. Hatred will also come to pass. Sickness will also come to pass. Hunger will also come to pass. The resurrection of Christ is our guarantee. Easter is a time 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

 

EASTER SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: NO POWER CAN TAKE AWAY MY JESUS ALLELUIA!

(John 20:1-9)

Death could not do much. Death could not stop Jesus from doing anything. The great stones could not hold him. Death and the powers of darkness failed woefully. The Easter is indeed a celebration of joy, hope, and liberation. We have every reason to rejoice and be glad in the Lord:

 

LOVE REMAINS

By killing Jesus, the enemies thought it was going to be the end of his love and concern for the salvation of man and his relationship with man. They thought they had cut him off from the land of the living. It was not so. They gave him a flight ticket to enlarge His kingdom by preaching to the dead and taking them along with Him after a three days retreat. They couldn't even stop the love of those who really knew Jesus after all the deceptive ploys. Mary Magdalene came with love to the grave and thought they had taken away the Lord. May your joy never be taken away. May you never lose grip of what is yours. May the death of Christ reveal the depth of his love for you, and may you, by the power of his resurrection, be drawn to believe more in him. The world can take away everything from you but not the love of God just as they took everything away from Jesus but not the Father's love.

 

THE THIRD DAY REMAINS

The Apostles who went to the tomb confirmed that Jesus wasn't there anymore. They confirmed emptiness. But at this moment, they never understood anything about resurrection.

The third day is very important. When Jesus cried: "it is finished," maybe some of his mockers laughed and thought they had finished Him. Oh no. What finished was his pre-resurrection ministry, but the fruit of the sown seed will germinate that no force can terminate. He was buried to die, but he became a plant that bloomed after the third day.

What are the circumstances burying you? What are the situations putting you down in shame? Jesus cried your cry. Weep not! He died your death, fear not! But on the third day he gives you assurance that it doesn't end in sorrows. He tells you that Good Friday is necessary but can never take away the Easter reality. He tells you that your toils will bring you joy. He tells you that your own tomb will also be emptied of the devil's plan. In fact, the tomb is never your place. Jesus insists that after the rains, there must be sunshine. Jesus promises that there may be tears in the night, but there must be laughter in the morning.

Child of God, look towards the third day and be radiant.

 

JESUS IS ALIVE ALLELUIA

That Jesus MUST RISE from the dead was a teaching the Apostles found as a hard nut to crack. The Easter message is that the grave is not His abode. He belongs to a kingdom. He came to open the kingdom for those held bound by the power of the grave. Since Jesus has risen, what are we still looking for in the tomb? Oh, let us rise! He lives, and because He lives, I can face tomorrow. He is alive forever Alleluia. You cannot die again. You shall live to sing of the Lord's goodness. He took your mortality to give you immortality.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

 We thank You, Lord, for restoring our joy and giving us reasons to move on proudly as children of the light by the power of Your Son's resurrection. May we live and reign with the risen Christ in the glory of His light to the shame of the overthrown enemy of salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. Alleluia!!!

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh