Christ is risen from the dead, hallelujah

Today, we have every reason to be joyful. Our joy is not the type the world offers, but one borne out of a genuine conviction that Jesus is, indeed, Lord over heaven and earth. Even though He is God, He humbled himself to be born of a virgin, to suffer innumerable persecution and to offer His life as atonement for our sins.

For people of the world, Christians must be crazy to believe that Christ died and rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God the father Almighty and that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. They cannot just comprehend the nature of Christ, Who, despite His omnipotence, allowed Himself to be mocked by His own creatures. Neither could they fathom the rationale behind Christ’s call for His followers to turn the other cheek, when struck! While they are used to an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, here is a man who preached love and togetherness; that is ever compassionate and desirous that all may succeed in actualising their God-given vision and talents in a world that promotes oppression, injustice and intolerance!

But we know better, because we serve a living God, Who is alive forever and Who reveals Himself to us through Christ. We serve a God of love, Who has taught us to continue to show love no matter how much we are maligned or ridiculed. We are followers of a merciful God, Who never abandons us, no matter how weighty our sins may be, but is always ready to welcome us back like the prodigal son. We have hope in a God that is eternal, that has promised us eternal happiness beyond all the wealth and splendour that this world has to offer. And so, we are joyful and are glad because we serve a God of the living and not of the dead.

Every day, this same Christ continues to reveal Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist, in the scriptures and in personal revelations. Countless of people are still testifying of His love, two thousand years after He first walked on the face of this earth. Many have tried to rubbish and make mockery of Him and His followers without success. They will never succeed because He is the beginning and the end, the word of God made flesh.

And so, we celebrate the paschal mystery of Easter, the day when Christ defeated death. We know and believe because it is true. Had Christ not died and risen from the dead, there would have been no hope for humanity. Imagine the chaos we are experiencing all over the globe and what would have been the case, if there were no salvation.

God communicates to us every day, if only we can pause and listen. He intervenes on our behalf, when we call upon Him. He relates to us closely like a father to a child because He is part of us. Let us remember these and make haste to open up to Him today and always. Happy Easter celebration!

• Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.