EASTER MESSAGE OF BISHOP JULIUS YAKUBU KUNDI, ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF KAFANCHAN APRIL 16, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
HE IS RISEN! NOTHING CAN STEAL OUR JOY.It is Easter Sunday! I bring you a message of good tidings and great joy. Jesus the Christ is risen; nothing will steal our joy again. The central message of Jesus’ resurrection is that every cross that is entrenched in history and in our life is transient. This means that the pains in your hearts of loosing loved ones from the lush lands of Kurmin Masara and Zaman Dabo, the plains of Samaru and Gora Sagwaza, the rocky lands of Kagoro and Tsonje would last only for a while. Indeed, the risen Christ is the hope of all who are still grieving the lost of their loved ones or overwhelmed with the lost of their shelters or businesses in the war theatres that have dotted the beautiful landscape of our state and Southern Kaduna.
The confessions of the Centurion that was recorded in the Scriptures were extraordinary words of a veteran soldier who had watched men die horrible death but when he encountered the extra ordinary phenomenon of Jesus’ resurrection, he was profuse in his witnessing to that reality (Matt.27:45-54) . His witness reports an important detail: the risen Jesus bears the marks of the wounds in his hands, feet and side.
These wounds are the everlasting seal of his love for us. All of you who have experienced painful trials in body or spirit can find refuge in His wounds and, through them, receive the grace of the hope that does not disappoint. Yes, Christ is our hope. From the little baby that was separated from its mother by the bullets of the terrorists that visited our land with caravans that left deaths on their trails and the old woman that was burnt to death to those who cry profound tears of frustration, the resurrected Christ is our hope and joy.
The crucified and risen Lord is comfort to those who have lost their jobs, those experiencing serious economic difficulties and lack of adequate social responsibilities. The unwholesome experiences of an average Nigerian is akin to our journey through the desert of Lent and the sorrowful days of the Passion but today, we raise the cry of victory: “He has risen! He has truly risen!” No one, and nothing again will steal our joy as a church and as people of God. The one who is risen lives in you and will be strong in you. Never give up! Easter therefore becomes for us Christians, an invitation to a deeper faith, faith in a surpassing Mystery – that Jesus who died on Good Friday, still lives on.
The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth and foundation of this our faith. This understanding made St. Paul preach that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, there would have been nothing to preach on, nothing to believe and our faith would have been a delusion (cf. 1Cor, 15:12-19).
This makes Easter day special and a day of great rejoicing as all Christian communities whether persecuted or not celebrate Christ’ victory over evil by his death and resurrection.Everything seems but gloomy, still dark and frightening both in the country and in our state, Kaduna. Our country is still bedeviled with so many socio-economic problems. Apart from the feeling of insecurity, the educational sector in the country is in shambles, as standards are lowered and Federal Universities still cannot go back to classrooms. With the economic hardships, many citizens are battling with hunger, frustration and the feeling of being betrayed by the government of the day. We in Southern Kaduna, even as I am writing this message, so many unprovoked attacks, kidnapping and banditry are still going on unabated.
As the government appears to be overwhelmed we the innocent citizens also feel betrayed, traumatized and devastated. Apart from fear and trauma, many of us have lost material resources, fallen sick as a result of the shock of the evil visited on us and can no longer sleep with both eyes closed. As your chief servant, I say to you, Easter is here and is telling us that the night is over. Do not be afraid. Pope Francis often challenges us to be people of joyful hope. Let us still expect much from our God, who raised Jesus from the dead. The psalmist expresses our collective faith by saying, ‘He restores my soul’ (Ps. 23:3). Yes our God the master builder will restore all things – the vigor, the energy and above all our joy. Overwhelmed by the horrors, I know that the very idea of the triumph of life and love over death and hatred might seem to be an impossible dream beyond our grasp. Certainly none of us alone can solve the terrible problems confronting us today, but each one of us can change ourselves. We can open ourselves to the transforming power of the risen Lord working in us and through us.
As disciples of the Risen Christ, Easter becomes more meaningful and our witness to the fact of the Resurrection authentic if we keep alive in our world today all the qualities and attitudes of our master in mind. His simplicity, forgiveness, humility, love and compassion are the weapons we can use again to conquer this world of hatred and hostility back to Christ.Finally, the Easter song says, “from the One Candle, we have been enlightened”.
We have been enlightened on how to view suffering and the many crosses laid on us. We have been enlightened on who we are, how we shall be and where we are going. This Easter is emphatic about this, that from the One Candle, the Resurrected Messiah, we have found the Light that brings hope to the dark nights of our souls, our lives. From the One Candle, we have found reason to live, and we can all shout… He has risen… We too will rise! The power of death has been destroyed.
Alleluia is our song. For His-story is our story. This Easter and beyond I urge you to be that One Candle that will kindle the hope in someone. Happy Easter to you all!
Most Rev. Julius Yakubu KUNDI
Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan
