EASTER VIGIL, YEAR C
16th April 2022
Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12.
Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The angel at the tomb told the women: Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen. Yesterday we mourned the memory of his suffering and death, today we celebrate his victory over death. He has conquered death forever and we are free!
His death exposed the hostility that forces us to shift blames. That hostility is the fear of being different. We shift blames to calm our fear from being expelled from the group. And each time we shift blames, an innocent person suffers. We sacrifice the innocent to gain momentary peace of mind! Jesus exposed the evil character of this hostility. The evil of blaming is that it is capable of self-recharging. Once we adopt it, it begins to control us. To be under the influence if this hostility is similar to death. Jesus is the first to overcame this evil. We look upon him as our saviour.
His life is a lesson for us on how to remain free from this bondage. His resurrection presents us with the powerful and efficient solution of forgiveness and reconciliation. These are the antidotes to shifting blame. From today, whoever admits his sin will be forgiven and be reconciled with God. From today till the Pentecost Sunday, the Sunday gospels will echo the power of the resurrection through forgiveness and reconciliation. Let us rejoice because Jesus has saved us from what is beyond us.
Fr Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.
