It is Easter. The Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. He has broken the chains of death. He is victorious over satan, sin and death. He lives and reigns forever. He died that we might die to sin and live in righteousness.
My dear friends, we cannot think about Easter without confronting Good Friday. On Good Friday, our Lord Jesus Christ suffered so terribly. He was struck down and brought low. He was betrayed by one of his companions. He was denied by the chief of his apostles and deserted by the rest. He was turned into an object of mockery by the high and low of society. The beneficiaries of his miracles and benevolence disappeared. He was meant to carry a very heavy cross on his shoulders like a criminal. He was rejected and a notorious criminal was preferred to him instead. He died in bitter pains. God remained silent.
The story of Good Friday is the story of many people both here in the seminary community as well as in our family and friends circles. Pains, agony and frustration seem to accompany the life stories of many. Betrayal and abandonment characterize the experiences of many of our brothers and sisters. These different tearful shades of our daily experiences can be related to Good Friday.
On Easter Sunday, God raised Jesus from the dead. Alleluia. Just as the story of Jesus did not end on Good Friday, so also are all Christians encouraged (through the celebration of Easter) to look beyond their pains and agonies. Easter is a celebration of joy – that God raised Jesus from the dead. It is a celebration of hope – that our sorrows will be turned into joy and that God who raised Jesus will not abandon us forever in our sufferings.
I address this message to my dear seminarians and by extension others who may come in contact with you. As you journey through your formation to the priesthood, may you grow more deeply in the realization that you are being prepared to become a minister of joy and hope to God’s people. Our unique Nigerian context challenges you especially to increasingly develop spiritualties which take human suffering seriously and invent pastoral orientations which give our people “garland instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning robes” (Is 61:3). May you become ambassadors of Easter – resurrecting confidence, new positive energies and determination for goodness among our people. As you go back to your families for the Easter vacation, convey to them the hearty greetings from the seminary. Encourage them in their struggles and proclaim to them through words and deeds that God can never abandon his people. For some of you who may have personal issues either in your vocation or families, I pray that the grace of Easter may be a spiritual spring for your lives.
We hope to receive you back to the seminary after the vacation, to continue your journey to the priesthood.
Happy Easter to you all.
Rev. Fr. Uzochukwu J. NJOKU
Acting Rector.
