- The Nigerian political class are our own infamous Calvary, Golgotha combined
Today is Easter! Easter Sunday! The Lord has Risen! Alleluia! Let us begin this short reflection of joy with the Easter Sequence, chanted today before the Gospel from the Evangelist John. The ancient song is called by its very first two introductory lines: Victimae Paschali Laudes (Praises to the Passover (Paschal) Victim. Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise. The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb; and Christ, the undefiled, hath sinners to his Father reconciled. Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way. The tomb the Living did enclose; I saw Christ’s glory as he rose! The angels there attesting; shroud with grave clothes resting. Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee. That Christ is truly risen from the dead, we know. Victorious king, thy mercy show! Amen. Alleluia! This song expresses the summit of what Christians are celebrating today and throughout the Eastertide: CHRIST IS RISEN! He is no longer the Crucified One. The one hanging on the gibbet. The one who died. Not again. He is the Risen Lord. The Victorious King! In fact, at his resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ killed death.
Thus, Alleluia, suspended since Ash Wednesday, has rebounded, as primary lyrics, into our joyous Easter melody. Surely, as said St Augustine, we sing Alleluia because we are the Alleluia people. So, shout Alleluia, the Lord is risen! Jesus our Lord is risen. Alleluia! Mary bore a firsthand witness that the stone had been rolled away, and the tomb empty. These two movements of fact were meant to engender unbounded joy – an Easter Joy. Instead, the poor, loving Mary was struck with fear and despair. The characteristics of unbelief. How many times have we found ourselves in such nerve-wracking situations? Yet, she was not alone in those acts of incredulity. Peter and John were also upset at seeing what Mary saw. Worse, the burial clothing was evidenced in their search for the missing Jesus. Something much more strange than unusual had happened. Jesus, buried in the dark of the tomb, tore it open, scattering the darkness of the night, and rose triumphantly.
He was no longer in the murky tomb. He is Alive and lighted up the dawn. Easter is a feast of hope over despair, light over darkness, life over death. But beyond the festivities of a single day, Easter is a season. If there are people who need this moment of joy and hope, a seasonal ‘spiritual distraction’ so to say, a time to face the Lord and the bright future he brings at his resurrection, it is Nigerians. What the platoon of wicked forces did to Jesus – from Judas to Pilate, the Chief Priests, and the soldiers – our politicians do to us, every day. God is so gracious to Nigeria that it remains the only country in the world with no known perennial and naturally devastating phenomenon.
However, the Nigerian politicians have perfectly fit into that undesired vacuum as our tsunami. Disaster. The Nigerian political class, or they call themselves elites, are our own infamous Calvary and Golgotha combined. Indeed, they are our major cross. They are the real massive stones heavily wedged at our door. They drill our oil, mine our gold, ravage our lands, and in a disdainful photographic show, hand 10 kilograms of rice to the masses who in turn perish while scrambling for the pods like desolated panhandlers – in their own country. No doubt, these raiders (not leaders) have for long turned Nigeria into a ginormous IDP Camp. However, dearest reader, one of the iconic resurrection images that I admire is the one that depicts Jesus majestically exiting the shady tomb, with a powerful column of light piercing through the dark grave.
So, shall it be with you! The Lord has risen, as the bright morning Sun, to cast his redeeming light into the darkness of your life. The enormous stone at the entrance of your life, that has kept you captive, shall be moved away and crushed. You will rise from your problems and be lifted from your miseries, your hope will be revived, and you will be supplemented with abundant joy and happiness until the day when you will fully rise to the happiness that can never be dimmed or taken or stolen away from you like your election ballot papers. So, pray for our country Nigeria. We shall soon behold the light of joy. That is the good message of Easter.
Yes! This Jesus who was condemned to death scourged and mocked and crowned with thorns, he who was jeered when he died on the cross, is risen. He is alive! Since that day, God guarantees that his love is stronger than death. He also reassures us on this day: look to my risen Son, with him you are already rising from your pains and loneliness and wounds. Like Jesus, we cannot stay held down inside the tomb of unbearable hardship. We shall rise and live forever in his love. Let the joy of the Risen Christ light up your faces. Happy EASTER to you all.
• Fr. M. Rebecca Offor-Igirigi, CMF, Claretian Communications, Lagos