By Chikezie Ogbonna
Easter has been described as a period where the very root of joy for all Christendom is celebrated – The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “The Lord has rolled away the stone that covered the dead”, Bishop Ernest Obodo declared in the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated at Holy Ghost.
The Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, in his homily themed: Evil does not have the last word, observed that Evil such as seen in the world and Nigeria in particular in such a peculiar time as this can only have it’s run for a while, but certainly, will come to an end and now to the domineering light of God.
According to His Lordship, the world is suffering because of the very few evil people in our midst.
With a strong reference to Nigeria, Bishop Obodo noted that God wants us to let our light shine so bright and override the evil amongst us.
“The light of Christ is meant to shine in our life to dispel darkness. Evil has no last word, rather, it’s always the good that has the last word.
“Sometimes, God allows evil, sufferings to come for us to be wiser and draw closer to him.
“Sometimes when people offend us, it feels like an overwhelming evil that could drag us through the avoidable urge to retaliate, that should not be the case for us who live after Christ”, His Lordship said.
Using Christ life as the perfect standard, His Lordship urged all to live with that consciousness that evil cannot take the final lead.
According to him, we may be insulted, humiliated and even die just like Jesus, however, he urged all to know, that is not the last word.
“Evil men have a way of going the extra mile to oppress. Just like in Nigeria, let us not grow weary, this is the time to rekindle our faith and be strong in our beliefs, because evil cannot have the last word.
“Just as Jesus passed through incredible persecution, sufferings and many inhuman treatment and later died, victory was assured by the third day when he rose from the dead.
“God is calling us today, don’t look into the tomb, because it’s empty, rather look up to the sky, because the Lord has risen.
Just as the stone was rolled away, that is how your tribulations and trials shall be rolled away”, His Lordship charged.
Bishop Obodo further urged all to have faith, faith in the power of resurrection. According to him, this will help us not to look back in the tomb where everything has been for. Rather, Chrsitians are urged to rather look upto to heaven where Jesus reigns supreme and forefever.
“Let us be men of faith. And when we see Jesus, we must run fast like the women and become strong messengers of Jesus.
“God is calling us all to go into the world and become evangelizers. It is a new dawn and as such, we should spread his great works and salvation throughout the corners of the earth”, His Lordship said.
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