By Chikezie Ogbonna
In a spirit-filled homily that blended deep spiritual symbolism with searing social commentary, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, has called on Christians and all Nigerians to embrace Easter as a time of total transformation, from spiritual lethargy to renewed faith, and from national despair to collective hope.
Addressing the congregation at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu during the 2025 Easter Vigil Mass, Bishop Obodo did not mince words. He described the Easter celebration as more than a religious ritual, but rather, “a spiritual revolution, where darkness gives way to light, where death bows to life, and where the soul is rekindled by faith.”
The Sacred Symbolism of Transformation
Drawing from the age-old tradition of the Easter Vigil, His Lordship reflected on the symbolic procession through darkness, a ritual that begins the vigil and leads the faithful into the light of the Resurrection. “It is not just a ceremony. It is a journey, from confusion to clarity, from fear to faith,” he declared.
The Bishop emphasized the transformative power of the three sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion, administered to candidates during the liturgy, calling them “gateways to grace” and “instruments of divine transformation.”
He likened the 40-day Lenten journey to a divine boot camp, a “forty-day spiritual drill for inner renewal, awakening, and the strengthening of faith.”
A Wake-Up Call to a Nation in Crisis
But it was Bishop Obodo’s raw and uncompromising rebuke of the Nigerian socio-political system that turned heads. “Our country is bleeding,” he said, “and the stench is coming from the very top.” He decried what he called “a mafia-style leadership gripping Nigeria like a cancer,” referencing the controversial 2023 elections which, in his words, “left millions disillusioned and disenfranchised.”
“It was not just an election. It was a hijack of democracy. And now, our people are being tempted to lose faith in the process entirely,” he warned.
In a voice that trembled with both compassion and controlled rage, Bishop Obodo challenged Nigerians not to surrender to hopelessness. “This might be a plot to paralyze your spirit. Don’t let it succeed. Rise up! Reclaim the soul of this country with prayer, courage, and hard work. Easter reminds us that even sealed tombs can burst open!”
“Faith Is the Game Changer”
His Lordship drew a powerful parallel from the Gospel story of Mary Magdalene, who went to the tomb seeking Jesus, despite knowing a massive stone stood in her way. “She had no idea how the stone would be rolled away, but she went anyway. That is faith! That is the power that changes lives and moves nations.”
Referencing Abraham’s unwavering trust in God, Bishop Obodo insisted that “only faith can bring about true transformation, whether in our homes, our hearts, or our homeland.”
He reminded the faithful that God is not indifferent to their suffering. “He is a God of justice. He will not allow the righteous to suffer forever. But we must be ready to cooperate with Him by refusing to stay in the tombs of silence and indifference.”
From Poverty to Prosperity: The Promise of Easter
In a crescendo of prophetic hope, Bishop Obodo declared:
“As light shattered the darkness of the Easter night, so shall your life move from confusion to clarity, from bondage to liberty, from poverty to prosperity. Resurrection is not just Christ rising, it is you rising too!”
He ended his homily with a powerful charge to the nation: “The bad eggs in this country are not more than one percent. But we have allowed them to dominate us. When the good rise, evil retreats. If we pray hard, work hard, and act in faith, Nigeria will be transformed, just as Christ transformed the Cross into a throne of glory.”
A Night of Grace and Glory
The highlight of the vigil was the administration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion to candidates, new members welcomed into the fullness of the Catholic faith amidst candlelight, hymns, and thunderous joy.
As worshippers emerged into the night, now bathed in the glow of Easter dawn, there was a renewed sense that Easter is more than just a holy day. It is a divine uprising, a reminder that no tomb is too dark, no stone too heavy, and no nation too far gone to be raised back to life.
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