By Daniel Njienue, and Sunny Atam, April 12, 2020. News/comments
OSUN-Easter, also called Paschal (Greek, Latin) or Resurrection Sunday, is a celebration commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his burial, following his crucifixion by the Roman authority at Calvary c. 30 AD.
Also known as the Easter Triduum, the period preceding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This marks an important phase in the history of Christianity. Speaking with Afrikanwatch Network Editor-in-Chief, Mark C. Orgu, on this glorious episode is, Rev. Fr. (Prof) Anthony Kanu, from the congregation of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA), who is also a Professor of Religious and Cultural Studies and a philosopher, highlighted the significance of Easter and good Friday, stating that, the message of Good Friday is the Cross, which is part of our daily experiences while the message of Easter is the message of hope, triumph and change.
The Catholic Priest, who debunked the idea of Christians losing faith in God because of the circumstance surrendering the world on Coronavirus said: “People have not lost faith. Many families celebrated Good Friday in their homes. The Lenten observances are still kept. We should rather understand better, the image of the Church as the Family of God”, He reiterated that the Covid-19 spread and the consequent lockdown in the country and other part of the world do not have any negative impact on Christianity but help Christians to rethink the concept of the Church.
“The Church is not just when we gather in a building. We are the Church. The family is a miniature church, the father and mother are the leaders of that church. The time has come for them to lead, drawing examples from all they have been learning all these while”
On his Easter message to Nigerians, Father Kanu encourages Christians to build their faith stronger at this time and never lose hope: His words “there is hope. Tears may flow at night but joy comes in the morning. The Psalmist says ‘Although we are cast down, we shall say that there is a lifting up’. The book of Job teaches also; ‘although I am cast down I shall say that there is a lifting up” The best of Nigeria is on the way. The Covid-19 spread is just a phase, the world is not hopeless. If the world was hopeless, then they would have stopped the fight against Covid-19. Every effort shows that there is hope’.
Fr. Kanu, also spoke on social justice. Hear him:” Social justice is a wide concept including many issues of concern. However, the Bible makes social justice a mandate of faith and a fundamental expression of the Christian faith. It begins with God, who time and again shows his concern for the poor and the weak at various points in the history of his relationship with humanity. It comes to its fullest in Christ who came and dwelt among us, making the achievement of social justice His major concern, like feeding the hungry, fighting for those who the society see as ‘rejects’, etc.
He added that, we don’t need to go to school to become a social justice advocate. “You actually begin from your family, being a human being first, and being sympathetic, non-derogatory, polite, kind, etc. Giving everyone working with you his or her due.
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