MOST REV. FRANCIS OBAFEMI ADESINA

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Preamble

As we gather in joy on this glorious Easter Sunday, the Church throughout Nigeria and the world proclaims the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over sin and death. In the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, our hearts overflow with gratitude for the gift of salvation won by the Cross and sealed by the empty tomb. Today, I extend this message of Resurrection hope not only to the faithful of our diocese but to all Christians across our beloved nation; Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, and every disciple of the Risen Lord. In a time of profound trial, let us unite under the banner of the empty tomb, drawing strength from the same Paschal Mystery.

The liturgical readings for Easter Sunday invite us into the radiant dawn of new life. In the Acts of the Apostles (10:34a, 37-43), St. Peter boldly preaches: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power… They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest.” Peter’s witness echoes the apostolic testimony that the Crucified One lives! Complementing this, St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (3:1-4) urges: “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God… For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Here, the Resurrection is no distant event but our own transformation our earthly struggles veiled in Christ, awaiting glorious unveiling.

The Gospel of John 20:1-9 (the empty tomb discovered by Mary Magdalene and the Beloved Disciple, paints a vivid contrast: from the darkness of burial linens and sealed tombs to the light of an open grave and the Lord’s living presence. These readings converge on one truth; the Resurrection shatters death’s finality. What was dead is alive; what was buried is unbound. Peter’s proclamation in Acts highlights the historical witness; Paul in Colossians 3:1-4, the mystical union with Christ; the Gospel, the tangible encounter. Together, they assure us that the Risen Christ is the pledge of our new life. As St. Paul declares elsewhere (2 Cor 4:14), “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.”

As a bishop, I cannot ignore the crushing agony of our citizens. It is a bitter, unacceptable paradox that Nigeria, a nation abundantly blessed by God with vast oil reserves leaves its citizens groaning under the suffocating weight of exorbitant fuel prices. The recent increases have triggered a cascade of inflation, plunging millions into abject poverty. How do we explain to the hungry child, the struggling widow, or the retrenched worker that the very resource placed beneath their feet by the Creator has become an instrument of their impoverishment?
The agonizing struggle to afford basic transportation, food, and shelter is a heavy cross placed on the shoulders of the innocent. To our leaders, I say this: A leadership that is insensitive to the groans of its people is contrary to the will of God. The Risen Christ calls for a rolling away of the stones of systemic corruption, poor policy implementation, and economic injustice that keep our people entombed in poverty. In our hunger, thirst, and uncertainty, Jesus invites us to trust that He is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). Let us turn to Him in prayer, and let our shared burden move us to works of charity and solidarity.

The recent killing of Christians in Jos and other parts of our country is a contradiction to the promise of the government to protect citizens. To the families of the victims in Jos, and to Christians facing persecution across the Middle Belt and the North: your pain is the pain of the entire Body of Christ. You are sharing intimately in the Passion of our Lord. But hear this clearly: The perpetrators of this violence may kill the body, but they cannot extinguish the spirit, nor can they thwart the ultimate justice of God. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. In the face of such evil, the resurrection is God’s final answer: He has conquered sin and death, and no act of violence can silence His love. To all who live in fear, hear the angel’s words: “Do not be afraid.” The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work to bring healing, justice, and peace to our land.

A Call to Live the New Life
Easter is not a return to business as usual. It is a call to conversion personal, communal, and national. As Christians:
Let us be people of hope, not naïve optimism, but hope rooted in the fact that Christ is alive and active in history.
Let us be instruments of peace, working for justice and reconciliation in our families, communities, and nation.
Let us be witnesses of charity, reaching out to the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger for in serving them, we serve the Risen Lord.

Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, the resurrection of Jesus is God’s final “Amen” over human history. No grave of poverty, violence, or despair can hold back His life-giving power. As we receive the light of Christ today, let us carry it into the dark corners of our nation, trusting that He who rose from the dead walks with us every step of the way.
May the peace and joy of the Risen Christ fill your hearts this Easter and always.

Most Rev. Francis Obafemi ADESINA
Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode