Easter: Embrace reconciliation, Oyo Bishop urges Nigerians
The Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has called on Nigerians to incorporate the Easter message of reconciliation noting that Easter is the accomplishment of the mission of Jesus to reconcile the world to God.
According to the Sun, Bishop Badejo, a onetime Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria made this call in his message to mark Easter titled “We must rise to a New Life.”
The cleric urged the citizens not to“spread tribalism,” while also calling the public officials to imbibe peace and justice at all times.
He noted that despite the current situation, Easter brings good news for all.
He said, “Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is good news, no matter how bad things are around us. Life overcomes death, good wins over evil, and truth triumphs over the falsehood of sin.”
He pointed out that “after 40 days of penance and fasting, Easter calls us to live holy lives and pursue justice. We must shun all the conspiracy, false witnessing, fake news, betrayal, character assassination and murder of Good Friday so rampant in our world and embrace the truth, compassion, and forgiveness of Easter Sunday.”
On his message on “reconciliation,” and say no to division, the Bishop narrated that “Easter is the accomplishment of the mission of Jesus to reconcile the world to God. He died on the cross and resurrected for all, without discrimination. Let us all, therefore, embrace the Easter message of reconciliation. Let us fight the falsehood and division which are destroying families, relationships, associations, parties and country and stop demonising one another.
“The ethnic profiling, which makes other people look evil and undesirable is a sin against God and humanity. Jesus condemned sin but never the sinner. Let us emulate him at Easter.
“At Easter we are called to follow the road Jesus travelled to his resurrection. He was fully obedient to God who sent him. He was focused on his mission. He went about doing good; he fed the hungry, opened the eyes of the blind, cured the sick, stood for justice and preached peace through forgiveness. He laid down his life in service to others. He said I have come to give life, life to the full (Jn 10:10). That is what all leaders must do – same for all good citizens. If we all would obey God’s law written in our hearts and live like Christ our world would be paradise.”
He added that “Easter reminds us that Jesus lived to serve others. (Mark 10:45). He washed the feet of his disciples, teaching them to love and one another.
“Easter calls us all to serve and restore, not destroy others, to remake and restore our world through a moral regeneration. Let us repair the decayed moral fibre of our country and our world which is evident today in terrorism, insurgency, abductions, domestic and social violence, betrayal of trust and abuse of power in public institutions and by public officials.”
The cleric called “on public officials to pursue truth and justice always.” He added: “I call on all Nigerians to resist those who spread tribalism, discrimination and hatred and live with mutual respect, forgiveness, and love. We all have a lot to gain if we do.
“Jesus was betrayed, persecuted, punished, and crucified, yet he rose from the dead. Easter is a time to say, all hope is not lost and miracles are possible. It is, therefore, time for rejoicing – a time to reassure all who are doing good not to give up but to work harder. We shall overcome evil just like Jesus did!”