By Olivia Obijiaku
The Parish Priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Rev. Fr. Dr. Tijjani Ezekiel Danlami has told his parishioners to embrace the Risen Christ, so that He may dispel every form of darkness confronting them. Giving the charge recently, the priest taught that the Light of Christ has transformed the darkness that preceded the vigil, into the light that they were witnessing at the vigil.
The clergyman identified forms of darkness as sickness, poverty, stagnation, suffering, frustration and the likes, imploring them overcome such forms of darkness by accompanying their belief in Easter with corresponding actions. He told them that after the silence of Lent, the Church joyfully proclaims the Alleluia, even as he called on them to be witnesses of hope and joy.
“The Easter Vigil began in darkness.” He observed. “We were all outside there witnessing that darkness and the lighting of the Paschal candle. This symbolizes how Jesus Christ rises from the darkness of death into the light of new life. No matter how deep the darkness is, Christ will surely overcome it. Christ’s light overcomes every darkness. This darkness can be sin, suffering, sickness, stagnation, despair, frustration, poverty and carryover. Jesus is the Light of the world. He dispenses every darkness and whoever follows Him will have the light of life.”
“Friends in Christ, God is a covenant keeping God. He will not allow us to be swallowed by darkness, by our dark situations. Rather, He will give us victory. Sometimes we encounter this darkness and we are stagnated. But Christ assures us that today, He has overcome that for us. When the women were wondering who would roll away the stone for them, Jesus stepped in and opened the door of His tomb. He would enter the Upper Room, when the apostles were praying, doors shut, windows closed and He entered without anybody opening them for Him. The same way He would come out of the grave without anybody rolling the stone away for Him.”
“That is Jesus for all of us. When we are in doubt, when we are wondering ‘who will help us or who will roll away the stone of whatever calamity that has befallen us, Jesus steps in and opens the door. He has opened the gates of death and has invited all of us to come in because He has overcome the power of the grave. Therefore, friends in Christ, whatever be your challenge in life, Jesus will come and roll away the stone away from you. He will make you to laugh and celebrate once again. Easter in not only what we believe, it is also something we live.”
Fr. Danlami happily welcomed into the family of God’s people, the thirteen catechumens on whom he administered the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. He catechized that Baptism is the gateway to other sacraments, reminding them of their new identity in Christ. “Now, you are going to be God’s children in the Spirit, because God is Spirit. You will be living according to the Spirit. Whatever you do should reflect the Spirit of God. You must avoid anything that will make you to be in the flesh because now, you are going to be born in the Spirit.” He capped.
