By Rev Fr Gerald Nwafor
This year, the Easter celebration was super. I watched also when the Pope came out to wave to the 35,000 worshippers gathered in Vatican Square with his message Urbi et Orbi. I saw a determined Papa speaking with a hoarse voice of love and confidence.
I had salmon and rice for my lunch and a bottle of lemonade to wash it down. My stew was well made because I had some visitors to share with, the joy of Resurrection. The long night Vigil Mass was spirit-filled, with good songs and wonderful ceremonies of the initiation of the catechumen.
The homily was about the resurrection of a new person in our lives so that we can love to the point of sacrifice.Whenever I talk about sacrifice during Easter my mind goes back to the days when I had the responsibility to kill the chicken for Easter jollof rice and stew. Those little chickens and turkeys pay the ultimate price also, for our celebration to be complete. Imagine an Easter without meat (goat, cow, chicken, or turkey). Something is wrong I would say but now I have traveled around and discovered that poverty is a factor during the Easter celebration.
Most families hope for your benevolence to have a piece of meat in their stew during this time.Remember that the government of Nigeria has plunged the citizens into untold hardship. We should reach out to one another to give rice, salt, tomatoes, oil, and meat.
Do not underestimate yourself, just give out that small bowl of rice and a little piece of meat to that poor family, you will be surprised how their Easter would be lit up. I gave a family an Easter card in 1996, which to me was a simple Easter card. I was surprised to see the card hanging in their living room (parlor) in 2023 when I visited during Christmas. They said they had never received a card from anyone.
To me, it was just a card, but to them, it meant the world and love. So, share your Easter joy with any of the families you know. Even the gift you received from your rich friend could be divided into two for your less privileged family. Do not stop the joy of Easter; allow it to go around. The Pope was sick, tired, and frail but he showed up to share his last energy with the faithful. I can’t believe he died less than 24 hours after that glorious appearance.
I am not concerned about who will replace the Pope. I have seen a lot of permutations on who will lead the Church and step into the big shoes Francis left behind. I always remember the words of my uncle “The Church is a divine institution run by the human element but the divine will always overshadow the human element.” God will give us a good pontiff who will be in the driving seat of the Church.
I love the word “Habemus Papam.” (We have a pope). The white smoke that comes out from the Vatican chimney and the shout of joy from the waiting congregation standing all day all night in the square. I can’t wait to watch it once again. I watched the appearance of Benedict XVI on 19 April 2005; I watched the appearance of Francis on 13 March 2013, each as they showed up to begin the reign of their papacy.
I hope to watch another eventful moment in my life. When John Paul II was enthroned in 1978, I did not know what television was and I do not think that satellite existed for the whole world to watch.Now we are the privileged generation that can follow the news from anywhere in the world. When I sent a message to my friend in Rome to confirm the sad news of Pope Francis’s death, he was shocked that I could get the news only 30 minutes after the breaking news.
I told him that it appeared on my Apple watch immediately after it was announced, as I was still celebrating with my friends on Easter night being that we were 8 hours behind Roma. That was not possible in 1978 when JPII was elected to steer the sheep of God. Today a lot has changed: you can watch from the comfort of your living room what is happening thousands of miles away from you.
I will join the rest of the world to wait for the new pontiff and listen to the sweet words of the announcing cardinal ‘Habemus Papam.’Pope Francis waited to celebrate the ultimate resurrection with Christ. He journeyed the whole Lenten season with all his ill health, and let the spirit resurrect with Christ during Easter octave. Action follows being, esse sequitur agere, (etu osisi si ruru ka osi ada).
The life of the Pope and his death are a testament to who he is, and what he stands for. He is a man of God full of love for Christ and the flock of God.Our celebration of the Easter season will produce a new pope. The joy we share with the rest of the world would help to stop the conflict in Gaza and Israel. Our care for the earth would save the planet for the generations that would come after us.
These are some of the thoughts of Pope Francis. We must carry on the message of love and kindness from Pope Francis. We cannot say we love the Pope and ignore what the Pope stood for during his lifetime. The Joy of the Gospel is one of his books that has changed the world significantly. His approach to social conflict has changed some harsh behavior towards people who have different belief systems and orientations.
I remember when the bishops wanted to stop Biden from receiving communion, he said that the approach should be pastoral, not political. He led the Church with love and died during the season of love. As we celebrate the Easter season with our good food, new wines, gorgeous dresses, and shoes, may we remember that the Church needs more prayer to elect a beloved pontiff who will have the zeal and love for the 1.2 billion faithful and the rest of humanity at heart. Happy Easter here below to those of us remaining, and a glorious happy Easter to Pope Francis in heaven.
