BY REV FR GERALD NWAFOR
I watched in dismay how the political discussion of the Nigerian tragedy overshadows the greatest celebration of mankind. I do not know if it is intended or a coincidence. By extension, the whole world is talking about the war going on in Iran and the cost of gasoline and crude oil all over the world. Human beings always deal with the present. The people are not to blame if they find themselves in a quagmire, since the nature of man is to seek comfort.
But when there are challenges to the existence of man, the tendency is to seek safety first. That is the only reason I can say for certain that the Easter celebration of 2026 will come to us in a low key, which should not be so. In Nigeria, the attack on Christians at Jos on Passion Sunday and on Easter Sunday in Benue and Kwara States marred the celebration with pain and sadness. Instead of talking about the salvation story of Easter and the love bestowed on humanity by the all-merciful and benevolent God, we are busy with the pain inflicted on the citizens by the terrorists among us. I see it as a calculated plan to cow the Christian community of Nigeria into fear so that they may not celebrate Easter at all or not have the courage to celebrate this most important feast in Christian tradition to the fullest.
In either case, the Christians will not be intimidated. It is also an opportunity to share the love of Easter with the communities that suffered terror attacks before and during Easter The war in Iran affected the purchasing power of the people so that they could not afford the price of cows, goats, lambs, turkeys, and chickens.
I do not want to talk about the price of rice and Ukwa (breadfruit), the most common food during the Easter festivity. Some items doubled the price (Gasoline moved from 800 to 1500 naira). The masses were in pain, and the government played the ostrich, burying their head in the sand, pretending they do not hear the cry of the masses or see the hunger in their faces. I do not think it is a mistake on the part of the government to punish the people, no. The government has been in the business of exploiting the masses in Nigeria. When I heard that the government is about to borrow $6 billion.
I was hoping it’s for the people since they threw rice at all the problems. But this time I was wrong, it is for themselves and for their friends in power. So, we are not giving the season of Easter it’s full position in our communities, but the pain inflicted by the government is taking center stage.
The celebration of Easter doesn’t end in one week or two weeks. I am happy it has up to seven weeks. If the first and second weeks are overshadowed by bloodshed and pain, may the subsequent weeks of Easter be recognized for their worth (love and care). It’s a time we visit our relatives and stay a few days celebrating the joys of Christ’s resurrection.
The people of Easter are happy people. They are the people who celebrate the breaking of the bread and the powers of the risen Lord. In the midst of this confusion created by the world leaders and the Nigerian political class, may we, the people of Easter, find space and time to share our love with family, friends, and strangers. The simple plate of rice we give to the poor may be their only hope to survive another day. The bread we offer to the hungry man along the street brings smiles and hope to his face. Do not wait until you have enough before you share your love. From what little you have, please find time to go out and share it with the person who has nothing to eat or to wear. There is joy in sharing.
If you are super rich and you can afford it, please increase your benevolence this Easter season. I know you distributed one hundred bags of rice last Easter. Please make it 200 this year because the number of poor people in Nigeria has tripled. If you killed two cows last year, please, if it is possible, kill three this year. If you observe closely, many faces need proteins and vitamins.
In case you have extra money, please give it to some poor people around you. Do not give extra instructions on what to do with it because tomatoes, pepper, onions, and Maggi are very costly now. When I was young, I did not know that firewood was sold. We go into the forest and scout for firewood (ikpanku), which is free. Now I do see firewood set up for sale. I looked at the price tag and my heart skipped. There is no difference if you choose to use the English stove, gas cooker, or firewood; all are very costly. So, the little money you will add to the beneficiaries of your wealth will not be in vain. Be very generous during this season of Easter.
Finally, the Easter season comes once a year, but will continue to be with us forever since it marks the peak of our salvation history (story). There is always another chance of success. If your plan for the Easter celebration this year did not cut the chase, do not be disappointed, remember that the future is bright.
Keep your head low and continue to work diligently and trust in God, who gives all gifts. This Easter, you may be the recipient of people’s benevolence; next Easter may be your turn to give people a gift. Be kind to yourself. Be humble in your limitations, be content with your achievements (blessings). You must not achieve all your goals; there are areas where you will excel, and there are areas where you will have challenges, like everyone else. Keep your head low.
I remember when my history teacher told us that “Rome was not built in a day.” I was only ten years old, and it was my first day in class one. I was imagining how big Rome was. With time, I realized that even my grandmother’s hut was not built in a day. It takes time to build. We should be kind to ourselves and work diligently towards our goals. If we succeed, we come and celebrate Easter with our people; if we don’t, we also come so that our people will celebrate Easter with us. Easter season is the best season of all seasons. We should pray, sing, eat, drink, dance, and take care of ourselves and others.
