In the chill of an early spring morning, somewhere between the solemn silence of Good Friday and the jubilant bells of Resurrection Sunday, a stone is rolled away. It is not just the stone of a tomb in ancient Jerusalemโit is the stone of despair, of fear, of uncertainty, of a world wearied by wars, pandemics, injustice, and broken systems. Every Easter, whether celebrated in the bustling parishes of London or the vibrant cathedrals of Nnewi, becomes more than a religious ritualโit becomes a metaphor for global resurrection.
Easter, at its core, is the story of rising again. But it is not a tale confined to stained glass windows or cathedral choirs. It is the universal story of humanity standing up after being knocked down.
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๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐
In Nigeria, Easter arrives with a blend of sacred reflection and community festivity. It is a time when families return to their hometowns, when masquerades dance in celebration of lifeโs mysteries, and when churches overflow with songs of resurrection. Yet, beneath the surface lies a nation grappling with corruption, economic hardship, ethnic divisions, and the ghost of insecurity. The resurrection story here is one of resilienceโof a people who, despite the weight of poverty and political turmoil, continue to rise with faith in their hearts and strength in their bones.
In the United Kingdom, Easter is quieter, more subduedโmarked by solemn Anglican liturgies, hot cross buns, and springtime blooms. But even this historic land, often seen as stable and prosperous, is not without its own tombs. The UK wrestles with the aftershocks of Brexit, the challenges of multicultural integration, the anxiety of climate change, and an increasingly polarized political climate. Its rising is quieter, a whisper rather than a roar, but no less powerful. It is seen in community food banks, in mental health awareness campaigns, in small acts of kindness that stitch together a frayed social fabric.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐
Today, the world sits at the mouth of a sealed tomb. Injustice clings like grave clothesโfrom Gaza to Sudan, from Ukraine to the inner cities of America. Climate anxiety looms like a storm cloud. Inequality deepens, and digital disconnection masquerades as connection. For many, the question isnโt โHe is risen?โโbut โWill we rise?โ
This is where Easterโs deeper message becomes essential. It is not merely the commemoration of an event but an invitation: roll away your stone.
- Roll away the stone of indifference that keeps you from hearing your neighbourโs cry.
- Roll away the stone of fear that stops you from speaking the truth.
- Roll away the stone of self-doubt that convinces you your voice doesnโt matter.
- Roll away the stone of hatred, for it never brings resurrectionโonly more tombs.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ : ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
Easter is a call to every individual, every nation, every generationโto rise again. The tomb is empty not just for celebration, but for transformation.
- In Nigeria, the rising will come when young people choose leadership over lamentation, when tribalism gives way to unity, and when hope becomes louder than hunger.
- In the UK, the rising will come when the nation chooses compassion over comfort, community over convenience, and healing over division.
- For the world, the rising will come when we remember that the power of resurrection isnโt locked in churchesโit is lived through justice, mercy, and truth.
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The risen Christ left behind grave clothes. So must we. We must shed the garments of bitterness, cynicism, and despair. The rising is not perfect. It bears scars. The resurrected body still had woundsโbut they were no longer bleeding. So too must our healing begin, not by erasing pain, but by transforming it.
Let this Easter be not just a holiday, but a holy dareโa challenge to rise as individuals and as a collective humanity.
Let Lagos rise. Let London rise. Let Gaza rise. Let the forgotten villages rise. Let the hearts of the broken rise.
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐
Let the bells ring, let the choirs shout, let the children dance. We are not defeated. The stone has rolled. Light has broken through the dark.
Because Easter says: we will rise again.
Not someday. Today.
So come forthโworld weary, war-torn, wounded, but not wasted.
Come forth from your tomb.
And rise.
