Homily for The Solemnity of Easter Sunday, 5th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts.10:34.37-43; Ps. 118; Col 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE TO GIVE US THE GRACE OF A NEW LIFE

For over forty days, we have journeyed with our Lord Jesus, and we listened to him speaking of his mission to redeem humanity. Like his first disciples, we experienced his love, healing and compassion; we believed in him even when we lacked the full knowledge of his mission.

On Ash Wednesday, as customary, we put on ashes in penitence for our sins. We fasted and abstained from food and other things, and we did great charity works all these forty days. On Palm Sunday, we shouted Hosanna!! Hosanna!! Filio David, on Holy Thursday, we dine with the Lord, though with divided minds, as he told us about the betrayal and his passion.

On Good Friday, Jesus was taken away from us, in our presence, he was judged, and condemned and we cried out crucify him!! Crucify him!!, he was indeed crucified on account of our sins. In sorrows and agonies, we were scattered and hopelessly went back to Emmaus in our ugly ways of life. But for some like Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, we wondered in great silence of Holy Saturday, what must have happened to the mission of Christ, in fear and hope we waited patiently all night vigil meditating on the words of God in search of an answer to the mystery of the salvation of humanity promised to us by Jesus.

Behold this point, the voice of an angel singing: Exult!!, let them Exult!!, the host of heaven, Exult!!, let Angel ministers of God Exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our might King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, for the stone has been taken away from the tomb, our Lord has risen, Jesus is risen, light has triumphed over darkness, life over death and joy over sorrow. What a glorious day, a day of victory, a day when the salvation of humanity is won, a day of personal encounter and experience of the new life of the risen Lord.

Let us then celebrate the Lord’s victory. Let us, like Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, run towards the empty tomb with open hearts to encounter Christ, who has died and is risen, to renew us and remove from our hearts the guilt of sin and death, so that we can embrace his divine and eternal life. Let us join the angels in singing a new song to God for victory over death and shame. Let us thank God for the grace of new life he is offering us today. Let us sing and say:

You are the source of our new life;

In your light we see light,

You show us your goodness;

You bid us taste and see

We come to you; we bless you, Lord;

We glorify your name!

We praise you Lord; we worship you

We thank you for your gift of New Life.

(New Life! New Life, You came to bring us new life,

New life, New life, we find such Joy in your abundant Life.

Dear friends, Christ has come to give us new life, a new life of grace, a new life of peace, a new life of hope, a new life of courage, a new life of joy and purity of heart. This is the fundamental principle of our Christian faith; this is the victory that transforms us and unites us with our Lord. Hence, if Jesus is risen, and is alive, who will ever be able to separate us from him? Who will ever be able to deprive us of the love of him who has conquered hatred and overcome death by showing us the path of sacrificial love?

Yes, Jesus loves us with a deep and everlasting love. For today, he has paid all our debts to God; he supplies all our daily spiritual needs; he sympathises with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and will not reject us because of our weaknesses. He regards us as part of himself: We share in the glory that he has received from his Father. These are the privileges of all true Christians who are called to the heavenly kingdom. So today, Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a matter of ritual or ceremonious fasting or feasting. But it is about building a personal relationship with God who loves us personally and unconditionally.

Therefore, I don't know what your experience has been in this world, I don't know how you woke up today, I don't know what troubles your mind. But all I know is that today is another gift of God to humanity, a day of joy, a day of victory. I am excited, hopeful and am going to live it with all joy, not trying to change things that I cannot change or try to fix things that do not want to be fixed.

I will not let the ugly situation of the things of this passing world or any ugly event of my past life of sin distract me today or steal my joy. I will focus on the blessings that come with the joy of the risen Lord and this new life of grace and hope. From today I will follow the directives of the Lord, for his ways are right and the upright walk in them, but the transgressors stumble and fall.

So, let us proclaim the Easter victory and spread it throughout the world with the joyful song of Alleluia saying: Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose a Victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, may the joy of the risen Lord fill our hearts today and always, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Happy Easter to you and your household.