His Lordship, John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Bishop of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has called on the faithful of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord, which is the foundation of their Faith.
He made this known in a homily during the Easter Sunday Mass at the Cathedral, concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Bernard Appiah Adjei, SVD, the Cathedral Administrator.
The Bishop said “today we are all happy; happy because the Lord has risen indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ has risen. He was crucified, he died, and was buried, but today, he is risen”.
According to the bishop, all Christians share in the spirit of the Risen Lord, and are also witnesses to this Resurrection, because “the Resurrection of the Lord is the Foundation of our Faith”. He added that had the Lord not risen, there would be no faith, because whatever they say and witness to, is based on the Resurrection of the Lord.
The prelate further drew the attention of the faithful to the fact that the Good News of the Resurrection had first come through the witness of a woman; Mary Magdalene; one who had been very close to Jesus during his public ministry, and especially at passion.
He added that the relationship grew more so on account of the fact that Jesus out of love for Mary Magdalene, had done a great thing for her, by casting out demons that were tormenting her, hence, giving her back life, and Mary on her part, could not but respond to the corresponding love for the Lord.
The bishop further explained that it was out of the love Mary Magdalene had for Jesus, that she had been the very first person to visit the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, early the next morning, and she was the one who had carried the report of the empty tomb to Jesus’ disciples.
He made further reference to John; the disciple whom the Lord loved most, who was also very close to Jesus. Drawn by his love for Christ, together with Peter, he had ran to the tomb as soon as he heard what Mary Magdalene had shared about Jesus, and had witnessed everything as recounted. Only then did he recall what Christ had predicted about himself while he was still with them; that he will suffer, die and will be buried, but on the third day, he will rise; and he believed.
Defining the kind of relationship that existed between Jesus, Mary Magdalene and John, to be a very close, loving and personal one, Bishop Asiedu challenged the faithful with some soul-searching questions: “Do you love the Lord? How close are you to the Lord? What has the Lord revealed to you about Himself? Have you ever experienced the love of the Lord? And what was the response you gave to that love? What did you do to that love?”
The Chief Shepherd made further allusion to Peter, in the First Reading, who though had denied Jesus during his passion, was now a transformed person, bearing witness to the Risen Christ. Christians must hence always bear in mind that they have been reborn, and where Christ is, in the glory of the Father, that is where they too should be.
He urged the faithful to leave old ways behind; for they are a new creation. “We cannot continue to remain where we were before Jesus came to die for us,” he reiterated. “We saw the transformation in Mary Magdalene, in Peter; why can’t we also exhibit that transformation? Why can’t we also testify to that transformation? Why can’t we also enjoy that transformation?” he challenged.
“Let us pray and ask the Lord that the spirit of the Risen Lord will continue to be with us, to strengthen us in our faith and to direct us to where the Risen Lord wants us to be, and what he wants us to be doing,” he prayed.
The Easter Day Mass featured the reception of First Holy Communion by some catechumens of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, some of whom had received Baptism the previous day; Holy Saturday.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate).
