He drew the attention of the faithful to the fact that the theme of light plays a pivotal role in the Vigil celebration: the ceremony had begun with the blessing of the Easter fire, which gives light, and from which the Easter Candle was lit, and also the Church lights were turned on, to illumine the darkness.
He further expounded that the Easter Candle represents Christ, risen from the death.
“He is the true light of our lives, and so we have to follow him,” he underscored. He added that anyone who follows Christ, the true Light, will never be lost. Rather, they will be able to go wherever he goes, say whatever he says, and do whatever he does; they would remain God’s beloved children just as he is also God’s beloved Son, he said.
“That is why we had to follow the Eater candle into the church; the church was dark, but Christ who is the true Light, brightened the darkness in the church,” he explained.
The Chief Shepherd urged the faithful to be light to others, just as Christ is light to them, and this would mean that everything about them should signify the true light that they have embraced, who is Christ himself.
He further warned them to guard against anything that is opposed to this Light, because such will not be beneficial to them and will not lead them to where Christ is. They should strive to remain in the light which Christ has gained for them.
“We are no more in darkness; Christ came to save us from that darkness; darkness of sin, darkness of death. By dying and rising, he has brought us into the light of God. We want to remain in this light, so that others who have not yet received Christ, through us they will also receive Christ,” he underlined.
The Bishop prayed that the celebration of the Easter Vigil would inspire the Christians to remain “in the light of Christ, to remain children of light, to remain beloved sons and daughters of God” so that as they renew their resolve to follow Christ, through their baptismal promises, they will be able to live for God, and Him alone, after the example of Christ.
“May the Lord help us to be light to one another; to be light especially to those who have not known Him yet,” he prayed.
Concelebrating at the Easter Vigil Mass, was Rev. Fr. Augustine Kodo, SVD, Prefect of SVD Theology Students at SVD Common Formation Centre, Tamale, a visiting Priest to the Paris
Among those present at the Mass were Sr. Nkechi Oraebosi, Regional Leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary Ghana Region, who doubles as Physician Assistant and in-charge of the Vicariate owned Holy Rosary Health Centre, Amankwakrom, and Sr. Cecilia Dike, MSHR, nurse-midwife at same facility.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
