Easter: “The Tomb is Empty,” Fr. Banjo declares, urges Nigerians to rise from darkness to hope

By Abah Anthony John

The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, has proclaimed the triumph of hope over despair and called on Nigerians to embrace renewal both in their personal lives and in the nation, declaring emphatically during the Easter Vigil that “evil, suffering, and death will never have the final word.”

Delivering an homily at the Easter Vigil Mass, Fr. Banjo centered his message on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, describing it as the defining moment of Christian faith and the ultimate victory over darkness.

“Tonight, the tomb is empty. Tonight, the stone has been rolled away,” he said. “God proclaims once and for all that evil, suffering, and death will never have the final word.”

Reflecting on the rich symbolism of the Easter Vigil liturgy, Fr. Banjo explained that every element of the celebration points to Christ’s victory.

He described the new fire lit outside the church as “the victory of hope over despair and of good over evil, even when all seemed lost,” while the Paschal Candle represents “Christ himself, now risen in glory, who has conquered sin, darkness, and death.”

He further noted that the return of the Gloria, accompanied by the ringing of bells after the silence of Lent, signifies “the overflowing joy of the Church because the Lord who died now lives in glory.”

The Alleluia, absent throughout the Lenten season, returns with “triumphant joy because the Lord who lay in the tomb has risen and reigns forever.”

According to him, Easter remains “the heart of our faith,” stressing that without the Resurrection, “the Cross would have remained a tragedy,” but through Christ’s victory, “the Cross has become victory.”

Fr. Banjo extended the message of Easter to those facing various hardships, emphasizing that the Resurrection speaks directly to human struggles.

“What appears to be the end is not always the end in the hands of God,” he said, encouraging the faithful to hold on to hope.

Addressing those suffering from illness, he assured them that “healing is still possible,” while reminding those burdened by financial hardship that “the God who brought life out of the tomb can still open doors where none seem visible.”

He also offered comfort to those grieving loved ones, stating that “death is not the end, for in Christ even the grave has been transformed into a passage to life.”

To those battling inner struggles such as fear, loneliness, and anxiety, he declared that “the risen Lord still comes into the troubled places of the heart and brings peace.”

Summing up this aspect of his message, he affirmed: “This is the hope of Easter: no situation is beyond the power of the risen Lord.”

Beyond consolation, Fr. Banjo stressed that Easter demands transformation. He urged Christians to “die and rise with Christ” by abandoning sinful ways and embracing a renewed life of grace.
“We die and rise with Christ by ensuring that after these forty days of Lent, something negative in us has been removed or overcome,” he said.

He outlined practical areas of change for different groups, calling on families to replace conflict with love and respect, urging youths to abandon vices such as drug use and dishonesty, and encouraging business people to reject exploitation in favor of integrity.

“For us as Nigerians,” he added, “let corruption, tribal division, misuse of common property, and the stealing of public funds die, and let truth, justice, unity, responsibility, and concern for the common good rise.”

Turning to the state of the nation, Fr. Banjo expressed deep sorrow over recent killings in parts of Nigeria, particularly in Jos, describing the situation as a painful wound on the nation’s conscience.

“Our hearts are still deeply wounded by the recent killings,” he said, evoking the haunting image of “a helpless mother cradling her son in his pool of blood,” likening it to “the sorrow of Mary beneath the Cross.”

He questioned the persistence of violence, asking, “How long shall innocent blood continue to cry out from our soil?”

In a strong appeal to government authorities, Fr. Banjo emphasized that the protection of human life is the primary duty of leadership. “A government that cannot protect the lives of its citizens has failed in its most fundamental duty,” he declared.

He urged those in power to take “decisive and serious measures to end insecurity,” urging them to ensure that perpetrators of violence are identified, brought to justice, and prosecuted.

“The blood of the innocent cries out for justice, and the sanctity of human life demands urgent and concrete action,” he said.

Fr. Banjo also addressed the role of citizens in shaping the future of Nigeria, particularly as elections approach. He urged Nigerians not to remain indifferent but to participate actively in the democratic process.

“One of the greatest powers God and the Constitution have placed in our hands is the power of the vote,” he said. “Let us come out to vote wisely and responsibly, choosing leaders of truth, integrity, and competence.”

He stressed that responsible civic engagement is essential for national renewal, linking it directly to the Easter message of rising to new life.

Concluding his homily, Fr. Banjo expressed optimism that Nigeria can overcome its challenges through faith and collective effort. Drawing from the Resurrection narrative, he declared that just as God rolled away the stone from Christ’s tomb, He can also remove the burdens facing the nation.

“The same God who rolled away the stone from Christ’s tomb can still roll away the stones weighing upon Nigeria: the stone of fear, the stone of insecurity, the stone of corruption, the stone of injustice, and the stone of poor leadership,” he said.

He enjoined Nigerians to combine prayer with action in pursuit of national transformation, insisting that “Nigeria can still rise, peace can still rise, and hope can still rise for our people.”

“Above all,” he said, “let hope rise in every heart and grace in every life, until by the mercy of God we attain the final and glorious rising with Christ in eternal life.”