Easter, a time for reflection

Tomorrow will be the beginning of the commemoration of the passion of Christ by Christendom.

Popularly called and referred to as Good Friday, the day reminds Christians of the finished works of Jesus Christ, which included His death for all mankind.

Christians have ironically called the day Good because the ultimate sacrifice by the son of God meant not only the forgiveness of the sins of the world, but also the restoration of the relationship between God and man which was destroyed when man sinned against God in the Garden of Eden where man had been placed.

For centuries, the period of Easter has not only been used for introspection on the finished works of Christ but for renewing and sustaining man’s relationship with Christ.

All over the world, most churches have held conventions to celebrate Easter, either on the premises of the churches or outside them.

It has usually been a period of fellowship for the various congregations or branches of the churches which converge on one area to listen to sermons, rejoice with music and dancing for the priceless gift of God, Jesus Christ, and also rededicate their lives to God.

Easter Mondays have usually been observed as picnic days for most Christians after celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ had an immaculate conception because His mother Mary knew no man although she was betrothed, before He was born in fulfilment of prophecy.

Also, that He lived and died and arose on the third day as had been prophesied, which signified His power over death and hopeless situations one may find him or herself in.

Christians hold those beliefs dear and also believe that the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed when He was crucified on a cross gives them power over sickness and all desperate situations.

Those beliefs will still be held on to by Christians in Ghana and the rest of the world.

Nonetheless, one aspect of Easter, which is the congregating of Christians, will be missing for the first time due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Already Palm Sunday (the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem), which heralds the Easter festivities, has gone past quietly without the usual fanfare, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many world leaders, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have announced various forms of restriction on the movement of their people to stem the spread of the virus.

Despite this, Easter will still be marked in Ghana and in other countries, and the Daily Graphic urges all Christians to observe the passion of Christ with all the fervency and reverence that it deserves and with which it has been marked over the years.

Easter is a period to pray to God and thank Him for His mercies, and for giving the best gift to the world - Jesus Christ.

This country is largely composed of people who identify with the Christian faith which has been grouped into Orthodox, Charismatic, Pentecostal and Spiritual.

The Daily Graphic believes that as a country, we can use that fact to our advantage, especially during this period of a global public health crisis. Our President has already set the tone by calling for a national day of fasting and prayers on March 25, 2020, after we started recording cases of COVID-19.

We urge all Christian families in Ghana to use the Easter period as a time for supplications to God to heal the world of COVID-19. The Bible of Christians says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, that “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

As Christians believe in the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ which he shed at Calvary, we believe that every Christian must plead the blood over his household and over the country.

Yes, Easter this year will be without the usual flurry of activities but perhaps it is a time for sober reflections and we urge all Ghanaians, including those of different faiths to join in to cry unto God with the belief that, this too shall pass.