Commentary, News

The Easter Festivities And The Supreme Sacrifice Of Christ

News Commentary Reflects on the Easter Festivities and the Supreme Sacrifice of Christ

Ghanaians and the rest of the world return to work tomorrow after the Easter festivities. Even though a Christian festival, almost all sundry took part, especially enjoying the accompanying holidays. The concept and the lessons of Easter are so huge and fascinating, as well as relevant for national development and unity. Easter, we know too well, is the celebration of the suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus some two thousand and eighteen years ago. Even though the event happened very long ago, its significance and impact cannot be overemphasized. It is as relevant today as it was the time it happened. Most often, celebrants of the sacred event rather unfortunately concentrate on the joy and the merrymaking aspect of it and play down the very core issues that are embodied in it. President John Mahama has praised the dynamic changes in the celebration of the event, from concentrating on merry-making to looking up to national development through effective business and entrepreneurship planning. He has therefore called for sound economic policies to empower entrepreneurs and foster a thriving business environment in Ghana.

In a Facebook post, the President reflected on his time spent in Kwahu during the Easter festivities and expressed admiration for the entrepreneurial spirit and dedication of local business leaders. Extending his gratitude to Kwahu business executives, CEOs, and heads of financial institutions for their commitment to driving economic growth, President Mahama also expressed delight that focus on merry making during Easter festivities is shifting onto business planning, in an apparent reference to the two-day Kwahu Business Forum he attended. As we continue to celebrate Easter, all aspects of this important occasion must be brought to bear clearly, understood and also make significant applications of it in our daily lives as Christians and citizens. First is the suffering of the Saviour Christ Jesus, which preceded the holistic agony. While he carried the sins of the whole world on himself, tortured and molested by his fellow citizens, we must understand the essence of suffering in our lives. Suffering in all forms is part of human life. The need to endure suffering as humans is key. If people understand this, the many shortcuts in life, which sometimes result in corruption and “get rich quickly” attitudes, will be done away with.

The death of Christ Jesus itself signified the incomparable sacrifice to the human race. Sacrificing is one major and important element in citizenship. As citizens of Ghana, we must learn to sacrifice for Mother Ghana. Our forefathers made huge sacrifices, some of them at the peril of their lives. The celebration of Easter will be meaningless without practising the sacrifice component of it. His death and burial teach us to die to the past bad lifestyle and attitudes. We must also bury all evil tendencies which impede national development and unity. Lateness to work and functions, apathy, pilfering and corruption, among other negative tendencies. After the celebration of Easter, one must be prepared to be seen by work colleagues and family members to have buried the very past. This calls for critical self-examination so that we will not repeat the same mistakes in our quest for national unity and development over and over again. For it is said that it is not a mistake to make a mistake, but certainly it is a mistake to repeat a mistake. When this is achieved, then the resurrection will be meaningful to us as a nation. The resurrection will mean victory in all aspects of our lives as individuals and as a nation. Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope and a holistic renewal for a new life. Let the joy and the merrymaking, and in some cases the prayers said, the conventions and the church attendance during the just-ended Easter be translated into the very practical means of real national development and unity. The great gift of Easter is hope – Christian hope which makes us have that confidence that all will be well with Ghana in an ultimate triumph, and in the goodness and love for all.

WRITTEN BY: DR. NANA SIFA TWUM