InsightOut: Celebrating Easter in Unusual Times

InsightOut: Celebrating Easter in Unusual Times

This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious

Theodore Nnorom is a member of the Congregation of the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy (SMMM), and a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College. His research is in the area of interreligious dialogue, inspired by his desire for a constructive theological approach toward peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. He is the secretary to the Hindu-Roman Catholic Dialogue, an interreligious department of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).


At the end of the Lenten season, we are ready for the Easter festivities. This year’s Easter celebration evokes deep gratitude to God following the third year of unprecedented global health and socio-economic devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The cautious relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions in Canada signals a possible decline or control of the spread of the virus. In Toronto, in-person classes have resumed in schools and colleges, worshiping spaces are open to maximum capacity, and restaurants are back to in-door dining. It is a delight to witness Toronto roar back to its usual hustle and bustle.

Human interconnectivity and communion stand out when assessing lessons gained from the Covid-19 experience. Every part of the global community had its fair share of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, blurring the divides among the so-called first, second, and third worlds. Particularly surprising, despite the low rate of vaccination in most African countries and the unfortunate prediction of doom, the reverse has been the case regarding the spread of the virus in the continent compared to most Western nations. Most African countries are regrettably suffering instead from “hunger-pandemic” as the indirect impact of the situation.

Nonetheless, no need to gaze far beyond the Atlantics; studies have revealed disproportionate Covid-19 infection among the immigrants, poor, and racialized communities within the core of major North American cities. This is due to some socio-economic conditions such as living in densely populated neighborhoods with multiple households in small living spaces, doing essential work like healthcare support services and food services, lacking the luxury to work from home or have groceries delivered, and depending on public transportation. The federal government’s Covid-19 emergency grants helped address some of these challenges. Still, this caveat of the pandemic experience invites public policymakers to explore better ways of fostering a more egalitarian society.

The hope of moving back to normalcy for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to contracting the Covid-19 virus, reminds me of persons whose living conditions are teetering towards fear and despair. They include the terminally ill and refugees, especially refugees from Northern Nigeria, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and others. One cannot forget the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine that has shattered the peace and dreams of millions of Ukrainians. It is quite unfortunate that leaders could not transcend their differences and sacrifice their egos to prevent the ongoing carnage.

As the violence lingers, one could only imagine the plights of children, women, the sick, and the aged, who suffer most during wars. Their situation has elicited immense compassion from people of goodwill worldwide; countries are opening their borders to welcome Ukrainians, and financial, material, and military aid are pouring into Ukraine, a clear manifestation of human kindness on the one hand and condemnation of Russia’s aggression on the other. However, finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict is, in my view, the best assistance needed. The ancient wisdom is true that war does no one any good, and peace is cheaper than war.

Easter brings the message of hope to the world in a time like this, illuminated in the pascal mystery. Jesus Christ embraced suffering and death on the cross yet conquered death and offered eternal life to humanity through his resurrection. The empty tomb occupies an essential space in the resurrection story. It signifies the authority of Jesus Christ over death because the stone could not hold him down, and so the force of death. Living in unusual times should not diminish one’s faith in God but an invitation to trust that God will not abandon anyone in suffering and dark moments (Ps 23:1). Indeed, Jesus is the way-maker and the light of his people in the darkest moments (Jn 8:12). Through his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ identified with our human condition (Phil 2:5-11, John 15:13). He promised to be with us till the end of the age through his Spirit (Matthew 28:20) to guide and console us in every circumstance. Our hope is grounded in Christ Jesus, and through him, we shall overcome the perils of these unusual times.

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