By: Ivan Naijuka
Thousands of Christian worldwide joined together today, April 1, 2018 to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
At All saints’ Cathedral-Kampala, the archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Stanley Ntagali advised Christian to trust Jesus to liberate and reconcile them back to God.
Preaching to hundreds of believers who thronged the cathedral for morning prayers, the archbishop challenged Christians who are faced with, diseases, killings, unfaithfulness, unemployment and domestic violence to turn to Jesus our only solace.
“We are celebrating the great victory of Jesus Christ when many things trouble us, threaten and discourage us individually, as families, a country and as a continent. We live in a state of fear and anxiety. All that we hear around us is bad news. Killings and abductions are rampant. Poverty up country is on the increase. Unfaithfulness in marriage and domestic violence are breaking many marriages in our country. The youth are anxious and frustrated due to jobless. They are at the crossroads. Many of them have lost hope”
He added that the institution of marriage is still under the attack, that’s why as the church, they again dedicated the 2018 as the year of family.
“It was because of these attacks on the institution of marriage, which is the basic foundation of a happy nation and Church that the Province declared last year 2017 the year for the family. This was extended to this year 2018”
The archbishop appealed to wives and husbands to repent in order to raise relevant and respectable families in line with God’s intention. “Our major focus is to make marriage more relevant and respectable as God intended it to be. Our children need to be born and raised in homes where there is love and security. I appeal to wives and husbands this Easter to repent of any shortcomings and make your marriage enjoyable by showing true love to your spouse and children, who are gifts from God” Archbishop Ntagali said.
Reading from Matthew 28:5, the archbishop said that meeting the risen lord this Easter can be a great joy and blessing. In continuation, he said that the women who had gone at the tomb early morning to see the body of Jesus went rejoicing after hearing the good news that he is risen. “ The Angel told the women as a consolation that “ Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, He is not here, He has risen just as He said, come and see the place where He laid, then go quickly and tell the disciples” Christ is risen! It is good news to the world”
Quoting 1 Corinthians 15: 17, the archbishop encouraged Christians that Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and his resurrection on the third day is the central to Christianity and the salvation of mankind.
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” That is to say there would be nothing to celebrate. In his letter to the Colossians 1:18 again Paul says that Jesus “is the beginning, the first born from the dead that in everything He might be pre-eminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell”
His Grace Stanley Ntagali reminded Christians that, when we come to Him in faith, all our stones of life are rolled away. Sin is forgiven, Hope is restored and new life begins. Broken relationship are restored, darkness, hatred, greed and unfaithfulness are driven away from the believer’s life. Jesus Christ in His power of resurrection becomes the light of the world. One finds solace and great encouragement because burdens of life are lifted.
In addition to that, archbishop Ntagali said that we all need peace to be happy. “We all need peace. Today we are reminded that Christ is risen and lives forever as our Savior and Friend to give us His Peace and Joy”
However, he said that the peace in troubled and a dark, hurting world of power, wealth and knowledge of man are necessary but have their limitations, but the power of resurrection is liberating and reconciling.
The service was characterized by praises and worship songs led by the Anglican Flames, Joint Christian melodies and gifted vessels.