Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Uganda Orthodox Church
Holy Metropolis of Kampala and all Uganda
“Come Oh People
Let us drink
A new beverage!
Not from a barren rock (Ex 17:16)
Miraculously called forth!
But from the fountain
Of Immortality (Jn 4:14)
Springing from the tomb
Of Christ!
In Whom we are founded!”
DEAR MY CHILDREN IN CHRIST / VIEWERS / LISTENERS !!
Christ is Risen!
One of the main objectives in the incarnation of the Word of God the Father, in the person of Christ, was to bring, prepare and clearly shed light on the matter of the resurrection of the race of mankind. “Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven Mt 22:23-33, (Mk 12:18-27, Lk 20:27-40). But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living!” Ex 3:6, 15; Ac 7:32. The resurrection is the most important gospel of the Prophets Is 26:19; (Is 66:22-24, Ez 37:3-27). The resurrection is the gospel message in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross (Gal 6:14). This is also the gospel message of all the Apostles, and all ecclesiastical people to the whole world that: “Christ is risen from the dead! Trampling down death by death! And upon those in the tomb bestowing life!”
The lesson from the above is that, on one hand, we have the birth of the Son of God, that we celebrate annually every December; and on the other hand, not death as such, but with the resurrection, in the person of Jesus Christ, which we preach to the whole world, to every person who is conscious.
Although, the gospel of the prophets, apostles and ecclesiastical people on the Birth and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is good, to many people in this world, it is one that is difficult to understand, believe and perceive. This is so because, if this very good gospel of the Risen Christ was easy for all to understand, believe and perceive, even ourselves here in Uganda of today we would not be as we are, especially in the way of morality. The truth is that the preachers of this good gospel have repeatedly spoken against our way of morality. What kind of person (except one who is not conscious) having well understood the gospel of the resurrection of the race of mankind, with all the given examples of the New Testament, would continue to behave in the same way and live a life without change; Mt 9:18-26, (Mk 5:22-43, Lk 7:11-17; 8:41-56, Jn 11: 1-43). The rampant killings taking place in our country these days contradict our standard of Christianity. Our standard of Christianity must be a little different (must portray growth in the Christian way of life), for the rampant killings and such vices as embezzlement and corruption to be eradicated from amongst us. This is because people who claim to know God and believe to be in Christ’s image, and who have hope in the resurrection and everlasting life, cannot behave in that manner without repentance and confession of their actions.
The Christian faith, in itself, is the fulfillment of the whole ancient revelation, from our early ancestors till today, saying that; “a fulfilled person is the purpose of creation both visible and invisible (Gen 1:26). But who is that fulfilled person? Listen to the Holy Apostle, Paul, the theologian, concerning a fulfilled person: “The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit (1 Cor 15;15).” From this, one is led to understand that there is a difference between those two beings. The first is earthly or human and is directed by the body. The second is personable and is directed by the Spirit. All of us develop like that from infancy. The Apostle Paul adds that “The spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual (1 Cor 15:46).” What is it the Apostle Paul is referring to here? It is definitely our nature created afresh.
As humanity we were created in the human material-psychic nature. However, through God’s Grace, we are transformed into the divine spiritual nature as persons in the likeness of God (Gn 2:7, 1 Cor 12:3-). In this divine nature, the last Adam is the prototype just as the first Adam is the prototype in the human material-psychic nature. And here lie exactly the root of the problems of the actualization of our life as human persons. This is because our spiritual nature fails to control itself and to direct our human material-psychic nature Gn 2:16-17; 3:1-24, Rom 7:22-23. Whereas, in the actual sense, or according to the law of immortality, the divine spiritual nature was meant to direct the human material-psychic nature. This way, the human being would be transformed and initiated into a person in the image and likeness of God.
Because of all these, although most people find it a problem to understand or believe the gospel of the resurrection of the human race, in the person of Jesus Christ our Savior Who rose from the dead, and the benefit from that belief; the prophets and Apostles plus all the preachers as well as the other ecclesiastical people, proclaim that: The Risen Christ is the Lord and King of the spiritual people and who are personalities cleansed and perfected for the Kingdom of God on earth (Col 1:15-23).
As we conclude, we wish His Excellence, the President , Yoweri Museveni and his family, His Excellence, the Vice President, Edward Ssekandi, Ministers, Members of Judiciary, Members of Parliament, His Highness Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda II, Nabagereka Sylivia Nnaginda, Cultural Leaders, Religious Leaders and all Ugandans to appreciate more the purpose of the Incarnation of the Divinity into Christ, the objective of all His teachings, His crucifixion to the Cross, His Resurrection, Ascension into heaven, the descend of the Holy Spirit to His chosen in different ways and the meaning of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, preaching the Resurrection.
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED IS RISEN!
+ Metropolitan Elder Jonah Lwanga.
Uganda Orthodox Church
Download the Luganda Version: OBUBAKA BW’AMAZUUKIRA 2018
Download the English Version: EASTER MESSAGE 2018