Dear beloved brethren and my children in Christ,
“Come receive the light from the never setting light! And glorify Christ who has risen from the dead”. Jn 1:4, 9. The Ekklesia is chanting the resurrection in Christ the Word of God, the incarnate and resurrected. Mt 22:31,32. For it is miracle unexplained, while it is the good news to all nations. The deity to come in humanity, in order mankind to return unto godliness! 2 Tim 1:10. Dan 12:2. Job 14:14. Therefore, let us chant for Him a new hymn, giving meaning to our life: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life”! Gen 2:17. Pr 11:19. Is 25:8;53:12.
Our God loves us exceedingly. In Christ His Word He has revealed His will to us, not only in simple words as words, but also in actions of His Son and the Ekklesia, through the Holy Spirit. It is His will of recreating humanity to the nature of godliness. Jn 11: 38-44. Ps 8:4. Ac 4:12. Thus, “Wisdom! Let us all be attentive. Because the light of Christ the Word gives light to every man who comes in the world”. Jn 1:9. He is our redeemer from the darkness of ignorance. He is also our savior from the captivity by Satan the enemy. In this way, Christ the Word is the founder of God’s kingdom in our souls and on the earth. Is 60:2. 2 Tim 2:26. Jn 1:4; 8:12,44. Mt 13:41.
Is Christ risen? Truly He is risen! If Christ is truly risen, His resurrection is the fulfillment of His incarnation, as Word in Christ, and His incarnation is the certainty of His deity, in words and actions the supernatural. Mt 11:27. So, Christ the Word of God, as incarnate and resurrected, calls us all on earth, we may love our God exceedingly, in order we may be able also to love each other, as men created in the image and likeness of God. That is, we may fulfil the journey of our creation. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind …” And love your neighbor as yourself”. Mt 22:37,39. Dt 6:5. Lv 19:18.
Therefore, you all people of God, when we feast at the resurrection and the birth of Christ the Word of God every year, we do not merely celebrate events in themselves, as most of the people think, but we remind and renew to all the faithfuls, what is the will of our God: a) the return of our humanity to the holy nature of godliness, back to the image and likeness of God; b) all people to become children of God, as brethren of Christ the Word, through the sonship to God in the Holy Spirit; c) and that is the embodiment of all people in the kingdom of God. Dan 4:26. Mt 5,6,7. Ro 8:14, 19-20. Ps 82:6.
In this work of Christ for our salvation, when these three main perspectives of the apostolicity are not commended and equally believed, that is to say, when these perspectives are not realized, as it is practiced here in Uganda today, then the Christian life drops to failure, and the aim of Christ the Word to incarnate and resurrect remains unacknowledged. 1 Cor 15:14, 19, 24. A Christian nation, which does not consider these perspectives, is a nation that has put on Christ externally as mask, while interior “in hearts, in souls, and in minds” utilized, it functions in accordance to advices of its own enemy, Satan. 1 Cor 15:33. Jn 8:44.
As we conclude this message, we wish His Excellence the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, His Excellence the Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi, the Judiciary, the Ministers, the Members of Parliament; His Highness the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Mwenda Mutebi II, Nabagereka Silivia Nagginda, Cultural leaders, Leaders of Faith and all Ugandans, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, may become a joyous news that. If we reject the advices of our enemy, the evil-one and adversary to the purpose of our creation, it is possible for us to put on godliness, the image and the likeness of God, as spiritually incorruptible and combatant against all the evils, in which we live today. Amen! 1 Jn 1, 2, 3:8, 12, 10; 4:3; 5:19.
+ Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga
Uganda Orthodox Church