Accra, April 10, GNA – Ghanaian Christians have just marked Passion Week in their homes, the week preceding Easter Sunday, which is a very important time and occasion on the Christian calendar.
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was crucified. This is the basis of Christianity; Christians believe that without the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christianity would not have existed.
This period, the passion week and Easter Sunday celebration, is usually marked by church services where messages on the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are reiterated to renew the hope and faith of Christians.
The year 2020 has seen Ghanaians and perhaps the world all over celebrate this important occasion on the Christian calendar in homes because of the Corona Virus Disease pandemic.
The world has been hit by a pandemic that requires that people observe serious hygienic protocols such as the frequent washing of hands, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and social distancing rules.
Social distancing means discouraging the congregating of people in close contact at one place for fear that this deadly disease could spread quickly.
This has resulted in churches not being able to meet in buildings to engage in the regular Christian rituals, the sacred rituals reminding us of the great sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ did for all of mankind.
In the year 2020, Easter celebration is characterised by isolation, staying at home and generally being alone for fear of getting infected with this disease.
As a Christian, I am passionate about Passion Week and Easter celebration and so thanks to the existence of media and internet, I followed the Passion Week service and the preaching of my church.
However, it feels different, we did not have the human feel or touch to this year’s celebration, it is being celebrated by families in their homes.
It reminds me of the need to value human company at all times, all human beings are important and there is the need to appreciate and tolerate one another despite our differences and uniqueness.
As I listened to the Preaching of Reverend Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, Clerk of the Presbyterian of Church of Ghana, talking about how our Lord Jesus Christ was isolated and abandoned on the Maundy Thursday, a day before he was crucified, urging Christians never to abandon our Lord Jesus Christ even in difficult times.
He related the situation of Jesus Christ at the time to our time now when people feel isolated and abandoned because of the Corona Virus Disease.
I could not help but relate the situation of isolation and abandonment to the situation of vulnerable persons in our society.
It is known that when a person is in his or her high moments, many friends surround them, however, in low moments people are often abandoned or isolated.
The exact situation of our Lord Jesus Christ, a man who pulled the crowd while on earth but felt deserted and abandoned even by his closest, his disciples in his low moments just hours before his crucifixion, all his disciples were scattered.
Many vulnerable persons feel the same , I am glad that at this time, we see government and a lot of churches go to the aid of the vulnerable.
Many families raising children with disability face isolation and abandonment through no fault of theirs. In our country, these children with disability are usually rejected, they are refused admission into schools and forced into isolation.
As we celebrate Easter in our homes, may we learn never to discriminate or isolate people who may seem different from the lot.
I love the golden rule, do unto others what you would want them to do unto you, may we learn to embrace people no matter our difference and may we tolerate others even if we do not understand them or their situations.
May this Easter celebration in our homes remind us to show love, the ultimate commandment; love thy neighbour as thyself.
