Telling Our Resurrection Stories: Victory over pain, tears and death

Sr Oluwakemi Akinleye fsp – Vatican City.

In our world today, many continue to suffer from immense socioeconomic hardships, especially after the covid-19 pandemic and due to recent wars and internal conflicts. Yet in all these sad and unhappy situations, the resurrection of Jesus continues to be for us a sign of hope and victory in our daily life.

Retelling our stories

As we reflect with gratitude on the gift of Christ’s resurrection to us as Christians, we are called to contemplate our own moments of resurrection too. For those who believe in Christ, there is hope and a time of fulfillment for consolation, relief, joy, providence, freedom from sickness, captivity, evil, and above all, the gift of peace.

At Easter, we celebrate the resurrection stories of some people who have gone through long periods of suffering, pain and waiting, and eventually had their prayers answered. 

David and Lola live in Lagos, Nigeria. They got married in church in their twenties and they looked forward to having children and raising their family. Unfortunately, this was not to be so soon, as they had desired. They stayed for seventeen years without children. They went through various medical treatments but still could not have children. It was a long moment of trial for them, especially as their younger siblings began to get married and have children before them; and family members saw Lola as barren. Finally, their day of resurrection came. Lola conceived and God blessed them with a set of twins. They are now parents and work as volunteers in their local parish’s weekend programs for couples preparing for marriage.  

The resurrection is for everyone

Kaido was a very dedicated catechist working in a parish in Mwanza, Tanzania. He met his fiancee Gerdit at a friend’s wedding and they became friends. After two years of courtship, they decided to get married. On their wedding day, Kaido felt a sharp pain in his chest and shoulder and had to be taken to the hospital. It turned out that he had a stroke and he lived with it for six years. It was indeed a time of great suffering, pain and financial drain for Kaido and his family. Thankfully, Gerdit was beside him all through the years of trials. Eventually, Kaido got fully well again. They got married and now have a daughter. For them too, their hour of resurrection came.

Where there is life, there is hope

Anna, a 30-year old woman, lost relatives, friends and property in the conflict that broke out in Sudan in 2023. She is among the millions of displaced persons now seeking for safety, shelter and employment. Is her Resurrection day coming soon? She is hopeful that, with God’s help, as long as she is alive, she will overcome these traumatic episodes in her life.

As we rejoice in the victory of Christ’s triumph over death, we are invited to continue to dwell and grow in the presence and power of God who is always with us.