Today is a joyous day, at least for Christians in Fiji and around the world.
Why? Because He has risen!
Christians celebrate today, not so much because Jesus died but because He now lives, forever.
Yes, today is a day of victory over death and condemnation.
But despite the fervent theme of salvation dominant in every Easter narrative, the holiday is somewhat a contrasting story of two worlds.
Just like the Hindu holiday of Diwali, Easter represents the triumph of light over darkness, life over death and hope over despair.
But it is not only a time of deliverance and a promise of life. It is also a time marked by hardships and death.
Jesus the Messiah had to die a painful and shameful death before he could conquer and claim eternal life for mankind and allow humans to reunite with the divine.
He died and rose back to life so everyone can have a meaningful relationship with God the Father – the Creator of the universe.
Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, sin broke the relationship between God and man but Jesus repaired it, by dying on the cross of Calvary.
Jesus claimed victory over death by coming back to life. Therefore, we too can experience a new, everlasting life in Heaven with God.
But not only does Jesus offer us a promise for the future, he also offers everyone hope and joy for today. When the world causes us stress about the cost of living and health concerns, anxiety over safety, heartache, dissatisfaction, fear and many other crises or negative feelings, Jesus offers us something greater and deeper. He offers us a promise of peace.
In his Easter message this year, the Very Reverend Orisi Vuki, the Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral said Easter was more than just a public holiday.
“It is a celebration of hope, renewal and the boundless power of love and unity to overcome all challenges and obstacles we face,” he said.
“As we come together during this holy season, let us remember that unity does not mean uniformity. It means standing together, respecting our differences and working hand in hand to build a stronger, more inclusive Fiji.”
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said Easter should be a time for charity and community renewal.
He said, this entailed, reaching out to the margins of society, the poor, sick, those in prison, homeless people and orphans.
“We make present Jesus’ prophetic ministry by speaking for justice, truth, love, peace, human dignity and freedom.”
But the story of the world’s longest holiday is not always plain. For a very long time, it has been tainted by over commercialization, fed by business greed.
We see Easter bunnies, hot-crossed buns and chocolate eggs usurp the true story behind the season, and fail to point out that they have nothing to do with the death of Christ and the story of salvation.
In the US, roughly 90 million chocolate bunnies are sold annually for Easter. This figure is part of a larger candy market, with Americans spending about $2.1 billion on Easter candy each year.
This is an indication of how paganism and secular belief have slowly crept into Christianity and corrupted the story of the death of Jesus Christ with falsehoods and deceit.
We all know that eggs and bunnies represent fertility and sexual reproduction. This has been veiled with lies to mean re-birth and new beginnings.
While we celebrate Easter and its noble principles, we must not forget the negative realities of life we are forced to live with daily.
We are reminded that while we tuck into lovo to celebrate Resurrection Day, there are people among us who may not have enough to eat or drink. There are others who struggle because of the high cost of living.
While we celebrate, some families are mourning the loss of their loved ones to accidents and tragedies. Such is the uncertainty of the journey we traverse.
Resurrection Sunday brings us the promise of life and a permanent reunion with the heavenly family, yet we still live in an unfair world where struggles and misery haunt us.
We note the barriers to celebrating Easter in places like Gaza and Ukraine, where property and lives have been lost. We note anxiety throughout the world as politics in the US unravel feelings of uncertainty and doubt.
As of April 8, ` 2025, over 52,000 people – 50,810 Palestinian and 1,706 Israeli – have been reported killed in the Gaza war according to the official figures of the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) verified a total of 43,610 civilian casualties during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as of March 31, 2025. Of this figure, 30,700 people were reported to have been injured. However, OHCHR specified that the real numbers could be higher.
Both wars rage on, demonstrating that the duality of both good and evil exist within us and in the world.
We are capable of performing acts of compassion and respect. We are also very capable of committing heinous acts of violence.
We have great strength and can do good but we also have many flaws and can say and do bad things. Between these opposites, we have the power to choose.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says this year, the message of Easter must resonate deeply with all Fijians as the nation faces serious social and economic challenges.
He believes the themes of sacrifice, hope, and new beginnings are more relevant now than ever.
Rabuka points to the increasing impact of drugs and the HIV epidemic, especially among young people, as a national concern.
He says the unsafe use of needles linked to methamphetamine abuse is fuelling an alarming rise in HIV and AIDS cases.
The PM stresses that now more than ever, Fijians must sacrifice for the good of their families, their communities, and their nation.
Rabuka calls Easter a time to start anew and urges all Christians to care for loved ones and extend kindness beyond their faith groups.
He says that as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, unity and compassion are key to healing.
Happy Easter and Happy Resurrection Day.
Until we meet again on this same page same time next week, stay blessed, stay healthy and stay safe!!
