Easter Reflections: Hope, Faith, and the Resurrection in Rwanda
As the Easter celebrations unfold in Kigali, religious leaders have emphasized the importance of drawing strength and hope from the resurrection of Jesus. This message is especially relevant as Rwanda prepares to mark the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The themes of faith, courage, and redemption are deeply intertwined with the spiritual reflections shared during these sacred days.
A Message of Unity and Remembrance
During Mass at St. Michael Cathedral, Archbishop of Kigali Cardinal Antoine Kambanda highlighted the connection between the suffering of Jesus and those who lost their lives in the Genocide. He noted that, like Jesus, the victims were persecuted, forced to flee, hated, betrayed, and killed. Reflecting on the Way of the Cross, he emphasized that the dead were not strangers but brothers, sisters, and children, sharing a common identity as children of God. Remembering them calls for unity, honor, and closeness to survivors.
Kambanda described Easter as the victory of life over death, righteousness over sin, and good over evil, a victory shared by Christ with humanity. He expressed gratitude for Rwanda’s resilience and thanked those who showed courage during the killings, including those who hid others or gave their lives to save them. These individuals, he said, are witnesses of love and faith.
The Resurrection as Proof of Redemption
At New Life Bible Church, Pastor Charles Mugisha focused his sermon on Luke 24:1-53, emphasizing the resurrection as proof of redemption through the cross. He noted how the women who visited Jesus’ tomb found it empty, and angels told them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” Mugisha pointed out that this fulfilled prophecies, such as those in Isaiah 53:5. He explained that through the cross, believers have been delivered from all sins, and their redemption is sealed by His resurrection.
Mugisha compared this to the relief of a prisoner being released, highlighting the freedom and peace believers now enjoy. He taught that Jesus restored humanity’s relationship with God, bridging the gap caused by sin and allowing people to approach Him without fear or condemnation. The resurrection confirms this new life and victory, rooted not in circumstances but in Christ’s death and resurrection.
Resurrection Power Beyond the Cross
For Apostle Yoshua Masasu of Evangelical Restoration Church Rwanda in Masoro, the focus was on the power of the resurrection. He built his message on scripture, referencing Matthew 27:62–66, where chief priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to secure Jesus’ tomb, fearing His disciples might claim He had risen. Masasu noted that the resurrection could not be contained. He urged believers to surrender their troubles so they may be buried and rise again transformed.
“Whatever that is taking long, whether your marriage, giving birth, whether the prices of fuel increase. Don’t compare yourselves with others because you are different from them. Have faith,” he said. He prayed for believers to experience transformation through the power of the resurrection, so that visible change becomes evident in their lives.
A Call to Transformation and Renewal
At Christian Life Assembly in Nyarutarama, lead pastor Peter Nkunzingoma preached a sermon titled “The Power of His Resurrection,” drawing from Luke 24:1-9. He emphasized that Easter should go beyond celebration, speaking of those trapped in drug use and weighed down by sin, waiting for someone to tell them there is a savior. He said the resurrection of Jesus redeems from death and called on those who have not yet accepted Christ to do so.
Nkunzingoma reminded believers that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of their faith. Without it, Christianity collapses, and their faith becomes shakable. He stressed that the church stands on unshakable ground, grounded in the truth of the resurrection.
The Unstoppable Power of God
At ADEPR Gatenga, Reverend Pastor Isaie Ndayizeye, Senior Pastor of ADEPR Church, preached that Jesus rising from the tomb shows that nothing can stop God’s plan. He emphasized that the same power that raised Him is still at work in the Church today. “It is that power that can restore your life, change your story, and remove what the enemy has placed upon you,” he said.
Pastor Ndayizeye explained that even while Jesus was in the tomb, He was at work, preparing blessings and opportunities that people could not see. The resurrection, he said, opens the way for all believers, great and humble, Rwandans, Africans, and the global Church, to receive God’s grace. He added that God’s purpose was not only to remove the stone but to give life and a future to all.
