Easter 2020 and COVID-19: High in spirit, low in funfare

Tomorrow, majority of Christians across the globe will not congregate to sing Robert Lowry’s popular Easter hymn, ‘Low in the grave He lay’ with its victory-inspiring refrain, ‘Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain; And He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!” They will do that in their homes.

A great event in Christendom, Easter is usually celebrated with fanfare. In this part of the world, churches organise a lot of spiritual activities during the period. Businesses boom as families shop to ensure they celebrate in grand style. Tourists seize the opportunity to visit choice destinations even as people travel far and wide to meet loved ones. Individuals schedule social events like wedding, house warming, fund raising, community meeting and even burial in the Easter week. But all that will not happen this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has literally put the world on pause and Nigeria is not left out. With 96,783 deaths globally as at 2.00pm yesterday, out of which Nigeria accounts for seven, most countries are presently on lockdown in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.

The impact of March 29, 2020 broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari ordering a two-week lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and Ogun states with only essential services providers allowed to operate is felt by both animate and inanimate objects. Most states of the country have since toed the same path, consequently cancelling many events/plans scheduled for the Easter period.

A member of Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Onyegbule Chidozie, told The Christian News Network through E-mail in Lagos that the COVID-19 lockdown forced his church to postpone its yearly Easter retreat. “Our yearly Easter retreat which was billed for April 9-12, 2020, has been cancelled. I am 35 years old; I was born into DCLM. In my 35 years of existence, not once have I heard that the Easter retreat or any of the other basic retreats of the church were ever canceled for any reason, not even during the Ebola crisis.

“This coronavirus pandemic is an unfortunate situation for everyone all over the world. But what is more unfortunate is how some of us had hoped that the pandemic would pass before this Easter. But as it is now, no one can really tell when the virus will give way for normalcy. So at this time, we can only pray for God’s intervention and redemption of the entire world, which is what Easter signifies,” he said.

A member Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin, Lagos, who identified himself simply as Mr Alabi, spoke in the same vein, saying even though the church was into the Holy Week that ushers in Easter, all the usual activities could not hold. He said: “This time last year, I was at the church in preparation for the Holy Thursday (washing of the feet) but as it is now, no much preparation would be needed concerning it. This week doesn’t feel like a Holy Week that would have ushered us into the Easter festivities.

“The COVID-19 lockdown has led to the postponement of the first Holy Communion, Confirmation and the Adult Baptism. All these activities would have been done on Holy Saturday, the day before the Easter Sunday. As it is now, I just hope this whole situation will eventually come to an end.”

Another member of the Roman Catholic Church, Mrs Mba, also said: “I know the lockdown is for our benefit, but as human beings, I wish normal activities would be restored. My daughter’s wedding, which is supposed to be held at the church towards the end of this month, has been put on hold till further notice due to the lockdown and closure of the church. I have never experienced this kind of situation; I have never experienced the closure of the church, especially during this Holy Season. During the time of the Ebola crisis, the church and the country itself carried on with their normal activities perfectly. Few measures were taken to prevent the spread of the virus but this time around, the situation is seriously appalling.”