Easter during commemoration: Rwandan religious leaders reflect on healing and hope

Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most important holidays on the Christian calendar. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead after three days in the tomb. ALSO READ: All set for Chryso Ndasingwa’s Easter Experience This year, Easter will be celebrated worldwide on Sunday, April 20. In Rwanda, the celebration takes place amidst the 100-day memorial period for the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In this time of grief, religious leaders offer messages of hope and healing. ALSO READ: Today in April 1994: Tutsi in Kamonyi forced to dig their own graves, Sindikubwabo mobilises public to kill Reverend Canon Antoine Rutayisire, a prominent figure in the Anglican Church of Rwanda, reflected on the timing, pointing to three major lessons drawn from this coincidence of Easter and commemoration. “Easter is a celebration of death and resurrection. That alone is a powerful message for a country that went into destruction and came out,” he said. ALSO READ: Easter celebrations: Embracing hope and renewal He added: “The message of the cross is one of healing for the offended and repentance for the offender, as seen in Isaiah 53:4–6. This is a strong call for Rwandans—healing for the genocide survivors, and repentance for the perpetrators.” According to Rev. Rutayisire, these two elements, healing and repentance are essential for genuine reconciliation. He noted that the resurrection marked not only a historical miracle but also the beginning of a new era—the introduction of the Kingdom of God. This kingdom, he said, calls people into a life of love, patience, and resilience as they move forward, bearing the burdens of both personal and national pain. Rev. Rutayisire added that the Kingdom of God is a long-term project promising peace and prosperity for all, a vision that should remain central to Rwanda’s national dream. Pastor Joy Rucyahana of Worship Harvest Rwanda shared an Easter message grounded in both grief and hope. She acknowledged the weight of personal and collective loss, and how many Rwandans come together during this time to seek comfort and strength in faith. “In the depth of our sorrow, we find hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a beacon of light in our darkest hours,” she said. Quoting John 11:25–26, she reminded believers of Jesus’ assurance: “I am the resurrection and the life,” emphasizing that death is not the end, but a passage to eternal life. Pastor Rucyahana encouraged the faithful to lean on God’s comfort as described in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, which speaks of God as the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” The presence of the Holy Spirit, she said, offers solace, especially in times of loneliness. Drawing from Isaiah 53:4–5 and Matthew 28:20, she noted that Jesus understands human suffering deeply and remains ever-present. “The promise of renewal reflects in Romans 6:4,” she noted, “reminding us that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too can live a new life.” Pastor Rucyahana added that 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 assures Christians that those who have died are safe in Christ, and that Romans 8:38–39 affirms that nothing can separate believers from God’s love. Youth Pastor Samuel Kwizera of New Life Bible Church, in Kicukiro, stressed the shared narrative of suffering and rebirth between Rwanda and the story of Easter. “Just like Christ rose from the dead after three days, our nation has experienced a renaissance,” he said. “We are collectively pursuing a Rwanda that is more beautiful than what was lost in the genocide.” Pastor Kwizera stressed that the Easter season should serve as a reminder that pain and tragedy are a part of life, but there is hope and healing in Christ. “Christ still stands, like He did on the cross, calling all of us to find comfort in Him, the One who went through it all and overcame,” he added.

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Easter during commemoration: Rwandan religious leaders reflect on healing and hope