JESUS HAS PAID OUR DEBT IN FULL

Homily for Easter Sunday, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Readings: Acts 10:34a. 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-19

At some point in time or the other, we all have found ourselves in situations of debt, where we owe something to someone else. The debt may be tangible and in other times, it may be intangible. Debt, in its various forms, is a burden that weighs heavily on the debtor. It can stem from financial obligations, moral obligations, or spiritual obligations. There are debts that we can repay with time or effort, but there are also debts that are beyond our capacity to settle. These debts hang over us like a shadow, casting a pall of anxiety and despair.

This latter description is the kind of debt that the whole humanity incurred when Adam and Even sinned and disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. It was even worse because we incurred our debt by stealing from God, through an act of rebellion. Through our first parent’s act of rebellion against God’s command, they severed the harmonious relationship between humanity and their Creator (Genesis 2:4-3:24). In that moment, a debt was incurred that could not be repaid by any human effort or sacrifice.

One of the consequences of that debt is that it introduced sin and death into the world, disfiguring the image of God within us and plunging humanity into spiritual darkness. The effects of that original sin ripple through generations, manifesting as brokenness, suffering, and separation from God. However, in the fullness of time, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to make expiation for the sins of humanity (Galatians 4:4). Through his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins. He bore the weight of our debt upon the cross, shedding his blood to reconcile us to God and to restore what was lost and stolen through sin. (Romans 5:18-19, Hebrews 9:11-14, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Through his death on the cross, Jesus has paid the price for our sins and wiped clean the debt that stood against us. He has opened wide the gates of heaven and invited us to share in his victory over sin and death. This is the Good News of Easter - that we are no longer slaves to sin, but beloved children of God, heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Through the redemptive work of Christ, the debt that we could never repay has been paid in full. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that the debt has been canceled, offering us the hope of new life and eternal communion with God. Jesus paid a debt he did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.

As we reflect on the profound truth that Jesus paid our debt in full, let us respond with hearts full of gratitude and awe. Let us embrace the freedom and redemption that Christ offers us, living our lives in joyful obedience to his will. Let us go forth with hearts full of faith and hope, bearing witness to the love of God that has triumphed over darkness and brought us into the light of his glory. May we always remember the immeasurable price that was paid for our salvation and strive to live worthy of the precious gift we have received, and not incur more debts. Amen.