Today we are experiencing joy, mixed with sorrow. Our joy rests in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, three days after his death on the cross - a death he died to give us life. We are an Easter people. This means that our faith and therefore our lives, are built on the foundation that God loves us so much, He Himself became fully human, so that He might understand humanity. And that included experiencing our pain, so that He could give us the chance to end suffering once and for all, opening for us the gates of heaven. We are called to live in such a way that we show our gratitude to God for this gift, every single day.
At the same time, our joy is tinged with sorrow. Yesterday, April 21st, our Holy Father, Pope Francis closed his eyes on his earthly life and returned to the Father. This is a time of great sorrow because we are a flock that has lost its earthly shepherd. Our Holy Father was one who demonstrated gratitude to God and lived the Gospel. Pope Francis led the Catholic Church in true faith, humility, and love. He focussed on encounter, not judgement. Compassion, not condemnation. He emphasized dialogue.
Pope Francis taught us that “there is only one time that we are allowed to look down upon another - when we are offering to help them get back up." A simple but powerful image that demonstrates his way of living out the teachings of Jesus.
We do not draw people to a relationship with Christ by telling others how wrong they are, and how right we are. Instead, we show them a light and love that is so wonderful that they want with all their hearts, to know the source of it. This was the mission of Pope Francis - to draw the world toward the love and warmth of the Triune God.
So today, as Easter people who place our hope in the resurrection and everlasting life, let us pray in gratitude for that gift, and that Pope Francis will enter those gates of eternal love and life.
Lord, the resurrection of Your Son has given us new life and renewed hope.
Help us to live as Easter people,
always answering the call
to live in gratitude for the gift of life.
Give us the courage of Pope Francis -
to boldly proclaim the Gospel
by being open to encounter, compassion, and dialogue.
Welcome your servant Pope Francis
back to the loving arms of the Father in Heaven.
Grant him eternal rest,
and may your loving arms of comfort
wrap around those in the world who feel this loss so deeply.
We ask this in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Our Lady of Comfort, pray for us.
