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Eastertide Greetings!
With all the media coverage, interviews, documentaries, and tributes from around the world, to say anything further about Pope Francis' legacy seems redundant. Neither his supporters nor his detractors have held back, so there is a wealth of material on every topic, from his former cobbler in Flores, Argentina, to his advocacy for migrants everywhere. We know that he opted for simple, black orthopedic shoes instead of the red silk slippers to which Pope Benedict XVI was partial; that he lived in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes; that he will be buried in a simple wooden coffin, not in the traditional three nested coffins of cypress, lead, and oak...
As I write, his casket has already been sealed in anticipation of his funeral. But what to say? I turn to the Vatican YouTube channel to view Pope Francis' very last Easter blessing from the Loggia delle Benedizioni (Loggia of Blessings), the central balcony on the facade of St Peter's Basilica. There, a very frail Francis sits while Archbishop Diego Ravelli delivers his message for the city and for the world, Urbi et Orbi. As it turns out, this message is his spiritual testament, an appeal for peace, hope, and justice, especially in warring nations. He remembers victims of violence and conflict, laments the contempt experienced by the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants, and calls for disarmament, not only in terms of weaponry but also of "the barriers that create division" and thereby negate human dignity. The message is a tour de force, global in scope, that reflects themes dear to his heart.
At its conclusion, Francis blesses the thousands of pilgrims gathered below and, by extension, all those tuned in remotely from every nation. Then, amazingly, to the crowd's delight, he descends from the Loggia for his final tour of St. Peter's Square in his popemobile. The video footage from the Vatican is mostly of Pope Francis' back, but even so, one senses the immense effort he has made to be present to all his well-wishers. Every now and again, he stops to bless babies and small children; his last stop is to greet those lining the way in wheelchairs. Then his assistant removes his white zucchetto, and he is whisked away out of sight...
What an exit! What a legacy! What a grand final act! And what a powerful reminder that courage, humility, and compassion are the foundation of true Christian discipleship...
R.I.P. Franciscus!
Elizabeth
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
On the evening of the first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the authorities,
Jesus came and stood among them,
saying, “Peace be with you.”
After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
John 20:19-31
In dreams, mythology, psychology, literature, movies, and sacred texts, doors are never simply doors, especially if they are locked. Multiple cultures, for example, have their own variations of Bluebeard, the C17th French horror story in which Bluebeard's wife opens the door to a forbidden room and finds the bodies of her husband's former wives. In C.S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the wardrobe serves as a portal into the magical land of Narnia, while in hero myths, doorways usually serve as thresholds to new adventures... Relevant to today's Gospel is the role locked doors play in Jungian psychology. Very often, they represent repressed or hidden parts of ourselves that we have yet to explore; as such, they suggest limitation, fear, avoidance, barriers, and blockages. Through inner work, we gradually gain the courage to turn the key in the lock and open the doors that hold us back. Even more significant, however, is the symbol of The Holy Door in a Jubilee Year. Proclaiming the theme of 2025 as Pilgrims of Hope, Pope Francis opened The Holy Door in St Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve, 2024. This symbolic action ushered in a season of spiritual renewal in which pilgrims were encouraged to visit holy sites, near and far, each with its own doorway into grace...
In John 20:19-31, the disciples are locked in the upper room, terrified that the religious authorities will hunt them down. Even though Mary Magdalene has already told them of her encounter with the Risen Christ, her testimony does not seem to have allayed their fears. In effect, they imprison themselves, too afraid to venture out or to open the door for anyone who might knock. Devastated by all that has taken place, they are overcome by emotional paralysis, incapable of hoping, believing, or even turning to prayer. This is where Jesus breaks through their fears and breathes new life into them, the life of the Spirit. Only then can they move beyond fear and embrace the future to which God is calling them-- a future that lies beyond the limitations of the upper room!
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus reminds us that he stands at our door, knocking: "If you hear my voice and open the door, then I will enter your house and dine with you and you with me." To open the door, we must first behold him and then surrender to his invitation: Are we willing to let him in, and if so, will our hearts be open to all that he might ask of us?
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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- What locked doors tend to limit you?
- How do you sustain Easter Joy in the midst of loss, disappointment, and anxiety?
- If you were asked to deliver an Easter message to the world, what would you say?
- Who are the people who tend to be "locked out" by faith communities and how might we invite them in?
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EASTER PRAYER
Lord, in the glory of your rising, you bring all things to newness. In this season of great joy, wash away all suffering, all cruelty, all sadness. Roll away the stones and boulders that block our paths, trapping us with their weight. Untie all the shrouds and winding cloths that limit, bind, and strangle hope. Call us from our tombs that we may find the music of possibility, the dance of grace, and the rich, rich wine of your Presence.
Amen.
Pilgrims at Heart, EAS 1993
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