In celebration of the 9th Passover of his pontificate, Pope Francis delivered a hymn of praise at the Passover Mass and reflected on what it meant to go to Galilee, where the Risen Lord would precede his disciples.
By Robin Gomes
In the hour of darkness when mankind is struggling with the pandemic and other diseases, Christians must take to heart the angel’s message of the angel not to be afraid, and ensure that Galilee where the Lord precedes them, their expectations will be fulfilled, their tears will dry up and their fears will be replaced by hope. Pope Francis made the evening in his homily during the Easter vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Pope reflected on the Easter episode of the women at the tomb and drew attention to what the angel had told them. “Wonder if you hear the words, ‘Do not be afraid!’ said the pope. “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He got up ‘. And a message: ‘He goes before you to Galilee; there you will see Him ‘. ”
Always possible to start anew
After the initial ritual of blessing the fire and the Paschal candle in the basilica, Pope Francis and the fellow celebrants went to the altar of the chair, with a deacon carrying the lit Easter candles. During the procession in the dark church, the candle flame is first transmitted to the pope and then gradually to the fellow celebrants and the limited number of faithful. After the pope walked up the main aisle, the basilica’s lights were turned on.
Introduction to the 9de At the Passover of his pontificate, the 84-year-old pope reflected on what it meant to go to Galilee. In the first place, it means starting anew. Galilee was the place for the first meeting of the disciples with the Lord, their first love. It was here that they listened to Him preach and perform miracles. It was also here that they misunderstood His words and left Him and fled in the face of the cross.
In spite of everything, the Lord invites them to start over from where they started. “In this Galilee,” said the pope, “we learn to marvel at the infinite love of the Lord, which opens new tracks on the path of our defeats.”
Therefore, he said, the first Passover message to return to Galilee is that ‘it is always possible to start anew despite all our failures. ‘From the rubble of our hearts,’ said the pope, ‘God can create a work of art; From the ruined remains of our humanity, God can prepare a new history. “In these dark months of the pandemic,” the pope urged everyone to “listen to the Risen Lord as he invites us to start anew and never lose hope”.
Jesus surprises, brings faith to life
Going to Galilee also means depart on new roads by walking away from the grave. The pope has told many that faith consists of habits, things from the past, sweet childhood memories, but no longer a faith that moves or challenges me. On the other hand, it means that we must live to Galilee and that you must go on your way again. We must renew the surprise of the first encounter daily and let ourselves be humbly surprised by God’s ways. ‘God,’ said the pope, ‘can not be stored in our childhood memories, but is alive and filled with surprises. Risen from the dead, Jesus never ceases to amaze us. ”
Therefore, the second Easter message from Pope Francis is that Christ lives here and now. According to him, “Faith is not an album of memories from the past; Jesus is not obsolete. ” He walks beside you every day, in every ordeal you have to endure, in your deepest hopes and dreams. Even if you feel that everything is lost, you must be open to surprise at the novelty that Jesus brings: He will certainly surprise you. ”
The Galilee of Peripheries
Going to Galilee also means go to the periphery. Galilee, an outpost furthest from the ritual purity of Jerusalem, was where Jesus began his mission. There He brought His message to “those who struggle to live from day to day, the excluded, the defenseless and the poor”.
On the outskirts, God tirelessly seeks out those who are discouraged or lost. He goes to the “very periphery of existence, for in his eyes no one is the least, no one is excluded”. The Risen Lord therefore asks His disciples to go to the daily living conditions, the streets we travel every day, the corners of our cities. “There the Lord introduces us and introduces Himself into the lives of those around us, those who share in our day, our home, our work, our difficulties and hope.” The pope said, “We will be amazed how the greatness of God is revealed in smallness, how his beauty radiates in the poor and simple.”
The third Easter message is therefore that the Risen Lord loves us without limits and is there at every moment in our lives. “He invites us to overcome obstacles, banish prejudices and approach those around us every day to grace of everyday life“Let us recognize Him here in our Galilees, in everyday life,” the pope urged. “Beyond all defeats, evil and violence, beyond all suffering and death,” the pope said, “the risen and leads history. ”