Easter Tuesday
The day after the death of Pope Francis
First reading Acts 2:36-41
On this Easter Tuesday, just a day after the passing of Pope Francis, the Word from Acts echoes with solemn clarity: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” In the shadow of grief, this declaration becomes not merely a theological truth but a lifeline, reminding us that the victory of the Risen Christ is not diminished by death, even the death of a beloved shepherd. Rather, it is magnified in our sorrow. It calls us to grow, not merely in knowledge of the faith, but in the certainty of it. This certainty is not cold or rigid, but vibrant and transformative. It gives rise to a hope that endures suffering without yielding to despair, and to a love that is not self-preserving, but self-giving. In the life and final witness of Pope Francis who spent himself for the Gospel until his last breath we glimpse what it means to be anchored in this certainty. He spoke often of God’s mercy and the joy of the Gospel, because he believed firmly that Jesus Christ is alive, present, and Lord. To grow in the certainty that Jesus is Lord is to allow Him to reshape every part of our lives, to carry us through grief with peace, and to impel us into the world with courage. In these sacred days, when death has touched the Church so closely, may we not shrink back in doubt, but walk forward with hearts firm in faith, knowing that the Christ who triumphed over the grave continues to shepherd His people through every night into radiant morning. Let’s reflect: Easter is an invitation to grow in the certainty of faith in the Lordship of Jesus.
Don Giorgio