“Being assured that the Lord, Who has entrusted His task to us, will continue to trust in us!”
(Based on Acts 4:13-21 and Mk 16:9-15 – Saturday of the Easter Octave)
There are moments when a man’s secret tells his whole story.
One such secret lay, not on a golden throne, not in papal documents…
… but in a small, time-worn crucifix…
… tucked quietly inside the cassock of a man who had just been made Pope.
Years ago, as a young priest in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio visited the deathbed of an old confessor…
… a priest who had spent countless hours listening, forgiving, and healing broken souls.
There, beside that humble man, Fr. Jorge felt something stir.
And as he left, he looked at the crucifix the dying priest used to hold during every confession.
He paused…
… looked around
… and quietly, he took it!
Years later, as Pope Francis, he admitted:
“I stole it…!
But it’s the crucifix of a great forgiver.
I carry it with me always.
When a bad thought comes, or when I feel troubled…
… I reach into my pocket and touch that cross. >> It reminds me of God’s mercy.
It gives me courage!”
He didn’t steal gold.
He didn’t steal power.
He ‘stole mercy.’
And mercy became the mission for life for Pope Francis!
Today, as the world mourns and bells toll over Rome, we remember ‘the Pope of Mercy,’ who led…
… not with perfection, but with presence
… not with certainties, but with compassion
He didn’t hide his wounds…
… he let Christ shine through them; thus giving heed to Christ’s mandate of proclamation!
The Gospel of the Day recounts the mandate given to the Apostles by Jesus, the Master, to spread His Gospel to the entire nations:
“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15)
We are on the Saturday of the Easter Octave.
Over the last few days, we have meditated on the various Resurrection accounts from the various Gospel narratives.
The encounter of the women, on the way back from the tomb (Mt 28: 8-15)
The encounter by Mary of Magdalene, calling her by name (Jn 20: 11-18)
The encounter of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, with the Risen Lord, at the breaking of bread (Lk 24: 13-35)
The encounter of the Apostles with the Risen Lord in the closed room (Lk 24: 35-48)
The encounter of the Apostles with the Risen Lord by the Sea of Tiberias (Jn 21: 1-14)
Today, in the Gospel of St Mark, we have a sort of summary of the many Resurrection narratives, closing with the mission mandate of the Lord…
… to “go into all the world” and reach out the saving Word of the Lord.
In all these various Resurrection narratives that are mentioned in today’s Gospel…
… one common element is seen: A mention of unbelief or uncertainty of the disciples.
When Mary Magdalene saw the Lord and reported this to the disciples…
… “but when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it” (Mk 16:11)
When the two disciples on the way to Emmaus spoke of the Risen Lord’s appearance to them, “they did not believe them” either (Mk 16: 13)
… but later the Lord appeared to the disciples themselves and “rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed…” (Mk 16: 14, NABRE)
The disciples found it hard to accept and believe in the Resurrection of the Lord.
They had been rebuked often by the Lord, during His earthly ministry.
Now they are again chided for their lack of faith, even after His Resurrection.
Despite this less intensity in their belief, the Risen Lord entrusts them with His mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom.
Despite this little strength in their faith, the Risen Lord, hands over to them His task of preaching the Word of God to all the nations.
That’s the trust of the Lord in His disciples.
It’s His conviction that “I will be with them
… and above all, I trust them!”
Like the disciples, we too may and will have our moments of…
… variations in faith
… slackening in trust
… and slipping in hope
In all this, let us be assured that the Lord, Who has entrusted His task to us, will continue to trust in us, and assures His presence with us.
We are weak…
We are fragile…
The Lord knows these aspects in us, much better than we ourselves.
He knew all this, even of the Apostles.
Yet, He wholly trusted them.
And He wholly trusts us too!
The disciples would grow in the strength of this trust and would become courageous and powerful…
… to give witness to the Risen Lord – even when put through trials and tribulations.
After all, “the Gospel was never meant to be whispered in safe rooms – it was born to be shouted in wounded streets!”
This bold witness even surprised many people, including the religious leaders:
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus!” (Acts 4:13)
Their conviction made them to profess the Lord in all what they did:
“But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge…
… for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard!’” (Acts 4:19-20)
We live in the midst of a modern generation screaming with ‘apparent and peripheral solutions!’
Let us be Christians….
… who don’t stammer for answers; instead, strongly shout out God’s Love!
Today, we lay to rest Pope Francis – a shepherd whose heart burned with the fire of mercy.
He showed us that holiness is not about standing tall – but about kneeling low.
He reminded us that even a trembling voice can thunder with the Gospel when spoken in love.
And now, as he returns to His Faithful Master, let us carry forward the crucifix he held close to his heart…
… not just the one in his pocket,
… but the One nailed to our hearts – the Risen Christ, who still believes in us.
Don’t wait to be flawless.
Just be faithful.
Don’t wait to feel ready.
Just say “Here I am.”
Because the same Jesus who trusted Peter and the other apostles…
… who trusted Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis…
… trusts you!
Rest in Peace, our Holy Father Pope Francis!
Grazie, Papa Francesco!
Blessed Easter to all of you!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
Civil authority should consider it a grave duty “to acknowledge the true nature of marriage and the family…
… to protect and foster them, to safeguard public morality, and promote domestic prosperity.” (CCC # 2210)
Reflection Capsules 