Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, Bishop of Parramatta
Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31
Celebrating the gift and the legacy of Pope Francis
Dear friends in Christ,
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad”. These are the words of the Psalmist that we use to express our joy at the Resurrection of Jesus throughout the Easter Octave. Yet as we gather to remember the late Holy Father Pope Francis, we can’t help but feel a sense of great grief, sadness and uncertainty. Since the day he appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica some 12 years ago, he has been an unexpected gift from God for the Church and for the world.
The Pope chosen from the ends of the earth as he jokingly told the crowd that day, he has lived up to the call of being close to the people on the periphery. He has shone as a beacon of light and hope for a world shrouded in the darkness of war, violence, hatred, oppression and dehumanisation. Amidst the rise of populism, authoritarianism and the scapegoating of the marginalised minorities, he was the voice of compassion, the champion of human dignity and the embodiment of God’s mercy. Thus, whether it was the homeless, indigenous peoples, prisoners, refugees, gender diverse, divorced and remarried, Pope Francis has personified the closeness and pathos of God for people on the margins. He has defended their dignity and championed their rights against the evil forces that dehumanise them. Thus, when he visited refugee camps on Lampedusa and returned with a dozen refugees on the papal plane, or when in hospital, he called the parishioners in Gaza every night, it was an unmistakable gesture of solidarity with the expendable.
In the world addicted to consumption and threatened by irreversible damage, Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home has been prophetic. Laudato Si has been the gift for the world as it provides the ethical foundations for a sustainable future. He challenged us to embrace a new economy that shifts away from exploitation to one that celebrates radical interdependence and reciprocity within diverse webs of life. Only by taking less from the earth can we move to an alternative model of living in radical harmony and deep connection with the planet.
Another Franciscan trademark that the Holy Father emulated was his unwavering dedication to peace and interfaith relations. His encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” appeals for a love that transcends borders and social friendship that makes universal brotherhood possible. His leadership in fostering understanding between faith communities, particularly between Christians and Muslims, remains an enduring source of inspiration for us, here in Western Sydney.
Though saddened by his loss, we are filled with gratitude for the rich legacy he left to us. Here in our Diocese, his outreach to the marginalized, his bridge-building with non-Catholics and his vision of a synodal church have resonated strongly with us. We have been emboldened to go out into the deep and become the effective vehicle of the Good News for all.
Dear friends,
Easter reminds us that death is not the end because Jesus has risen to be the ground for our hope and new life. The readings today tell us about how the early Christians experience God’s love and mercy, and they in turn share that love and mercy with one another and the wider society. The Acts of the Apostles presents us with a small and vulnerable group of believers, which emerged from the turbulent period following the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. They embraced radical solidarity. They shared their possessions and made sure that no one was left behind. They formed an intentional community of faith, hope and love, ensuring each other’s welfare and that of the most vulnerable.
The Gospel story takes us back to the interim period between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. It tells us how Thomas who refused to believe in the testimony of others. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Thus, even in that ideal Christian community, there were disagreements and certainly different levels of faith. Some were strong; others were weak and wavering. Yet the Church was not like a club with strict rules for its members. It was a family that cut plenty of slack, that made plenty of room, that accommodated those who struggled, questioned, who doubted, or strayed and got lost. It did so to Thomas because it had experienced that overwhelming, unconditional love and mercy from Jesus himself.
Pope Francis asked us to be signs of hope for others, as he himself has been an outstanding embodiment of Christian hope even in times of sickness, fragility and death. As we remember him in a spirit of thanksgiving and trust, let us endeavour to be the Church that shines forth the light of the risen Christ.
The story of the early Christian community bears witness to the power of God who works through human vulnerability. It was their faith in him, not the size of their numbers, not the strength of their resources, not the popularity of their cause that determined the outcome of their mission. Let us also entrust ourselves to the power of the risen Lord. We will accompany each in prayer during this time of grief and in the coming weeks for the election of the new Pontiff. May we persevere as pilgrims of hope and witnesses of the Gospel for the transformation of the world.
