He is Risen
Today the world mourns…
Pope Francis- “The People’s Pope”- died Easter Monday at the age of 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was educated as an engineer before becoming a priest. He became the Cardinal of Buenos Aires, known to his people as the “Bishop of the slums” because he chose to move among his people, riding the subway, walking the streets. When he was elected Pope in March 2013, he insisted on going back to his hotel to personally pay his bill and thank the staff. Then he carried his own bag to the Vatican. He stood on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square that evening to greet the people, asking them to pray for him, and bowing in humility. This first nonEuropean Pontiff chose Francis for his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who gave his life to the poor and to the care of God’s creation. Pope Francis lived that life of service.
Pope Francis served the last 12 years as the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. His call for mercy and love stood in stark contrast to his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI’s focus on doctrine. He often used his position to speak out against injustices in the world, believing that what impacts the lives of people rises above issues of politics to be matters of faith. He spoke out against the invasion of Ukraine, calling for the protection of Ukrainian sovereignty. He challenged the recent actions of the US government toward immigrants. He called for international cooperation in dealing with Global Climate Change, reminding his flock in a 2015 papal encyclical that respecting each of God’s creatures, and the environment in which they live, is God’s command in Genesis. He spoke out against human trafficking, praying publicly for those who are trafficked and for their traffickers. He called for an end to the war in Gaza, the return of the hostages, and care for the starving. Francis regularly called the last remaining Catholic church in Gaza to encourage the Palestinian Christians in that faith community. With each ‘issue’ he addressed, he saw the face of people that God loves and called God’s people to be instruments of compassion and justice.
Many close to Pope Francis have noted the poetry of his passing, just a day after Easter. Until his final day, he lived a life that modeled what he preached. His doctors had cautioned the Pontiff to rest and avoid crowds during Holy Week after his near-death battle with double pneumonia. But Pope Francis insisted on making his traditional visit to Rome’s Regina Coeli prison on Maundy Thursday. In past years, he would kneel and wash the feet of prisoners, answering Jesus’ call to care for the ‘least of these.’ This past Thursday, he was unable to kneel because he was too weak from his recent hospital stay, so he moved among the prisoners to bless them. On Easter Sunday, he made a surprise visit to the Easter celebration. A priest read his Easter message and then with his own voice he gave a benediction. After Easter mass, he boarded the Popemobile and moved among the people, waving and blessing sick children brought to him. Flags will fly at half mast this week across our nation in honor of Pope Francis, but the life we exalt was one lived in humility.
His final message to the world was a word of hope:
From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, “is not here, He has risen” (Luke 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, He is alive!... Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day… Hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ – crucified and risen from the dead – hope does not disappoint!... Today we are called to renew our hope that peace is possible! Today we are called to be instruments of God’s peace!
Lenape Valley answered that call to be the mission of Jesus Christ to the world God so loves with our Easter outreach 2025. Your generosity enabled our faith community to care for over 80 families in our local area. You blessed our YMCA Preschool families who are economically challenged. These families receive scholarship support from the Y that provides a safe place for their children to be nurtured and educated. You blessed several LVC families to help them over their immediate challenges. You blessed Peter Powerhouse families with children battling cancer. You blessed Barclay families who live under the poverty line in the midst of wealthy Central Bucks. You blessed Grandfamiliesgrandparents facing the economic and emotional challenges of raising their grandchildren. With each family blessed, Jesus was honored and the good news of the resurrection declared once more.
The gospel message affirms that Easter is not just a day to celebrate, but rather the transformation of reality. The resurrection declaration that the brokenness of this world does not have the last say. Compassion wins… Life over death… Hope over despair…Generosity over selfishness…Peace over violence. The News tells us of a broken world. But we know that God is good… all the time… especially today! The resurrection victory declares that our Savior is greater than the brokenness of this world. May we continue to be part of His Easter redeeming work!
With you in joyful partnership,
Anita
Pope Francis- “The People’s Pope”- died Easter Monday at the age of 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was educated as an engineer before becoming a priest. He became the Cardinal of Buenos Aires, known to his people as the “Bishop of the slums” because he chose to move among his people, riding the subway, walking the streets. When he was elected Pope in March 2013, he insisted on going back to his hotel to personally pay his bill and thank the staff. Then he carried his own bag to the Vatican. He stood on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square that evening to greet the people, asking them to pray for him, and bowing in humility. This first nonEuropean Pontiff chose Francis for his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who gave his life to the poor and to the care of God’s creation. Pope Francis lived that life of service.
Pope Francis served the last 12 years as the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. His call for mercy and love stood in stark contrast to his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI’s focus on doctrine. He often used his position to speak out against injustices in the world, believing that what impacts the lives of people rises above issues of politics to be matters of faith. He spoke out against the invasion of Ukraine, calling for the protection of Ukrainian sovereignty. He challenged the recent actions of the US government toward immigrants. He called for international cooperation in dealing with Global Climate Change, reminding his flock in a 2015 papal encyclical that respecting each of God’s creatures, and the environment in which they live, is God’s command in Genesis. He spoke out against human trafficking, praying publicly for those who are trafficked and for their traffickers. He called for an end to the war in Gaza, the return of the hostages, and care for the starving. Francis regularly called the last remaining Catholic church in Gaza to encourage the Palestinian Christians in that faith community. With each ‘issue’ he addressed, he saw the face of people that God loves and called God’s people to be instruments of compassion and justice.
Many close to Pope Francis have noted the poetry of his passing, just a day after Easter. Until his final day, he lived a life that modeled what he preached. His doctors had cautioned the Pontiff to rest and avoid crowds during Holy Week after his near-death battle with double pneumonia. But Pope Francis insisted on making his traditional visit to Rome’s Regina Coeli prison on Maundy Thursday. In past years, he would kneel and wash the feet of prisoners, answering Jesus’ call to care for the ‘least of these.’ This past Thursday, he was unable to kneel because he was too weak from his recent hospital stay, so he moved among the prisoners to bless them. On Easter Sunday, he made a surprise visit to the Easter celebration. A priest read his Easter message and then with his own voice he gave a benediction. After Easter mass, he boarded the Popemobile and moved among the people, waving and blessing sick children brought to him. Flags will fly at half mast this week across our nation in honor of Pope Francis, but the life we exalt was one lived in humility.
His final message to the world was a word of hope:
From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, “is not here, He has risen” (Luke 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, He is alive!... Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day… Hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ – crucified and risen from the dead – hope does not disappoint!... Today we are called to renew our hope that peace is possible! Today we are called to be instruments of God’s peace!
Lenape Valley answered that call to be the mission of Jesus Christ to the world God so loves with our Easter outreach 2025. Your generosity enabled our faith community to care for over 80 families in our local area. You blessed our YMCA Preschool families who are economically challenged. These families receive scholarship support from the Y that provides a safe place for their children to be nurtured and educated. You blessed several LVC families to help them over their immediate challenges. You blessed Peter Powerhouse families with children battling cancer. You blessed Barclay families who live under the poverty line in the midst of wealthy Central Bucks. You blessed Grandfamiliesgrandparents facing the economic and emotional challenges of raising their grandchildren. With each family blessed, Jesus was honored and the good news of the resurrection declared once more.
The gospel message affirms that Easter is not just a day to celebrate, but rather the transformation of reality. The resurrection declaration that the brokenness of this world does not have the last say. Compassion wins… Life over death… Hope over despair…Generosity over selfishness…Peace over violence. The News tells us of a broken world. But we know that God is good… all the time… especially today! The resurrection victory declares that our Savior is greater than the brokenness of this world. May we continue to be part of His Easter redeeming work!
With you in joyful partnership,
Anita
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