Remebering Pope John Paul II...

Today at Mass Fr Lai asked for a minute of silence to honour Pope John Paul II's passing.

it was then that it hit me...His Holiness has passed away at last. from all accounts, it appears to have been a peaceful death and i am glad for his sake that it was. i was numb at first, then i slowly realised that this was it. 25 years of his leadership...and he finally left us. more in shock than anything, i went home and reflected on these long years and his legacy to the Church.

hard to accept that the leader who led our church through some of the most trying times is no longer with us. i used to look forward to buying the Herald (the Malaysian Catholic Weekly) so as to read ahout the latest directives and doings of the Holy See...that as well as the soul-stirring articles of Fr Ron Rolheiser and Fr Frank Doyle SJ (but that is another story to be told at another time)

many will talk about one who stood firm in encouraging a culture of life despite the glorification of the culture of death through euthanasia, abortion etc today, or one who balanced political pressures and fought secularism in an increasingly secular world. this was a leader who was in touch with the youth of today, and constantly urged the young to keep close to the Church. he helped pave the way towards the beatification and canonisation of so many saints, most notably Blessed Mother Teresa who died a few years ago. (i admire Mother Teresa very much, and i am grateful to His Holiness for recognising her sacrifices and service to the poor in India)

but i choose to focus on the very nature of the man himself who showed immense forgiveness towards the Turkish gunman who shot him , Mehmet Ali Agca. the image cannot leave my mind, the Pope praying and talking to one who tried to takes his life in his prison cell. it encourages me, it inspires me.
i think of his efforts at inter-religious dialogue which was a carry over from Vatican II and i am touched. finally the Church has courage to look at other religions in the eye and see God's touch in each and every one of them.
Pope John Paul II was a man of courage and strong principles, and God has given His blessing, guidance and grace to him.

Now let us pray for God to guide the cardinals in choosing a new Pope who will lead the Church through the challenges of the 21st century.

'Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him
and may he rest in peace.
may the soul of the faithful departed,
through the Mercy of God
rest in peace.
AMEN.'
-the Requiem-