April 9, 2005

The beautiful readings during this time after Easter are strangely appropriate this year. The message is clear – after the death and resurrection of Jesus, his mission passed on to his disciples. We see them paralleling Jesus’ ministry…

I was in the middle of giving a talk at a Youth 2000 retreat when we received word that the Holy Father had passed away. I stopped my talk and invited the 1100 plus young people to join me in silent prayer, kneeling before our Eucharistic Jesus exposed in the monstrance at the center of the room. I led a prayer, mentioning the reality that when we die, our soul leaves our body and goes to God. Because Jesus was there, we knew that in a mystical way, Pope John Paul II was also present, adoring Jesus with us. We were doing exactly what our Holy Father has led us to do. It was an unforgettable experience. Where were you when Pope John Paul the Great died?

I prayed, “Lord, now what do you want me to say?” I felt inspired by the following thought: The mission, vision, legacy and plans of Pope John Paul II did not die with him. It is not over now. Now it begins! The Holy Father has passed the torch to us, the young people formed by his pontificate. It is up to us to pick up the baton and run with it. This will be the fruit of his ministry. There is a great harvest yet unimagined. To quote the title of our Holy Father’s recent book, “Rise, let us be on our way!” On your mark, get set, GO!

God bless you; let us pray for each other,

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
Vocations director, residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem, New York

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