Death of a Pope
Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88. Francis’s death comes after more than 12 years at the helm of the church, and a few weeks after being diagnosed with double pneumonia. He made a public appearance on Easter Sunday and also met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and died Monday morning. There will be several days of mourning, after which a new pope will be selected.
Analysis and eternal perspective: Many are mourning this week, and we in The Equipped family should mourn with them.
Whether pope or pauper, each of us—should our Lord tarry—will die (Heb. 9:27). It is a truth worth remembering as we reflect on this story and on the Truth—capital T—of Resurrection Sunday.
Much of the human experience is survival instinct. We breathe, eat, drink, sleep, and more, all for the aim of surviving. Then we die. It is a universal truth that death remains undefeated—save one!
Last Friday, I hope you took some time to sit in and meditate on the sacrifice that was your Savior’s death. He paid the ultimate sacrifice when He could have dictated another way of saving you. Why? Because of His great love (Eph. 2:4-5)! Your Savior knew the taste of death that is in store for each of us.
On Sunday, however, I hope you reveled in the victory that is an eternal conquering of sin and death! While Easter—or Resurrection Sunday—is our collective celebration that Jesus is alive, it is also a Truth that should animate your every moment! It is as true today as it was on that day!
So, as we mourn with those who mourn, let us do so in a manner appropriately embracing the eternal life that is ours in Jesus!
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.