VATICAN (CNS): The allure of power and money can be used to proclaim falsehoods and obscure the joyous announcement of Christ’s victory over death, Pope Francis said before reciting the Regina Coeli April 18 with visitors in St. Peter’s Square.
“Falsehoods—in words and in life—taint the announcement, they corrupt within, leading back to the tomb,” the pope said.
“The Risen One instead wants us to come out of the tombs of falsehood and dependency. Before the risen Lord, there is another ‘god’—the god of money that dirties and ruins everything, that closes the door to salvation,” he said.
The pope reflected on the gospel reading from St. Matthew, recounting the resurrected Christ telling the women at his tomb to not be afraid and instructing them to “go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Jesus’ words, he said, are “two pieces of advice that would be good also for us to welcome as an Easter gift.” Jesus knows that “our fears are our daily enemies,” especially the fear of death. Yet, by conquering death, Jesus “invites us to come out of the tomb of our fears.”
He said, “He knows that fear is always lurking at the door of our heart, and we need to hear ourselves say do not be afraid, fear not on Easter morning; as on the morning of every day, ‘Do not be afraid’.”
Jesus’ instruction to “go and tell” the disciples to meet him in Galilee is also an invitation to go out and proclaim the resurrection to those who are closed in by fear. “The joy of Christ is strengthened by giving it… This is the secret: We proclaim and overcome fear,” the pope said.
However, recalling the money given to the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb, Pope Francis said the belief in their lies shows the power of money, which is “the other lord that Jesus says we must never serve.”
He said, “Here is the falsehood, the logic of concealment that opposes the proclamation of truth. Falsehoods take us backward, they lead right to death, to the tomb.”
