Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. That this gospel is designated for the day Pope Francis died seems almost a commentary on his life. The Risen Jesus does not first appear to the “insiders,” to those chosen apostles who would be the movers and shakers of the early Church. Instead he goes to the women who were by the culture of time outsiders, those on the periphery of life, those without power or voice. That has been how Pope Francis operated as well. Those who were insiders — the Curia, the bishops, the leaders — were often chided by the Pope as lacking in compassion and a genuine care for people. He instead applied his ministry most frequently to those who were, in his words, on the periphery — immigrants, women, victims of war and abuse, the poor, the exploited. Seems alot like how the Risen Jesus operated.
