His Funeral Not A Funfair

Dr. Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com

Lest one forgets, it wasn’t a carnival, not a jamboree or the gathering of who is who.

Very possible to forget and the very essence of his funeral lost on us. Very easy to be carried away by the array of personalities, dignitaries and seamless but top-notch organizational marks and signature of the funeral.

Lest one forgets! The gathering of over 400 thousand people across the globe to pay their last respect to Late Pope Francis wasn’t a picnic, not a fashion show, or a meet and greet event. Rather a gathering to lay to rest the remains of an Angel in human body. A Christ who dwelt in fresh and blood. A sweet soul so large, every single person had a space in. It was a pilgrimage of sort not a carnival.

Lessons abound from the funeral. Which one of them strikes a chord? Which one resonates so deeply? Which one gives goosebumps? Pulling oneself from the noise and distractions of the society into the quiet space of self evaluation and resolutions?

Maybe the fact that life is a complete vanity? Maybe stashing of unused wealth very unchristain while souls daily get toasted like babicue in the fire of poverty, wants and lack?

What are the lessons learnt from the life and events of late Pope Francis who refused from day one of his papacy anything that reflects ostentiousness?

Some said he was a Jesuit who took vow of poverty the reason he lived through life in such an austere manner. He wasn’t the only one under such oath. It was a personal decision rather from a soul whose understanding of what life is wasn’t vague but Illuminated by the light of divine intelligence.

Lest one forgets, his burial wasn’t a carnival. For those who understand it better, a pilgrimage of a sort, opening up ones eyes to see deeper and appreciates the beauty of a life lived without the baggages of worldliness.

I wouldn’t know what you saw in the funeral? The large crowd? The amazing organization, the liturgy so sweet and majestic?

I saw emptiness of our earthly life. I saw vanity of life of grab and keep. I saw the futility of life of expensiveness.

I saw grace in simplicity and grandeur in humility. I saw diginity in living and journeying with the poor, the less privilege, the weak and the outcast. I saw peace so radiant when a soul is less heavy with the encumbrances of material things, without being judgedmental and discriminating.

His life lived so well, an inspiration it would be for many in their daily struggles seeking for God in humanity

Rest in peace Papa Franciscus. Your life will continue to be a daily devotional manual every sincere seeker of God would read with dedication.