Still Doing Their Jobs

Spiritual essence performs a lot of miracles before ascending to the afterlife.

Photo by Sunguk Kim on Unsplash

Years ago, the brother of my daughter's best friend, died suddenly of an aneurism. He had been talking with his fiancée about life and death and their future together when the dog scratched at the door. Graham got up to let him in, but never reached the door.

At his funeral, which was a laugh and cry rollercoaster, Graham's father told the congregation what happened the night before when friends held vigil at his viewing. There lay Graham in his coffin. People sat in chairs set in a nearby semi-circle. His father sat in the back row. As people told stories about Graham's impact on them, the laugher started in reserved giggles in the front row. Over the next few minutes, a wave of laugher grew in volume, moving back through the mourners. Graham's father went up to the coffin and looked down upon his young son, who had been on the threshold of a productive and influential life.

"You're still doing your job, aren't you, son."

The day of Pope Francis funeral, a stunning photograph travelled around the world. It showed President Trump and President Zelenskyy sitting in simple chairs in the middle of the Basillica. Their hands clasped between their knees, brought them into a position of humility toward each other. Their foreheads were within inches of touching. For fifteen minutes, so it was reported, they talked of peace and reconciliation. Moments later, they stood together with Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron. Macron's hand lay upon Zelenskyy's shoulder in a gesture of support.

When I saw that photo, my heart rejoiced with the prospects of peace and, perhaps, Trump's realization that he was being manipulated by Putin. A major change of tone for that man had occurred. I couldn't help thinking of Pope Francis' spirit standing beside these men as they discussed possibilities for a permanent peace, His hands laying upon their shoulders.

"You're still doing your job, aren't you, Your Eminence."

I've been told that when a person dies, their spirit still has power to influence. A very important person's spiritual power is even more influential. For better or worse, that power hangs on to people, haunting them, guiding them, hopefully forgiving them.

Sean Dietrich of Sean of the South on Substack tells a magnificent story of how a little nun helped him release the pain from his childhood. This event happened exactly as Pope Francis' funeral was taking place. I couldn't help but think that Pope Francis also infused that little nun and Sean with a bit of His spirit to draw out the poisons that had haunted Sean for years.

I'll let Sean tell this beautiful story here:

Sean Dietrich, Dispatches from El Camino, April 26, 2025

Dispatches Del Camino