Merciful like the Father

In April 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy to begin on the 8th of December 2015 and to continue until the 20th of November 2016, the feast of Christ the King. This is the first Holy Year to celebrate not an anniversary of any kind but a distinctive quality of the Lord Himself which is highlighted in the Scriptures: His Mercy. Mercy is a down to earth way of responding to those who are suffering in any way and are in need of material, spiritual or emotional help.

In his letter of proclamation Pope Francis chooses the phrase MERCIFUL LIKE THE FATHER as the motto for the year. He reminds us of the grace that is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Once aware of our sinfulness we can appreciate the importance and the necessity of mercy and can identify with the prayer of King David:

 ´Have mercy on me Lord in your kindness

In your compassion blot out my offence´.

 We are all invited to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation during the year of mercy. The forgiveness granted by God is an expression of his love for each and every one of us. In this sacrament we celebrate precisely that – the love of God. And we are mindful of what St. Paul said to the Corinthians

´All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

So we are ambassadors for Christ´(2Cor 5,19).

In chapter 25 of Matthew´s Gospel we learn that we will be judged by our concerns for others. This brings into focus the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

The corporal works of mercy are: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger, to heal the sick, to visit the imprisoned, to bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are: to counsel the doubtful, to instruct the ignorant, to admonish sinners, to comfort the afflicted, to forgive offences, to bear patiently those who do us ill, to pray for the living and the dead.

It would be a good thing for each of us to choose one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy and make a special effort to live it in a consistent way throughout the year. Let´s not underestimate the significance these acts of mercy can have in the lives of people.

 

Shakespeare had this to say about mercy:

´The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed:

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes´.