Year of Mercy

Pope Francis has declared the new church year beginning this December as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. He issued a new papal document about his ideas on what this means for Catholics. Jesus' message was certainly one of mercy rather than strict adherence to the law. This is the central theme of the New Testament. John 3:16 is a favorite verse of many: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
Jesus told many parables about the mercy of God in the New Testament. Probably the best-known is the parable of the Prodigal Son. The image of the father waiting at the window for his vagrant son's return and then running to meet him is one of the most tender portrayals of mercy. Another is the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the 99 in search of the one sheep that is lost. Probably the least popular is the story of the vineyard workers (Matt. 20:1-16). When the owner gave the workers who had toiled all day the same pay as those who came late, they resented his mercy.The all-day workers thought they had earned more and were angry that the latecomers had received the same gift. That's the rub. God's mercy is freely given: we cannot earn it. Pat Marrin, editor of Celebration, says this is the greatest obstacle to mercy: "Those who feel they have never received mercy themselves find it hardest to let God give it to others." (Celebration, November 2015)

Pope Francis is asking all of us to be merciful as God is merciful. Quite a challenge!



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