Forgiveness, acts of compassion and mercy during this past year brought followers closer to humanity, says SUMIT DHANRAJ, writing on the significance of the Christian Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy for Catholics was celebrated with spiritual fervour and merciful deeds. It commenced on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception last year on December 8 and culminated recently on the Feast of Christ the King in late November. It was marked by a year-long period of prayer, devotion, acts of mercy and helping the needy.The year of mercy brought the faithful closer to God as well as to humanity. It marked the special period for remission of sins and a universal pardon, focusing particularly on God’s forgiveness and mercy. While announcing the ‘Year of Mercy’, Pope Francis had hoped that everyone would have a profound “encounter with the mercy of God…that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible. Faith finds expression in concrete everyday actions meant to help our neighbours in body and spirit.” The faithful were asked to make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door,open in every cathedral and churches to experience and obtain the mercy of God. A pilgrimage to the four papal basilicas in Rome was considered significant. It was meant to be a journey of walking closer with God and discovering moments of grace and spiritual renewal.
Mercy For Mercy’s
Sake “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy,”said Jesus while teaching his disciples and the crowds from the mountain. Jesus asks us to be merciful in character and nature.The message this has for us is that when we meet people, let us be jovial and enthusiastic about meeting them.The joy is doubled when we share our lives with them. Let us be sympathetic at our work places with those with whom we interact daily. In these simple and humble ways,we can make our place in the hearts of those who don’t even know us. And such kind and merciful actions give us peace, joy and love. Jesus presents this parable to the lawyer who is trying to test him.The lawyer asks,“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”Jesus, reading his mind, asks him to read the law.He says to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” The lawyer answers,“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus tells him that he has given the right answer. But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asks Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus replies through a parable,“A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers,who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him,passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.He went to him and bandaged his wounds,having poured oil and wine on them.Then he put him on his animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” The story goes on…. Finally Jesus asks the lawyer,“Which of these three, do you think,was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” The lawyer says,“The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus says to him,“Go and do likewise.” He is also telling us today to do the same when we see or meet somebody who needs our help or wants our care and support.
The Good Samaritan
Pope Francis, in the Bull of Indiction, Misericordiae Vultus, emphasises the need for the Church and all its members to live out the loving mercy that God has for us.Thus our response to God’s loving mercy towards us is to act in that same way to all those we meet.With the end of the year of mercy, let us resolve to continue to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy for the good of humanity.Specifically, feeding the hungry,giving drinks to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick,visiting prisoners,burying the dead, and giving alms to the poor are the seven corporal works of mercy to be followed.They are philanthropic actions by which we can help our neighbours. The spiritual works of mercy include seven works of counselling the doubtful; instructing the ignorant; admonishing sinners;comforting the sorrowful; forgiving injuries;bearing wrongs patiently, and praying for the living and the dead, all a part of the Christian tradition. Just as Jesus attended to the spiritual wellbeing of those he ministered to, these works guide us to help our neighbour in their spiritual needs. These tenets are guidelines for life, ensuring that ‘the corporal and spiritual works of mercy must never be separated.’ These works of mercy lead us to God and our neighbours through charitable gestures of prayer and help.Let the pilgrimage of mercy continue till the end of the world.■ Post your comments at speakingtree.in
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