25th Day of Lent: March 29,2014: “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18: 13)

25^th 

Day

 of Lent: 

     March 29,2014:  

“God be merciful to me a sinner”                                                                        (Luke 18: 13)

“24 hours for the Lord” is in initiative of Pope Francis presenting himself along with the priests available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Diocese of Rome. The whole world has now seen the Holy Father kneeling himself at the confessional making his own confession to a priest in Vatican yesterday. There is nothing like leading by example.

At the penance service that he presided over at Vatican the Pope insisted on the loving welcome of God:

 “The God who waits for us. God who waits and also God who forgives. He is the God of mercy; he does not tire of forgiving.   

We are the ones who tire in asking for forgiveness, but he does not tire.” 

In his discourse on the internal forum he reminded the clergy that the priests should not be too lax nor too rigorous at the confessional. As a judge the priest must absolve and as a doctor the priest must be a healer. For he said, “But mercy is the heart of the Gospel!

Don’t forget this: mercy is the heart of the Gospel! It is the good news that God loves us that He always loves the sinner, and with this love draws him to Himself and invites him to conversion”.

The tax collector is presented in the Gospel as someone who threw himself at the mercy of God knowing that he does not deserve any mercy from God. The Pharisee is self-righteous and proud of his ‘achievements’ before God as if God needs his sacrifices. As Richard Rohr says “Jesus is never upset at sinners.

He is only upset with people who do not think they are sinners”. 

God the Father is waiting for us to return to him and our sure path to holiness is through the confessional. 

So as Mary said at La Salette,

“Come near my children, don’t be afraid”. 

Why should one stay away from confessional after all our God is a God of mercy and forgiveness. 

Let everyone approach the sacrament without fear but be convinced of God’s mercy so as to become ambassadors of mercy.  

God Bless you always!
Sincerely Yours,
Rev. Fr. Cyriac Chandy Mattathilanickal, MS

Wishing you and yours A Holy Lent!

Rev. Fr. Tom Puthusseril, M.S.

Shrine Director

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZJicKiykxU

Our Lady yearns to bring you closer to Her Son, Jesus... Come Near My Child, I have Good News!