Lenten Reflection Twenty-Third Day "MERCY" Saturday, March 14, 2015

Mercy!

Prophet Hosea urges us that “it is mercy and not sacrifice that God desires.” 

It is love that pleases God more than any burnt offerings. Jesus in his ministry was a witness to the Divine Mercy- the mercy of God the Father. 

He proclaimed God’s mercy for all in a ultimate way. Cardinal Kasper in his book Mercy says, “ Jesus opens up access to God not just for a few righteous people, but for all. 

There is room for all in God’s Kingdom; no one is excluded. 

God has finally taken back his wrath and has given full scope to his love and mercy.” 

The tax collector in the Gospel received that mercy and love from God because he was humble and contrite.

Pope Francis in his homily this morning says, “We are called to look beyond, to focus on the heart to see how much generosity everyone is capable. 

No one can be excluded from the mercy of God; everyone knows the way to access it and the Church is the house that welcomes all and refuses no one. 

Its doors remain wide open, so that those who are touched by grace can find the certainty of forgiveness. 

The greater the sin, so much the greater must be the love that the Church expresses toward those who convert.”

We are in a surprise on the second year of his papacy. 

He is the Pope of Mercy and guess what he declared this morning: 

Here he goes on to say:

“Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy.

It is journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. 

For this reason, I have decided to call an Extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center.

It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. 

We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord's words:

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Lk 6:36)” 

This Holy Year will begin on this coming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception December 8, 2015 and will end on November 20, 2016, the Sunday dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – and living face of the Father’s mercy”. 

May the Gospel of Mercy fill us with hope during this Season of Lent. 

Approach the sacrament of mercy and surrender to God of Mercy.