Year of Mercy: A Year of Lord’s Favour

St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, 12:8, encourages us to be cheerful, “he who does mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.” Jesus Christ proclaims the year of Lord’s favour after he read and explained the scroll of Prophet Isaiah. He proclaims that the Spirit of God is on Him to liberate every person in bondage of all sorts, (Luke 4:18).

Freedom in the Year of Mercy

Holy Father expresses his desire that every person who is bound by the modern forms of slavery in the society must be free. We need to help persons to see who are caught up in themselves, and either refusing to see others or blinded by themselves. We also need to restore dignity of the each person. As Pope’s universal intention for the month November states, we must be open to personal encounter and dialogue with all, even those whose convictions differ from ours.  Pope John Paul II in his encyclical “Dives in Misercordia” (Rich in Mercy) expresses that we must not forget the theme of mercy in our cultural milieu in the contemporary world. Hence, this mission is given to each one us in the year of Lord’s Favour.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Holy Father speaks about the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Season of Lent in the Year of Mercy. Mercy is intense during this season because the scripture readings during the Lent show us a merciful Father. Pope is proposing that every diocese must celebrate “24 hours for the Lord” on Friday and Saturday preceding fourth week of Lent. So many people, including young people can an opportunity to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, because through Reconciliation, we find interior peace. Pope is asking the priests to be authentic signs of the Father’s mercy through the sacrament of reconciliation, and above all, the priests must allow themselves to be penitents in search of the Father’s mercy. Priests also can go out to look and show mercy for the son who stands outside, incapable of rejoicing.

Conversion of the Criminal and Corrupt

Holy Father is directing the invitation of the message of mercy to conversion of those whose behaviour distances from the grace of God, particularly, men and women belonging to criminal organisations of any kind. This call to conversion is for their own and good of the others because violence inflicted for the sake of amassing riches soaked in blood makes one neither powerful nor immortal. No one can escape from God’s judgement. This same invitation is extended to those who either perpetrate or participate in corruption. An invitation to change their ideas and lives because corruption threatens very foundation of personal and social life and most importantly, its tyrannical greed shatters the plans of the weak and tramples upon the poorest of the poor. We have responsibility for each other even more to the poorest of the poor.

Mercy towards Judaism and Islam

Every religion considers mercy to be one of God’s most important attributes. Among the privileged names that Islam attributes to the Creator are “Merciful and Kind”, therefore, we have share a common attribute of God. We must know that no one can place a limit on divine mercy because its doors are always open. May our unity foster brotherhood and eliminate every form of closed mindedness and disrespect and drive out every form of violence and discrimination.

I would like to conclude with the last paragraph of the Pope’s bull, “I present, therefore, this Extraordinary Jubilee Year dedicated to living our in our daily lives the mercy which the Father constantly extends to all of us. In this jubilee Year, let us allow God to surprise us. He never tires of casting open the doors of his heart and of repeating that he loves us and wants to share his love with us. The Church feels the urgent need to proclaim God’s mercy. May the Church echo the word of God that resounds strong and clear as a message and a sign of pardon, strength, aid and love. May she never tire of extending mercy, and be ever patient in offering compassion and comfort. May the Church become the voice of every man and woman, and repeat confidently without end: “Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for the have been from of old.” (Ps 25:6)