Pope Francis opening the Holy Doors of the Cathedral in Bangui in
Central African Republic said, “The Holy Year of Mercy begins earlier in this
land that has suffered for many years as a result of war, hatred, misunderstanding
and a lack of peace.” This means the Year of Mercy has already has been
dedicated. It amazes me, why Pope made this spontaneous choice to open the
doors of the Cathedral in a place where sectarian violence between Christians
and Muslims prevail even today. Pope’s deliberate and spontaneous actions of
showing mercy reveal that God is active in our Church. Our parish church
belongs to that Church which shows mercy who knocks at the doors of our Church.
Holy Father has released the Bull of Indiction of
the Extraordinary Year of Mercy. In his bull, Pope Francis has called on the
Church to “be merciful just as the Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Jesus was
born of the Virgin Mary to bring Father’s Mercy to every human person. Mercy
has become visible through Christ in our world. Through Mercy, God has come to
meet us as the ultimate and supreme act to the humanity. When humanity is faced
with gravity of sin, God responded to us by sending us His own Son through
Mother Mary. Mercy of God is His loving concern for each one of us and this is
evident in the scriptures. God desires our wellbeing, happiness and peace. In
order that mercy of the Father to be effective, we must be merciful to each
other just as the Father is merciful. We will have to gaze attentively to the
mystery of that mercy so that we also can be effective sharers of the Father’s
Mercy.
I urge my dear brothers and sisters, if you are in
need of that mercy from God, don’t hesitate rather be the first to knock at our
Church’s doors. There may be others around us who are in need of mercy, let us
bring them before God through the Church so that our Church becomes an
instrument of mercy.
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