As most people probably know by now, we are currently in the midst of a special Jubilee Year of Mercy that was called by Pope Francis. This is a very special year in the Church, where our Holy Father is calling us to emulate the mercy of God in our everyday lives. This year could not have come at a more opportune time, for we are in need of God’s mercy today more than ever.
The history of humanity has been far from perfect. We humans, as inherently sinful beings, frequently act out against God. One need only look at the current events of our world to see that sin is most definitely prevalent. Leading members of the Church are also not perfect. Throughout the Church’s long and eventful history, people have made many mistakes and we have faced countless challenges. However, despite all of the sin in the world, out of mercy God calls us to turn away from sin and towards eternal life through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus Christ. His passion and death are the ultimate signs of mercy. In Christ, all humanity has a chance to overcome sin and death.
Despite our fallen-ness as a people God has always shown us mercy and given us opportunities to receive forgiveness and enter back into communion with Him. The Scriptures teem with examples of God’s merciful love for His people. God’s chosen people turned against Him time and time again. And yet, despite their unfaithfulness, God sent a savior to redeem all of humanity in His only son Jesus Christ. All He asks in return is that we humans share that mercy with one another by loving our neighbors.
So how can we as Catholics share God’s mercy with others during this special year? Well, there are plenty of ways. Some concrete ways of doing this are through living out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. The spiritual works are to admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, and pray for the living and the dead.
At first glance, some might say that some of these works are not practical in their everyday lives, and for some people there is some truth to that. But during this year of mercy, what is really important is that we bring the light of Christ to all people that we encounter. God gives us His mercy through such means as the sacrament of Reconciliation. No matter how many times we sin, if we are repentant he will always welcome us back. A common worry for people who are discerning the priesthood is that they are not “good” enough, or “holy” enough. None of us are really “good” enough, but thanks to God’s unending mercy, we all have the opportunity to change that. And so during this year of mercy, we should all keep in mind that we, as members of the Church, are a part of the Body of Christ. If we continue to love and forgive others no matter how they may wrong us, we can extend God’s loving mercy to all.
Father Stephen Robbins
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