I've thought a lot about the word mercy since Pope Francis announced a Jubilee Year of Mercy beginning December 8, 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Timing closely with the Dominican Order's 800 year Jubilee, I'm quite excited about it. Not very often does the Church celebrate a Double Jubilee.
What exactly is mercy?
Mercy is kind and compassionate.
Mercy forgives when insulted or scorned.
Mercy helps others in need without expecting anything in return.
Mercy preserves life and keeps it sacred.
Mercy is a precious gift from God.
Mercy is love!
As Christians, we realize Christ is full of mercy. He understands our doubts and struggles. He watches over us as we make one bad decision after the next, throwing ourselves into the sticky web of sin. Addictions and bad habits wear us down. We feel trapped and helpless on that web. Will the spider of sin devour our miserable little hearts? Will we remain pasted on the silken fibers of filth and stench?......
The old saying goes that people suffering from addictions or heavy burdens carry "monkeys on their backs." With the aid of God's infinite mercy, the monkey can finally be set free. No longer is the weight a nuisance or it's addictive nature a crux. God takes it all away! Of course, we must believe and trust in the Lord's mercy. We must make an effort to turn ourselves around for the better. Sometimes that monkey will be replaced by a wooden cross for us to carry around. But, it's no longer a parasite sucking up our energy but a cross meant to help us grow closer to God. The simple cross is light enough for us to deal with because Our Lord pours forth his grace and mercy to helps us along.
I look forward to the events surrounding the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
-J.
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