“Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come
to call the righteous but sinners.”
Matthew 9:13
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After receiving the Good News told to her by the Archangel
Gabriel, Mary, in her Magnificat, prophetically sings of the mercy whereby God
chose her….
For all of us, then, the season of Lent in this Jubilee Year
is a favourable time to overcome our existential alienation by listening to
God’s word and by practising the works of mercy. In the corporal works of mercy
we touch the flesh of Christ in our brothers and sisters who need to be fed,
clothed, sheltered, visited; in the spiritual works of mercy – counsel,
instruction, forgiveness, admonishment and prayer – we touch more directly our
own sinfulness. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy must never be
separated. By touching the flesh of the crucified Jesus in the suffering,
sinners can receive the gift of realizing that they too are poor and in need.
By taking this path, the “proud”, the “powerful” and the “wealthy” spoken of in
the Magnificat can also be embraced and undeservedly
loved by the crucified Lord who died and rose for them….
Let us not waste this season of Lent, so favourable a time
for conversion! We ask this through the maternal intercession of the Virgin
Mary, who, encountering the greatness of God’s mercy freely bestowed upon her,
was the first to acknowledge her lowliness (cf. Lk 1:48) and to call herself the Lord’s
humble servant (cf. Lk 1:38).
Message of
His Holiness Pope Francis
for
Lent 2016
For the complete text please visit:
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A local grocery chain recently had an advertisement encouraging
shoppers to “Savor the Taste of Lent”... which I thought was not quite in keeping
with the “sacrificial spirit” of the season!
Then I reread Pope Francis’ Message for Lent which takes the theme from
Matthew’s Gospel: “I desire mercy, not
sacrifice.”
Giving up chocolate for Lent historically has not made me a better
person--no doubt about it. Savoring the blessings and mercy
of God, however, offers me the great potential to draw closer to our Blessed Mother
Mary and, through her intercession, to more fully experience the loving embrace
of her Son, our Lord.
Our Holy Father is encouraging us to listen to God’s Word as well
as to practice both corporal and spiritual works of mercy—a balanced, savory
diet, if you will. While I have discerned a call to particularly work on prayer, forgiveness, and visiting, I know that any small progress
in those areas will only come by the grace of God’s mercy and the prayerful
encouragement of dear “humble servants”. Let's challenge, support and encourage each other to "live" mercy, worthy of Jesus' call.
You are remembered in prayer.
Please pray for me. May our
Blessed Mother Mary help us to encounter God’s mercy in new and deeper ways
during this great and holy season of Lent.
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