Monday, November 30, 2015

God of mercy, you wash away our sins in water, you give us new birth in the Spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ. As we celebrate Christ’s resurrection increase our awareness of these blessings, and renew your gift of life within us. Amen.

 “[In order to understand our Modern World,] the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. We must therefore recognize and understand the world in which we live, its explanations, its longings, and its often dramatic characteristics.” (Gaudium et Spes, par. 4)

UNDERSTAND MAKE IT OUR OWN RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION OF BEING MERCIFUL

 The message of Mercy is needed so that we can be capable of: Reconciliation Reaching out to others out of Love (Through Bodily Works of Mercy and Spiritual Works of Mercy)

The Hebrew celebration called “YOVEL” has three meanings: Horn, To be Carried, Jubilee.

 After seven sets of seven yearly intervals (49 total) are finished.  This proclamation of a fiftieth "liberty" year occurs on one of God's annual feast days known as the Day of Atonement.

Treat the last year of every fifty years just like we treat a seventh year, abstaining from agricultural work (produce that grows by itself goes to the poor and the animals to take it); Cancel all loans between Jews; Free all Jewish slaves in this fiftieth year; Return to the original owners all land which has been sold in the past forty-nine years.

 A reminder that God has created everything;  We truly do not own anything;  We are to be thankful to God for liberating us, therefore, we should also liberate others.

 A jubilee year is a special year called by the Church to receive blessing and pardon from God and remission of sins.  Pope Francis said the new jubilee would begin on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated Dec. 8. It will close on Nov. 20, 2016, the feast of Christ the King.

 Pope Francis’ mind Interpreting signs of the times guided by the Gospel. To recognize and understand the reality around us.

 Misericordiae Vultus. Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy  Opening of Document: ◦ "Jesus Christ is the Face of the Father's Mercy.“ Mercy is a living being, namely Jesus Christ. Jesus is Merciful just like the Father. ◦ Jesus – Mercy is not an abstract idea.

 Reasons: 1.Our salvation rests upon God’s Mercy 2.When Jesus was born, Mercy decided to meet with us. 3.Thanks to our Merciful God, we too have a Merciful heart. 4.So that WE might show to others that God's Mercy is alive and effective. 5.We are celebrating Second Vatican Council’s 50 th Anniversary.

 Mercy is a key word in S.S. that indicates how God relates to us: ◦ Psalms, 103, 136, 146, and 147. ◦ According to Matthew, Jesus institutes the Eucharist and completes his Paschal Mystery out of Mercy. The Great Hallel: “For his mercy endures forever.” ◦ The signs he works, especially in favor of sinners, the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering, are all meant to teach mercy. Everything in him speaks of mercy. Nothing in him is devoid of compassion.

 Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life: Mercy is the very foundation of the Church's life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy. The Church's very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love. People seem to be opposed to a God of Mercy. Love claims that humanity has to witness merciful.

 The Church’s call is during this Jubilee year: The Church is to love and mediate love to all people, thus, she must be forgiving. Consequently, Mercy has to happen in our parishes, communities, associations and movements.

 Key Scripture for the Jubilee Year: "Be Merciful just as your Father is Merciful" (Luke 6:36). A demanding sentence: a program of life, But rich in joy and peace.

 Pope’s burning desire during this Jubilee year: That the Christian people may reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It will be a way to reawaken our conscience. Corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. Spiritual works of mercy: to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead.

 The Sacrament of Reconciliation, a must during this Lenten season: The sacrament is to be celebrated on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Fourth Week of Lent where one must celebrate and experience God's mercy. "24 Hours for the Lord.“ ◦ During Lent, Pope Francis will send out Missionaries of Mercy:  “Priests to whom I will grant the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See.”

 The Pope wants conversion for those: Involved in criminal organizations and in corruption.

 Granting of indulgences for the Jubilee year, for God’s forgiveness knows no bounds.  Mercy in Judaism and Islam: “To foster an encounter and dialogue with these religions and with others... so that we might know and understand one another better.”

 Mary, Mother of Mercy Incarnation  Singles out St. Faustina: For making God’s “Divine Mercy” known.  “In this Jubilee Year, 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.”

 Biblical Passages: ◦ The Good Samaritan  Priest  Levi  Samaritan “Go and do likewise…”

What am I going to do? ◦ At a personal level. ◦ In my family. ◦ As a group or in other groups where I belong ◦ In the parish ◦ In the Archdiocese

 Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

 Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy-M isericordiae Vultus Libreria Editriche Vaticana. By Pope Francis:  The Bible Study Site: org/godsrest/what-is-the-jubilee-year.html  Rabbi Hillel, David: The Watchman. Yovel (Jubilee) Year.  Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World — Gaudium et SpesPromulgated by Pope Paul VI. [Vatican City]: 1965.