2016 and the Year of Mercy

Jubilee Year of Mercy

The title for this Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaims, Be Merciful Like the Father. But before we can "be" merciful, we have some serious work ahead of us, in fact a whole year of work. So we need a plan and I offer the following as a model.

This plan is built upon three things:

• PRAYER
• STUDY
• ACTION

PRAYER: In order to show mercy, one must first know mercy, in a personal way, to know through experience what real mercy looks like, feels like. The problem the Pharisees had with Jesus' show of mercy (the woman caught in adultery) was the belief that they where self-righteous, sinless by their observance of the law, and thus deserving of God's favour.  

In Luke 18: Jesus describes two men praying, one a Pharisee the other a Tax Collector. The Pharisee lists all the reasons why he is deserving. The Tax Collector has no excuse, but can only cry out, "Be merciful to me a sinner".

We need to get "into" these many scripture accounts that show and teach us about mercy. Here I recommend the Ignatian way of Praying Scripture. By this we take a passage of scripture and get into it, seeing, hearing, feeling; identifying ourselves as a participant - being there in the scene. 

Identifying our own need for mercy, will inspire us to reach out to those the Lord puts on our hearts, to become an intercessor on their behalf, so that they can open their hearts to this great gift of mercy.

STUDY: Much will be written about mercy this year. The official Vatican website is a good starting place. From there we can choose the resources that compliment our "prayer experience". The key here is those resources that connect with our prayer. We do not want to just be a passing reader, rather a serious student. As our understanding deepens, our participation with the Church's mission of evangelization through mercy grows.

ACTION: If we have worked well through the first two elements, this third will flow naturally. The works of mercy become our check list for action.

The spiritual works of mercy include: •  Counsel the doubtful; •  Instruct the ignorant; •  Convert the sinner; •  Comfort the sorrowful; •  Forgive offenses willingly; •  Bear wrongs patiently; •  Pray for the living and the dead.

The corporal works of mercy include: •  Feed the hungry; •  Give drink to the thirsty; •  Clothe the naked; •  Visit the imprisoned; •  Shelter the homeless; •  Visit the sick; •  Bury the dead.

Christmas 2015

We find this Christmas of 2015 starting us off into the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Much is written and told of the "Spirit of Christmas", and in all of this you will discover that the character of mercy stands out. At the assigned moment in time, Jesus comes into the world, sent to us from Mercy, for mercy. ".... I have come to call sinners ...." 

In the more serious Christmas stories, the broken things in people's relationships are healed by mercy - Loving mercy, enters the ciaos of hurting, mending the broken and restoring bonds of friendship and love. Characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and George Bailey find their broken view of the meaning of life healed by the compassionate and loving mercy they receive from others. 

The first Christmas gift is Jesus himself, a gift given to us by the Father - sent to gather us to himself and lead us home, through the doors of mercy, into the Father's house. Yet, there is an irony surrounding mercy, namely the mixed reception it receives. The gospels tell us that at first people are drawn to Jesus; “…all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.” Lk. 4:22  

But quickly things change when Jesus speaks of mercy and the forgiveness of sins. When a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus for healing, Jesus gives him something greater, mercy and the forgiveness of his sins.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Lk. 5:17

Quickly things changed and the Scribes and Pharisees began a persecution against Jesus. It is interesting how easily we may ask for mercy for ourselves, but how hard it is to show mercy to others, especially to those who are against us.

Perhaps we may not have made the connection between the True Spirit of Christmas and Mercy, yet there it is. People speak of keeping the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the whole year. Perhaps by our efforts to participate in this Year of Mercy, we will.

May I suggest, as a preparation for your participation in the Christmas Liturgies,

the following meditations:

• Voices of Christmas Liturgies I - At Mass During the Night

• Voices of Christmas Liturgies II - At the Mass of Dawn

• Voices of Christmas Liturgies III - At the Mass of Christmas Day

Intercessory Prayer Card

I have created a Prayer Card that can be used as you engage in intercessory prayer for another. We have already discussed this subject as a way of practicing the Corporal Work of Mercy, "Praying for the Living and the Dead - LINK. 

Prayer for the Year of Mercy Almighty God, you reveal your love for us in your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the face of your mercy. Pour out your mercy upon us that we may bring to every person your goodness and tenderness — signs of your Kingdom, present among us. May we become merciful like you, Father, are merciful. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Father of all Mercy As I come before you in prayer I carry in my heart this day My brother/sister Who is in need of your Mercy. Great has been your love for me Rescuing me out of the Clutches of evil And restoring me To my place in your presence Now open the doors of Mercy To my brother/sister Who I now carry home to you Our Father of Mercy.

The Prayer Card is designed to be downloaded so that you can print it from your own computer. There are two formats from which to choose: (Word - docx) and (PDF).

In the graphic there is a blank space into which you can write the name of the one for whom you are interceding. You can carry it with you in pock or purse, or keep it in prayer book or bible to mark key passages you receive in pray. 

• Carry it with you as you enter the DOORS of the Church. 
• Offer its prayers as you prepare to celebrate Mass.
• Carry in your heart the one for whom you intercede as you approach the Table of the Lord to receive Holy Communion.
• In spirit, place them in the arms of the Father.
• Recall these words of Jesus' prayer of intercession -

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” Jo. 17:

The links to these documents:

• The MS Word Format

• The PDF Format

Follow these steps:

1. Select and open the file
2. Print page one only
3. Turn the printed page over and reinsert into your printer paper tray
4. Print page two only
5. Trim the edges of the double-sided page (long sides first - then top & bottom using the trim guide marks (+) as guides
6. Fold 

Advent III - A Cry for Mercy

In Jesus' prayer of intercession in John 17: Jesus prays, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.”

As intercessors of Mercy, it is important that we have this same understanding of what we are up against when interceding for another. When the world began it was, "very good", as the book of Genesis tells us. Within this design, man was placed with a specific purpose to fulfill - to be stewards of God's design, bringing it to its ultimate fulfillment - the glory of God.

The world is not the problem, he is, the Evil One. Driven by jealous pride, he sets about to corrupt, by lies and deception, man's understanding of his role in God's good creation.


Man becomes the prodigal son, lured away from the Father's House by the false expectation that he can redesign the world in his own image, for his own selfish purpose, only to find himself destitute and alone - a branch cut off from the tree of life, laying on the ground, withering and dying. Alone and broken, he can only cry out for mercy.

MERCY-SIN-FORGIVENESS

So how are we to understand the true nature of mercy? Look at it this way - a man is traveling along a road that brings him to the edge of a fast flowing stream, cutting him off from the other side, preventing him from getting to his desired destination. There is a bridge connecting to the other side, but on it is a sign which reads, "DANGER! This bridge has been fraudulently built. Do NOT attempt to Cross it". Driven by the desire to reach his own planned destination, he ignores the warning, starts crossing the bridge, which collapses under him, sending him hurtling into the rushing water below.

Mercy is about sin, its fault, failure and inevitable consequences. If someone, through no fault of their own, has an accident and is seriously injured, they do not need mercy, they need assistance. It's someone, who by their own fault, brings upon themselves dire consequence, which they are powerless to correct, who needs mercy, forgiveness and rescue. 

Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mtt: 9:13

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the older brother has no mercy in his heart for his brother. He could have stayed home, obeying the rules of the house as he did. It was his brother's choice to run off and make a total mess of his life. He deserves what he got. 

Their father loves both his sons. He teaches his sons that love begets mercy, for it is the only way to have both of them with him. One does not deserve mercy, they need mercy, for only mercy can save the sinner from the consequences of their sins.

To be an effective intercessor, one must acquire the mind and heart of the Father. This is the goal set before us in this Year of Mercy, To Be Merciful Like the Father. During this Jubilee Year, let us examine our hearts to see who we most resemble, the older brother, or the Father?

PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Lord Jesus, what love filled your heart when the young man approached, asking the way to eternal life. What sadness you felt when he turn away, unable to accept your invitation to come and follow you. Jesus, you alone are the truth. You alone are the way that leads to the fullness of life. Yet few are they who seek and find you. Strong are the forces pulling at the hearts of our young people. Shrewd and clever is the persuasion that lures them away from you. Champion of the young, how deep is the desire of your heart that they should come to know you. What blessing they will experience when you fill them with the Holy Spirit. You will enlighten their minds with your Truth. You will inflame their hearts with love for God. You will heal their wounds and restore the innocence of their youth. With you in them and they in you their lives will be transformed. They will become instruments of peace and signs of hope for this troubled world of ours. (Mark 10:17) (One of the prayers from my series, Eucharistic Devotions)