“And now, but a short time ago, mercy
came to us from the LORD, our God, who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in
his holy place; thus our God has brightened our eyes and given us relief in our
servitude.” Ezra 9:8
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave
them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them
to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take
nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and
let no one take a second tunic. Luke 9:1-3
Piety
Lord
Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and
have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be
saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by
money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created
things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the
repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that
you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!” (Prayer
of Pope Francis for the Jubilee)
Study
Tomorrow
on the grounds of The Catholic University of America, hundreds of thousands
will gather in person and via television for Mass to canonize Junipero Serra. I
would like to think when Pope Francis reads the Gospel verse “Take nothing for
the journey,” that a smile will dance across his face. Ironic.
If that does not raise the sense of irony, then perhaps, “Let no one
take a second tunic” would have hit the home run.
The
pope’s entourage is about 100 people, reports
The Washington Post. “No pope stayed
overnight in the United States until John Paul II in 1979.” Now there are plane
loads of assistants. Entire altars have been constructed for one Mass. The largest security operation in history is
underway across three cities complete with parades and Pope-mobiles. Could Jesus imagine it thus?
Yet,
strip away the pomp and you can almost hear Francis preach with fervor about the
first reading from Ezra as we approach the opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy
that will commence December 8. Francis
plants his stake in our holy place…not our soil but our hearts. He will be bringing us word that Jesus
ransomed for us a stake in his Father’s house and heart – you know, the one
with the many rooms. He will ask us to fully rely on God.
Action
To
what are we slaves?
Our careers? Our retirement savings? Our mobile devices? Our iTunes collection? No matter your answer, God has still not
abandoned us. His mercy comes to us again
and again as new life even before we hear word one from Francis during his
first visit to U.S. soil. He will be smiling as he says, “mercy came to us from
the Lord who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place.”
Pope
Francis announced an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its center the
According
to the website, the logo for the Jubilee of Mercy has been designed to express
the profound way in which the Good Shepherd touches the flesh of humanity and
does so with a love with the power to change one’s life. One particular feature
worthy of note is that while the Good Shepherd, in his great mercy, takes
humanity upon himself, his eyes are merged with those of man. Christ sees with
the eyes of Adam, and Adam with the eyes of Christ. Every person discovers in Christ,
the new Adam, one’s own humanity and the future that lies ahead, contemplating,
in his gaze, the love of the Father.
During the
Jubilee of Mercy, the Holy Father will perform particular works of mercy
and is asking each Diocese to do so as well.
What will you plan to do in your action for the Jubilee?
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