I HAVE started to read Pope Francis’
document called,
Misericordiae vultus (The face of mercy) that announces the Jubilee
Year of Mercy that will begin on December 8 this year, Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception, and will end on November 20, 2016,
Solemnity of Christ the King.
I am going to read and re-read it to savor the many fine
points it contains and that deserve to be given due attention. I am
sure these fine points will trigger more helpful insights and
considerations. I hope more and more people get to read it as well if
only to join in this common quest for divine mercy that sometimes can
be very elusive.
I believe this pontificate of Pope Francis would like to
be known, more than anything else, as that of mercy and compassion.
It’s a papal thrust that I believe the world today needs most. But
it’s also one that sparks and stirs some controversies that really
need to be resolved.
Already in paragraph 2 of the document, we are asked to
constantly contemplate the mystery of mercy. With those words, we are
somehow told that there is still much of divine mercy that needs to be
discovered and learned, lived and spread. Each one of us and the whole
Church in general have to be up to par with God’s mercy.
What is implied is that our current ways of dispensing
divine mercy, whether done individually or collectively, socially or
politically, personally or sacramentally, confidentially or
pastorally, attitudinally or legally, etc., may need some updating, an
“aggiornamento” of sorts that characterized the spirit of Vatican II
and is in fact always an ongoing concern.
We should never think that what we already have and are
doing insofar as living the spirit of the mercy of God is concerned is
already complete and perfect. This spirit of God’s mercy is a living
thing that, while it is already quite well known and made available to
us in abundance, can still spring new surprises.
This is, of course, a very delicate matter that has to be
approached, studied and acted on with utmost care and prudence. That’s
why I would strongly suggest a lot of moderation and restraint in
expressing our views on the matter.
While everyone has the right to express his views, we
should also not forget that many times the discussion is better left
first in the hands of experts who are in a better position to sort out
the issue.
It cannot be denied that the issue at hand is a very
complex one that has to be approached from different angles. Thus, we
should always presume good intentions in everyone who expresses his
views, no matter how different or opposed his is to ours, or no matter
how convinced we are that his positions are wrong.
Of course, it is also presumed and strongly suggested that
anyone who wants to participate in the discussion is motivated by the
best of intentions and equipped with all that he can get to support
his claims. We should try to avoid reckless and trivial comments that
can only muddle the discussion.
We need to pray a lot, asking for enlightenment from the
Holy Spirit, and always making a good grip on our emotions and
passions, lest they flare up unduly. We should be open to the idea
that the Holy Spirit is always guiding us and is pointing us new ways
to tackle new challenges, even if there are permanent and unchangeable
things involved.
Yes, indeed, we need to re-examine which part of the
current practices with respect to asking and dispensing divine mercy
need to be purified and updated. The temper of the times have changed,
the sensibilities of the people are not as they were even a few years
ago.
We have to be wary of a new pharisaism, marked by rigid
legalism and traditionalism, that can fall on us without noticing it.
This is always a possibility and can afflict those of us who are quite
sure of ourselves so as to be close-minded instead of always being
open-minded.
Pope Francis always talks about the God of surprises. We
may already know him a lot, but what we don’t know about him is much
more than what we already know. We should always keep this caveat in
mind. God will always open new ways while retaining the absolute truth
which in the end is his great love and mercy for us.
Thus, we have to continually embark on a quest for divine mercy.
Misericordiae vultus (The face of mercy) that announces the Jubilee
Year of Mercy that will begin on December 8 this year, Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception, and will end on November 20, 2016,
Solemnity of Christ the King.
I am going to read and re-read it to savor the many fine
points it contains and that deserve to be given due attention. I am
sure these fine points will trigger more helpful insights and
considerations. I hope more and more people get to read it as well if
only to join in this common quest for divine mercy that sometimes can
be very elusive.
I believe this pontificate of Pope Francis would like to
be known, more than anything else, as that of mercy and compassion.
It’s a papal thrust that I believe the world today needs most. But
it’s also one that sparks and stirs some controversies that really
need to be resolved.
Already in paragraph 2 of the document, we are asked to
constantly contemplate the mystery of mercy. With those words, we are
somehow told that there is still much of divine mercy that needs to be
discovered and learned, lived and spread. Each one of us and the whole
Church in general have to be up to par with God’s mercy.
What is implied is that our current ways of dispensing
divine mercy, whether done individually or collectively, socially or
politically, personally or sacramentally, confidentially or
pastorally, attitudinally or legally, etc., may need some updating, an
“aggiornamento” of sorts that characterized the spirit of Vatican II
and is in fact always an ongoing concern.
We should never think that what we already have and are
doing insofar as living the spirit of the mercy of God is concerned is
already complete and perfect. This spirit of God’s mercy is a living
thing that, while it is already quite well known and made available to
us in abundance, can still spring new surprises.
This is, of course, a very delicate matter that has to be
approached, studied and acted on with utmost care and prudence. That’s
why I would strongly suggest a lot of moderation and restraint in
expressing our views on the matter.
While everyone has the right to express his views, we
should also not forget that many times the discussion is better left
first in the hands of experts who are in a better position to sort out
the issue.
It cannot be denied that the issue at hand is a very
complex one that has to be approached from different angles. Thus, we
should always presume good intentions in everyone who expresses his
views, no matter how different or opposed his is to ours, or no matter
how convinced we are that his positions are wrong.
Of course, it is also presumed and strongly suggested that
anyone who wants to participate in the discussion is motivated by the
best of intentions and equipped with all that he can get to support
his claims. We should try to avoid reckless and trivial comments that
can only muddle the discussion.
We need to pray a lot, asking for enlightenment from the
Holy Spirit, and always making a good grip on our emotions and
passions, lest they flare up unduly. We should be open to the idea
that the Holy Spirit is always guiding us and is pointing us new ways
to tackle new challenges, even if there are permanent and unchangeable
things involved.
Yes, indeed, we need to re-examine which part of the
current practices with respect to asking and dispensing divine mercy
need to be purified and updated. The temper of the times have changed,
the sensibilities of the people are not as they were even a few years
ago.
We have to be wary of a new pharisaism, marked by rigid
legalism and traditionalism, that can fall on us without noticing it.
This is always a possibility and can afflict those of us who are quite
sure of ourselves so as to be close-minded instead of always being
open-minded.
Pope Francis always talks about the God of surprises. We
may already know him a lot, but what we don’t know about him is much
more than what we already know. We should always keep this caveat in
mind. God will always open new ways while retaining the absolute truth
which in the end is his great love and mercy for us.
Thus, we have to continually embark on a quest for divine mercy.
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