From Fr Jude Fernando TOR, Verulam - We have just begun the Year of Mercy by opening the jubilee doors. God has sent his mercy to us through Jesus Christ, who is full of mercy.
St Luke empathises that God’s marvellous deeds do not happen in a vacuum but in the concrete reality of history.
Jesus came to this world for me and for others, for our own salvation.
We live in a world of uncertainties, brokenness, hatred and jealousy. Crime and violence has made us prisoners in our own homes. We are surrounded by poverty. In this situation, who is Jesus to me?
I remember before we built a bell tower for the new church of St Anne’s in Mpophomeni, KwaZulu-Natal, with two bells which we installed with the help of late Fr Julian Carassco.
It seemed an impossible task, but words became flesh. The bell tower was built.
Whatever the situation we may be in, whatever the challenge we may be facing, whatever disappointment: remember that Jesus the Messiah is among us.
In the Year of Mercy let us open our own doors of life.
Let us prepare for Jesus Emmanuel to enter our lives.
Let him bring mercy to our lives and make us fully alive.
Let us pray to Jesus, to walk with us in the Year of Mercy, to have an eye of Mercy, to see the needs of others and to act accordingly.
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