St. Boniface & St. Peter’s Parishes’ Advent 2015 Mini ‐ Mission: A Plan for Mercy
So Far: • The word “mercy” is a blessing ( Misericordiae Vultus #2 ); • The deliberate timing of the Year of Mercy: – Immaculate Conception as beginning of Christ’s mission of mercy; – 50 years since the closing of Vatican II – Sunday Lectionary Cycle “C”: the year of Luke “Merciful Love”= most correct term (Fr. F. O’Connor)
Misericordiae Vultus (part I) • Reversal of focus: not “them” learning “us”; new phase of the same evangelization (#4); • New language of the Council: “the medicine of mercy”; “service of mankind” (#4.2) • Charity understood as caritas (loving kindness) • Theological Insight: mercy of omnipotent God vs . “Oh, it’s nothing” (#6) – better for a confessor to hear “Thanks be to God.”
Misericordiae Vultus (part I) • Psalm 136 = predominant image of God for the People of Israel in the Old Testament (#7): – The “Great Hallel”; – “ Hessed ”: mercy; faithful or steadfast love; – Christ places “supreme act of revelation in the light of his mercy” (#7.2) – Our image of God in the O.T.?
Misericordiae Vultus (part I) • Calling of Matthew ( via St. Bede the Venerable: miserando atque eligendo ); • New Testament Parables from Luke 15; Matthew’s “ruthless servant” in ch. 18: – Mercy as criterion for ascertaining who God’s true children are (#9.3) – Mercy/pardon the instrument for serenity of heart – “Sundown of anger” vs . Beatitude ( Mt . 5:7) – Love can never be just an abstraction (#9.4)
Misericordiae Vultus (part I) • Spiritual Insight: the difference between this Holy Year and every one that preceded it – There is only one standard to gauge the success of the Year: I will be more merciful than I was.
Misericordiae Vultus (part I) • Quotes from Dives in Misericordia : – “present ‐ day mentality excludes the idea of mercy”; – “mastery of the earth, domination = no room” (#11.1); – “The mystery of Christ… obliges me to proclaim”; – “the most stupendous attribute of the Creator”; the Church as “trustee and dispenser” of mercy (#11.2).
Misericordiae Vultus (part I) • Questions for Reflection & Sharing: – Which sorts of situations make it more difficult to find or offer mercy? Which make it easier? – How will you proclaim mercy this year? How could our parishes?
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