Pope
Francis says Jubilee reminds us that Jesus is for free
(Vatican
Radio) Mercy and forgiveness are not just nice words, but must be put into
practice in our daily lives. That was Pope Francis message to pilgrims gathered
in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday for his weekly general audience.
Reflecting
on the opening of the Holy Door of Mercy, which has been taking place in
churches and cathedrals around the world, as well as here in Rome this week,
Pope Francis said he wanted the Jubilee to be an experience shared by all
people. Noting that the first door was opened in the heart of Africa, during
his visit to the Central African Republic, the Pope said Rome is the visible
symbol of that mystery of communion between the Universal and each local
Church.
In
the same way, he said, mercy and forgiveness are not just nice words, but they
are visible signs that faith has transformed our hearts. In our daily lives,
the Pope said, we must never grow tired of loving and forgiving others as God
loves and forgives us.
The
Pope recalled Jesus’ own words, when he said “I am the door: whoever enters
through me will be saved”. Going through the Holy Door then, is a sign of our
trust in the Lord who did not come to judge, but rather to save us. Speaking
off the cuff, the Pope said make sure that no-one asks you to pay for going
through that door, because you don’t pay for salvation and Jesus is for free!
Going
through the Holy Door, Pope Francis continued, is a sign of our conversion of
heart and as we go through, we must also remember to keep the door of our
hearts wide open. Just as the Holy Door stays open as a sign of the welcome
that God reserves for each one of us, so the door of our hearts must always be
open - to include even those people who annoy us most.
The
Pope said the Sacrament of Confession is an important sign of the Jubilee as
through it we can experience directly God’s mercy and forgiveness. Through
Confession, he said, we find God the Father who understands our limits and our
contradictions. When we confess our sins, he said, Jesus rejoices and draws
closer to us, urging us to proceed without discouragement.
Pope
Francis acknowledged it’s not easy to forgive – how often, he said, people say
“Father, I can’t forgive my neighbour, my colleague, my mother-in-law or
sister-in-law”. It’s not easy to forgive through our strength
alone, he concluded, but if we open our hearts to welcome God’s mercy for us,
then we in turn are able to forgive others.
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