Mar 17 – Homily – Fr Joachim: Mercy and Kindness of Jesus
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Homily #130317b ( 08min) Play - Fr. Joachim on the the mercy and kindness of Jesus and how it is portrayed in such an extraordinary way in the account of the woman accused of adultery. He points out that there was even significant debate amongst Christians as to whether this account was even authentic revelation since it seemed to be too lax in regard to sin. But it does not condone the sin and Jesus, in his act of mercy, gives her a command to sin no more, that is, repent. So should we during this lent, look to God's mercy for our past sins by going to confession and make a firm resolve to amendment, doing penance, and thus being purified, enter into the joy of Easter.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Sunday 5th Week of Lent - Sunday - Form: OF
Readings:
1st: isa 43:16-21
Resp: psa 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
2nd: phi 3:8-14
Gsp: joh 8:1-11
Audio (MP3)
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First of all, let me say that I myself have experienced this Divine Mercy, mercy and forgiveness given me by Jesus through Mary, at the time of my first confession as an adult convert to the faith, and many times since that wonderful day. I spent decades prior to that, mired in a pit of worldly sin and shame, ignorant in many ways of the deceptions and shames of the accuser and his worldly kingdoms.
Having made that very clear, I trust, I now very much regret to report the sad state of the Church in my area, which is, it would seem, not that unusual nor different from the sad condition many disciples of Jesus through Mary find in their own diocesan areas throughout the world.
It seems the doors are opening wider now for the false, manipulative interpretation of the gospel that we have endured for many years.
Pope Francis spoke during the Sunday Angelus today of the mercy and forgiveness of God the Father.
The focus now, for the deceivers and accusers, shall likely key on a deepening, false interpretation of being merciful and forgiving, and they will demand this mercy and forgiveness from those whom they abuse in so many various ways.
The abusers, the self-righteous hypocrites, the false teachers and false confessors and their followers, will demand mercy and forgiveness rather than sincerely and honestly asking for these and being truly repentant.
They will condemn all those they have abused, those who do not allow or approve of their abuse, or refuse to turn a blind eye to their hypocrisy, or refuse to be silent or controlled by their false, manipulative presentations of the gospel.
This has been a deception and manipulation they have been practicing for some time already, in the confessional as well as publicly.
It stinks from the smoke of Satan, the pride and manipulation of the serpent. Their seduction and lies will likely now continue, falsely using and misinterpreting the true mercy and forgiveness found in God the Father’s great patience and love for us.
They will continue to blame and shame and abuse the victims, and now the accusations will be focused on the victims they have abused, whom they shall portray as being “unmerciful” and “unforgiving”.
All of this abuse will continue, as they seek to find ways to cling to their demonic sense of control and power over those whom they victimize.
God help us, and deliver us from their foul spirit of oppression, and their proud and unholy desire to control and manipulate your poor and vulnerable sheep.
Dear Lord, please, may our Holy Father, Pope Francis, be not proud and be not false, and dear Lord, give him the strength to defeat our enemies, to crush the lies of the demons and to bring to nothing the manipulations of all the false, deceptive, and hypocritical teachers, preachers, and their abusive followers.
May we live in the genuine joy and liberty of Your Mercy and Truth, freed from the yoke and oppression of the modern-day pharisees who, still mired in their self-righteious, self-love, and hypocrisy, even now seek to find ways to twist and manipulate Your Truth, Your Way, and Your Life.
God bless Pope Francis and may Mother Mary keep him always. And God bless the Franciscans of the Immaculate.
Ave Maria!
Dear Sandp,
It seems that mercy is going to be the focus for this pope, especially in regard to mercy for the poor which is why he chose the name Francis. Mercy can, of course, be abused and you can probably write the history of the world based on this unfortunate abuse. However, as the pope points out, God never tires of offering His mercy and we should take note, both because God has chosen to work that way and because our new Pope is highlighting the fact. Yes, some people abuse mercy. However, we need not worry that mercy necessarily leads to abuse, nor does it suggest any laxity. And, as you point out, we all need mercy from our good God, and as the Pope states, we should never tire of asking for it.
God bless,
Fra Roderic