Besides a new liturgical year, this Advent features an additional “beginning”—next week’s opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, a graced opportunity to contemplate more profoundly and live more concretely the mystery of God’s unconditional love. Pope Francis says that mercy, as the bridge connecting God and the human family, opens our hearts to welcome God’s love for us sinners and our eyes to recognize others, especially society’s least loved and most vulnerable, as brothers and sisters entrusted to our care. Today’s scriptures provide a perfect Jubilee preparation. Jeremiah comforts us with the promise of God’s justice; Paul challenges us to abound in love for all; Luke bids us anticipate Jesus’ future coming as the joyful advent of our redemption. But in a unique way, this Jubilee Year’s Advent reminds us that Jesus, whose coming we await, is already present among us, in those for whom we need to become instruments of God’s mercy.
Read Pope Francis’ full letter by clicking on the link below.
“Misericordiae Vultus; BULL OF INDICTION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY