G
gilliam
Guest
[Editor’s note: The Joy of Discipleship: Reflections from Pope Francis on Walking with Christ is the third book by Pope Francis to be published in English. In this excerpt, Francis lays out his vision of mercy for the special jubilee “Year of Mercy” he decreed to run from Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016.]
In the Gospel the essential thing is mercy. God sent his Son; God made himself man in order to save us—that is, in order to grant us his mercy. Jesus says this clearly, summarizing his teaching for the disciples: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36).
Can there be a Christian who isn’t merciful? No. A Christian must necessarily be merciful, because this is the center of the Gospel.
And faithful to this teaching, the Church can only repeat the same thing to her children: “Be merciful,” as the Father is, and as Jesus was. The Church is Mother, by teaching her children works of mercy. She learned this manner from Jesus; she learned that this is what’s essential for salvation.
cruxnow.com/church/2016/04/17/pope-francis-the-joy-of-discipleship/
In the Gospel the essential thing is mercy. God sent his Son; God made himself man in order to save us—that is, in order to grant us his mercy. Jesus says this clearly, summarizing his teaching for the disciples: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36).
Can there be a Christian who isn’t merciful? No. A Christian must necessarily be merciful, because this is the center of the Gospel.
And faithful to this teaching, the Church can only repeat the same thing to her children: “Be merciful,” as the Father is, and as Jesus was. The Church is Mother, by teaching her children works of mercy. She learned this manner from Jesus; she learned that this is what’s essential for salvation.
cruxnow.com/church/2016/04/17/pope-francis-the-joy-of-discipleship/