Often we want to tame or domesticate the
Gospel message. When
Jesus makes one of his first public proclamations, he quotes from the prophet
Isaiah – he has come to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to
captives, to recover the sight of the blind, and to let the oppressed go
free. The
Gospel readings during the daily masses during the Christmas season help us
understand why Jesus came into the world in that humble manger in Bethlehem. Perhaps the Gospel message we hear today makes even more sense to us in the
context of the works of mercy that we are called to do in the Year of Mercy. I
think we are all familiar with the seven corporal works of mercy, which include
feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, and visiting the sick and the
prisoner. However, there are also seven spiritual works of mercy that are perhaps a bit
more unfamiliar to us. Connected
to what Jesus proclaims from the prophet Isaiah, we are told to comfort the
afflicted, counsel the doubtful, bear wrongs patiently, and forgive offenses
willingly. Taking these spiritual works of mercy at face value, they seem to not only challenging
but almost impossible. How
can we let the oppressed go free? How
can we bear wrongs patiently in a society that preaches saving face and getting
revenge? Perhaps we are to help those who are oppressed find self-worth and dignity and
respect, to help them help themselves. Perhaps being patient in an impatient world is one of the greatest witnesses of
all, especially if our patience is an outgrowth of our faith. I am really excited about the Year of Mercy,
of all the challenges and lessons we will hopefully discover this year. May
we not try to water down the Gospel message.
May we try to meets its challenges.
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