THE Holy Father’s letter inaugurating the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy has some beautiful text for our reflection: “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy”.
These words might well sum up the mystery of the Christian faith. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in him.
The Father “rich in mercy”…is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (God) has never ceased to show, in various ways, throughout history, his divine nature.
In the “fullness of time”, when everything had been arranged according to his plan of salvation, he sent his only Son into the world, born of the Virgin Mary, to reveal his love for us in a definitive way. Whoever sees Jesus sees the Father. Jesus of Nazareth, by his words, his actions, and his entire person reveals the mercy of God.” It is the year of Mercy that underscores much of this Pope’s agenda to reform and refocus the life and ministry of the Church that is revealed in Jesus Christ.