God’s mercy makes us ‘restless’ to reach out to those in need, Pope says at vigil

April 04, 2016

Pope Francis presided at a prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday and reflected on the manifold expressions of God’s mercy.

“God never tires of showing us mercy, and we should never take for granted the opportunity to receive, seek and desire this mercy,” the Pope said before reflecting on Old Testament images of God’s mercy.

Turning to the New Testament, the Pope said that “we do not have a God who is incapable of understanding and sharing our weaknesses (cf. Heb. 4:15). Quite the contrary! Precisely because of his mercy God became one of us.”

“It is easy to speak of mercy, yet more difficult to become its witness,” the Pope continued. “This is a path that is lifelong and which should not be interrupted.”

He added:

Dear brothers and sisters, mercy never allows us to feel satisfied. It is the love of Christ which makes us restless until we reach the goal; it impels us to embrace, welcome and include those who need mercy, so that all may be reconciled with the Father (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14-20). We ought not to fear for it is a love which comes to us and involves us to such an extent that we go beyond ourselves, enabling us to see his face in our brothers and sisters. Let us allow ourselves to be humbly guided by this love; then we will become merciful as the Father is merciful.

 

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Further information:

• Prayer vigil on Divine Mercy Sunday - 2016.04.02 (YouTube Vatican)
• Veglia di preghiera con quanti aderiscono alla spiritualità della Divina Misericordia, 02.04.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Booklet (Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff)