Vatican City, 13 January 2016 (VIS) –
During today's general audience, which took place in the Vatican's
Paul VI Hall, the Pope began a new cycle of catechesis dedicated to
mercy from a Biblical perspective, to foster an understanding of what
mercy is through listening to what God Himself teaches us with His
Word.
Francis referred to a passage from the
Book of Exodus in which the Lord describes Himself as "a God
merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love
and faithfulness". "In other texts too we encounter this
formula, with some variation, but stress is always placed on the
mercy and love of God Who never tires of forgiving", he said,
before going on to analyse each of these terms used in the sacred
Scripture to describe God.
The word "merciful" evokes an
attitude of tenderness, "like that of a mother towards her
child. Indeed, the Hebrew word used in the Bible makes us think of
the maternal womb. Therefore the image suggested is that of a God who
is moved to tenderness for us like a mother when she holds her child
in her arms, wishing only to love, protect and help him, willing to
give everything, even herself. A love, then, that can be defined as …
visceral".
The Lord is full of pity and
compassion; in His greatness "He stoops to those who are weak
and poor, always ready to welcome, understand and forgive". He
is like the father in the parable of the prodigal son "who does
not close himself in resentment at his abandonment by his youngest
son, but on the contrary continues to wait for him, and then runs out
to meet and embrace him. He does not even let him finish his
confession ... so great is his love and joy at finding him again".
Of this merciful God it is also said
that He is "slow to anger", as if He waited before
responding, breathing deeply without losing patience. "God knows
how to wait: He does not have the impatience of men. He is like the
wise farmer who knows how to wait, who leaves time to let the good
seed grow, rather than weeds".
Finally, the Lord proclaims Himself
"abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness". "How
beautiful is this definition of God!", exclaimed the Pope. "Here
we find everything. Because God is great and powerful, but this
greatness and power are shown in loving us, so small and incapable as
we are. The word 'to love' as used here indicates affection, grace,
goodness. It is the love that takes the first step, that does not
depend upon human merits but on an immense gratuity. It is the divine
solicitude that nothing can stop, not even sin, as it goes beyond
sin, conquering evil and forgiving it. A faithfulness without limits:
here is the last word of God's revelation to Moses. God's
faithfulness never ceases because the Lord … never sleeps, but
rather keeps watch over us continually to bring us to life".
"God is always and completely
loyal", concluded Francis. "His is a solid and stable
presence. It is the certainty of our faith. In this Jubilee of Mercy,
let us trust fully in Him, to feel the joy of being loved by this
merciful and clement God, slow to anger and great in love and
faithfulness".
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