Receive God’s mercy.

Homily

Every Sunday, La Croix Africa takes up the commentary taken from the missal “Prions en Eglise Afrique”, published by Bayard Afrique. On this Sunday, Father Gilbert KONATE, of theArchdiocese of Bamako (Mali) invites us to a meditation under the theme: “Welcoming God’s Mercy”.

The readings of this 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time are unified around the theme of “Mercy of God”manifested concretely within so many events of the history of Salvation.

Indeed, in the first reading of the book of Exodus, Moses, fulfilling his mission as prophet and intercessor, obtained his forgiveness from God in favor of Israel who had been guilty of the grave sin of idolatry. By renouncing the punishment he wanted to inflict on this unfaithful people, God showed the immensity of his incomparable love and goodness. The forgiveness offered openly expresses his ardent desire to share with all humanity the infinite happiness of which he is the source.

Saint Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, in the second reading bears witness to the mercy of the Lord of which he was the beneficiary. He expresses to him all his gratitude for his trust and the mission with which he was invested for the world. His confession, full of faith and joy, presents him as a typical example of God’s grace to sinners. Thus he teaches us that God is pleased to go out to meet man, whoever he is and wherever he is. He does not condemn, he does not reject, but with patience he welcomes and uplifts all who fall. He is infinitely holy and infinitely merciful.

As for the Gospel according to Saint Luke, it invites us to contemplate the merciful love of God. It is a highlighting of the face of a God-Father in search of his lost creature, he loves him so much. In this work of recovery, he does not seek to settle scores, but to welcome joyfully and forgive without calculation. This was the reason for Jesus’ closeness to sinners and his compassion for them. Although the object of criticism from his adversaries, he never admitted defeat, because God is abundance of love and nothing can restrain his compassion, the generosity of his merciful heart.

The strong message that emerges for us today is an invitation to open ourselves to the mercy of God and to allow ourselves to be reconciled with him. In this sense, to accept the forgiveness that God gives us is to recognize that we are loved beyond the sin committed. Thus, this forgiveness received in faith is the offer of a presence that soothes and warms our hearts, the gift of a love that transforms and recreates our being in the depths of ourselves to renew us and allow us to return to the path of life with Christ.

Father Gilbert KONATE, Pius XII Middle Seminary of Koulikoro, Archdiocese of Bamako (Mali)

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Receive God’s mercy.


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