杏MAP导航

Vatican News

Do not judge others; do not condemn; forgive: in this way you imitate the mercy of the Father. In the Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, 杏MAP导航 Francis reminds us that in order not 鈥渢o not go astray鈥� in life, we need 鈥渢o imitate God鈥�, 鈥渨alk in the sight of the Father鈥�. Beginning with the Gospel from St Luke, the 杏MAP导航 spoke especially about the mercy of God, capable of forgiving even the 鈥渨orst鈥� actions:

The mercy of God is such a great thing, very great. We must not forget this. How many people [say]: 鈥淚 have done such terrible things. I have purchased my place in hell, I can鈥檛 turn back鈥�. But do they think about the mercy of God? Let us remember that story about the poor widow lady who went to confess to the Curé of Ars. Her husband had committed suicide; he jumped from the bridge into the river. And she wept. She said, 鈥淏ut I am a sinner, a poor woman. But my poor husband! He is in hell. He committed suicide, and suicide is a mortal sin. He is in hell鈥�. And the Curé of Ars said, 鈥淏ut wait a moment, ma鈥檃m, because between the bridge and the river, there is the mercy of God鈥�. But to the very end, to the very end, there is the mercy of God.

Good habits for Lent

杏MAP导航 Francis said that Jesus gives three practical suggestions to help us get in the habit of being merciful. First: to not 鈥渏udge鈥�. We should refrain from judging, especially in this time of Lent:

Also, it is a habit that gets mixed up in our life even without us realizing it. Always! Even by beginning a conversation: 鈥淒id you see what he did?鈥� Judgement of others. Let us think about how many times each day we judge. All of us. But always through beginning a conversation, a comment about someone else: 鈥淏ut look, that person had plastic surgery! They鈥檙e uglier than before鈥�.

Keeping our pockets open

In his homily, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited everyone to learn the wisdom of generosity, the main way to overcome 鈥済ossiping鈥�. When we gossip about others, he said, 鈥渨e are continually judging, continually condemning, and hardly forgiving:

The Lord teaches us: 鈥淕ive and it will be given to you鈥�: be generous in giving. Don鈥檛 be 鈥渃losed pockets鈥�; be generous in giving to the poor, to those who are in need, and also in giving many things: in giving counsel, in giving a smile to people, in smiling. 鈥淕ive and it will be given to you. And it will be given to you in good measure, flowing over, pressed down, running over鈥�, because the Lord will be generous: We give one, and He gives us one hundred of all that we have given. And this is the attitude that provides armour for not judging, not condemning; for forgiving. The importance of giving alms, but not only material alms, but spiritual alms too: spending time with someone in need, visiting someone who is sick, offering a smile.