TANZANIA: Forgiveness and Reconciliation Emphasized at Close of Year of Mercy.
By Silvanus Kayanda, Kigoma
During the whole year of the Jubilee of Mercy every Catholic had opportunity to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. It was the opportunity in a special way to reflect the mystery of the incarnation, passion, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus for freeing mankind from the abyss of sin and death. “Divine Mercy deeply touches the life and mission of the Church.” Bishop Joseph Mlola said this during the Holy Mass of Closing the Year of Mercy in Kigoma Diocese the year which was opened by Pope Francis December 8 2015 Vatican during the Feast of Mary Immaculate.
“God’s mercy is the Central Pillar of the Catholic Church: God’s mercy is the way God and man are united and give one’s heart hope to realize that he is always loved by Him despite of the limitations of human weakness. Compassion is God’s law carefully attached to a man’s heart and make the Church exists firmly.”
Bishop Mlola further said that, in the Year of Mercy Pope Francis emphasized the importance of the power of God. He admitted that the mercy of God is eternal and that man will always remain under the merciful eyes of God.
He also insisted that Jesus in His life and mission, explained the meaning of compassion because he is the Fountain of Love and this Illustration was offered as sacrifices on the cross.Love is the manifestation of God the Father and the performance becomes a model of identifying true children of God. Basically, all Christians are challenged to forgive one another since they have been the first people to taste mercy, for forgiveness of sins committed.
“We take for granted not forgiving others. Much as it is not easy to forgive, God wants us weak Christian to learn from Him love and compassion to others so as to receive Christ’s mercy over him/her. Remember that forgiveness is a tool that has been put into the hands of human beings who are weak, in order to get a quiet heart, so that finally, live happily,” Bishop Mlola insisted.
Speaking about the motto of the Jubilee of Mercy: “Be compassionate as your Father in Heaven” the Pope admits that the concept of God’s mercy is part of the life of his mission as reflected even in his Episcopal emblem “Miserando atgue aligendo” “which always continue to surprise him in his life. “The Holy Father explains the importance of proclaiming and witnessing the Mercy of God in the modern world, with a focus on new strategies for Pastoral activities. This is because these are the basics in life and mission of the Church, in order to be credible in the proclamation of the Good News of Salvation. This means we need modern ways of bringing God’s kingdom to this new world.”
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