We tell It Right!
Rev. Fr. George Nkeze told Christians of the St. Charles Lwanga and CUIB community during day 2 of the celebrations of the Jubilee Year of Mercy prescribed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The 7 days celebration is organized by CUIB, St. Charles Lwanga Parish and Catholic Intercessory Pascal Lamb Ministries (CIPALAM).
According to the facilitator, Fr. George Nkeze God has given humanity three basic elements to navigate their path in life: conscience, reason, and the Holy Spirit. These he said are to guide and lead humanity in becoming the best version of who they are. Conscience and reason he mentioned contribute in decision making, whereas the Holy Spirit guides humanity in its weaknesses. He laid emphasis on the fact that every human being had the Holy Spirit which plays a great role in the human navigation system.
Teaching on the true meaning of mercy, Fr. George drawing from the Hebrew meaning of mercy (Rahamin, rehem meaning womb), said mercy is giving life to a person; God given man a second chance in life. He further identified pity, compassion and mercy as varying degrees of feelings with mercy superseding compassion and pity in that it causes man to not only feel but take action. ‘’Mercy goes beyond compassion-it is feeling for people in suffering and taking action,” he voiced out.
The Reverend acknowledged the seemingly conflicting relation between mercy and justice; but stated that though mercy embodies feeling and action, mercy does not cancel justice. He opined that mercy transcends human justice; however justice in human society is often incomplete and imperfect just as gossip. In this light he cautioned Christians not to judge people based on human standards. Reiterating on the Holy Father’s decry and call on Christians to shun gossip, he advised all present to ‘avoid judging people from hear-says and half-truths.’ He went on to say it was therefore eminent for man to forgive as in forgiveness God acts first, thus the grace of God is a gift to ask for pardon.
Christians left the event satisfied and hoping for more enriching talks during the 7 day celebration which will culminate with the walk through the door of mercy. “ For the past two days I have gathered that conscience, reason and the Holy Spirit are there to help me better navigate my life and that the Holy Spirit implores me to be closer to God and to always call on Him in all I do. Also I can now clearly differentiate between pity, compassion and mercy, thus I will now focus on being merciful: not only feeling for people in suffering but going an extra mile to help in whatever way I can,” a participant expressed.
The Jubilee Year of Mercy should be recalled is prescribed by Pope Francis to be celebrated by all Catholic institutions around the world. As a joined celebration by the CUIB community, Christians of St. Charles Lwanga Parish and CIPALAM, the programme which began on May 2 will run through to May 8, 2016 and is centered on making these communities a place of mercy: enforcing “God’s ‘mercy-ying’ presence in the world ad mists differences through actions, conversion of self and corporal and spiritual works of mercy.”
