♰ JESUS - THE LIGHT OF WORLD

My Dear Fathers, Sisters and Brothers,
Loving greetings to you from Anthony Poola, Bishop of Kurnool,

There isn’t much difference between Merry Christmas and Mercy Christmas if we are celebrating / remembering it the way the Baby Jesus and the Father want us to celebrate. We must merrily remember the promise of Jesus, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” I wish that each of us think and act in terms of mercy in our day-today life to show that we are truly human and at the same time born of God emulating our merciful Saviour.

Right at the commencing of the Jubilee Year of Mercy “Misericordiae Votus” (MERCIFUL LIKE FATHER) The Face of Mercy (Jesus), as Pope Francis says, “It is the favourable time to heal the wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Forgiving is the way of reflecting mercy, which leads us to reconciliation not only with our fellow men but also with God. May each of us strive to expose the Ever Merciful Face of God the Father, just like Jesus did from the crib to Cross. We, as Christians, are capable of forgiving and giving, heart closed to gossip and jealousy but open to bring solidarity, consolation and mercy to the people who live in the margins of the our society.

As we begin the season of Advent on 29th of November, let us remember to radiate the Face of Mercy of our Loving Father, His Son Jesus, and the Consoler who defined for us “Mercy” at the birth of Jesus in the humble stable of Bethlehem. I feel, we too, whoever we may be, are capable of radiating the loving light of mercy the way we are able to as fellow human beings and imitating God our loving Father who sent His Son who is the embodiment of mercy (Karunamayudu/Dayamayudu).

Zachariah the father of John the Baptist sang that the Father has shown mercy to our fathers/ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. (Lk 1:72) and we must sing the same hymn that God has shown us mercy even to us in and through people like Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob. Joseph resembles to me, just like God the Father and His Son Jesus, a perfect sign of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Wishing you A Merry Christmas and Bright New Year 2016
With prayers and blessings. ( ♰ Most. Rev. Anthony Poola )
Bishop of Kurnool

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