Jubilee Year of Mercy #whatsinitforme

We Americans always want to know, "What's in it for me?" Of course, in this case it's an ironic question--being merciful usually involves overlooking "what's in it for me."

Still, it's a fair question. What's "in it" for you is to become fully who you are by devoting yourself to being the presence of Christ on earth. That's the long answer. The short answer is "eternal life."

Unfortunately, though, the consumer mindset of our American culture makes the short answer seem like something to be earned or won--first prize for the "best" Christian.

The long answer is much better (truer), but harder to understand because it involves a paradox--namely, the central paradox of the gospel: cross and resurrection. The long answer suggests to us that we are "in it" to give, not to get. But what we "get" is the same as what we give--the life of Christ, fully present in ourselves, in our communities, in our world--forever.

(To be clear: When I say we give this, I really mean that we get to be part of this gift, which is from God, through Christ and Christ's Church.)

Here are some websites and resources to help us all "get it" more fully than ever before:

Archdiocese of Hartford website at http://archdioceseofhartford.org/year-of-mercy/ 

Steve Binz is leading pilgrimages to Rome for the Year of Divine Mercy. To see what Binz has to offer, check out his presentation on Mercy in the Old Testament on Catholic Life Television: http://www.catholiclifetv.org/shows/merciful-like-the-father/old-testament/#.VpqB5vkrL4Y

One-Day Lenten Retreat:  "MERCY:  What God Gives and What God Requires," led by Amy Ekeh, CBS faculty. To find out more and register, go to: http://www.ascjus.org/calendars/item/index.aspx?linkid=27816&moduleid=164 

St. Thomas Seminary's Archbishop O'Brien Library (http://stseminary.org/library-main.html) has many resources available to help you pray and live the gospel of Mercy this year. For example, check out these titles in the Pastoral Resources for Living the Jubilee Year series, put out by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization:

• The Psalms of Mercy
• The Parables of Mercy
• The Saints in Mercy
• The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
• Confession: the Sacrament of Mercy