Pope: With repentant and trusting hearts we receive the gift of God's mercy

By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis presided over the "24 hours for the Lord" initiative on Friday afternoon at Rome's parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale, where he also heard confessions in what has become an annual tradition during the Season of Lent. The celebration in a local Roman parish underscores the universal nature of the "24 hours for the Lord" Lenten initiative, which consists of prayer and reconciliation.

Instituted by Pope Francis and now in its tenth year, the celebration takes place in dioceses around the world on the eve of the Fourth Sunday of Lent as a preparation for the Easter Resurrection. A church in every diocese around the world is kept open for 24 consecutive hours. The faithful are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to pray in spiritual union with Pope Francis.

“Be merciful to me a sinner”

The motto of this year's initiative is: “Be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). “24 Hours for the Lord” is an initiative organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization's Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World. The Dicastery has also prepared a special pastoral resource for this year's celebration in various languages available for download.

Reflecting on the readings for the liturgy, Pope Francis in his homily underscored how our own ego and pride can get in the way of dialogue with the Lord, like the Pharisee recounted in the Gospel who was proud of his religious accomplishments, considering himself better than others, but with this attitude, closing himself off to God. 

Humility always

Recalling the parable Jesus offers us in Luke's Gospel about the Pharisee and the tax collector who both go to the Temple to pray, the Pope explained how only the tax collector's prayer reaches the heart of God, as he stands far off at the back in recognition of his sins and desire for God's mercy and love.

Dialogue creating bridges 

The Pope explained how "true dialogue takes place when we are able to preserve a certain space between ourselves and others," as we can be more aware of how things are and how "dialogue and encounter" can bridge the distance and create closeness.  The tax collector recounted in the Gospel stands at the back of the Temple, the Pope observed, recognizing the truth of how he stands before God, thus "making it possible for God to draw near to him." 

With open hearts

The Pope encouraged everyone to make an examination of conscience, as the attitude of the Pharisee and the tax collector can both "dwell deep within us." We must avoid the "hypocrisy of appearances" and instead "entrust to the Lord’s mercy our darkness, our mistakes, our wretchedness." By doing this, we can see the "distance between God’s dream for our lives and the reality of who we are each day," so that the Lord can bridge the distance and put us back on our feet.

Addressing confessors, Pope Francis encouraged them always to forgive everything for which the penitent seeks forgiveness, to listen to them openly and with understanding, so that the Sacrament of Reonciliation may truly give them peace.

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

In conclusion, the Pope suggested that, especially during the Season of Lent, we might with contrite hearts all quietly say like the tax collector, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” May we repeat this often, remembering the times we have failed in our daily lives, and asking forgiveness.