I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition.
It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.—Pope Francis
Truth is humble, it embraces what is. In the year of mercy we are all called to embrace the truth. To admit that one is a sinner is not something that is based on some form of low self esteem, nor is it neurotic. People often avoid the concept of sin because they don’t understand that sin points to our underlying freedom. It says, that we choose, make bad choices and that we are capable of doing great harm to others as well as to ourselves.
The one who comes to understand their need for mercy and their experience of receiving it are the ones who become healers of others and understand that we all need support, love and at times mercy from God as well as from those whom we sin against. This embracing of our human situation can lead to freedom. We are free to admit our failures, our sins and by doing that we bring the light into the hidden places of our souls.
Today at the Monastery, the Archbishop came and blessed our doors and they became “Doors of Mercy”. Open to all who seek mercy and love, for people of all faiths or none. Mercy when given happens only when there is transparency before God and others. It is the acceptance of the truth, of the reality that all is seen anyway, nothing hidden. So to hide from this truth, is one of the greatest flights from reality there is.
Blessing of our doors for the Holy Year (2 Feb Monastery of the Holy Spirit)
There where many people at the Vespers service, both lay and religious….we were one in our solidarity with each other and in our compassion for the struggles of those around us….we seek to show the compassion of Christ.
The Archbishop prayed at the service for the man who is being executed to die tonight here in Georgia (2nd of February). His name is Brandon Astor Jones. He asked for all to pray for him and his victim, as well as for all those who have suffered because of his crime. We are all in need of mercy and because of that understanding, we need to pray that all receive and accept the Mercy of God that is always seeking to heal those who are in most need.
In this year of Mercy, may we all, no matter our faith, or lack of it, ponder on the importance of mercy and its power to bring healing into a world dominated by war, revenge and the seeking after power and wealth to the exclusion of others.
Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO
Holy Spirit Monastery
