At first thought, there does not seem to be much in common between the beginning of a New Year and a mother. Yet if you reflect more deeply they are forever linked together. It is the gift of a mother, her femininity, vocation, sacrifice and bond with us that brings each of us into this world. There is no other way we can arrive except through this beautiful union. Every one of us, including the Son from God, begins life on earth in exactly the same way.
By now you’ve probably heard that Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy beginning tomorrow, December 8th 2015, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the liturgical celebration that acclaims Mary’s birth into humanity without sin. The concept of mercy has roots that are ancient and deep, stretching all the way back to the Old Testament Book of Leviticus, five centuries before Christ, when every fiftieth year slaves and prisoners were freed, debts forgiven, and the mercies of God were emphatically manifested.
