New Delhi (AsiaNews) - Mercy "is an attribute of God and God wants us to be merciful to one another. I, as a Muslim, with my Christian brothers and sisters recognize that God is the most merciful", Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities of the Government of India, told AsiaNews p commenting on the Jubilee of Mercy that was opened last Dec. 8 by Pope Francis.
The Muslim leader cites the Islamic prayer "Bismi llahi-ar-Rahmani ar-Rahimi," which means: "In the name of God, the most generous, the most merciful." This prayer reminds Muslims to be merciful toward fellow human beings.
Prof. Wasey also thanks the Catholic Church for its service to the poor, the excluded, the abandoned. "I am certain - he concludes - that people of good will, will join the Church in order to improve the living conditions of their neighbors”.
I am aware that Pope Francis wrote in ,Misericordiae vultus, that "Mercy is the very foundation of the Church's life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy" (n. 10).
Certainly mercy is God at work in the Church's Life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers, nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy")n,10).
I am pleased to know that the Catholic Church renews itself through intensifying the Church's service to all especially the poor, the marginalised people everywhere especially through this Year of Mercy.
Certainly, Mercy is God's attribute and God wants us to be merciful to one another.
As a Muslim I easily vibrate with my fellow Christian brothers and sisters in recognizing God as the Most Merciful. Many Christians must have heard Muslims reciting a shor prayer formular "Bismi-llahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahimi" which is commonly translated as "In the Name of God, , the Most Gracias, the Most Merciful”. This is not only reminding Muslims that God is merciful, but also demands Muslims to be merciful to their fellow human beings.
I appreciate the services of the Church to the people of India especially in the services of education and health care. The Church does not discriminate anyone, serves everyone with love. Poor and marginalized are not neglected by the Church, rather the Church pays special attention to them. It is heartwarming.
I expect that the Church in India could explore possible ways to cooperate with many people of good will from various religious communities, to serve especially he poor and socially neglected groups. I am sure that many people of good-will will reach out to the Church to work together for the betterment of peoples.