Yesterday Pope Francis in a symbolic gesture pushed open the door to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to begin the Holy Year of Mercy. Opening a door is an invitation to go in, to see what’s inside, even if we have been in there before. The pope is inviting us to go into the mysteries of our faith, to look again and appreciate them.

We forgot so easily and need to remember. This is a time to open the doors to our own parish churches, as the pope did the door to St. Peter’s, asking for the grace to see them again. They’re not just buildings, remember, they’re places where we meet God– the merciful face of God, Jesus Christ. He is the great sacrament, God’s Son, born of Mary, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again. He’s present in all the sacraments we celebrate in this place. This is his church.

He tells us to “be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.”

Our parish church is where we celebrate “the mysteries of faith.” Faith alone unlocks the mysteries of this place. So at the door we make the sign of the cross, the sign of faith. This is a place where we are blessed by God, the creator of all things, by his Son, Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit. “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The opening of the Year of Mercy is a good time to push open the door of our parish churches and see them again. This evening I hope to do that on the last day of our parish mission, here at Good Shepherd Parish, Rheinbeck, New York.