Christians have been called to embrace their mission as “vessels of mercy,” serving as instruments through which God pours His compassion into a broken and hurting world.

Preaching during the Divine Mercy Recollection held on September 6, 2025, at Munyonyo, the facilitator, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ssebayiga, said being a vessel of mercy means surrendering to God and allowing oneself to be used to reach those most in need of His love and forgiveness.

“A vessel is a carrier, and we are carriers of God’s mercy, which the world is craving. When a vessel is full, it surrenders and pours out its contents. Likewise, we should humble ourselves and pour God’s mercy into the hearts of those around us, especially the broken-hearted and the forgotten,” he said.

He reminded the faithful that God’s mission is not condemnation but restoration, healing, and forgiveness. “God looks over the world and asks, ‘Who will carry my mercy?’ It is our duty to respond and deliver His mercy to those He entrusts to us,” he added.

Fr. Ssebayiga also encouraged Christians not to be discouraged by their social status or limitations, noting that God calls people not because they are perfect but because He chooses them for His purpose. “He chose St. Faustina, a woman with little education, to live and spread the message of mercy worldwide. Today, He is choosing you to be a vessel of mercy through good deeds, prayer, and words of comfort,” he said.

The priest urged believers to use their voices and actions to share God’s mercy—to speak love to the hurting, pray for both the living and the dead, and encourage those who feel unworthy to approach the fountain of God’s compassion. He warned that many souls are lost not because God has rejected them, but because they do not know about His mercy.

Drawing inspiration from the lives of the saints, Fr. Ssebayiga reminded the faithful of St. Monica’s persistence in prayer for the conversion of her son, which bore fruit after 17 years. “Who are you praying for that seems impossible? Don’t give up. Persist, because the Lord always answers in His time,” he encouraged.

He concluded by urging Christians to live with unwavering trust in God’s mercy. “Make ‘Jesus, I trust in You’ your mission statement in life. When we trust Him, those we reach out to will also learn to follow and trust Him,” he said.

The recollection brought together hundreds of faithful, including pilgrims from Hoima and Masaka Dioceses.

They were reminded of their role as God’s living instruments of mercy in families, communities, and the wider world.