Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

26 Divine Mercy: The Heart Of The Gospel traveled with His group and ministered to them and support­ ed them out of their own purse (Luke 8: 1-3). The cure of a demoniac, a psychologically-mentally handi­ capped person. The Good Samaritan: an heretical sectarian half-breed. He stayed with an apparently unattached woman in her house (Martha). He praised an unjust and crafty steward. A Homeless, poor, sick man (Lazarus) is shown to gain heaven and God’s love and mercy. He cured lepers, medical/sectarian outcasts. The Publican was praised/ Pharisee put down ( politically correct ideas turned upside down). He dined with the outcast tax collector , Zacchaeus. He asked forgiveness for those who crucify Him (His ene­ mies). Each of these people is a complete outsider either socially or reli­ giously. The Kingdom o f God, God’s Divine Mercy, is freely given to each as gift. The only thing that stops them from accepting the gift of God is their own refusal to repent and seek forgiveness. We find this paramount because it is only Luke who specifically enumerates this in his unique material: It was just about this time that some people arrived and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than any others, that this should have happened to them? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell, killing them all? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other peo­ ple living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. He told this parable, A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to his vine­