Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

30 Divine Mercy: The Heart Of The Gospel and historically describes a most important part of his character and ministry. He sought to bring back into glad communion with God those whom sin, whether moral or ceremonial, had driven away. For him sinners (at least certain types o f sinners) were the subject not of condemnation or disdain, but of pity. He did not avoid sin­ ners, he sought them out. They were still children of God. This was a new and sublime contribution to the development of religion and morality.... To deny the greatness and originality of Jesus in this connection, to deny that he opened a new chapter in men’s attitude to sin and sinners is, I think to beat the head against the wall.29 Later, commenting on Luke 15: 1, Montefiore makes this comment: This verse sums up one o f the specific characteristics o f Jesus and one of the new excellences o f the gospel. ‘The sinners drew near to hear him .’ Surely this is a new note, something which we have not yet heard in the Old Testament or o f its heroes, something which we do not hear in the Talmud or o f its heroes. ‘The sinners drew near to hear him’: his teaching did not repel them. It did not palter with, or make light o f sin, but yet it gave comfort to the sin­ ner. The virtues o f repentance are gloriously praised in the Rabbinical literature, but this direct search for, and appeal to, the sinner are new and moving notes o f high import and signifi­ cance.30 Luke understands this. Therefore, in chapter 19, Jesus stays at the home o f the tax collector, Zacchaeus, whose conversion takes place. And as He leaves to finish His ascent to Jerusalem and the completion o f His mission given by the Father we read: Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son o f Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost (Luke 19:9-10). This quote recalls to mind what is written in Luke 15: 6 (“and then, when he got home, he called together his friends and neighbours, say­ ing to them, Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost) , and Luke 15: 9 (“And then, when she had found it, she called together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost.) and Luke 15: 24 (because this son o f mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found. And