Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

50 Divine Mercy: The Heart Of The Gospel manifold mercy o f God. This mercy converts hearts ... and is com­ pletely at the service o f God’s merciful plan (no.92)... [He] knows that he must be a sign o f mercy. His is a ministry o f mercy, born o f an act of Christ’s own m ercy .... God in his Mercy can convert hearts to unity and enable them to enter into communion with him (no.93). This service of unity rooted in the action of Divine Mercy, is entrusted within the College o f B ishops .... This task can require the offering of one’s own life (cf. Jn. 10: 11-18) (no.94). In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II begins with a state­ ment on the Gospel o f Mercy; he states that Jesus, Mercy Incarnate, reveals the Good News that God’s love is life-giving: The Gospel of life is at the heart o f Jesus’ message” (no .l). In dealing with our culture of death - with birth control, abortion, euthanasia, suicide - he proclaims the Gospel of life: Jesus! Jesus is the only Gospel. To proclaim Jesus is itself to proclaim life. ... This Gospel exceeds every human expectation and reveals the sublime heights to which the dignity o f the human person is raised by grace (no.80). The Gospel of life is mercy, life-giving love and love-giving life: The Gospel o f life is not for believers alone: It is for everyone (no. 101). It is precisely in the flesh o f every person that Christ continues to reveal himself and to enter into fellowship with us, so that the rejection of human life, in whatever form that rejection takes, is really a rejection of Christ (no. 104). Life is a gift of God’s mercy, John Paul II teaches to all. A rejection of life is a rejection o f God Himself. In addition to his encyclicals, John Paul II has expressed mercy by asking forgiveness from various groups for the lack o f mercy they have experienced from the Catholic Church over the course o f history. In addition to the Eastern Churches and various Protestant groups he has asked forgiveness of those who experienced injustice and lack of under­ standing in the inquisition. He also asked forgiveness of Jewish groups for the persecution they experienced. He also has asked forgiveness from scientists because o f the condemnation o f Galileo. In a moving