Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

The Sacred Heart and The Divine Mercy 67 sharing our lot, showing us the way to the Father, and making the per­ fect offering for our sins. When He sends His Holy Spirit into our hearts to refresh and sanctify us, that too is His merciful love: His merciful love pouring into our hearts the power to grow in faith, hope, and love, and to serve Him with joy. Psalm 135 says it best; while celebrating all the works o f the Lord in creation and redemption, the psalm bears the constant refrain: “for His mercy endures for ever.” It was St. Catherine o f Siena who summed up for us the centrality of the merciful love of God for us: By your mercy we were created. And by your mercy we were created anew in your Son’s blood. It is your mercy that preserves us... Your mercy is life-giving. It is the light in which both the upright and sinners discover your goodness. Your mercy shines forth in your saints in the height of heaven. And if I turn to the earth, your mercy is everywhere. Even in the darkness o f hell your mercy shines, for you do not punish the damned as much as they deserve. You temper your justice with mercy. In mercy you cleansed us in the blood; in mercy you kept company with your creatures. O mad lover! It was not enough for you to take on our humanity: you had to die as well! Nor was death enough: you descended to the depths to summon our holy ancestors and fulfill your truth and mercy in them... I see your mercy pressing you to give us even more when you leave yourself with us as food to strengthen our weakness... Every day you give us this food, showing us yourself in the sacrament of the altar within the mystic body o f holy Church. And what has done this? Your mercy. O mercy! My heart is engulfed with the thought of you! For wherever I turn my thoughts I find nothing but mercy!25 We can sum up this theological exploration as follows: the Sacred Heart of Jesus is perfectly loving - divine, human, and affectionate love26 - and therefore all lovable. But whenever the love of His Heart reaches out to us - to our nothingness, our brokenness, our wounded- ness, and our need - that love always takes the form o f merciful, com­