Overflowing Mercy and Approaching Justice

Divine Appeal Reflection -78

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 78: "I have two measures  for every soul. First is of Mercy and it has overflowed. The second  is of Justice, it is approaching. Pray for more souls, watch and atone." 

In the mysterious pedagogy of God, mercy always precedes justice. Our Adorable Jesus reveals that the Father’s first movement toward humanity is not condemnation but compassionate invitation. Throughout salvation history, divine mercy appears as the first response to human weakness. Before the waters of the flood came, (cf. Gen 6–7) the world was given time to repent through the preaching of Noah . Before Jerusalem fell,(cf. Jer 7:23–26) prophets tirelessly warned the people, calling them back to fidelity . This pattern reaches its fullness in Christ, who comes not primarily as judge but as savior, offering reconciliation before the day of final judgment (cf. Jn 3:16–17). The Church (cf. CCC 210, 1846) teaches that God’s mercy flows from His very being and precedes His acts of justice . This truth becomes deeply practical in everyday life. A parent who patiently corrects a child before discipline mirrors God’s merciful approach. A teacher who offers a struggling student another opportunity reflects the divine heart. A spouse who forgives repeatedly rather than retaliating participates in the logic of mercy. Saints often recognized this divine patience. Many spiritual masters described God as tirelessly pursuing the soul long before allowing consequences to fall. Our Adorable Jesus silently repeats this same appeal today in the Eucharistic presence: “Return while mercy is still extended.” The quiet light of Eucharistic adoration becomes a living sign that divine patience continues to wait. The Lord does not rush to judgment; (cf. Rev 3:20) rather He patiently knocks at the door of the human heart . Mercy is always the first to arrive, like dawn before the full day. Only when kindness is continuously neglected does justice begin to restore truth and order.

Our Adorable Jesus uses His appeal about mercy to show mankind that God's grace extended to humanity surpasses their deserving capacity. The complete history of salvation demonstrates how God has given more than enough to humanity throughout time. The Gospel reveals that from Christ’s fullness humanity receives grace upon grace (cf. Jn 1:16). The Catechism (cf. CCC 457–460) teaches that the Incarnation itself is the greatest expression of divine mercy offered to a fallen world . Consider how this overflowing mercy manifests in daily life. Each sunrise is a new invitation to conversion. Every sacrament becomes a channel of renewed grace. The Eucharist offers Christ Himself again and again to nourish souls who often approach with weakness. The sacrament of reconciliation repeatedly restores those who fall. Even trials and sufferings can become instruments of purification through which God gently calls souls back to Him (cf. Heb 12:6–11). The saints frequently contemplated this ocean of mercy. Many spiritual writers observed that a soul may fall countless times yet still be welcomed back through sincere repentance. The prodigal son (cf. Lk 15:11–24) represents every human person who discovers that the Father’s compassion is far greater than human failure .In ordinary circumstances, this overflowing mercy appears in quiet opportunities: a moment of conscience before speaking harsh words, an interior call to forgive someone who has offended us, a sudden desire to pray during a busy day. These gentle invitations are touches of divine mercy upon the heart . 

Our Adorable Jesus often calls the soul through quiet movements of conscience—an urge to forgive, to pray, or to turn away from wrongdoing. Yet a tragedy of the modern world is spiritual indifference . When mercy is ignored or taken for granted, its abundance can quietly become a danger to the soul, for grace left unheeded may fail to bear fruit .  If the soul turns away from these invitations, even unconsciously, the seed remains dormant. Days pass, opportunities slip by, and the heart risks becoming numb to God’s tender movements . Yet when the soul responds—pausing to pray amidst busyness, forgiving a hurt, choosing integrity in small decisions—it nurtures the seed, allowing it to blossom into patience, humility, and love .Our Adorable Jesus meets each soul where it is, gently beckoning to accept mercy in ordinary life: in family struggles, work challenges, or quiet moments before the Blessed Sacrament . The call is simple yet profound: welcome mercy, cultivate it daily, and let it transform the heart into a dwelling place for God’s holiness.  The overflowing measure of grace is meant to awaken gratitude and conversion, not complacency . 

There is a general assumption that justice from heaven is diametrically opposite to mercy and that one of the two must replace the other. Justice and mercy are two harmonious expressions of God’s holiness, not conflicting forces . Mercy cures the sinner, whereas justice restores the order that sin has disrupted. Our Adorable Jesus demonstrates that justice is not retribution, but the restoration of truth and goodness.  The Catechism affirms that God’s justice flows from His wisdom and goodness, (cf. CCC 2008–2010) ensuring that creation ultimately reflects His righteousness . Sacred Scripture repeatedly reveals this harmony. At the final judgment described in the Gospel, (cf. Mt 25:31–46) Christ separates the just from those who rejected love . Yet this judgment does not arise suddenly or arbitrarily. It confirms the choices each soul has freely made. Justice simply reveals what the heart has become. This mystery can be seen in ordinary human experiences. A community cannot flourish without moral truth.  In a similar but infinitely deeper way, divine justice safeguards the moral structure of the universe. St. Augustine of Hippo reflected on how God restores order where sin has wounded it, while St. Thomas Aquinas described justice as giving to each what truth requires within God’s perfect wisdom. Many spiritual writers envisioned the day when every hidden act—both injustice and compassion—will be brought into the light before God . For those who have lived in fidelity, divine justice becomes a moment of immense consolation. Thus, mercy invites conversion while justice confirms truth. Both proceed from the same divine heart. 

The declaration that justice is approaching carries a profound spiritual gravity, reminding humanity that divine patience, though immense, is purposeful and directed toward conversion. Our Adorable Jesus continually calls souls to return to Him, yet the time for responding to grace belongs to the present moment entrusted to each person (cf. 2 Cor 6:2). The Catechism (cf. CCC 1427–1431) teaches that conversion is a lifelong turning of the heart toward God, involving sincere repentance and renewed fidelity . Divine mercy therefore grants time so that the soul may awaken before the final encounter with truth .Sacred Scripture expresses this urgency through prophetic voices. The mission of John the Baptist called Israel to repentance because the kingdom of God was drawing near . His message sought to awaken consciences that had grown comfortable with spiritual mediocrity. Likewise the prophets urged the people to seek the Lord while He could still be found .In modern life complacency often appears quietly. A professional may postpone prayer because of career ambitions, a student may delay moral decisions assuming time is endless, and a believer may maintain routine religious practice without deeper conversion (cf. Rev 2:4–5). Yet divine patience remains a gift: (cf. Col 3:12–14; CCC 1810) each day invites charity, humility, and renewed fidelity . Justice approaching therefore reveals the precious urgency of responding to mercy now.

The message that these two measures exist for every soul reveals the deeply personal nature of salvation. God does not deal with humanity merely as a collective reality; He addresses each individual heart with unique attention and love. The Catechism teaches that every person possesses an immortal soul called to communion with God and accountable for personal choices (cf. CCC 1703–1705).Mercy appears first in each life through countless invitations. From earliest years, the seed of holiness is nurtured: a youngster learns the value of prayer and devotion through the witness of faithful parents (cf. Dt 6:6–7; CCC 2226). As moral choices arise, the conscience begins to stir, guided by God’s whisper and forming the character of the soul (cf. Rom 2:14–15; CCC 1777). Adults, too, encounter grace in profound ways—through moments of suffering that deepen patience, acts of reconciliation that restore hearts, or unexpected generosity that reveals the presence of God’s love .  

Biblical figures illustrate these personal encounters with mercy. King David (cf. Ps 51; 2 Sam 12) experienced profound forgiveness after repentance for his sins . The apostle Peter  wept after denying Christ but was restored through divine compassion . Their lives demonstrate how mercy patiently calls individuals back to fidelity. Yet justice also belongs to each soul. All souls will face the truth about how they handled the grace offered them through this earthly pilgrimage. No action, choice, or thought remains hidden; the eternal measure of mercy and justice reveals itself in the light of divine holiness. The Gospel (cf. Mt 25:14–30) teaches that souls are accountable for how they used the gifts entrusted to them . Justice therefore confirms the spiritual direction freely chosen during life. This perspective transforms daily living. Every small decision carries eternal significance: choosing honesty in daily tasks, offering forgiveness to those who have wronged us, caring for the vulnerable, and dedicating time to prayer all shape the soul’s ultimate orientation toward God . Mercy continually stands at the threshold, inviting the heart to enter, yet each person freely chooses whether to respond. The persistent call of Our Adorable Jesus reminds us that even the most ordinary acts, when offered in love, participate in the work of salvation and deepen communion with the Divine . Thus the two measures are not abstract doctrines. They are living realities unfolding quietly within every human heart.

Mystical revelations of divine mercy and justice resound as tender invitations of love, never as instruments of fear or intimidation . Their ultimate goal is to arouse the depths of the human conscience, awakening the soul to the need for transformation, and to guide each individual down the path of holiness. Our Adorable Jesus speaks of justice not to frighten, but to enlighten the precious freedom of the human choice, indicating that love must be chosen and embraced wholeheartedly. Our Adorable Jesus speaks of justice not to instill fear but to illumine the necessity of freely chosen love, the very foundation of holiness . God’s ineffable desire is that all souls be saved and come to the knowledge of truth . The saints affirm that genuine conversion flows from trust in God’s mercy, not from dread. When the soul acknowledges both its frailty and divine compassion, it discovers the path to transformation . Mystics such as St. Teresa of Avila and St. Faustina Kowalska teach that sincere repentance opens the soul to profound intimacy with Christ . Conversion often begins through hidden acts suffused with grace: a laborer pausing before the Blessed Sacrament, a family humbly reconciling , a student choosing integrity amidst social pressure. These small gestures cultivate a heart attuned to divine will. The Eucharist manifests the sublime union of mercy and justice. In silent adoration, the soul apprehends both the infinite tenderness of mercy (cf. Ps 103:8; CCC 1846–1847) and the purifying rigor of justice . Mercy draws the wandering heart; justice sanctifies it; together they reveal the weight of human freedom. The call is urgent and loving: receive the overflowing mercy now,(cf. Rom 12:2; CCC 1432, 1810) and allow it to transform every dimension of life toward eternal communion with the Divine .

Prayer

Our Adorable Jesus, Ocean of Mercy and Just Judge of every soul, awaken our hearts before the hour of justice arrives. Help us never presume upon Your patience but respond with sincere conversion. May every moment become a return to Your Heart, so that our lives reflect repentance, charity, and faithful love in all vocations. Amen.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.