Mercy and justice constantly crisscross.
God’s mercy makes our friendship with Him available and, in justice, God cannot receive as an intimate friend anyone who retains the slightest attachment to sin.
This truth enables us to understand the two reasons why God subjects us to purifying trials: to make us atone for our faults – which is the aim of justice – and to destroy in us the last roots of sin that we may be disposed for union with Him – which is the aim of mercy.
Every trial is a great mercy on the part of God Who deeply desires to help us advance in the way of love and draw ever closer to Him.
