Imitating Christ’s Mercy as Our Path to Divinization

In today’s Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, there is a particular intercession that struck me: 'You made us in your image and renewed us in Christ, mold us into the likeness of your Son.'

This intercession captures the essence of the Christian vocation: to be molded into the likeness of Christ. This summons not only reflects our origins as beings created in the image of God (Imago Dei, Genesis 1:27), but also points to our eschatological destiny in Christ, who is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15).

The core of this reflection hinges on the profound concept of divinization or theosis, a theological theme rooted in the Early Church Fathers and emphasized in Catholic spirituality. St. Athanasius stated, “God became man so that man might become god.” While we do not become God in His essence, we are called to partake in His divine nature by imitation of Christ—most notably, through His attribute of mercy.¹

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. - 2 Peter 1:3-4 RSV

Christ's act of mercy is most vividly displayed on the Cross, where he utters, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). The Cross is not just an object of veneration but a template for our lives. We are called to mirror this divine mercy in our interactions with others—offering forgiveness, displaying unconditional love, and exercising compassionate justice.

Baptism is the sacramental conduit through which this transformation begins. In this sacrament, we are not merely cleansed of original sin, but we "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). St. Paul uses the metaphor of "putting on" to indicate a change not merely of status but of nature, like a child adopted into a new family. Through baptism, we are adopted sons and daughters of God, given the capability to become co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). This is not a mere legal status but an ontological change: we are enabled to participate in the divine life.

The Council of Trent articulated the concept of sanctifying grace as a "sharing in the divine life." It is this grace that aids us in our journey of divinization, as it orients our wills and intellects to God, enabling us to act not just in accordance with virtue but in union with Christ’s merciful disposition.²

To be molded into the likeness of Christ is to participate in the ultimate act of mercy—God’s merciful act of Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. As we "put on Christ" in our baptism and continue to enact His mercy in our daily lives, we move closer to our divinized state, living out our vocation to be not only images but also likenesses of God, living icons of Christ’s mercy in a world yearning for divine love.

Let us pray

Heavenly Father, we come before You in humility and awe, ever thankful for the gift of sanctifying grace that You bestow upon us. Lord, we recognize that this grace is not merely a covering, but a transformative power that allows us to share in Your divine nature, as promised in the words of Saint Peter.

Jesus, our Redeemer, we yearn to see You face to face, as Saint Paul envisioned. Prepare our souls for that wondrous encounter in the life to come by continuing to mold us in Your image here and now.

Holy Spirit, dwell within us as in a temple made worthy by Your sanctifying presence. Refine us like gold in the furnace, as prophesied by Malachi, so that we may stand pure and grateful in the eternal embrace of the Divine.

Almighty God, help us remember that we are not hopelessly corrupt, but infinitely loved and continually purified by You. May we extend this grace to others, thereby participating in Your divine project of transformation.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1. The theological concept of theosis, often termed "divinization," refers to the transformative process by which a human being is elevated to partake in the divine nature through a union with Christ, facilitated by grace. Originating primarily in the Eastern Orthodox tradition but also present in Catholic thought, theosis does not imply becoming divine in essence, but rather in energies or activities, aligning one's will and actions closely with God's. This transformation begins with baptism and culminates in eternal life, wherein the believer experiences intimate communion with the Divine.

2. Justification signifies our initial encounter with sanctifying grace. This grace doesn't just "cover over" our flaws; it actually transforms us from within, allowing us to partake in God's divine essence as noted in 2 Peter 1:4. This is a far cry from the notion that we are wholly depraved beings. By receiving this grace, we acquire the foundational capacity to experience God's presence directly in the afterlife, as indicated in 1 Corinthians 13:12. Consequently, our soul becomes a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit even in this life (1 Corinthians 6:19). The idea that God would eternally unite Himself to a thoroughly corrupt soul is difficult to conceive. Instead, God purifies us, much like a "refiner's fire," making us fit for His eternal company (Malachi 3:2).