Dives in Misericordia: “He Who Sees Me Sees the Father” (3)

Chapter 3 of “Dives in Misericordia” (“Rich in Mercy”) is entitled “When Christ Began To Do and To Teach.” It begins as follows:

“3. Before His own townspeople, in Nazareth, Christ refers to the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’¹⁹ These phrases, according to Luke, are His first messianic declaration. They are followed by the actions and words known through the Gospel. By these actions and words Christ makes the Father present among men. It is very significant that the people in question are especially the poor, those without means of subsistence, those deprived of their freedom, the blind who cannot see the beauty of creation, those living with broken hearts, or suffering from social injustice, and finally sinners. It is especially for these last that the Messiah becomes a particularly clear sign of God who is love, a sign of the Father. In this visible sign the people of our own time, just like the people then, can see the Father.”

19. Luke 4:18-19.

To access the complete document, please visit:

Pope John Paul II: “Dives in Misericordia”