Question of the week-God of Justice or Mercy?

How do you explain the message of Divine Mercy to someone who was raised in a strict environment; who was taught that God was someone to be feared; that God punishes sinners with catastrophic events and hell? Does the message of Divine Mercy mean that God has changed? Did God offer the people of the Old Testament the same Mercy He extends to us or are we just hoping?

One quote from the Diary of St. Faustina comes to mind:

“He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice..." (Diary, 1146)

God gave mankind free will. He has always foreseen giving us graces to overcome our vices if we ask. If we humble ourselves, go to confession, and become pious He will change us. That is His mercy.

It is the devil who fills us with doubt. He makes us feel that our sin is greater than God, that we cannot possibly be forgiven. This is to despair, to turn away from God not because He is too good but rather because salvation is impossible to gain.

There are many excerpts in the Old Testament that speak of the Mercy of God:

"For the Lord your God is merciful and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him"
(2 Paralipomenon 30:9)

"For as the heavens are high above the Earth so surpassing is His kindness to those who fear Him" (Psalms 102 (103)

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduces the Beatitudes and tells us:
"Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke6:36)

So the answer to the question is this:

We can grieve over our sins, in fact that demonstrates true contrition. However, we should never DESPAIR over our ability to obtain forgiveness or assistance from God.
The proof of this is the Eucharist. Why would God condescend to become human? Why would He willing accept all the blasphemy, insults, sacrilege, and apathy just to be near us?

We are so precious to Our Creator that he seeks us constantly.

St. Peter Julian Eymard says it very nicely:

“How many insults must Jesus Christ have suffered in this Sacrament, in order to remain with us. Some have trampled on the Sacred Host, and others have thrown It into the mire. He foresaw all these; but still He resolved to remain with us on the altar, that we might not be deprived of His amiable presence.

This is the message of Divine Mercy.