God's mercy

God's mercy
Question from Anonymous on 5/10/2008:

Father, I wanted to say some more on the previous topic concerning God's grace. I understand that God seeks even grave sinners and tries to open their hard hearts to His love, as in the passage from the Gospel about the Lost Sheep or the Merciful Father. So, I concluded that His mercy is offered to all, but responsibility and damnation falls on us if we reject that opportunity. So, I think it is not that God denies His grace to anybody, but it is we who are to blame if we reject it and therefore sin against the Holy Spirit. Is my contemplation on this topic correct? I am truly sorry if you misunderstood my first question.
Answer by Fr. John Echert on 5/12/2008:

I probably projected assumptions into your question based upon others who have asked similar questions about unconditional love. As for damnation, certainly each soul is to blame for its own damnation as to guilt, though ultimately we must affirm that God is the Judge and damnation is formally pronounced by Him upon the damned--just as a judge sentences a criminal, who is deserving of the sentence. But it is also the case that God can deny graces to individuals, in accord with his divine will; otherwise, we would have to maintain that God is obliged to offer grace, which is not the case--grace is freely given and not owed. But your basic premise is correct in that those who are damned from among angels and men deserve the eternal punishment upon them.

God bless,

Father Echert