“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,”
Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven — the tender mercy (splanchna eleous, bowels of mercy, the deepest compassion) of God is the origin of the dawn from on high. The rising sun will come to us from heaven (anatolē ex hypsous, a rising from on high) is a double image: the dawn breaking, and a shoot sprouting up — the messianic shoot of Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12. The dawn from on high is Jesus, the light coming from the divine realm.
Church Fathers on Luke 1:78
Because God has forgiven our sins not for our works sake, but through His mercy, it is therefore fitly added, Through the tender mercy of our God.
Which mercy we find not indeed by our own seeking, but God from on high has appeared to us, as it follows; Whereby (i.e. by His tender mercy) the day-spring from on high (that is, Christ) has visited us, taking upon Him our flesh.
Abiding on high yet present upon the earth, suffering neither division nor limitation, which thing neither can our understanding embrace, nor any power of words express.
Catena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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