The Grandeur of God

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” This is the first line of one of my favorite poems, God’s Grandeur, written by Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ. This line is a reminder that no matter what is happening globally or in our daily lives, the world is alive with God’s glory and therefore, His presence. Even if we cannot see it momentarily, or even if we can only see it momentarily, the fact remains that the world is charged with God’s grandeur. We often get so wrapped up in things we are doing, struggles we are experiencing, or perhaps by ‘ingesting’ too much news (some of which is meant to ignite our anger) which subsequently weighs us down, that we lose sight of the grandeur and glory of God. Our attention gets drawn away from God and into emotions or situations, and yet, God is present there nonetheless. The issue is that we simply do not see Him because we are so distracted. However, it is essential to remember that our awareness of Him does not determine the reality of His presence. If we are honest, we must acknowledge that we do this, even if it is momentary, and remember to turn (or return) to the Lord for perspective and guidance. It might help to consider this important reality: God ‘leaves His throne’ daily, in every moment when we seek Him, to come and be with us. He ‘leaves His throne’ to greet us in our personal prayer, in Reconciliation, and in the Eucharist. And in that, the world is indeed charged with God’s grandeur.*

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God does not sit passively by, merely watching our lives so that He can judge them in the end. God is involved; He is not a spectator. However, we have free will, as does all of nature, and so while God participates, He does not manipulate. He initiates an invitation, and either we respond positively or ignore it. God never forces our assent, nor does He push His way into our lives, and yet His mercy is always available in an unlimited way. We can pick up the Bible, His Word, and find Him there, speaking a personal message. His glory is written into every page, but His message is for all people throughout time that we might recognize His presence more readily every day. God’s glory, and hence His grandeur, are in His love and mercy offered to us. As Mary proclaimed: “His mercy is from age to age” and “Holy is His name!” (Luke 1:49-50)** Notice that in her prayer of praise and thanksgiving, Mary links God’s mercy with His glory. To proclaim God’s name as holy is to proclaim God’s infinite glory, and perhaps is a reference to Moses who experienced God revealing His name in a way that was beyond human pronunciation or comprehension because of the greatness of His glory and His mercy. (Exodus 34:18-19).***

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To be as merciful as God is, is in fact glorious. As Jesus taught, to love and forgive without limit (recognizing our own need to seek healing and forgiveness) is the best way to honor God because we become like Him (holier); thus, forgiveness reveals God’s grandeur. The love with which God forgives us, reveals His glory in a most expressive way because when God comes to us in our lowliness, He is acting in supreme humility, the kind of which we cannot fathom. It is in this unfathomable mercy that His glory lies. Therefore, when we forgive as He does, we glorify Him in the greatest possible way as well. That the Son of God came from His throne in Heaven to take on our humanity is the ultimate mercy which led to the ultimate glory: the Resurrection. God continues to offer mercy to the weak, even to those we, in our lack of vision and wisdom, do not think deserve it; in this is His glory, a glory to which we cannot arise without His grace. We glorify Him when we offer even the tiniest shred of His mercy to someone in need of it. Any action of mercy and love on our part is a joining into His presence, and hence gives Him greater glory than any words of praise could ever express.

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God continually ‘stoops from Heaven’ to be present when we call out to Him, but He also speaks unbidden when He sees His children are in trouble. Indeed, He spoke with Moses, Elijah, and the prophets of the Old Testament because of His mercy and love. And He certainly spoke through the entrance of Jesus into the world, through His actions and teaching, and now through His Holy Spirit. Indeed, Jesus is with us “until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:20) Whenever we pray, the entirety of the glory of God comes to be with us, perhaps in a humbler way than we can comprehend as He ‘leaves His throne’ to quietly be present. The God of all glory, whose mercy is unfathomable, desires to be with us in so humble a way because His love is that great. All we have to do is provide our attention, turning our hearts and minds to Him. Next time we pray, let us invite the God of all glory, our merciful God who loves us more than we can imagine, to be present even if we are able to say nothing at all. To sit with the God of the Universe who comes to us is simply enough. And in this, our little spot in this world becomes charged with the grandeur of God.

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May we often pronounce Mary’s words of praise, “Holy is His Name!" May we humbly and gratefully open our hearts to the God of Glory and Mercy when He comes during prayer! And may we learn to see with greater clarity the works of God which are full of His Mercy and which reveal His glory! Let us meet in the glory of God! Peace!

                                ©Michele L. Catanese

* Remember, I am speaking metaphorically and therefore I am using hyperbole when I say “God leaves His throne.” Actually, I saw this phrase in an article a while ago and it stuck with me. The truth is that God is present to us at all times and everywhere. I simply want to drive home the point that the Lord and Creator of the entire universe, the Almighty One, does indeed come to us at every moment. That is an almost mind-blowing statement, yet it is Truth.
You can find the text of Hopkins’ poem at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44395/gods-grandeur

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​** I reversed the verses to emphasize a point. It actually reads, “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear Him.” ~ Mary certainly was familiar with the Psalms, many of which contain verses that connect God’s mercy with His works among us, that is, His presence (His glory). An example is Psalm 145: “Great is the Lord and worthy of much praise, whose grandeur is beyond understanding …. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. The Lord is good to all, compassionate toward all your works.” (Ps 145: 3,8-9). One of my favorites is found in Psalm 73: “Yet I am always with you; you take hold of my right hand. With your counsel you guide me, and at the end receive me with honor.” Often to be received with honor is understood as ‘receive me into glory;’ therefore, there is a connection between God’s works (counsel and guidance) and His mercy and glory. ~ There are many examples in the New Testament letters, particularly by St. Paul. Here is one example: “This was to make known the riches of his glory for objects of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, namely us whom he has called…." (Romans 9:23-24) Of course, Jesus is the ultimate ‘sign’ and embodiment of God’s mercy by His glorious Resurrection, and therefore, gift of salvation, mercifully offered after such betrayal and humiliation. 
*** “Moses said, “Please let me see your glory!” The Lord answered, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim my name, “Lord,” before you; I who show favor to whom I will, I who grant mercy to whom I will.”" (Exodus 34:18-19) Notice that God links His glory and His Name with His mercy.
Images:
1. My photo; God's Grandeur, taken in the Rockies of Colorado.
2. Image; The Hebrew Name of Yahweh-Adam Kadmon, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this image for purchase in one of many mediums at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/hebrew-name-of-yahweh-adam-kadmon-183-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. Painting; Works of Mercy, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Welcome the Stranger, by Olivuccio di Ciccarello.
4. My photo; Sunset at Delphi, Greece.
5. Icon; Mary Most Holy Mother of All Nations by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this for purchase in one of many mediums at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mary-most-holy-mother-of-all-nations-080-william-hart-mcnichols.html
6. My photo; Beautiful Sky, taken near Eptalofos, Greece.

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