The grandeur of God can be ours for the taking

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Justin, martyr, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Protestant-turned-Catholic-turned-priest who was also a poet of regard, wrote in the opening lines of his poem, “God’s Grandeur”: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.”

And today’s scriptures are saturated with this majestic grandeur, not only of God’s creative greatness, but also of God’s cosmic and universal splendor: “His word brought all into being — all his works do his will — his glory fills all his works — even his holy ones fail in describing his greatness — he plumbs depths — he penetrates the heart — the innermost he understands — possesses all knowledge — makes known the past and future — no understanding does he lack. …”

Or as Hopkins says so succinctly: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.”

+ Bartimaeus, the blind man and son of Timaeus, could and would testify to that power of God in the man Jesus — who would certainly become known as the Christ — on that day of his healing and the moment of the gaining of his sight.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889).

And rather than just dispensing of his healing power indiscriminately, Jesus instead engaged and respected those who would encounter his loving and healing powers by asking and inviting them to seek, find, and receive an answer to their deepest wants, needs and hopes: “What do you want me to do for you?”

To which Bartimaeus responded: “Master, I want to see.”

+ And see, he did. Not only did he see with his eyes, but he now could see with the eyes of his heart; his faith exploded into desire and actions as he, too, began to follow Jesus.

+ Spiritual sight and spiritual insight are gifts of faith that, thanks be to God, his grandeur and abiding love offers to us all.

Do we hear his question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

+ Do we believe that as surely as he asked that question of Bartimaeus, he asked it of us?

What do we want? What do we need?

What gifts are ours today for the asking?

Are we willing to touch and be touched by the grandeur of God?

And Jesus said: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.