Yet even God’s holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the LORD, though God has given these, his hosts, the strength to stand firm before his glory. He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart; their innermost being he understands. The Most High possesses all knowledge and sees from of old the things that are to come: He makes known the past and the future and reveals the deepest secrets.
No understanding does he lack; no single thing escapes him. Perennial is his almighty wisdom; he is from all eternity one and the same. With nothing added, nothing taken away; no need of a counselor for him! How beautiful are all his works! even to the spark and fleeting vision! The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved. All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, for each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor? (Sirach 42:15-25)
God would not approve of racist behavior. After all, the last sentence in today’s reading makes clear that “all [creatures] of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, for each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor?” We are all different, but good – splendidly good.
Some may argue God makes a distinction between creatures and humans with the former being good. If so, where does that leave us humans? Are we on the outside looking in at those many splendid creatures? Hardly. We are creatures; we are intelligent and social animals with incredibly sophisticated brains. We are certainly creatures of habit.
Therefore, “as the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the LORD fills all his work,” including all of us who do tend to make a habit of messing up. Despite the messes we make, God forgives us after plumbing our depths and penetrating our hearts.
Deacon David Pierce
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