Sirach 43:1-16: a reflection

1The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear sky, the appearance of heaven, in the spectacle of its glory. 2The sun, when it appears, bringing tidings as it rises, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High. 3At noon, it dries up the land. Who can stand against its burning heat? 4A man tending a furnace is in burning heat, but the sun three times more, burning up the mountains, breathing out fiery vapors, and sending out bright beams, it blinds the eyes. 5Great is the Lord who made it. At his word, he hastens on its course. 6The moon marks the changing seasons, declares times, and is a sign for the world. 7From the moon is the sign of feast days, a light that wanes when it completes its course. 8The month is called after its name, increasing wonderfully in its changing— an instrument of the army on high, shining in the structure of heaven, 9the beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord. 10At the word of the Holy One, they will stand in due order. They won’t faint in their watches. 11Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it. It is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. 12It encircles the sky with its glorious circle. The hands of the Most High have stretched it out. 13By his commandment, he makes the snow fall and swiftly sends the lightnings of his judgment. 14Therefore the storehouses are opened, and clouds fly out like birds. 15By his mighty power, he makes the clouds strong and the hailstones are broken in pieces. 16At his appearing, the mountains will be shaken. At his will, the south wind will blow.

This passage lifts the eyes to the glory of God displayed in creation: the clear sky, the burning sun, the moon marking the seasons, the stars adorning the heights, the rainbow arching the sky, the snow and clouds and lightning. And through it all runs a refrain of praise: Great is the Lord who made it. The beauty and order of the heavens are not merely admired for themselves; they are traced back to the Creator, who made them, and who is greater still than all his glorious works.

Notice how the passage looks at creation: not merely to admire it, but to praise the Creator through it. The sun, the moon, the rainbow, the stars, all their beauty and grandeur point beyond themselves to the God who made them. Look at the rainbow, it says, and praise him who made it. The glory of creation is a pointer, leading the eye from the made thing to its Maker, from the beauty to the One who is greater than all he has made.

That is how we are meant to see the beauty of creation: as a pointer to its Creator. It is easy to admire the beauty of the sky, the sun, the stars, and stop there, at the created thing; or even to worship the creation rather than the Creator. But the glory of creation is meant to lift our eyes to God, to move us to praise the One who made it. When you see the beauty and grandeur of the world, the sunrise, the night sky, the rainbow, do not stop at the created thing; let it lift your eyes to the Creator, and move you to praise. Great is the Lord who made it; let the glory you see in creation lead you to worship the God who made it, and who is greater still than all the beauty he has made. See through creation to its Maker, and praise him.

Lord, this passage lifts my eyes to your glory in creation, the clear sky, the burning sun, the moon marking seasons, the stars, the rainbow, the snow and clouds, with the refrain, great is the Lord who made it. Teach me to see the beauty of creation as a pointer to you, its Creator. It is easy to admire the beauty of the sky, the sun, the stars, and stop there, at the created thing; or even to worship the creation rather than you, the Creator. But the glory of creation is meant to lift my eyes to you, to move me to praise the One who made it. When I see the beauty and grandeur of the world, the sunrise, the night sky, the rainbow, keep me from stopping at the created thing; let it lift my eyes to you, and move me to praise. Great is the Lord who made it; let the glory I see in creation lead me to worship you, who made it, and who are greater still than all the beauty you have made. Help me see through creation to you, Lord, and praise you.