XXV.

OUR EARTH.

_Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei._--_Psa._ xviii. 1.

_The heavens declare the glory of God._ There are hours when the grandeur of the midnight skies draws from our hearts: “Coeli enarrant,” and conversely: “Quam sordet tellus!” “How vile earth appears when I look up to heaven!”[80] When we would wish to be so far away from earth, so near to God, that we could cover it with our two hands and shut it out with all its sinfulness from His sight.

And there are hours when we re-echo David’s other cry: “_The earth is the Lord’s._”[81] Studded with millions of stars--its sanctuary lamps--here in grand constellations, there in solitary beauty amid the darkness, it lies outstretched before its Creator, a very heaven. Yes, speck as it is in creation, our world has a beauty all its own in the eyes of Him Who made it. “There is not found the like to it in glory.” Marred and sin-stained, it is still the dear world of the Incarnation, the world God so loved as to give to it His Son. Its highways, its fields, its waters have felt the tread of His feet; to the end of time He has made it His home. “I have chosen and have sanctified this place, and My eyes and My heart shall be there always.”[82] Always. His interest in it is as keen, as human, as when, a wayfarer here, He shared its joys and sorrows. Its every man, woman, and child to-day has a distinct place in His heart.

His sacramental Presence sanctifies it from pole to pole. On each of its altars a divine sacrifice is offered day by day. In each of its tabernacles is gathered up the worship of all creation. From each an unceasing praise goes up to the Throne of God, infinitely transcending the paltry outrages of man. From each radiates a divine life, communicating itself to all the members of the Body of Christ. From each as from a well-spring go forth all graces of light and strength; all holy impulses and high resolves; all courage, steadfastness, perseverance in well-doing; all works of love to the members, born of love to the Head. All spiritual energy, from the robust virtue of the saint to the weakest supernatural act of the repentant sinner, is flowing this hour from earth’s countless tabernacles, giving to God a glory before which the material glory of the starry heavens pales into insignificance.

O hidden God, I adore You as the source of all this glorious life. Who would not love the world, which You have so loved as to make it Your home all days even to the end of time? Who would not strive with You and for Your sake to light up its dark places, to cleanse its foul places, to spread far and near the saving knowledge of its Redeemer, that so the love poured out upon it, the Blood shed for it, may not have been in vain?

What can I do, O Lord, within my narrow sphere to help on the coming of Your Kingdom in the world? What have You given me to give away again in Your service? As to what do You say to me: “Freely have you received, freely give”?[83] Is it health, wealth, talent, influence, leisure for good works in any of the various fields calling for my aid and open to me? Is it devotedness and self-sacrifice in the apostolate of home life? Or is it the noblest and most far-reaching of works for God, the training of young souls in His love and service? Am I doing good work for You in my allotted sphere? What account am I preparing to give You of the talents entrusted to me? How could I bear it, O my Lord, should You ever have to reproach me, as “an evil and slothful servant,” with hiding the talent given me for Your service? What am I doing with my life, with its energies, its opportunities, its responsibilities, its graces? Where are the souls I am helping to save? Where is the lot I am brightening, the cross I am lightening for Your dear sake? In what direction am I furthering Your interests and sacrificing self to Your glory? Unless I can lay my hands in Yours, and look up trustfully into Your Face with “Lord, Thou knowest” my daily prayer, “Thy Kingdom come” is a mockery, a self-delusion, a sham.

[80] St. Ignatius.

[81] Psa. xxiv.

[82] 2 Par. vii.

[83] Matt. x.