A Great and Awesome God

Today's first reading, Daniel 9: 4b-10, begins as follows: "Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws."

God is addressed by Daniel, by you and me and all humankind as "great and awesome!"   We sinners are talking to an "awesome and great God!" All of us, like Daniel, have sinned before God. Our ancestors have sinned! Every nation has sinned, has worshipped idols, has sought strength and comfort, not from God, but from material things, earthly things. We have lorded ourselves over others.  We have, as a nation, as individuals, as a church, as a society, as a nationality, resorted to violence even to the point of war, flexing our muscles. We have alienated ourselves from God and one another.  We have engaged in manslaughter, in various forms of violence, in prejudice, and unjust behaviors. We have been merciless, arrogant, greedy, pride-filled and haughty. We have judged others, condemned them, and on and on and on! And, with Daniel, we say: "Lord, great and awesome God,  you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws."

In today's responsorial psalm, we pray: Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.  Help us, O God, our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name sake....[W]ith your great power free those doomed to death." And God does and wills it!

What a great and awesome God, a God of love, a God of compassion, a God of mercy.  We are asked to be merciful, compassionate, merciful and love as is our God!