I found the entrance antiphon of Sunday, 3 July 2022 to be particularly inspiring. So much to be unpacked in each phrase. Consider the opening line; “Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple”. Of all the names we have for our Triune God, merciful love is one of the most beautiful. This opening line could have read, Your merciful love is, O God. For God Himself is love and love shone through the prism of light reflects all the names and all the virtues we know and love about our God.
This opening line is a clear, practical and grateful appeal to our God to shower His goodness on us, as we receive in the midst of His holy place. It is our disposition which governs this compensation, for His grace is given in full measure and in this sustaining grace we receive as much as we are capable. It is our open hearts and empty hands which allow us to be filled with His gifts. Again, we are told, “Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth.” It is your righteousness and our right worship which has no bounds and no limits, for the ends of the earths encompasses all that is in our world and reflects all which is in Your heavenly realm.
Finally, we are told; “Your right hand is filled with saving justice.” The metaphor of the “right hand” shows the mighty power and prestige of what is working in our lives through His saving justice. We can see plainly that there must be justice and His judgment is justice. This is a spiritual physics anchored in the intelligibility, reason and logic of His genius. Unlike karma which we consider to be the cause and effect in our life in a world of contingences; His justice is His creation endowed with love and mercy on the path to salvation. Lord, thank you for Your purpose and the power to bring us into Your loving arms.