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Sirach 43:4 "A man tending a furnace works in burning heat, but the sun burns the mountains three times as much; it breathes out fiery vapors, and with bright beams it blinds the eyes."

 

Sirach is singing the praises of various parts of creation, kind of like the Rounds mentioned here, and he starts with the sun - "A marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High ... Great is the Lord who made it; and at his command it hastens on its course." (Sirach 43:2,5) 

 

I think we can all take creation for granted sometimes. In the busyness of daily life, and with all the entertainments and distractions we have, nature can become unnoticed, just a backdrop to everything else. That is a real shame, because there is nothing like the order, beauty, and complexity of the natural world. Nothing we can make or do comes even close. Nature reveals God to us, it shows us His glory and power. That is one reason why praying the Rounds, or praying as Sirach does here, is so important. In such prayer, we put ourselves out into creation, we remember its beauty and grandeur, we appreciate how mighty and awesome it is, and we recall and honor the One who created it all.

 

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