494th Meditation
“The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God” (Ps 104:21).
God’s love and care extends to all of His irrational creation. This must have prompted a St. Francis of Assisi to include all the elements in the brotherhood of creatures in his famous canticle. All that our Father has created finds its deepest meaning in Him and bears witness to Him, even though, as a result of sin, the original harmony has been disturbed and death has entered this world.
But in spite of this wound that creation has suffered – to the point that it “waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom 8:19) – it can sing the glorious song of God’s love.
Even the mighty roar of the lion seeking its food, an image of the power and majesty of creation, bears witness to God. The young lion follows the instinct that the Creator has placed in it. As a creature from the hand of our Father, it too has received from God the right to live. Even without being aware of it, it demands from its Creator the food that guarantees its right.
When our eyes are opened, we will begin to contemplate miracle after miracle and recognize God’s wisdom even in the smallest things. Then we will rejoice in Him like the Psalmist who so lovingly describes the wonders of God in His creation:
“Thou makest springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
By them the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
From thy lofty abode thou waterest the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy work.
These all look to thee,
to give them their food in due season.
When thou givest to them, they gather it up;
when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good things.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Ps 103:10-13,27-28,35c).