Is there a voice on earth more booming than the bass, deeper than the abysses, more solemn than the requiems sung by the Holy Church? Yes, it is a voice that has resounded since the days of creation, whose language suffered nothing from the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel. It remains unchanged despite the changes in languages and in the most varied dialects, crossing the centuries. It is the voice of God in nature at war: thunder!
In the prospect of an impending storm, people immediately think about their safety and their own interests: “Will there be a power outage? Will it jeopardize my work? Will the downpour be heavy enough to cause flooding? How will this affect my house, my street, my neighbourhood?” Worried, they take a few measures. But what can mere mortals do in the face of the forces of nature? The heavens arm themselves and unleash a violent storm…
These are moments of extreme gravity, true wonder and glorious ceremony! Winds shake trees, carry away objects and damage buildings. Lightning illuminates the skies, and its bolts flash everywhere like sharp arrows. The ground trembles and groans at the rumble of thunder.
What is this greatness before which man feels so small and powerless?
Does it not evoke the archetypal scene of Our Lord’s expulsion of the moneychangers from the Temple? How many times did the divine whip, woven by the Saviour, cut through the air to strike the merchandise of the moneychangers, echoing with loud cracks while a strong voice resounded: “You shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (Jn 2:16). And what happened next? The conversion of many at the outcry of God, an effective cleansing of the sanctuary!
A famous Italian song says: “Che bella cosa, una giornata al sole, dopo la tempesta l’aria serena.” Indeed, how much fresher the air is after the storm! Nature renews itself, plants sprout, birds sing and… man reflects. In his subconscious, he is left with a tacit question: “Is this not a warning?” The recollection of the last four things comes to mind, he shudders a little, he becomes insecure, he fears divine punishment, but… he does not dare change his life. Dominated by a sceptical and optimistic mindset, he dismisses the warning, calms his nerves, takes a drink and sighs: “Why torment myself with this?”
One has to be really deaf not to hear such a clear and expressive voice. Thunder is not just a threatening rumble from the heavens, but above all a loving admonition from the Lord, reminding us of eternal truths. The Creator shows himself to be extremely faithful to us, repeating with categorical insistence in the “voice” of the thunder: “Pay attention! I exist!”
Let us not imitate the erroneous attitude of the Israelites who, on hearing the “divine thunder” at the foot of Mount Sinai, drew back and said: “Let not God speak to us, lest we die” (Ex 20:19). Oh, may we not make such a foolish request, because this is not an option; rather, let us pray that we will not be deaf, and that this voice will produce in our soul all the fruit that He intended when He created it!
And let us reflect while there is still time!… ◊
