All-mighty or all-love?

I noticed that several priests like to substitute the word "almighty" - which often appears in the text of the Mass as a reference to God - with "all-love." Their uneasiness is palpable - and they sometimes verbalize it - with respect to the first: "almighty" would be too domineering, stern, distant or constraining; while "all-love" is more encompassing, liberal, affectionate or comforting. Of course, the two epithets fit well with God, yet they carry a different semantic load.

"GOD'S LOVE AND OMNIPOTENCE ARE ATTACHED TOGETHER AS THE TWO SIDES OF A SAME COIN."

The eagle is a celestial symbol. Several evocations of this bird appear in the Bible. In Deuteronomy, for example, Yahweh is compared to an eagle. As for the angels, such as described by Ezekiel, they are depicted with the face of an eagle. Later John the evangelist will also be associated to an eagle, and, on occasions, it will also be the case for Jesus through the Middle Ages.

It is true that not so long ago, a certain perception of God within the Church almost made Him look like a dictator. I'm too young to have experienced this myself, but I have occasionally seen traces of this past influence on people who have much suffered from it. They recall the "vengeful God," the "wrath of God" or sin seen everywhere; an intransigence accompanied by fairly strong clericalism. For those whose memories are still somewhat marked by the impression of a stern God, the epithet "all-mighty" may displease.

No wonder an opposite trend has sought to balance the perception by attempting to reveal the true face of God. A God personifying goodness, mercy and love. A new and liberating vision of God, capable of defusing anyone's destructive guilt. The child of God now guided, rather than controlled, on his/her way to heaven. The latter perception of God is certainly closer to the true message of the Gospel.

Influenced perhaps by the enthusiasm such a change could operate, certain individuals, I believe, have gone too far in their interpretation to the extent of evacuating the very notion of sin, and of turning God's goodness into meekness. Doesn't the conjunction of such a soft interpretation, with the prevailing relativism of today's world, give way, as a reaction, to the resurgence of a certain intransigence in the Church?

How do we strike a good balance? How does one reconcile the very real omnipotence of God - with the equally real fact that He is "all-love"?

The discomfort the word "almighty" provokes within certain people reveals perhaps the need to readjust certain perceptions. Doesn't God deploy His infinite power for our greater happiness? Isn't His omnipotence fueled by his infinite love? Jesus summoned them and said to them: “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.  But it is not so among you. […] the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10, 42-45). Jesus does not appear to delight in his power…

I like to think that because my God is almighty, I have absolutely nothing to fear from anything, starting with death. His omnipotence is not meant to crush, but to raise; it does not seek to punish, but to forgive; it will not oppress, but emancipate; it is not indifferent, but quick to bring relief. And in all of this, our God exudes love! "God's love and omnipotence are attached together as the two sides of the same coin"

Out of love for us, his omnipotence will answer our prayers: "[…] if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you." (Mk 11, 23).

Virgin Mary, uplift my faith. Virgin Mary, increase the faith of all those who are baptized.

On this feast of Christ, King of the universe, may Jesus Christ's almighty love and loving omnipotence reveal God's true image to humankind, today.

Marc Paré