God, the Almighty

CCC 268 Of all the divine attributes, only God's omnipotence (that He is All-Powefull) is named in the Creed: "I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH." To profess this power has great bearing on our lives. We believe that his might is universal, for God who created everything also rules everything and can do everything. God's power is loving, for he is our Father, and mysterious, for only faith can discern it when it "is made perfect in weakness. " CCC 269 The Holy Scriptures repeatedly confess the universal power of God…If God is almighty "in heaven and on earth", it is because he made them. Nothing is impossible with God, who disposes his works according to his will. He is the Lord of the universe, whose order he established and which remains wholly subject to him and at his disposal. He is master of history, governing hearts and events in keeping with his will: As Wisdom 11:21 states "It is always in your power to show great strength, and who can withstand the strength of your arm? CCC 270 God is the Father Almighty, whose fatherhood and power shed light on one another: God reveals his fatherly power in three ways: by the way he takes care of our needs; by the filial adoption that he gives us ("I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty"): God shows forth his almighty power by converting us from our sins and restoring us to his friendship by grace. The power of God is seen most clearly in his mercy and forgiveness. In the face of evil God seems apparently powerlessness 272 Faith in God the Father Almighty can be put to the test by the experience of evil and suffering. God can sometimes seem to be absent and incapable of stopping evil. But in the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the death and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil. Christ crucified is thus "the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." It is precisely in our weakness that the power of God is manifest. St John Paul writes in his letter on the meaning of human suffering: the weaknesses of all human sufferings are capable of being infused with the same power of God manifested in Christ's Cross. In such a concept, to suffer means to become particularly susceptible, particularly open to the working of the salvific powers of God, offered to humanity in Christ. In him God has confirmed his desire to act especially through suffering, which is man's weakness and emptying of self, and he wishes to make his power known precisely in this weakness and emptying of self. Salvific Dolores 23 CCC 273 Only faith can embrace the mysterious ways of God's almighty power. This faith glories in its weaknesses in order to draw to itself Christ's power. The Virgin Mary is the supreme model of this faith, for she believed that "nothing will be impossible with God", and was able to magnify the Lord: "For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." Mary believed the words of the Angel, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the Power of the Most Hight will overshadow you…and Nothing will be impossible to God.” Even before it happened and her belief enabled it to happen. Mary continued to believe as she stood beneath the Cross, held her dead Son in her arms and laid him in the Tomb. And God did what seemed impossible – He raised her Son from the Dead. Mary come and be our faith in God the Father Almighty when we are weak. How do we stay faithful when things seem impossible? Keep this in mind at all times and say it over and over: Nothing is impossible to God; and God works all things for good for those who love him. CCC 274 "Nothing is more apt to confirm our faith and hope than holding it fixed in our minds that nothing is impossible with God. Romans 8:28 All things work for good for those who love God.