15 May 2018 - toward his glory

Today's Readings (Audio)

Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

Let us ask to see the glory of Jesus. This is not an optional revelation for the contemplative mystical saints of the Church. We need to see the glory of Jesus so we can understand the one thing that really matters.

Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

We need to know Jesus, not just know about him. We need to see him well enough that we come to understand the Father as well. And it is perhaps here that we should be cautious about our own expectations. The way the world shows its glory is not the way God shows us his. It is in the self-giving love and obedience of Jesus that he is glorified. It is in the cross and resurrection that he shows forth both his own glory and the heart of the Father. How different this is from the glory of a military victory of some earthly king!

Looking at the glory of Jesus revealed in his saving death and resurrection shows us the heart that the Father has for him and for us. We see that even though the Father wants Jesus to love us all the way to the cross he does not abandon him to death. This is glorious beyond the glory of any earthly king or military triumph. The worldly sort of glory revolves around self-directed initiative and victory. The glory of God is revealed through obedience and what is at first apparently failure. Through this glory Jesus becomes the source of eternal life for all who believe in him.

We need to care more about God's glory than worldly glory. When we do we gain the freedom of Paul.

Yet I consider life of no importance to me,
if only I may finish my course
and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,
to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.

To care more about God's glory than worldly glory we can't be indifferent to it. We have to desire it. Let us ask to have the eyes of our hearts enlightened to see it fully.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (see Ephesians 1:17-18)

LORD, show us your glory!

Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.