WHAT DOES GLORIFICATION MEAN?
To give Glory to God is to stop sinning and to consciously defeat the power of the devil within us. Glorifying God and defeating the devil go hand in hand. To give true glory to God, is to renounce ourselves, mount the Cross and die to sin. Jesus gave glory to God the Father, by obeying God’s Will, by bringing redemption into the world, through His suffering by carrying and mounting the Cross for our sins. We must do it now. It is called redemptive suffering. Jesus reveals that true glory is not found in outward magnificence, but in the love that gives itself fully, even through suffering. What glorified God was not the suffering itself, but the perfect love with which Jesus freely embraced that suffering. We too, are called to love God and each other as we journey together in this pilgrimage of earthly life. If we accept suffering as a Cross, and offer it up to God for the conversion of unbelievers and the unfaithful, then we become co-redeemers with the Redeemer Jesus Christ. God calls us to offer our sufferings up to Him as a sacrifice, which begins our glorification process to become saints here on earth. We are called to eternal glorification someday in heaven, through the Cross. The reward in heaven will be eternal peace and joy with no more suffering. In the first reading (Acts 14:21-27), Paul and Barnabas tell us that, ‘We all have to experience many hardships before we enter the Kingdom of God …and to persevere in the faith. To forgive is to make a sacrifice of self and our ego, which results in bringing about peace. This is also a form of redemptive suffering, which becomes a divine currency that buys salvation/eternal life, for us and the world. This is what Christ did for us on Calvary.
THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE
In the Gospel today (Jn 13:31-33,34-35), Jesus’ glorification and suffering began at the Last Supper, when Judas left the room, because it activated the coming of the Hour of His glorification. This was the hour that began the process of returning the fallen race of humanity, into a risen race of God’s children. Mother Mary prepared Jesus, as she prepares us too, for our hour. That is why we say; pray for us sinners now, and at the hour, of our death”. The Holy City and the New Jerusalem descending from Heaven (Apoc 21:1-5), represents the image of the Holy Church coming down from heaven. The Church is the Bride of Christ and He is the Bridegroom (Husband). The eternal covenant is an eternal marriage between Jesus and His Church. It is identified by love, which should reflect all relationships. The Voice sitting on the Throne says; ‘You see this city? Here, God lives among men. He will make His home among them’. So the Church is the visible image of God living among us. Sadly, very few go to visit Him, especially in Mass. Let us begin to recognise Jesus now in His Eucharistic Body (Holy Communion) and go to Mass, if we intend going to heaven. The purpose of going to heaven, is to continue this eternal relationship (covenant) with God. However, the covenant must begin now first. God bless, Fr Brendan.