Glory to:
God the Father . . .
God the Son . . .
God the Holy Spirit!
Glory To The Father
The
word “Glory” is commonly used today perhaps so frequently that
we don’t give it much thought when we find it used in a
religious context.
For
example, it is used to describe an especially beautiful event in
nature such as a glorious sunrise or sunset or sometimes to
describe the inspiring performance of an individual or team, the
particular beauty of a woman or the amassed show of power and
splendor of a king, queen or ruler. It is most often used
to show respect, to give praise, admiration, and honor to
someone or something.
But
in our material world, change is normal. The glorious
colors we enjoy in a sunrise will disappear in the bright light
of the morning sun, the glorious sunset will disappear in the
dark of night, a person’s physical strength or beauty diminishes
with age, and a ruler’s political glory may be overshadowed by
that of another.
There
is only one glory that never changes. This is the total
and complete perfection of God that we recognize, honor and
accept through love when we say "Glory to the Father, to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit.”
God the Father is Creator
.
. .
in whose mind we were always present and who brought our
material universe into being. It is through his will that
his Son was born of Mary to redeem us. The relationship
between God and ourselves is one of love. We should be as
desperately in love with Him as He is with us. We love Him
through our good intentions, actions and prayers. He loves
us and kisses us through his sacraments. God the Father
speaks to us through His son.
Jesus Christ our Savior
and Redeemer . . .
who, by taking on human nature, became like us in all
ways but sin. By healing our infirmities, and his teaching
about his heavenly Father, he led us to understand his father’s
desire that we try to follow the teachings and example of Jesus
and so merit eternal life. His choose to die on a cross to
redeem us, (the ultimate act of love), and merited our return to
eternal friendship with his Father in heaven. He
took upon himself our frail human nature through his young
virgin mother named Mary. He announced his Father’s
kingdom first through the Jewish nation and then to the world
through his church and disciples. We are all strengthened
and supported by the limitless merits and graces he earned for
us to become his ministers and ambassadors. Our mission is
to announce his message of love.
When
his mission was accomplished by his suffering and death on the
cross, but before returning to his Father in heaven, His Son,
Jesus, promised to send the Holy Spirit as our guide in ways
pleasing to his heavenly Father.
God the
Holy Spirit is Sanctifier
. . .
who touches our minds and strengthens us with the
spiritual gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude,
Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. The Holy
Spirit speaks to us through holy thoughts and encourages us to
use his gifts to act in accordance with God’s will. By a
life of openness to the Spirit's inspirations, we are drawn
closer to God and increase in love which is the very life of
God. The voice of the Holy Spirit is strengthened through
the graces received in the sacraments of His Church and in
particular the sacrament of Confirmation.
We give glory to God
. . .
when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He offers
inspirations and situations which bring us to closer union with
the desires of God, made known through his Son and his
Church. St. Matthew has recorded the instructions Jesus
Christ gave to his disciples in his gospel account found in
Chapter 5, verses 1 through 16. These instructions are
called the Beatitudes. In them, Christ clearly told
us the motives and actions pleasing to his father, and how
blest, "well off," and rewarded will those persons be who try to
follow them. The occasion when Christ gave these
instructions is called “The Sermon on the
Mount.”
Beatitude One-Blessed
are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beatitude Two-Blessed are
they who mourn for they shall be comforted.
Beatitude
Three-Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the
earth.
Beatitude
Four-Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Beatitude
Five-Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
Beatitude Six-Blessed are the
clean of heart, for they will see God.
Beatitude Seven-Blessed are the peacemakers for they
shall be called children of God.
Beatitude Eight-Blessed are
those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beatitude Nine-Blessed will you
be when they insult you and persecute and utter every kind of
evil against you (falsely) because of me, rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Conclusion . . .
As
God creatures, He expects us to return his love by doing what
he expects of us.
Christ, God's son came to earth to redeem us and show
us how to give glory to God his Father.
Christ told us how we will be
rewarded when we give glory to God his father.
Christ told us what would happen
if we do not give glory to God his father.
Christ sent God the Holy Spirit to
inspire us, and guide our thoughts and help us make good
choices
to reflect our love for God and his creation.
We can give but one response to Christ’s message:
The Response - Give
Glory to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit!
The Reward - Eternal life with the Trinity, with Mary,
the angels and all the saints in heaven who
have given God glory during their lives on earth!