Easter 7 - For the Greater Glory of God

 

Homily for Easter 7

May 21, 2023

The Glory of God

 

            The British journalist Malcom Muggeridge didn’t really care much about religion, which is why he thought it strange to receive the assignment to travel to India to do a cover story about some obscure Albanian nun – Mother Teresa. Reluctantly he went on assignment and ended up becoming friends with the future saint. After a couple of years of following her around, he wrote her biography…and converted to Catholicism.

            He once wrote of Mother Teresa, “She is, in herself, a living conversion; it is impossible to be with her, to listen to her, to observe what she is doing, without being converted.”

            That is a profound testimony about a woman who lived completely for God’s glory alone.

            We hear a lot about the glory of God in today’s Gospel. Jesus asks the Father to glorify Him…St. Peter tells us to glorify God when we suffer for His Name. But what is the glory of God? What does it mean?

            We usually think of “glory” as just “praise”, but it’s much more than that. Glory is the manifestation of greatness, splendor, and majesty. The best secular example I can think of is the recent coronation of King Charles of England. There was so much pomp and circumstance, fancy robes and gold and jewels – but why? It is to show the greatness, not just of a man, but of a man who embodies the entire country of England. They wanted to make it spectacular because they believe that their country is great, splendid, amazing.

            So when we talk about the glory of God, we are talking about how God manifests His majesty, splendor, and glory. So where do we see God’s glory?

            First, in nature. It is remarkable how everything fits so perfectly together in nature. Right now the earth is about 93 million miles away from the sun. If it were a million miles closer or further away, there would be no life on it. Earth is tilted at a 23 degree angle – if it was more or less, our seasons would be completely out of whack. All of this points to the wisdom of a designer – manifesting His mighty power, His Providence and care.

            But more than a planet or a tree, the human person is the highpoint of God’s creation. As St. Augustine said, “Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vastness of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.” Not only our bodies, but moreso our souls – our intellect and free will, which set us apart from the animals as made in the image of God – shows forth the glory of God.

            But here’s the tricky thing about human beings – we can choose whether or not we are going to manifest the goodness of God. A fish can’t decide whether or not to glorify God – it simply glorifies God by being a fish, swimming in the ocean. But we can choose whether or not to live for God, to become the saints He created us to be. As St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive” – He receives the greatest glory when we are living as we ought to live – truly alive for Him, in Him, through Him.

            Most people go through life asking themselves, “What makes me happy?” They get up in the morning and wonder how they can please themselves that day. They make decisions based on what boosts their ego, brings them delight, or is convenient and profitable for them. But a true Christian awakens to the thought of, “What will glorify God today?” They make decisions based on what would please the good God Whom they love more than everything.

            Malcom Muggeridge converted because he saw a woman given completely over to the glory of God. God’s love, compassion, and heroic strength was visible because Mother Teresa gave herself completely over to Him. Would people be able to see God manifest in you? And I’m not talking about just being a “nice guy” – Mother Teresa wasn’t “nice” (in fact, she could be quite sharp, like when she went right up to President Bill Clinton and criticized him for supporting abortion). But she was totally yielded to God – she lived the famous Jesuit motto – Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – all for the greater glory of God. Everything in her life was for Him.

            What is preventing you from letting God’s glory be manifest in you? What is preventing you from living for His glory alone, and not for our own little plans, little pleasures, little egos? God wants to show the world Who He is – and He wants to use you to do it!

            Recently we received some relics (bones of saints) which will be placed into our altar when the Bishop comes in December. One of those relics is of St. Gabriel of Sorrowful Virgin, and he’s got quite a story of finally living for the glory of God. He was born in Italy in the mid-1800s and suffered much grief in his young life from the death of his mother and two sisters. This grief made him turn away from God – he figured that if life was short, he should make the most of it and live for all the pleasures the world could offer. As a teen, he was quite the ladies’ man – he got the nickname of “the dancer” because of his talents at parties, and would often have several girlfriends at once. It was said of him that he would often spend up to an hour combing his hair because he was so vain! Not an evil young man, but one who was living for his own glory and not for God’s.

            But God was trying to get him to live for him – when he was thirteen he got deathly ill, and while on his deathbed, he promised that he would turn his life around and live for God alone. When he recovered, he promptly forgot his promise. Another time he was hunting with his friends and a stray bullet barely missed hitting him – once again, he promised to become more faithful to God – but quickly forgot that promise as well.

            Finally, an epidemic struck his town. The town’s leaders led a procession through town with a statue of Our Lady, begging God for an end to the sickness. Gabriel was watching the procession pass by when a voice spoke to his heart: “Gabriel, how long will you live for yourself and not for Me?” Finally – finally! – God got his attention. He left the procession immediately and had a long conversation with a priest, who urged him to begin a prayer life, and to begin to live his life for Christ. He quickly advanced in the spiritual life, ended up joining a religious community, and died a faithful Catholic religious brother.

            So, if you feel like you’re ready to live for the glory of God, here are three things you can do to live it out. First – in your daily prayer, don’t ask God just to give you stuff, but tell the Lord that you are giving Him your life, without reservation. Second – when you are making a decision, ask what will please the Lord, not what would be most pleasing to you (sometimes the two are the same, but sometimes they’re not!). Third – consider how you use your time, your talents, and your treasures and begin to use all three in ways that please Him.

            My friends, God’s glory is manifest in all of His works, but it’s up to us if we will allow God’s glory to shine through us. May His glory and majesty, His love and truth, be manifest in our lives – that we may be a living witness of His glory.