How do we participate in the glory of God?
In the midst of his Last Supper discourse in John's Gospel, after Jesus has washed the feet of his disciples and Judas has left on his nefarious errand, Jesus tells his disciples, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. God is glorified through what God accomplishes in the death and resurrection of Jesus; this glory reveals God for who God is, namely, absolute love, love stronger than death, love that transcends any limitations we might have as human beings. Although we might not entirely grasp this truth, we may still participate in that glory, as Jesus adds, As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how we reveal God: by loving one another. We can only be one in Christ by loving one another; when we do so, we are participating in the glory of God.
As Paul and Barnabas travel from town to town in the Acts of the Apostles, they are persecuted: It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Paul is, on more than one occasion, beaten for proclaiming the good news. Yet throughout their trials, Paul and Barnabas have to continue to love those who persecuted them, for only in this way can they be one in Christ. Only through love can God’s work be accomplished through them, opening the door of faith to the Gentiles, so that the Word of God can spread. At every juncture, Paul and Barnabas share all that God has revealed to them – particularly the Son of Man glorified – with the communities they meet, so as to bring them into their common journey of love. As in Psalm 145, all the Lord’s works give the Lord thanks and discourse of the glory of his kingdom, a kingdom grounded in the love Christ came to share with all.
The Book of Revelation was also written to encourage a people undergoing persecution. John’s vision of a New Jerusalem descending, coming down out of heaven from God, is meant to be a sign of hope for those who remain open to God’s plan and to God’s will. Hardship is implicit, but God will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away. In this new heaven and new earth, in which God makes all things new, love will be the order of the day, that all might participate in the glory of the kingdom.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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