20-second Summary
Glory to God in the highest! Glory be to God! Glory Hallelujah! Good glory…what is all this “glory”?
In English, we use this one word so much, while the original languages of the Bible use many different words for different types of glory. In this week’s readings, we see the glory of God manifested in Jesus, who shows us how to glorify the Lord – give glory to Him – by His example, which glorifies Him. Wow!
Wrapping up this week’s TWMWU, we look at how we can “glorify The Lord by our lives.” That’s a familiar phrase, isn’t it? This week, find out where it comes from and what to do about it.
Catechesis At Home – Second Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
Glory to God
When this week is no longer the current Mass, the readings for the Mass can be found here
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Glory to God
REFLECTION – Glory to God! His Glory is Revealed
The Wedding Feast at Cana: the scene of Jesus’ first public miracle. This is a continuation of the revelations we received at the Epiphany and Jesus’ Baptism. Think about it – in each of these stories, Jesus is revealed as something – someone – special: King, Son of God, Divine (see John 2:11).
The readings this week focus on God’s glory. What does that mean? What is glory – how is it defined? A simple definition is “honor and praise”. We will stick with this definition for the purposes of our reflection, but recognize that in Hebrew and Greek, there are several words that translate into “glory” and each has a specific definition.
How is Jesus’ glory revealed in the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana? By His changing water into wine, He amazes the witnesses, but more importantly, “his disciples began to believe in him.” This belief grows throughout their time with Him. His glory – His divinity – is revealed by His signs, teachings, and ultimately His sacrifice.
As we listen to the stories of Jesus and the miracles He performs for ordinary people, we should look to see when and where He performs miracles for us, and how that helps us come to believe in Him. In the birth of a healthy child, the healing from disease or illness, the peaceful passing of a loved one after a long fulfilling life, we can see His glory revealed. He answers our prayers, He offers us mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life in the sacraments. All of these reveal His glory to us. When we praise Him, when we sing, “Hallelujah,” we are glorifying God. As we recognize His lordship, kingship, and loving mercy in our lives, when we surrender to His infinite Goodness, Truth, and Beauty, we glorify Him and our belief in Him increases.
DISCUSSION – Giving Glory to God
“Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” This is one of the Mass dismissals from the Latin rite. Take time this week to discuss what it means to “glorify the Lord by your life”. How do we do this? What are the normal ways we can accomplish this mission? What are some of the more extraordinary ways we might pursue?
Most importantly – in what ways does GOD want us to glorify Him? Put another way, what is God’s will for me and my life? What is my vocation? Does living this vocation glorify God? (If it does not, then it is the wrong vocation!) How might I change things I already do, so that they are glorifying to God? Is there anything in my life right now that I should take out or stop doing? It might be a “good” thing, but if it takes me away from God, then it might not be the right thing for me right now.
Discuss with your family and friends these questions and help one another recognize both when you do glorify God and when you do not glorify God by your lives.
ACTIVITY – Glory Be To God
Praise God this week by praying the short, but very meaningful Glory Be prayer:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
This is a type of prayer called a Doxology a Greek word meaning glory or praise. (One of those many Greek words that mean glory.) Praise and glorify Him in your prayers, your actions, your thoughts, and your whole life!
DIG DEEPER – Other Glory and God resources from Holy Owned and Operated:
Links open in a new tab or window according to your settings so that you can compare and continue in this lesson’s theme.
Page: Prayer Basics
Printable: Our Father Infographic
Podcast: The LORD’s Prayer – Episode 45
Podcast: Discerning God’s Will Part 1 – Episode 74
Podcast: Discerning God’s Will Part 2 – Episode 75
TWMWU: The Lord Has Revealed To the Nations His Saving Power
TWMWU: Glorify the Lord by Your Life
TWMWU: Prepare the Way of the Lord
TWMWU: Fourth Week of Advent: Promises Fulfilled
TWMWU: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Article: Proverbs 31 Woman
Complete resources on HolyOwnedAndOperated.com for these topics: Glorify the Lord | God Resources
How can you give God the glory?
by Beth & Kristofer Cowles
HOO™ Co-Founders
Other Help on HOO
Lust And Love – Episode 133
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 24.0MB)
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What is the difference between lust and love?
During this “season of Valentines” Beth and Kristofer cover this (often unknowingly) confusing and vitally important topic before we dive headlong into the pink and roses and hearts and whatnot.
Beth and Kristofer share how to tell the difference between lust and love, and how to teach that to impressionable minds and hearts.
And they do this in the context of Mortal Sin and Theological Virtue: Lust and Love, respectively.
They also, right out of the gate, point to Nick’s seven-part series about Love as a great resource on our web site for this discussion, which is linked to in the show notes.
Living in this world, but not of it, is difficult, and Beth and Kristofer offer us some pointers on how to do that, particularly in this day and age.
And, no, there is no inappropriate or “parental discretion advised” content in this episode.
But they do get attacked by a tree!
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