Giving glory to God

"We must always act in the way that will give most glory to God." -St. John Marie Vianney, Catechism on the Word of God

When reflecting on what gives God glory, we can also reflect on what doesn't give God glory. Idleness, mindless chatter, gossip, laziness, sloth, and mediocrity does not give God glory. What good is it if you go to Sunday Mass, if you are reading the bulletin during Mass, and what good is going to Mass if you raise a fit about going in the first place, only to have happen after Mass that you are not internally changed and converted? How many leave church only to restart the argument from before Mass, and this time, with our precious Lord dwelling inside of us?

Does this give glory to God, idly going through life, being safe and neutral? Does it give glory to God by avoiding trouble, and by taking the easy road?

Giving glory to God means to glorify Him at every moment, whether you feel like it or not. Giving glory is not reserved just for inside the church, but rather, you give glory with every action that the good God can deem as glorifying. By serving the poor, protecting the unborn, fighting for the Truth of the Church and Jesus Christ, living holy lives, we give glory to God. I am trying to glorify God right now by writing about God, so that through my writing, at least one person may come closer to God. The God who beckons us to come, sit at His feet, and learn. You don't just raise your hands and shout glory; glorify Him internally, and glorify Him in all things.

We must always act in the way that will give glory to the good God. How do we do this? Sin no more, and replace our sinning and idleness with things that will glorify God.

Glorifying God also involves doing the will of God. By doing His will, we do Him greater glory. God loves us tremendously; he is our tremendous lover. Every man looking for love is looking for God, for God is love. We love Him mostly when we love Him and when we listen to Him. We don't need to waive our arms up and down and shoot Alleluia; all we need to do is kneel in silence and gaze in wonder at the tabernacle, the house of God where the Eucharist resides. The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ himself, is present, ready to be spiritual food for the soul, so that we might do God honor and glory all the more through graces bestowed to us from the "true blood and true drink" (See John 6:55). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son" (John 3:16). As a result, there is also a glorifying aspect to sacrifice. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, glorifying His Father in a profound way in which we partake at Mass. In order to give God the fullness of glory, we must participate in the ultimate act of sacrifice, which gives God the fullness of glory. Glory is the effect of love. If we love God, then we will give Him glory in all things. Glory is also the effect of sacrifice. If we sacrifice for God, and if we truly recognize and participate in the sacrifice of God, we give Him glory.

So, is glory easy? No, but it is sanctifying. Holiness isn't easy, but it is joy filled for all who wish to take up the cross of Christ and follow after Him. By doing this, we give God greater glory and honor.

May God bless you. May we imitate the Mother of God, Mary, as she says "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word", and through the laying down of our lived and the acceptance of God will, may we give God glory, so that when our life ends, He may glorify us at the eternal banquet of the Lamb.