REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

“All glory and honour is yours Almighty Father!” 

(by Fr. James McTavish FMVD)

There is a film called “Les Miserables” based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The opening scenes show a convict being welcomed by a kindly Bishop. The convict abuses the hospitality, steals the silverware and strikes down the Bishop to make good his escape. He is soon caught and brought back to the convent by the police. To the shock and surprise of both the police and the convict, the Bishop, sporting a bruised face and black eye, states that he gave the silverware to the convict as a gift. In this way the police have to release him. Later the Bishop tells the convict “I have rescued you. I have bought your soul from the devil and given it back to God. Now go and live the life of a new man”. The convict changes his ways and dedicates his life to good deeds and helping others for the glory of God. He never forgot that he had been redeemed, that his life had been bought and paid for out of mercy and love. His whole life points to Christ. St Paul gives each one of us the exact same lesson today “You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God”.

To use our lives for the glory of God. The motto of the Jesuits is “For the greater glory of God”. We cannot live only as we want. St Paul reminds us “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep away from fornication”. In what way does your life give glory to God? Does it point clearly to him? It is easy to point to something when we are passionate about it. When we watch a film it is not difficult to persuade others to go and watch it if we really enjoyed it. If we are passionate and enjoy our relationship with God then it will be easier for our lives to point to him. The life of John the Baptist was like this. His life pointed clearly to Jesus so much so that his disciples left him and went to follow Jesus much to John’s joy. Sometimes we are the ones who receive the praise and glory. I remember once in some theology exams I did quite well. Everyone came up to me and said well done. I got a bit tired of the accolades after about the tenth person congratulated me and said how great I was. My younger brother was with me and I said “All glory and honour is yours Almighty Father!” The following week my brother was involved in a sports festival. When he went up to collect the gold medal for track and field on his T shirt he had the words “All glory and honour is yours Almighty Father”!

When we give glory to God we have so much peace. We acknowledge that the talents we have are a gift from God. It is a good remedy for jealousy too. Sometimes when I am tempted to be jealous for the capacity of someone who is “better” than me I remember what the angels said - “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth”. When I thank God for the talents of others, and give glory to him I experience peace as it reminds me that the talents were given by God and I too have talents. Then I experience peace and thanksgiving not jealousy. All we have been given is to point to God and give glory to him.

Of course when a person is really rooted and founded in Jesus their life will always point to him in whatever they do. Like Kaka the famous Brazilian footballer who after the European Championship final took off his shirt to reveal a vest underneath with the words “I BELONG TO JESUS” emblazoned across it. How cool is that in front of all the TV cameras! Or a friend of mine who was a member of the Blues rugby team of Cambridge University. On seeing the drunkenness and bad behavior of fellow players after a victorious match he decided not to drink so much when he went out with them. He not only earned many points as a speedy winger on the rugby park but also he earned the deep respect of many people including myself when I was a wayward student. When I asked him why he didn’t enjoy the big nights out getting totally drunk like the rest of the team he shared to me his beliefs. His life pointed clearly to Jesus. Now 20 years on he is a successful surgeon, happily married with a loving wife and family. His life still points clearly to the Lord. How about us? When we are at work, with friends, where does our life point?

Sometimes we can live a dichotomy, a kind of division between what we say and profess with our lips and the actual lives we lead. Our life does not point to God. To help us and to close the gap between faith and life we need the help of others. Why? Because we have blind spots. Like Samuel in the first reading of today. God was trying to speak to him but he could not hear properly. He needed the help of Eli. We need to be humble to receive the help of each other. Sometimes we don’t look for the help of others. Sometimes I am afraid to come to the light. Sometimes I cannot bear criticism. This is the scar left by the wound of pride. I like the advice of Bo Sanchez, a popular Filipino preacher. He says when you are criticized bear it bravely, sift through it and find the gold amongst the trash. Take the criticism with appreciation, humor and forbearance.

Let us ask for the help of John the Baptist that our lives can point clearly to Jesus, that as we say in the Holy Mass “All glory and honour is yours Almighty Father”. That our lives can be like a compass, pointing clearly to Jesus. Lord, help us give glory to you, to be passionate for you, for your Kingdom! Not to us the glory, not to us give glory. All glory and honour is yours Almighty Father.