What is the glory of God?

[arunangelo]

Jesus’ love and mercy for us is infinite. During his horrific passion (Mark 15), he was concerned about the pain and suffering we would have to bear (because of our sins) (Luke 23:26-28), and not about his own pain and suffering. His pain and suffering were infinitely greater than what were visible to the onlookers, because, they were pain and suffering inflicted on an infinite, holy and sinless God. Furthermore, in order to save us from eternal suffering, He took the suffering of every human being upon Himself.

Though God is infinitely more powerful than all the rulers of the world combined, he did not offer resistance when he was mocked, spat upon, humiliated and brutally scourged. He did this to completely empty himself of self on our behalf, so that we may be free of sin, and thereby find peace and joy. This is what love is. It is not to just forget what our offenders have done to us, but to go all out, even to the extent of loosing our own life, in order to help them to recover from their destructive way of life.

When one human being lays down his life for another, it is a great love; but when God who is infinite lays down His life for human beings (who are so insignificant compared to him), its magnitude is infinite. Love therefore, has no limit. Because love is unconditional, if we hold back anything in the process of helping others, it is not true love. 

Because God is love, Jesus who is God, is “love incarnate”. He expresses divine love, which is infinite, in human form. It is impossible for finite beings like us to understand the infinite love of God.  However, when we see divine nature in his human form, we get a faint glimpse of the magnitude of his love. In other words, when we realize that in order to save us, an infinite God took a human form; and not just a human form, but also a human form that was rejected, battered, humiliated and killed (by a method reserved for the worst criminal); we faintly realize the magnitude of His love.  In His battered, beaten and crucified body, we therefore, see the glory of God (1 Cor 1:18).

 

[reen12]

Hello, arunangelo,

I was with you, until I came upon the following sentence:

quote: arunangelo

Because love is unconditional, if we hold back anything in the process of helping others, it is not true love.

I’m trying to figure out what the word ‘true’ means, in this
context.
Husbands and wives love each other, and fail often
in terms of "unconditional’ love.
Parents love their children, and sometimes fail them
in terms of ‘unconditional’ love.

…if we hold back anything in the process of helping others…

But, you see, to me that is the definition of being
human. We pray for God’s grace not to ‘hold
back anything’, and when we fail, we repent and
ask once again for God’s assistance.

To hold that:

Because love is unconditional, if we hold back anything in the process of helping others, it is not true love.

…makes me anxious, thinking of where things would be if we all
got dis-“couraged” about our failures in ‘unconditional
love’ not being ‘true love’, and stopped our attempts
at ‘loving’ because it was subject to human frailty and
even sin, and therefore wasn’t ‘true’ love.

God asks us to do our best, and rejoices in even
our feeble attempts to love. Perfection is the
province of Heaven, not here.

At least, that’s what I think.

Best,
reen12

 

[arunangelo]

Jesus showed us true love. It could also be called perfect love. Though it is difficult for us to express that love; through, with and in Jesus we can express it. It is unconditional; it therefore never dies, holds back nothing, gives totally and does not make distinction between friend and foe.

We have to be totally obedient to God and the teachings of His church. Then with a sincere heart ask Jesus to be our thoughts, words and actions. Then totally surrender to the will of God. We have to do this every day and every time we go off the road.

Arunangelo

 

[reen12]

Well, arunangelo, all I can say is, that is neither my
view of God or of my fellow human beings.

We *aim *at “unconditonal love”, sometimes even
succeeding, through God’s grace. And, if we love
God, we *keep *at it, throughout a lifetime, thanking
God for our ability to love, as Christ loved, in the
imperfect way that characterizes being human.

I dunno. I rather see God, opening His arms, and
saying:
“Come, ye blessed of My Kingdom.”

You did your level best, with My grace.

Best regards,
reen12

 

[allhers]

When I first read the question, “What is the glory of God?” I thought of this-John3:16–For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life."

So, I agree with both of you. God gave that we might have life. (There is no guarantee that we will, but that is His intention.) We do have to do our part because as it says further along…in verse 18…whoever believes in Him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Apparently then, God’s glory consists in this----Jesus!!

I like the way both of you think because I think that one is further along the road than the other, and I read somewhere one time where we need to take some who are further along the road than we are with us on our journey.

You both reminded me of Blessed Mother Teresa’s morning prayer
–this is the beginning of it-"I have come to Thee, to take Thy Touch before I begin my day, let my eyes rest upon Your eyes…
She knew it was Jesus acting in her by the Glory of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that she was able to do for HIM, in Him, through Him and for His Glory.

Love is unconditional, it thinks of the other, not of self. It wants what is best for the other, that doesn’t mean that the other is always going to accept it though.

I believe God knows all of our hearts, and He wants what is best for us, and the little bit that we manage to do in our daily lives, only shows forth His Glory. In other words, its not us.:tiphat:

 

[reen12]

Dear allhers,

Yes!

quote: allhers
I believe God knows all of our hearts, and He wants what is best for us, and the little bit that we manage to do in our daily lives, only shows forth His Glory. In other words, its not us.:tiphat:

It sure isn’t us. It’s the grace of God, that’s given to us
for the asking.

Your post made me think.

How many times have I been able to assist another
because someone has first assisted me? How has
the grace of God come to me through another’s
kindness and mercy, which then enabled me to assist
another, again, through God’s grace.

I “own” nothing but my sins, as someone once said.

To me, one of the joys of heaven, will be each of us
rejoicing, not only in God’s Presence, but rejoicing
in one another’s acts of love for us and in the Giver
of the grace that motivated and sustained those actions.

The realization of how God came to the aid of
someone that I had *failed *to love unconditionally,
out of human weakness, will fill me with gratitude
to Him for eternity.

And the forgiveness offered to me by those that I have failed
to love unconditionally, [being human] will fill me with
love and gratitude toward them. But that’s* why*
these individuals will be in heaven…their ability to forgive.

You are so right. It is not “us.”

Thanks for your post,

reen12

 

[allhers]

To me, one of the joys of heaven, will be each of us
rejoicing, not only in God’s Presence, but rejoicing
in one another’s acts of love for us and in the Giver
of the grace that motivated and sustained those actions.

The realization of how God came to the aid of
someone that I had *failed *to love unconditionally,
out of human weakness, will fill me with gratitude
to Him for eternity.

And the forgiveness offered to me by those that I have failed
to love unconditionally, [being human] will fill me with
love and gratitude toward them. But that’s* why*
these individuals will be in heaven…their ability to forgive.

The above is your words, and I couldn’t have said it any better myself. God is so good!! Sometimes I think He just gives us a small little glimpse of the Glory, everyonce in awhile at Mass or in Adoration, sometimes through someone just smiling at us at just the right moment or saying something really kind just when you need to hear it, and in music, so often in music!! At times during the Mass, I am just so in awe that I can barely sing the words. The saints writings show how much love He has for us, He just pours Him self out to us to fill us up, if we are willing. One of the most beautiful things we can do too is when reading the Bible, to just put yourself there, right there with Him, walking along the road with Him and Him revealing Himself to us, in the breaking of the Bread. He is so awesome, sometimes words just fail me, but His Word never fails!