Gloria

The present form of the Gloria is recorded as far back as 1600 years ago. It is one of the oldest prayers in mass, so singing it in its ancient form unites us with all Catholics through all those centuries. In 799AD, the people sang the Gloria as Charlemagne and Pope Leo III walked together into the imperial parliament. The Gloria has been around for a long time.

The first line is obviously from chapter two of the Gospel of Luke, “And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly hosts of angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.’” Thus, the first line of the Gloria comes to us from the angels as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. The peace that the angels speak of is not a peace that is an absence of war, but a peace that comes from being reconciled to God; a reconciling peace that comes from conversion. Those who seek to be reconciled with God, and to live according to God’s will, are certainly people of good will.

Next we have several acclamations about Jesus. Perhaps the number of acclamations are excessive. However, when you think about it, it is excessive, but that is the point. We should be so overcome by God’s power, love, and mercy that we practically babble and stammer.

In the Gospel of John (1:29, 36) it is written that John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” so the Gloria is quoting the Bible. One reason why we are giving glory to God is because Jesus took away the sins of the world. Three times we ask God to have mercy on us. Why? Because when we offend someone who is close to us, we don’t say I’m sorry only once, we say it several times.

In the next sentence we are doing things in threes. Jesus alone is the Holy One, the Lord, and the Most High. If that is the case, then he should be the most important thing in our lives. Jesus is the center of all time and the universe. His coming to earth is so important that we number our years from the year of his birth. Nothing should come between us and following our Lord. Remember the story of the rich young man (Matt 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)? He was too attached to his possessions to give them up to follow Jesus. Are our lives outside of this building congruent with the Gloria, or is something out in the world receiving more of our attention and glory than God? We give glory to God because He saves us from our sins and invites us to spend all eternity with him. Do our lives outside of this building give Him glory, or do our lives out there ignore Him, and we give our glory and attention to something else?