When the first cable was installed between Europe and the Americas, much thought was given to what should be the first telegram message that would be sent to the New World through the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. At last a sublime decision was made, that is, to send the message of the words of the angelic hymn, Gloria in excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest).
What a fitting message for a new human invention. Giving God all praise and glory is the primary purpose of everything, of creation, recreation, and procreation, of human labor, of prayer and sacrifice, and of our effort to stop corruption and practice Christian discipleship (1 Pet. 4:1). To honor God should be our only intention, when we commit ourselves to any decent work, and work hard for excellence.
A complete Family of eternal happiness
Let us give it a try to fathom the unfathomable, without being presumptuous. The glory of God may be understood in the splendor of the eternal goodness, the unfading beauty, and everlasting love of the Blessed Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To the glory of the Trinity, nothing is lacking and nothing can be added—hence everlasting goodness.
The Trinity is a complete Family of happiness. And because God is infinitely perfect (Matthew 5:48d), the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of all things (Revelation 22:13), God has no need of anything or anybody outside of Himself. Neither does God necessitate someone to complement what is lacking. In an absolute sense, God does not need any or all of His creation, inasmuch as the whole of creation is just one of His Divine whims (Revelation 4:11).
Louis XV, the ambitious king of France, was dazzled by his power, glory, and fortune that he took upon himself the alias of “the Sun King,” a proud title he thought might exalt him endlessly. The title, he thought, might put him equal to that of the brightest creation of the skies. When he died, the funeral oration was delivered by Jean-Baptiste Massillon, the sacred orator of worldwide fame. Standing by the coffin which was about to be lowered into the tomb, Massillon began his eulogy with these words, so touching in their utter simplicity: “Dieu seul est grand” (God alone is great!). “Mes frères et dans ces derniers moments surtout où il préside à la mort des rois de la terre.” And all the rest are nothing but mere reflections in comparison.
Bonum diffusivum sui
The reason why God created the universe out of nothing and the human person in His Image, that sole reason, can be found in His great love and goodness. God is perfect love (1 John 4:16) and love by its nature is intrinsically communicable. God is good and philosophers have reasoned out that bonum diffusivum sui (goodness tends to diffuse itself).
“Let them give glory to the Lord, and utter His praise in the coastlands” (Isaiah 42:12). In the first place, the goodness, beauty, and order of creation are a reflection of God’s own goodness, beauty, and order. The whole of creation talks, as it were, about God—if only we would care to pause, look around, and listen. The song I BELIEVE aptly communicates through melody the grandeur of God in creation: “I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows. Every time I hear a new born baby cry, or touch a leaf, or see the skies, then I know why… I BELIEVE.”
Our God is great!
The goodness in creation is nothing else but God-ness. Says St Paul, “For since the creation of the world His invincible attributes are clearly seen. His everlasting power and divinity are being understood through the things that are made” (Romans 1:20).
The Psalmist of the Old Testament summons the sun, moon and stars, the sea, land and plants, and all nations mountain animal and plants, and all nations to join him in praising the glory of God (Psalms 148).
Keppler (1571-l630) intones the following canticle at the end of his book On Harmony of the Worlds: “Our God is great, His power is tremendous and His mercy is infinite. Praise Him, heaven and earth, sun and moon and stars in your own language. Let my soul praise Him, the Creator, as much as it can… Lord and Creator, I thank Thee for having given me so much happiness in Thy creatures, so much joy in the work of Thy Hands.”
Special duty of human person
While the whole universe, creation in general, gives God the glory by reflecting His goodness and beauty, the rational creature, which means, us, thinking beings, are duty bound to give Him much more. The rational creature or the human person is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27a). This could only mean that we share God’s nature and is capable of giving back to Him all things we have received from His goodness. We can do this through sincere, intelligent praise, and loving service, omnis gloriam Dei (all for the glory of God)... by “everyone who is named as mine, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7).
We who claim to be created beings endowed with intellect and free will are called to share in the glory of the inner life of the Blessed Trinity. What a lofty vocation! Because we are specially created, extraordinary loving praise is expected of us. As St Paul reminds the first Christians of Corinth, “The fact is that whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, you should do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). When drawing his map to the mount of perfection, St. John of the Cross wrote the following in the summit: “Here on this mount dwell only the honor and glory of God.”
No wonder that, during the Eucharistic celebration, we proclaim and sing together: “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours now and forever, Amen!”
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