Glory

In tomorrow's Gospel reading, Jesus knows the time for his death is drawing near and he says

Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—"Father, save me from this hour?" No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.

In John's Gospel, the word glory is strongly connected to Jesus sacrificial death on the cross. The glory that is Jesus' comes through his death, which was intended by those who killed him to bring shame. They wanted to kill the Jesus' movement as well as Rabbi Jesus himself. The plan failed on both counts as 1) God glorified Jesus through the cross by way of the resurrection, and 2) The Jesus movement was energized to spread well beyond Israel by the Holy Spirit which came only after Jesus was glorified.

How often do we buy into the world's idea of glory? Rock stars and other famous people seem to have glory. But real, lasting honor comes not from how the masses of people see your life. Real, lasting honor comes from God's view of your life. Jesus has already warned us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Then he shows at just what extremese that principle can work through his death and resurrection.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church