GLORY
The opening of John’s Gospel weaves together in poetic prose the major theological themes that we will encounter in its pages: life, light, love and glory. It’s hard to explore one without exploring all three. Glory is perhaps the most difficult to quantify and understand.
For the Hebrew mind the word glory (kavod) has a range of meanings which include ‘importance’, ‘honour’ and ‘weight’. Related to kavod is another Hebrew word ‘shekinah’ which is a way of talking about the divine presence. Kavod and shekinah then are both ways of talking about the felt presence of a loving, saving and guiding God.
For the writer of John’s Gospel, God’s glory is seen very specifically when the Word becomes flesh. Every thought, word and action of Christ is a manifestation of God’s glory. This is why in John’s Gospel the moment of crucifixion is seen as a moment of triumph and glory.
In baptism we are sealed with Chrism and caught up in God’s glory too. What Christ prays to the Father in these words ‘so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ‘ can be our prayer too. Eastertide gives us the opportunity to stay with these words.
How is God calling you to manifest his glory?
(John 17:20-26, Thursday, Eastertide, Week 7)