GIVE  GOD  THE GLORY

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 7^th Tuesday after Easter is, “Give God the Glory.”

That word “glory” appears 455 times in the New American Bible and there it is 5 times in today’s gospel [John 17: 1-11a].

In the Bible we hear over and over in many different ways, “Give God the Glory.”

If we watch sports on TV, we often see an athlete make a great play or a great catch or a great hit and he or she stops to give God the glory. They raise their index finger and point to the skies - giving God the glory - not themselves.

After winning a game or a season or a championship athletes often pause and praise their moms or coaches or teammates - everyone. They praise everyone - they give others the glory. Hopefully athletes who are faith drop outs - or what have you - at least thank their parents for good DNA and coaches for great tips and skill practices.

GOOD MOVE

Obviously, it’s good to do this - because this is the reality.

Giving God the glory is a great prayer and a great play.

When I see this on TV or at a game - I often wonder who was the first to announce it publically - to honor God.  

I also think of Lou Gehrig's famous luckiest man on the face of the earth speech? Who started this custom? Praise God. 

Success can harm us - give us a big head - smother us in self-glorification.

Thanking God and others is an act of true humility.

POEM BY THOMAS HARDY

In the sacristy here at St. Mary’s behind this altar there is a mirror which I spot before and after Mass when I walk into the sacristy. When I see that mirror, I  smile as I think of this poem by Thomas Hardly.

Better explain two words in the poem: “vestry” and “glass”. Vestry is the sacristy - where one vests. “Glass” is the mirror.

It’s a story poem about a preacher - a priest - a minister. The title of the poem is, “In Church.”

It goes like this.

IN CHURCH

“And now to God the Father,” he ends

And his voice thrills up to the topmost tiles
Each listener pervades the crowded aisles.

Then the preacher glides to the vestry-door,

And shuts it, and thinks he is seen no more.

The door swings softly ajar meanwhile,

And a pupil of his in the Bible class,

Who adores him as one without gloss or guile,

Sees her idol stand with a satisfied smile

And re-enact at the vestry-glass

Each pulpit gesture in deft dumb-show

That had moved the congregation so.

Thomas Hardy

Give God the Glory!

CONCLUSION

Last night, I wrote a short poem for my blog for today on this same theme - a poem that bounces off the Thomas Hardy poem.

Let me see how this feels and sounds in public. It’s only a first draft and I’ll continue to work on it.  To me writing is re-writing.

THE MIRROR

The big mirror - the one just near

the door - the door from the big dressing   room - that leads to the stage in 

Radio City Music Hall -  has enjoyed 

the compliments, the comments,

the smiles, the sneak peeks at the             Rockettes by stage hands  -

looking at all these beauties
in the mirror - down through the years.

The big mirror - always thought people

were praising her and not the girls, 

when people caught sight in the

mirror of young skin, slim thin waists, tall, 

tall legs, great measurements.

The big mirror stood there doing

its job for a good 50 years now.

Then  - no the mirror didn’t break -

but it was replaced. The old one

was given to a nursing home

up on the Upper East Side. 

Now it’s all  wrinkles, wrinkles,

wrinkles. Still give God the Glory.

Give God a wink. Give the mirror
a taste of its old glory. Amen.