Devotion for today: The Gloria – the song of the angels

Today we look at the joyful noise we make unto the Lord in praying the Gloria.

Scriptures for mediation: Luke 2:13-14: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.

Psalm 24:7,10 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.

Revelation 19:6: Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: 270: God is the Father Almighty, whose fatherhood and power shed light on one another: God reveals his fatherly omnipotence by the way he takes care of our needs; by the filial adoption that he gives us ("I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty"): finally by his infinite mercy, for he displays his power at its height by freely forgiving sins. 271 God's almighty power is in no way arbitrary: "In God, power, essence, will, intellect, wisdom, and justice are all identical. Nothing therefore can be in God's power which could not be in his just will or his wise intellect."

Edward Sri instructs: By addressing the Lord as “almighty” and “heavenly King” in the Gloria, we praise him for his omnipotent reign over heaven and earth. Yet, as the Catechism explains, his omnipotence must be seen in the context of his Fatherhood – which is exactly what we do in the Gloria. We address him as “Lord God, heavenly King, almighty Father.” We do not stop with a mere mention of God’s power and kingship. We go on to praise him ultimately as our heavenly Father. If God were merely an all-powerful king, we might get the impression that he could be like a dictator who arbitrarily wields his authority to do whatever he wants. But God has what the Catechism calls a “fatherly omnipotence.” Just as a good father wants what is best for his children, God’s power is in perfect harmony with his loving will that always seeks what is good for us and that provides for all our needs. Recognizing how good our God is – seeing him as the loving Father who, though all powerful, freely chooses to share his goodness with us – we cannot help but worship, and give thanks and praise. Like lovers who tell each other over and over in varying ways, “I love you,” we express our love for God, saying, “We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we give you thanks for your great glory.” Most interesting is the last line in which we praise God for his glory. This is an expression of pure praise – loving God not just for what he does for us, but for who he is, for his glorious goodness and love. (The Mass, Ascension Press, 2010)

My thoughts: If you buy any book in this Year of Faith, buy Edward Sri’s The Mass. This is but a brief excerpt from his teachings on the Gloria. Our Mass is filled with such beautiful prayers like this one, and yet the faithful generally offer nothing more than a rote recitation of this glorious prayer. Look how rich and historic the first few lines of the prayer are! And we haven’t even gotten to the part about Jesus! As this prayer is omitted from the Mass during Advent, say it silently in private instead and allow your heart to join with the angels as they sing:

Prayer: The Gloria (highlights are the new translation)

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you,
we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks,
for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.