Tuesday 4th November – Memorial of St Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Reflection: Philippians 2: 5-11

GLORY-PARTAKERS

There is often a lot of tension in the air as the end of the year approaches. People want to fulfil targets and ambitions which they have set for themselves at beginning of the year by all means. This attitude is good, but there is a better attitude which God wants us to adopt as we approach the end of the year. He reminds us that we are called to something greater – to share in the glory of God. This is the very attitude that Christ had when He left His divine glory in heaven to come and live with mortal flesh. There was no human agenda to this attitude of His. In fact, the Bible tells us that He did it out of His own free will. (Philippians 2:7a).

At the incarnation, Christ sought no personal ambition. His concern was to do the Father’s will. This required from Him a great measure of obedience, humility and suffering. It is amazing! It is just like asking the son of the President of a country to come and live in a dungeon and to relate with the dwellers. This will definitely involve insults, embarrassments and risks but Jesus endured all this shame just for the sake of the glory that awaited Him (Hebrews 12:2). When Jesus had finished his earthly mission, God crowned Him with so much glory and honour that every being is subject to the name of Jesus. What a glory! (Philippians 2: 9-11).

Do you love glory? Do you wish to be associated with honour? The answer from many would definitely be “yes”. But the glory and honour we are concerned with far outweighs earthly glory. This glory is one that spans both earth and heaven; both the world of mortals and spirits. When angels respect you, why would men not honour you? To attain this beloved, we must imitate what Christ has done. To be partakers of the same glory He shares, we must be willing to seek out God’s plan for our lives and abide by it, and it is just a matter of time, and the reward will come. All that God demands of you today is your willingness and submission- this is the path to glory.

PRAYER: O Lord, you have made me a partaker of the inheritance of your saints, please grant me the courage to press towards the attainment of this glory in my earthly life. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 294 – “The glory of God consists in the revelation of this manifestation and communication of His goodness, for which the world was created. God made us ‘to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace’…”

HIDE A TREASURE: “Rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: Philippians 2: 5-11; Psalm 22:26-32; Luke 14:15-24