The Gloria within the Mass has the most beautiful lyrics ever recorded! It begins with the angelic words surrounding Bethlehem that first Christmas Day and overheard by the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” (Luke 2:14) As the song continues we give the praise, blessing, adoration and glory to God our all-powerful Father thanking him for his great glory which has overflowed into our lives. We don’t glorify here our accomplishments, our work, entertainment, sports, our hobbies, or ourselves. We glorify God, the Father who created and loves his children unconditionally.
Then we turn our attention to the visible manifestation of this glory born in the crib: Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This Glory lived like us in all things except sin. He was loved, hated, scourged, betrayed, mocked, crucified, died, buried, and now risen and alive. It is this visible Glory who is seated at the Father’s right hand pleading for the Father’s mercy upon us his beloved children. We call him the Lord, the Holy One, the Most High for he is the same God as his Father.
In closing we are reminded of the Holy Spirit telling us that there are three persons in God, the Blessed Trinity. There is no other song in the world which praises the central mystery of the Christian faith the Blessed Trinity like in this hymn, the Gloria. In heaven this certainly will be one of the songs ringing in our ears and coming out of our mouths. All glory be to God!