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‘The Glory of God is man fully aliveAnd the glory of man is the vision of God’
St lrenaeus These words, written by Saint lrenaeus in the second century of the Christian era, sum up his understanding of the Christian message. Man, and the
quality of his life, is so important to God that his Son, Jesus Christ, actually took on a human nature and lived a fully human life in order to show men how to live as sons and daughters of God. ‘I havetiot called you
servants, I have called you friends’, he said. ‘I go to my Father and to your Father... When you pray say ‘‘Our Father” . . . Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened . . . Is
there a father among you who will offer his son a snake when he asks for a fish, or a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If then, bad as you are, you know how to give your children what is good for them, how much more
will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ Jesus of Nazareth, believed by Christians to be the long awaited Messiah of the Jewish people, and recognised by them as the ‘Suffering Servant’ of the Old Testament, was born in Bethlehem of the
Virgin Mary at the beginning of the Christian era. He began his preaching in Galilee and other parts of Palestine about the year 30 A.D. He went about preaching repentance from sin and conversion to God and showed a
special predilection for the poor, the downtrodden, the sinner . . . He spoke of a spiritual kingdom of peace and fraternity, of justice and truth to which all men are invited — a kingdom which would last forever . . .
After feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fishes, he declared, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. He spoke of his ‘hour’, the moment he would show the extent of his love by giving himself up on the cross. He thus
invited all men to believe in God’s love. ‘A new commandment I give you: Love one another as I have loved you’.
In his ‘Sermon on the Mount’ he invites men to prepare for this vision by a life of detachment from material things and of mutual service:
‘I-low happy are the poor in spirit:theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage. Happy those who mourn:they shall be comforted.Happy are those who hunger and thirst for what is right:they shall be satisfied. Happy the merciful:they shall have mercy shown them. Happy the pure of heart:
they shall see God.Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called the children of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the cause ofrighttheirs is the kingdom of heaven’. Christians hear the Risen Christ inviting them today to keep their eyes fixed on the God of glory who awaits them: ‘Worthy
is the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain, to receive all power and wealth, wisdom and might, honour and glory and praise.Praise and honour, glory and might to him who sits on the throne and the Lamb for ever and ever.
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