The Glory of . . .

It's like cosmic volleyball of immense verbal proportion. The words, like the ball flying over the net, are tossed back and forth to one another. And, as if for emphasis, they are tossed again and again and again. The words are not light. No, these words have some weight to them. They carry with them the thickness of respect, worship and awe. Take it even one step further and consider this - those who are uttering the words, those weighty, awe inspiring words, are not mere beings. No, in fact, those uttering the words are angels - angels unlike any depicted in modern novels or media. These are not the simple, chubby, cuddly angels we often see - no, these angels inspire awe in and of themselves - they are indeed spectacular beings volleying words of immensity and grandeur to one another in a manner intended to make those who hear pause and ask, 'of whom do you speak?' Here is the volley:

"Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

Simply amazing! These seraphim, seated above God Himself, speak of God and proclaim this simple, yet life changing truth: God is indeed holy and the whole earth is full of this holiness they proclaim. In his own day Isaiah was so moved by this revelation given by God that he himself responded, "woe is me, I am lost, I am undone - I am a man of unclean lips." This is really the only appropriate response one could have when faced with the glory of God. A moment like this can bring us to our knees and cause us to acknowledge our own frailty, insecurity, sin and shame in the presence of such goodness, holiness, righteousness and glory. The ancients referred to this as 'the weight of glory.' Today we refer to it as, 'do what?'

Unfortunately we do not recognize the glory of God that is so very present all around us. If Scripture is to be believed, then all of creation testifies to this glory. The irony of this is that the pinnacle of creation - humanity - fails to see this glory at every turn. I think it is because of the fact that we know little of 'glory' these days. We glory in ourselves, we glory in our possessions, we glory in our achievements, etc. It is this elevation of 'self glory' that has robbed glory of its own thickness and replaced it with a very thin, meager comparison of what it once was - or at least how it was once seen. Today, one might argue, that glory has become weightless and thin - like ‘butter spread over too much bread.’ It looks like something that had promise, but has become something that constantly leaves one 'wanting.'

How does this fit at Christmas? Simple - Christmas has lost her glory. In fact, Christmas may be responsible for replacing the glory of the Christ narrative with something of far less weight that leaves us wanting for more than before. Christmas has become that time in our life when we hone the art of 'spreading ourselves too thin.' It has become a story of a jolly old guy who spreads cheer by bringing . . . toys. Huh? Yes, toys. When a costumed man replaces the true gift giver and elves angels and reindeer replace the heavenly hosts, then we have lost our sense of glory. Perhaps we haven't lost it as much as replaced it with a 'thinner' version - glory that is 'weight free.'

I know, I know. You are thinking to yourself, come on all those 'traditions' point to the true reason for the season. I get that. In fact, we celebrate Christmas in our home and enjoy the trappings of it (to an extent). But what really points to the reason for the season is the Reason himself! What really points us to the reason of the season is the seraphim and their divine volley; Holy, Holy, Holy! Perhaps it is time to pause during this festive time of year and consider for yourself: have I replaced ‘glory’ with something far less? If so, the remedy is simple: hit your knees and proclaim the glory of God! That is what this season is all about and it is His glory that is exclaimed on the night of our savior's birth! The sky lit up and the angels chorused, 'glory to God in the highest.' Now, that is the choir I want to hear! That is what glory is and should always be - that is a word of 'weight.' "Can you hear it?" Or, perhaps a better question, "do you recognize it anymore."

Glory to God in the Highest!

Biz