Gloria Patri

Gloria Patri.
The Gloria Patri or sometimes called the “Glory be.”
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be fore ever. Amen.

My interest in Benedictine spirituality has led me to studying the Daily Office, a liturgical prayer at set times of the day. The Gloria Patri is a common opening and ending to many variations of the Daily Office.

Right away I reach for some alternative, such as “Source of all being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit, anything to avoid the trinity. My Pentecostal background did not embrace the trinity. Not even capitalize it. We just didn’t believe in it. I don’t mind it these days but it somehow still doesn’t work for me but for completely different reasons.

I think I prefer “God, who is creating, redeeming and sustaining me” or “God, my Creator, my Redeemer and my Sustainer.” Indeed, God is all these things to me.

But, still I have trouble with the “glory” part. What do we mean Glory to God? How do we give glory to God? It seems vague—even a copout—to me.

In words said many times in the Bible but nowhere better than in Micah 6:8, “God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” This speaks to me, that God doesn’t need idle words, however heart felt they are meant. As important as this ancient Gloria Patri seem to me, I just don’t think God needs me saying Glory or trying to glorify God. I could say “thanks.” Maybe that would do it but I’m not entirely satisfied with that alternative, either.

My life is all I have to offer and anything less—especially just words—seems like a copout. So, currently, I’m trying and considering “My life to God who is creating me, redeeming me and sustaining me.” As I say it, my life to God, in what ways am I prepared to give my life God? It’s kind of scary.