Episode Transcript  

One

The Voice from Heaven

Can you list the three times during Jesus’ life when a voice sounded like thunder from the sky? You probably remember when it happened at Jesus’ baptism: a voice came from the Heavens and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). You might also remember that it happened at Jesus’ transfiguration. There, on Mount Tabor, with Elijah and Moses at Jesus’ side, and Peter, James, and John looking on, a voice came from the cloud and said again, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I delight.” And the voice added, “Listen to him.” (Mt. 17: 5).

But there’s another time recorded in John’s Gospel, where the Father speaks audibly from Heaven. Jesus is surrounded by a crowd, and suddenly, spontaneously, He says, “Father, glorify your name.” And in response, a voice comes from heaven, and says, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”

The whole crowd heard the voice, some thought it was a clap of thunder, others said an angel spoke to Him. But Jesus says, “This voice did not come for my sake, but for yours.” (John 12:28-30).

Again, just to recap: Jesus says, “Father, glorify your name.” The Father says, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” And then Jesus says to the crowd, “This voice did not come for my sake, but for yours.”

It seems like a strange little dialogue, but it must be important if it’s one of only three times the Father lets us hear His voice. But what does it mean?

Two

How is God Glorified?

What does it mean when we say that God is glorified? Well, first of all, here’s what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that God becomes better, more perfect. It doesn’t mean that God becomes more blessed, or more happy. God, just by being God, is already infinitely perfect, blessed, and happy. And no matter what Buzz Lightyear may tell you about “to infinity and beyond,” there isn’t any way to add to infinity. 

So, when God is glorified, it doesn’t benefit Him in the sense of adding anything to His well-being or personal enrichment. The ones who receive benefits from God’s glory, the ones intended to be made happier by it, are us. 

Three

The Purpose of All Creation

So, what does the glory of God mean? It means God expressing His goodness. That’s it. And that is the purpose of everything. 

As the Catechism states, “The world was made for the glory of God.” (CCC #293). In other words, the world was made to express the goodness of God through the benefits which He bestows on us. 

So, when we say, “God is glorified,” we mean that God does something good. And every time God does something good, two things happen: First, by doing good, God shows that He is good, because only a good God could act in such a way. That’s what it means to say, “God is glorified by all His works.” His works make His goodness visible. Second, His goodness is never just theoretical, it always results in something concrete and good for us. He does good for us.

God’s glory and His generosity always go hand in hand, whenever God is glorified, His goodness is revealed and someone is blessed. So whenever God reveals Himself, whenever He shows His goodness, it’s also a gift to us. That’s why Jesus said that the voice of the Father, the glorious, thunderous voice that declared His own glory, was for us. Because when God glorifies Himself, it always overflows as generosity toward His creatures.

Four

Christ: the Supreme Glory of the Father

We’ve said that when God is glorified, it’s an expression of His goodness, which brings some good to us. That’s why Jesus is the supreme glory of the Father. Everything Jesus does reveals the goodness of God. And everything Jesus does is a gift to us. When Jesus calls out to the Father and asks Him to glorify His name, it comes right before the Passion. Which makes sense.

After all, what glorifies God like the redemption of the world? What shows God’s goodness: His love, His genius, His surprising capacity for bringing happy endings out of the most tragic stories, what shows God’s goodness like the Pascal Mystery of His Son?

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the greatest manifestation of the Father’s goodness. And it’s His greatest gift to us. That’s why it’s His supreme act of self-glorification.

Five

The Purpose of Our Lives

As St. Irenaeus once wrote, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” To be fully alive is to become a saint, and that is the purpose of our lives. But to become saints, we have to commit to the hard work and not give up.

Receive Jesus in the Eucharist as often as we can, because union with Christ in the Eucharist is the fire that transforms us from the inside out. Set aside time each day for meditation, in the Rosary or Lectio Divina, to listen to God, reflect on His Word, and make a concrete resolution, however small.

Examine our conscience daily, naming our faults not to condemn ourselves but to invite Jesus to heal them. And return to Confession at least once a month, not just for forgiveness, but for spiritual progress. Love the people closest to us, especially when it’s hard. Holiness begins at home, with shared meals, walks, conversations, and small acts of patience. Often, these are the hardest sacrifices, and the most glorious in God’s eyes. Finally, accept all the things you cannot change for the love of God. 

So yes, God wants to glorify His name again. And if we respond to His love, He will.

Lord, glorify Your name in us: Through our prayer, even when we feel nothing. Through our repentance, even when we keep falling. Through our ordinary, faithful love for others. Through all the things we don’t understand. Let our lives become living proof that You are good—and let our lives be good for others.

Save big on the full-body workout everyone’s obsessed with.

Hydrow delivers 5,000+ immersive workouts in stunning destinations around the world—right to your home. Exciting news: Readers can now get $500 off the Hydrow Pro with code WELLPRO, or $250 off the Hydrow Wave with code WELLWAVE at checkout. (Offers not stackable.)

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.