“For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, NOW
AND FOREVER.” This is the DOXOLOGY which the faithful respond to the prayer of
the Priest Presider after the LORD’S
PRAYER at a Eucharistic Celebration.
For quite a time I have been dwelling on what this
Doxology means. Since doxology is a liturgical expression of praising God, I
asked myself the significance of the ending words: NOW AND FOREVER.
For me these words convey an aspect of time which covers
the present moment and every moment thereafter for all eternity without
end. I realize that, indeed, life is a
series of moments and every moment becomes a NOW at a present time. What one does NOW is, therefore, a constant
challenge to the WHY and HOW of his actions.
Pope Francis in
his address on the 50th Anniversary of the Election of Pope Paul VI
on June 25, 2013, said: “Jesus is more
necessary than ever for the man of today.”
He further quoted what Pope Paul VI said: “Profane secular humanism has
appeared in the end in its terrible stature and in a certain sense, it has
challenged the Council (Vatican II). The
religion of the God who became man encountered the religion of man who makes
himself God.”
Man, therefore, is confronted today with a secularism
which makes himself self-centered and
not God-centered. Christ himself said:
“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you no, but rather division.” Hence, man has to make a decision on whether
to follow Christ, the God-Man, or make himself his own God.
In the Liturgy of the Hours which is
considered the Prayer of the Church with Christ and to Christ there is a
Concluding Prayer which reads:
“Almighty Father, you have
brought us to the light of a new day; keep us safe the whole day through from
every sinful inclination. May all our
thoughts, words and actions aim at doing what is pleasing in your sight. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever.”
Following Christ, therefore, means a constant response
of ‘YES’ to Him. It means offering everything that one does for
His glory NOW and FOREVER.
by: Buddy Cagurangan
Nov. 3, 2013
