The Gloria is a product of its age. The age was one of fierce theological debate over the very center of our faith: the person and nature of Jesus. The great Christological councils of the Church (Nicea, Ephesus, Constantinople I & II) drew the line very clearly in the sand: Jesus is God, Second Person of the Trinity; he is Lord of all; he is Judge of the Living and the Dead; all things have their origin and destiny through him.

When this vein of thought works its way into the music of the Church, hymns like the Gloria are born.

Even though the hymn begins with reference to God the Father through the angels' song at the birth of Christ, it is -- first and last – a hymn to Jesus Christ. The Father is praised -- heavenly king, almighty God -- worshiped and given thanks; but Jesus is defined.

He is the only Son of the Father, he is Lord, he is God. He is the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice that reconciles humanity to divinity. He is the mediator between God and Man, who, seated at the right hand of the Father, receives the prayers of the Church.

He is praised in terms that the Old Testament would use for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Moses and the Law: the only Holy One, the only Lord, the only Most High.

Almost as a cast off line, a fleeting reference that makes complete Jesus' status as a member of the Trinity, there is the mention of the Third Person -- with the Holy Spirit -- and again the First -- in the glory of God the Father -- and then it is over.

The praise -- the formal word is Doxology, this being the ‘Greater,’ the Glory to the Father...., the ‘Lesser’ -- given primarily to Jesus and only peripherally to the Father and the Spirit, was what the Church wanted very much to do at the time the hymn was created. It still is. Jesus is the center for us. He is the only connection we have with God, Heaven, our Destiny.

The hymn belongs to us all and is specifically a hymn that the whole assembly sings, not just a choir. In another age things would have been different. An age that forgot what the Gloria was all about and from whence it came. Beethoven gives the choir around twenty minutes to sing the hymn in his Missa Solemnis; Bach gives it about three-quarters of an hour in his great B Minor Mass. In our time of restoration, it has been remembered that the Gloria came from the popular religious music of the people; it is once again from their voices that it primarily comes forth again.

For more than twenty years, the Golden Apple Award has been given to Chicago-area teachers for excellence in education. The 2007 winner, Danna Dotson, says this about her pupils: "I insist that my students know they have a lot to offer in what they already understand and that they overcome their fear of being incorrect. I try to instill in them that the smallest contribution can have the most dynamic effect." Danna wants them to know that they are all given tremendous gifts, and no matter how small, they must be willing to invest the time to grow them and share them with others.

At first glance, today’s Gospel reading from Matthew appears to be a lesson in sound economic principles, but as with all of Jesus’ parables, one must look beyond the obvious to discover the true meaning. Just as the man in the parable entrusted his servants with various amounts of money, God entrusts us with gifts. And just as some of the servants chose to invest his money, most of us use our gifts. But the servant who buried his coin is likened to those of us who fail to share our gifts with others.

It could be said that the only consistent thing in life is that we are all different. But our differences – our talents – are what belong to God’s plan, and God wills that each of us receive what we need from others, and that those endowed with particular "talents" share the benefits with those who need them (CCC 1937). This quite simply is the concept of sharing; a doctor shares his or her talents to save lives, an artist shares a painting to add beauty to the world, a teacher shares her understanding of the human being to bring out the confidence in her students. Do you recognize your talent? Do you share it with others?  © Liturgical Publications Inc.

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We can worship the Lord in many places, not just in church. Our gift from God is to bring Him to our friends and family through the life we lead. – Montana Gabriele

The church is not the building we go to on Sunday. The true church is the people that pray together. God gave us the gift of faith. Faith is what brings us together. – Patrick Wright

This weekend’s homily was about the founding of the church in Jerusalem and in Rome. At the temple of Jerusalem, Jesus got mad because people were selling things instead of praying. The most important thing is the people, not the church because the people keep the church alive. – Nicole Thorp

The homily Sunday was about how the temple was built. Jesus visits the temple. People gather together to worship God. When people worship God, there are certain places to worship Him. God uses us to spread God’s word. – Kaitlyn Thorp

Sunday’s homily talked about how we shouldn’t let the little things get to us. It also talked about how the church is made up of the people. We, the people, make the church a place of worship and faith. – Samantha Sfida

Everyone who believes in God will have eternal life. With the help of the Lord, we can all be at peace just like our loved ones who were granted eternal happiness and passed before us. – Emily Wright

When you’re down, there will always be something to cheer you up or brighten your day. – Marisa Mastripolito

CYO and playing sports gives people a sense of sportsmanship and teaches them to work together. – Michael Hatala