Before the world began

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060325.cfm

Jesus brings up an interesting point to ponder in the midst of His prayer in today's Gospel. He says: "I glorified you on earth

by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you,

with the glory that I had with you before the world began." We know a bit about how Jesus glorified the Father on earth, because of what comes to us through the Gospels, but what was the 'glory that I had with you before the world began.'?

This has come up a number of times in Bible studies for me over the last few weeks, but what we believe is that before the creation of the universe, the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit lived together in a constant state of complete and unfettered love for one another. This constant procession of love is called the 'circumincession' or 'perichoresis'. (those are 25 cents apiece). It is described as the eternal 'dance' of love. This is glory that Jesus speaks of.

This is also the glory that we are called to in heaven. Being loved completely and perfectly and being capable of loving completely and perfectly. All of our difficulties, challenges, struggles or wounds in this life stem from imperfect love, sometimes so imperfect that it is the opposite of love - hatred. Pay attention and be observant of the failings of love around us that cause hurt and anger and division. We don't want to get absorbed in this, or obsessed with it, but just become aware of this reality.

Then, notice how love heals; see how it binds together. At times it is a slow process, but love does its work. Even in the imperfect way that we practice it, love still rejuvenates. Our goal on earth is to become expert at loving. Jesus says 'be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect'. This is it. Our prayer, our work, our longing should all be oriented toward this loving. If we should die having still fallen short of perfecting it, God will allow us to cleansed of any remaining imperfection before we join in the 'perichoresis' of heaven.

We don't know the exact itinerary of our time in heaven, what the heavenly activities coordinator has planned, but we do know that it will be sublime. If we are longing for that, then we can get a slice of it now, by loving as best we can. By gathering with others who are desiring to love well so that we can love one another with the love that Jesus brought to us, the Glory of the Father here on earth.