The motto of the Jesuits is “ad majorem Dei gloriam,” “for the greater glory of God.” The idea is that Jesuits should strive for God’s greater glory and also prefer activities that are more conducive to God’s greater glory. But what exactly does God’s greater glory look like, since God is already infinitely and perfectly glorious?
There is a prophecy in the 49th chapter of Isaiah that can help us. “You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory” (Is 49:3). God’s servants are people through whom God’s glory is shown. Unlike God’s enemies, his servants collaborate in the showing forth of the divine glory. God’s enemies, willy-nilly, are also vehicles for his glory (Cf. Sir 36:4).
Thus, whether you are sharp or dull, straight or crooked, polished or rough (Cf. Is 49:2), God’s glory will shine forth from you. It is up to you to collaborate in that process and to invest some labor in it.
And what does that labor look like? Sometimes it looks like Palm Sunday, sometimes it looks like Holy Thursday, sometimes it looks like Good Friday, sometimes it looks like Holy Saturday, and sometimes it looks like Easter Sunday. This is why the Church asks us to consider the meanings of those days so carefully.