THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. YAER A.
May 4, 2008.
(First reading: Acts 1:12-14) (Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8)
(Second reading: 1 Peter 4: 13-16) (Gospel reading: John 17: 1-11)


THE AUTHORITY TO
GIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

Anyone who aspires to eternal life must first have life here on earth. In a world where death is so prevalent, life becomes a rare occurrence, life is displaced by the world's propensity to war, aggression, lies, dispossession, destruction, injustice and oppression.

The Lord Jesus has brought life to us. What kind of life?: The same life that has been with his Father "before the world began" (John 17:5), the same life Jesus receives from his Father along with the "authority over all people so that he may give eternal life to all" (John 17:2).

A confrontation develops.
The one who brings life to the world places himself in direct opposition to a world ruled by death. In the gospel, Jesus announces the moment when that confrontation comes to a heading: "Father the hour has come" (John 17:1), the hour when the world will display its power, the power it does use so well: Death.

And so it happens that the one who brings life is killed by the powers of death, but only to rise from the dead and restore for ever the imperishable life that comes from God. For this reason Jesus says: "Give glory to your Son... Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began" (John 17:1, 5).

How does Jesus exercise his authority to give eternal life?
By doing the works of the Father or as Jesus says: "By accomplishing the work that you [Father] gave me to do" (John 17:4). Throughout his life, Jesus showed us the works of his Father, that is to say, he showed us his justice, his peace, his truthfulness, his ability to forgive his enemies, his commitment to blessing those who cursed him, to doing good to those who did him wrong, to freeing the oppressed, to curing the ill.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us how the apostles did the works of the Father (as revealed by Jesus): they "devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers" (Acts 1:14). Thus they all became witnesses of the Lord's resurrection.

Who continues to do the works of the Father?:
- Those who strive for justice, peace, unity and truth;
- Those who forgive and bless their enemies;
- Those who come to know the Father "the only true God, and the one whom [the Father] sent, Jesus christ" (John 17:3);
- Those who accept Jesus' call to become one with him, one with one another, "just as [Jesus and the Father] are one" (John 17:11).

Those who do the works of the Father have the authority to give eternal life to their fellow human beings, for true life consists in bringing about justice and peace, forgiving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who do us wrong, freeing the oppressed, curing the ill.

Of those who do the Father's works, Jesus says: "I have been glorified in them" (John 17:10), for they are the ones who keep alive the authority to give eternal life.