7th Week of Easter 2023 - Tuesday - Eternal life consists in knowing the One True God

 For two weeks now, our Gospels readings for weekday mass have been taken from St. John’s account of the Last Supper beginning in John chapter 14. And now we’ve come to the final chapter of that account: John chapter 17. To conclude the last supper, his final evening with his disciples, the Lord offers a prayer. It is a very profound prayer, times called the High Priestly Prayer, in which the Lord does what all priests do, they pray on behalf of others to God, they pray that God's children and God might be one, priests pray that they may be joined to God, that they may share the life of God, that they might know God. 

Always the teacher though, the Lord offers a prayer that teaches, as well. He leads us deep into the truth about his relationship with the Father. He reveals—he teaches, expanding on themes that he has only hinted at in preceding chapters and discourses. 

The Lord prays and teaches at the same time. We had a professor in seminary, Fr. Larry Tosco, our best scripture professor, may he rest in peace who would do the same thing. Seminarians would take notes during his prayer at the beginning of class because of their profundity. 

Prayer to God and learning about God are closely related endeavors. In fact, what does the Lord say in his High Priestly Prayer, “eternal life consists of knowing God”. The Lord uses that word a lot in his prayer, “to know”. The Greek word is ginosko. 

Ginosko is the same word that Mary utters at the annunciation, when she says, how can I be pregnant, for I have not known relations with a man. That word ginosko can mean both knowing an idea or a fact, and also having intimate relationship that is open to new life. 

And the Lord seems to equate those two connotations: heaven, eternal life consists of knowing God, believing in Him, encountering Him as real—the source and foundation of reality in fact—and also knowing Him in intimate relationship. 

And that heavenly relationship can begin in this earthly life—as we are open to God’s revelation of Himself to us—through Christ. To know Christ is to know God is to begin new and eternal life.

May we continually seek to know God, this day, with minds and hearts open to his truth and his life, who is Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit among all Christians, and for all who are persecuted for the faith. For those who do not believe in God and for those who have fallen away from the Church.

For those priests of the diocese who celebrate their jubilees today with the Bishop, in gratitude for their service, and for continued blessings on their ministry. For the sanctification of all priests and an increase in vocations to the ordained priesthood.

For the sick, the suffering, those in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care, for the underemployed and unemployed, for the imprisoned, those with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, that the Spirit of Consolation may comfort them.

For the deceased members of our families, friends and parish, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all those who fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.