weekly Message 3/30/12

ETERNAL LIFE

Fr. Ron Longero

 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3

Recently I heard on the news interviews with atheists.  One was asked why he didn’t believe.  He said that he lived in reality.  Hmmmm.  What is real?  If one follows Holy Scripture, for example some of the writing of St. Paul, you would read about this world passing away.  In the above verse from St. John, we hear Jesus in the High Priestly prayer describing to us what eternal life is.  Now atheists believe that when you’re dead, you’re dead.  Now what do we silly Christians believe, you know the ones who are not grounded in reality?

First, we believe Jesus was real don’t we?  Secondly, we believe that the events captured in Holy Week lead to a crucial and pivotal point in history, that of the Resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.  It doesn’t matter to the non-believers that there were numerous people outside of Jesus’ intimate group of disciples and closest followers that also witnessed his Resurrection.  Thirdly, we believe that because of Jesus we will inherit eternal life.

So what is this eternal life?  Jesus says, “And this is eternal life...”  Read this from the Bishop of Rome:  “Eternal life is not, as the modern reader might immediately assume, life after death, in contrast to this present life, which is transient and not eternal.  Eternal life is life itself, real life which can also be lived in the present age and is no longer challenged by physical death.  This is the point; to seize life here and now, real life that can no longer be destroyed by anything or anyone.”

Eternal life is real life, knowing the one true God through His Son Jesus.  It is as Benedict XVI says, real life.  It is life lived in an near the ultimate reality who is God.  Those who disparage those of us who believe in the unseen God, think that the only reality is what they see.  They have to, by necessity, hang on to the visible power structures of society.  But true reality, God, is the greatest and only true power.  It is God  who gives those of us who are powerless, the final victory.  Why?  Because we place our trust in Jesus.  We place our trust in the unseen God. 

The real challenge we face as Christians is to not place too much faith in the same structures as those who oppose us.  Make no mistake, our faith is under assault in the modern age.  The world has been given a great gift by God through the grace which flows from the life and self-emptying of Jesus.  The challenge for those of us to say yes to that gift, and accept that gift is to participate in redemption by emptying ourselves for the sake of the Kingdom.  Participation in the life of the Church is one way we do this.  We empty ourselves of ourselves for the sake of the humble message of Jesus.  Participating in the life of the Church is a great privilege.