Biblical Readings (AC 20:16-18, 28-36, JN 17:1-13)
“After Jesus said this (above), He looked toward heaven and prayed; Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours: you gave them to me and they have obeyed your words. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. Now they know with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me, through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I am with them, I protected them and kept them safe with that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction, so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them”.
After the Ascension Day, which was on the last Thursday (40 days from resurrection), we count ten days to make the fifty days, for the Pentecost of the year. This Lord’s Sunday, before the Pentecost day itself, is dedicated to remember especially the 318 Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Holy Synod at Nicea, AD 325. Both the readings of today want to prepare us for the heavy burden of faith in the eternal life, which we are supposed to carry by internalizing it and transmitting to others, for the betterment of the communities and societies, in all the world.
The Word Son of God the Father became man in Christ Jesus, in order to establish the way of salvation by the power and authority from the Father. The salvation brought to us, is to become aware or believers in the eternal life, of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, beyond this temporary living. We are called to come from the world and participate in the eternal life of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For every vital thing for us comes from the Father, through the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were prepared for 3 years by Christ the Son of God and the Holy Spirit to trust in the exitance of the eternal life.
Apostle Paul worked for 3 years in the area of Asia, and prepared a number of them to take over the power and authority, for the continuity of the mission in that region.