Today’s Gospel continues the theme begun last week -- works of liberation. The presence of the liberating Christ celebrated during this Easter season is made manifest by works of liberation.
The first reading outlines two chief works of the first Christian community -- (1) serving the needy, a work delegated to the first deacons because it distracted the Twelve from what they saw to be their chief work -- (2) prayer and the ministry of the word. This is not to set one work over the other; both were just as important. Nor is it to set the Twelve above the first seven deacons. The caste system, to which some are so firmly attached, that still works against the real nature of church, was not part of a community busy about witnessing the liberating Lord! In the vision of Peter in the second reading, all share equally in the priesthood of Christ “so that we may announce his praises.”
We all have different gifts and talents. Some may preach and teach; while others may clean and set up. Some may witness by strong example while others in retiring gentleness. Some may counsel while others console. Together we form a community of good works.
In John, Jesus teaches in the discourses of his post-Resurrection appearances that it is God at work in the beleivers. Thus, Jesus teaches in the Gospel that the works of the believers are the liberating works of God! “The Father who dwells in me is doing his works… Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.” But he does not end there “…and will do greater ones than these …”
People await “these greater works”, the works of God performed by us, God’s faithful people. They await greater works of social justice over oppression of the many by the few, greater works of sharing the resources of the world over directing those resources to a consumer class, greater works of dedication to the environment over destroying the earth for our greedy ends.
The recent scandal shaking the institutional priesthood can serve to liberate us from a unproductive and outdated dependence on a clerical caste. It could help us acknowledge the greater priesthood we all share. And with that new realization, comes the freedom and empowerment to do real works of liberation.