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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

We are to be consecrated in truth.

Readings: Acts 20:28-38 Psalm 88:29-30, 33-36 John 17:11b-19

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they may also be consecrated in truth. [John 17:18-19]

Read the Gospel very slowly and if possible, out loud and if necessary, three times! Although John’s literary style is quite complex, the farewell prayer of Jesus is as powerful as is Paul’s farewell message in Acts.

It is not likely that these passages are the actual words of Paul and Jesus. They are compositions that Luke and John or whoever wrote in their name and are based on the oral tradition of the sayings of Jesus and the preaching of Paul. They were written in the style of farewell addresses of prominent leaders of their times in order to win the attention of early believers to whom the message of truth was entrusted.

The ‘truth’ that is being proclaimed is not from a catechism nor is it a defined doctrine or dogma. It is the core truth about the God who spoke through the prophets and then through Jesus about the universality of God’s love.

During this time of immediate preparation for Pentecost, we are invited to think about our own responsibility to pass on the ‘truth’ of God’s goodness entrusted to us in Christ and how we are to live that truth in our daily lives, each in our own unique way. No one of us can do this alone and so we much join hands literally and figuratively within the community of believers everywhere.

To live the ‘truth’ is to live in the Spirit of Jesus Christ the fruits of which are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, moderation, self-control, reverence, etc. I’m sure you memorized these ‘fruits of the Holy Spirit.’

These are the true ‘marks’ of our authenticity as believers.

+ Feast of All Saints

Monday October 31, 2011

Robed in White

Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from? [Revelation 7:13]

The people “robed in white” are the unforgettable people who have brought and who continue to bring the best out of you. They were and are genuine conduits of God’s grace and if you want to know the truth, they are the precious people who energize us to goodness and to Godness.

This is a day of great celebration of the communion of saints. It is one of the great ‘mysteries’ of our faith.

So who were and are the people “robed in white” in your life and mine?

Several years ago, Geoffrey Iortyer, a seminarian from Nigeria assigned to St. Joseph Parish for his internship in preparation for ordination, demonstrated for us how important is the memory of our ancestors. Wearing the traditional vesture of his ancestors, he crossed the sanctuary with a large dipper in hand, ‘dipping’ into the past as he spoke of his ancestors. They were the ‘saints’ who paved his path to manhood and over time enabled him to hear and respond to his call to the priesthood.

My paternal grandmother was a woman “robed in white.” Yes, she was a Third Order Dominican’ and was buried in the white Dominican habit on hier birthday. Even when she was alive, it was the unanimous testimony of everyone in our family that Grandma Lasch was a saint! She brought the best out of everyone even if she had to dig for it. And no one was excluded from her table.

I feel certain that you can also name more than one among your ancestors who mirrored the face of Christ to you during their earthly life. They are the ones who challenged you often but rarely hassled you. They are the ones who helped you to become better than you would have been had they never entered your life. They were conduits of God’s grace, sacraments of God’s presence, a blessing to you and to many. No, they were not perfect and yes, they may have said, “I’m sorry more than once.” Yet, over time, they made a difference in your life where it counted.

Although the source of the citation escapes me at the moment, I recall one translation of the Book of Revelation in which John addresses the seven Churches of Asia Minor with the words, “To the ‘saints’ of the Church of Smyrna, etc. It’s an interesting reference that I have not found in contemporary translations.

As for us? Yes, we are still on the way and yes, saints are not just those who have made it but also those who with God’s grace do their best to make a difference in the lives of others not by force and not through a plethora of words but by their humble presence.

My sister and I often reminisce about our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. They weren’t all saints and some of them made saints out of those who lived with them!

I’m not sure we should strive to be saints. I think we would do better to live do our best and leave the rest to God. Saints are not only those who made it but those who give life their best shot every day and have the courage to say “I’m sorry” when they fall short. Remember, the saints who were canonized were not always saints. There is a saint and sinner in all of us and sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one from the other.

So, if you have the opportunity, revisit some of your own memories of your heroes, past and present. And bring the best at of everyone you meet today, even if you have to dig it out of them.

“Today we keep festival of your holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem, our mother…” [Preface of the Feast]