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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.

The Change of Seasons

Sunday October 31, 2004

... marks the passage of another phase of life.

Contemporary spiritual writer, Matthew Fox was the inspiration for our Church windows. “Creation spirituality” has been attributed to his insights into the movementof the Holy Spirit in all of creation. He directs us our attention to ‘original blessing’ instead of original sin.’

This is not a denial of our inclination to sin and the effect of sin on human nature. Just as the story of Adam and Eve was intended by the author of the Book of Genesis to account for evil in the world and the fall of human nature, so too the teaching on Original Sin is a theological explanation for the tension we all experience in the face of evil in the world and of sin in our personal and communal lives. However, this doctrine was never intended to erase or eradicate the fact that we were created in the image and likeness of God. [Genesis 1:28]

Some Catholics of an older generation still live under a theological cloud and the fear of damnation instead of living in the present in the awareness of God’s abiding presence with the hope of eternal life through the action of divine grace. Contrary to the traditional Protestant notion of justificaton and salvation, the Catholic Church has always taught that although justification is indeed a gift, it is not merely a cover up of our sins or our sinful nature but a restoration to original blessing. In the words of Saint Paul, we have been recreated in Christ. [St. Paul to the Romans]

That’s what we celebrate in the sacrament of baptism and that’s what we renew in the sacrament of Reconciliation. In the early Church, Reconciliation was called “second baptism.” It was not celebrated routinely or rotely but reserved for the healing of major disruptions in the life of the Christian—sins which fractured in a serious maner, the union of an individual with Christ and the Church. In essence, it was a breech of communion with the Body of Christ.

The sacrament of Eucharist was not a reward for saints but extraordinary food for ordinary sinners. This is not to suggest that the Eucharist was to be received without preparation or without a clear conscience. It was rather the acknowledgement that despite our best intentions, even the faithful followers of Christ sin in thought, word, deed and omission. The Eucharist is indeed food for wayfarers.

At this time of the year, all nature cries out for our attention. The extraordinary mix of crimson, orange, brown and deep purple tell us that although nature is dying, the seeds of new life are being sown. The grain of wheat must first die if it is to yield a rich field of wheat in next Spring and a rich harvest next Fall. “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” [John 12:23]

The rhythm of creation is an invitation to think with the season. Our Jewish brothers and sisters observe Yom Kippur at this time of the year which is a period of atonement and spiritual healing so that they may be free to embrace life with hope and a fresh start.

Our Church also calls us to let go of hurts and wounds that bind us and to seek healing and forgiveness for our past failures and negligences. Life is full of passages and transitioins. Some are great; most are small but all of them can be signficant as we make our way toward the final spring when we shall be reborn into Christ forever.
I do believe that people of faith can smell God’s breath in the air. Faithful people live in the sea of God’s grace. Despite their failures, faithful people think positively of themselves and look for goodness in others.

Why not take some time for yourself over the next few weeks to connect with this beautiful season and do some ‘soul work’ allowing God’s liberating spirit to touch your mind and your heart. If you can’t come to the Eucharist table on a daily basis, pick up your Bible and check the daily readings. Look for opportunities to share bread with a friend or neighbor. Invoke God’s blessing on your own family table.

We are a Church in transition and a parish on the move. Now more than ever before we need to think with Christ, to live with Christ and to love with Christ so that together others may come to know the greatness of God.

Father Lasch
Pastor-at-Large
www.fatherlasch.com
kel@fatherlasch.com