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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.

A Christmas Prayer

Friday December 23, 2005

Quare tristis incedo? [Psalm 43:10b]

I promised,
you promised
to be faithful forever
vowed to Christ or Church.
Gift freely given,
gift freely accepted:
single and celibate,
married or partnered—chaste spouses
‘in season and out of season’
no fair-weather friendship,
no quid-pro-quo agreement,
no contract necessary,
no signatures other than the imprint of the heart—heart-to-heart
autographs in the misty sky
on clouds midst stars set deep in sockets beyond yesterday

But life changes in time over time.
What appeared real has become surreal
amidst thickened clouds,
stormy weather,
the likes of which no one has ever seen,
or at least can ever recall –
fires, floods and earthquakes – and wars,
sudden crashes on the highway
innocent life snuffed out in an instant,
no exemptions or exceptions:
women, men and children,
rich and poor,
black, white, brown and yellow
Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew and Christian
all succumbing to forces beyond human endurance.
lilies in the field left to drown,
sparrows without nexts.
Who cares?

But there’s more you say—
what of worldly rulers
clothed in red, white and blue
who speak of victoriously of justice but who act with vengeance?
and of religious chiefs,
“shepherds” they call themselves
but in truth, wolves in sheep’s clothing?
Justice is now measured and meted out by the unjust
legal cover-ups reflecting shallow wisdom bereft of moral courage
unworthy compromise on any standard, human or divine.

“See I told you,” chants the atheist,
“There is no God!”

The agnostic chimes in with meet refrain,
“If God there be, we cannot know for sure;”
for this God does not speak or act with reverence toward the human
but stands aloof, detached from humankind.

This cannot be you say—
our promises were not in vain
for God has indeed appeared over time
Promise fulfilled in time
in place and space
where angels fear to tread.
A noble God who cares not about title
or race, or color
or earthly kin of any kind
whose imprint is on every precious soul
no matter who or how the cause of being.

Indeed, “I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope:
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
God’s mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning so great is God’s faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
Therefore will I hope in God.
Good is the Lord to the one who waits for God
to the soul that seeks God.
It is good to hope in silence
for the saving help of the Lord.” [Lamentations 3:21-26]
Christmas 2005

Father Lasch