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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

A True Role Model

Thursday November 9, 2006

The death of Ed Bradley caught me off guard. It was like the death of friend and colleague. No, I never met Ed Bradley but I felt I knew him very well. He was one of my heroes. CBS Sixty Minutes was the perfect venue for Ed Bradley and I looked forward to his almost weekly reports and of course, Andy Rooney’s commentary. He is another of my heroes. In the words of the sage, “many a truth was said in jest!” Way to go, Andy.

Speaking of truth, Ed Bradley had a way of getting to the truth in all his interviews. He was always persuasive, never abrasive. He was a gentleman in every circumstance. He never upstaged his interviewees—his humility was ingrained. He stood out among his colleagues. No, he stood above all his colleagues but he didn’t climb over any of them to get to the top.

In the words of my own mentor and part-time journalist, Lawrence Casey, Ed Bradley “was a pro.” He suffered from no identity crisis. He knew who he was. Not a hint or the narcissism to which public figures are so prone.

Ed Bradley enjoyed life on camera and off camera but then he was life giving under all circumstances. Sometimes the object of humor that he enjoyed as much he never made others the butt of unwelcome humor.

I don’t know his religious persuasion if any, but I do know that Ed Bradley was a role model for anyone in the pursuit of integrity.

Eternal rest give to him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Father Lasch