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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.

Daily Scripture

Sunday December 12, 2004

+ 3rd Week in Advent

Authentic religion touches the soul.

“It is the Lord who keeps faith forever.” [Ps 145:6a]

Keeping faith is one of the greatest challenges of our time because there are so many reasons not to keep faith. News of shepherds dressed in wolves’ clothing leading their sheep astray is more than disheartening. Many disillusioned Catholics are leaving the pew in search of a more authentic voice. They don’t expect us pastors to be perfect but they expect us to be authentic.

Some Catholics are in diaspora, which is the Greek word for estrangement or exile waiting for a sign that Christ has not abandoned his Church.

The words of our Advent preacher, Isaiah, reassure us that God is not dependent on weak shepherds. In fact, God often speaks through the lips of the poor and even in the words of children.

“Then will the eyes of the blind be open, the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongues of those who cannot speak will sing for joy!”

It is often the simple faith and good deeds of humble people who assure us of God’s presence more than the empty rhetoric of preachers and showy rituals that sometimes entertain more than inspire.

Authentic religion touches the soul and enables us to perceive God’s presence within us and around us and to smell the breath of God’s presence in the wind. God speaks the loudest in the depth of our hearts, often in the silence of the night.