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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

Thursday January 11, 2007

+ 1st Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus was not into ‘celebrity ministry.’
.
Readings: Hebrews 3:7-14 Psalm 95:6-11 Mark 1:40-45

After cleansing the leper, Jesus said to him: ”_See that you tell no one anything _.” [Mark 1:44]

In the early stage of his ministry, Mark records this and similar ‘warnings’ by Jesus to those he healed that they keep it to themselves. Don’t go blabbering to others what I did for you. Biblical scholars refer to this as the ‘Markan secret.’ In other word, Mark assumes that it was much too early for publicity. When Jesus was asked about going to Jerusalem, he responded, “It is not opportune now.”

Did this make him a political opportunist? Not at all. Remember, this is Mark’s account of the progress of the mission and ministry of Jesus as Messiah. But it makes sense. Jesus had a lot of ground to cover and he was not into ‘celebrity ministry;’ he wasn’t out to make a name for himself.

It think there’s a lesson in this for lay ministers, and especially for us priests. Church ministry is not a career and we are not in it what we can get out of it. We are in it to give praise and glory to God. “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what y our right is doing so that your almsgiving may be secret and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” [Matt 6:1-6]

So we don’t need to parade around in gold vestments and crowns and have our name plastered in the local papers. What is in our hearts is more important than what is on the front page of the newspaper.