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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

Wednesday January 17, 2007

+ 2nd Week in Ordinary Time – St. Anthony the Hermit

Agitator or Reformer?
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Readings: Hebrews 7:1-3, 16-17 Psalm 110:1-4 Mark 3:1-6

“Then he said to the Pharisees, ‘is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?’ They remained silent.” [Mark 3:4]

It may be helpful to recall that the daily readings during ‘Ordinary Time’ are not selected to support each other. They are continuous readings the first of which is divided between Old and New Testament readings three or four weeks dedicated to each successively depending on the particular year: Year I or Year II. We are in Year I. The daily gospel is same every year.

Sometimes the readings support each other by accident. That is not the case today. So, we have three themes on which to reflect: the eternal priesthood of Christ, Jesus, agitator or reformer? And St. Anthony, Hermit and Abbot.

1. We were baptized into the priesthood of Christ, which means that we act in the Church not simply by delegation from the bishop or pastor but in virtue of our baptism. We have been empowered to act in Jesus name. “I have no hands but yours…”

2. Jesus was definitely a reformer in the line of the great prophets. As with all prophets, he could be an agitator in the face of intransigent hypocrisy. What is more important, adherence to the minutiae of the law or the well being of the believer?

3. Anthony went into the desert to lead a life of perpetual prayer. He is considered the founder of monasticism. However, his primary witness was solitude and abstinence from worldly pleasures including food! Few of us are called to the eremitical life but all of us are called to a life of prayer that provides balance to our life of good works.

Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester founded by Fr. Gene Romano, Hermit, to provide a place of quiet and solitude for the active Christians seeking balance in their lives.