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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 December 15, 2004

+ 3rd Week in Advent

Readings: Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25 Luke 7:19-23

“Actions speak much louder than words.”

“Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them. Blest are they who find no stumbling block in me.” [Luke 7:22-23]

Acknowledging the challenge that every teacher faces in a classroom of thirty students, a very wise educator told me many years ago that good classroom discipline is in proportion to the volume of the teacher’s voice; the higher the volume, the poorer the discipline. An effective teacher “engages” students in what I would call the rhythm of learning. Who are the teachers whom you remember with the greatest fondness? Those who brought the best out of you and me.

Kids will always test the leadership of the teacher during the first week of school not because they want to rule the roost but because of their innate desire to find out who is going to be in charge. A good teacher doesn’t bite on the bate, but jumps into action by interacting. Her class excels in learning and the kids have fun in the process.

Jesus engaged people in the same way an effective teacher engages her students and the results are clear: “The blind see, “insight;” the deaf hear, “understand things they never understood before;” the lame walk, “fears are dispelled;” and the dead raised to life, “motivation restored.”

Wouldn’t it be great if Christians would lower their voices just a bit and engage others in a dialogue that might lead to a new truth that comes from God. Or better, why not just allow our actions to speak louder than our words?