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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

Saturday December 18, 2004

+ 3rd Week in Advent

Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8 Matt 1:18-24

Extraordinary things still happen!

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your betrothed for that which she conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” [Matt 1:2b]

Several years ago, in his ‘promo’ or pitch for our forthcoming parish retreat, the Dominican preacher said in his ‘Bostonian’ accent, “Expect good things to happen over the next few days.” Indeed, good things did happen on that retreat. He and his partner brought the best out of the Word of God but more important than that, the Word of God brought the best out of us!

That’s what the Word is God is supposed to do in the hands of an effective preacher. He preaches not himself but Christ, the Living Word.

At this time of the year it is easy to get bogged down in the rush of holiday preparations. That’s an understatement, to be sure. But when we turn to the readings, we can get bogged down in biblical details and miss the point of the season.

Notice that Matthew’s Gospel contains no ‘infancy narrative’ as in Luke’s midrashic reflection. Neither do Mark or John, for that matter. In truth, it doesn’t really matter how Jesus got here. Matthew wants us to know that his coming was the work of God and that his mission will be the work of the Holy Spirit so expect good things to happen!

And good things do indeed happen when we entrust our hearts to God in Christ and good things happen to other people because we entrust our hearts to God.

“See the days are coming, it is the Lord who speaks, when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David…, practicing honesty and integrity in the land.” [Jeremiah 23:5]