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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 March 17, 2007

+ Third Week of Lent

“You’re not like everybody else!”

Readings: Hosea 6:1-6 Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21 Luke 18:9-14

”_The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector _.’” [Luke 18:11]

“Why can’t I stay out until 10:00 o’clock to play with the other kids?” To which my mom would reply, “Because you’re not like the other kids! It’s time for you to come in. Did you finish your homework?”

I’m sure that’s an exchange you have heard many times in your short life. Perhaps you were a mom who used that retort on more than one occasion with one of your children.

My mom was not biased against the other kids. To the chagrin of my grandmother who lived next store, the neighborhood kids were welcomed on our front porch every day. Our house was in the middle of the block and served as an excellent meeting place.

However, mom and dad knew what was best for us and ironically, one of the lessons we learned was that indeed, though our household protocol’ (rules!) may have differed from those of some of our neighbors, we were not better than they. We lived in a very mixed working class neighborhood—ethnic, cultural and religious.

Jesus preached a protocol of love that placed many demands on his disciples. “Do you see how the Pharisees lord it over others? It cannot be that way with you. Those who would be my disciples must server the needs of all. The first must be last.” This protocol certainly made his disciples different and distinguished hem from others but it did not make them better.

The honest recognition of our sinfulness keeps everything in perspective. The sinner in the back of the synagogue was indeed different from the Pharisee in the front seat.