• Bulletin Board, Announcements, Calendar
• Welcome and Website Protocol
• Editorial - Op Ed
• Article Archive

Print this page

Article Categories

• Book Reviews
• Open Letter
• Editorials
• Notes, Quotes & Comments
• Pastor's Study
• Project Millstones
• Sidebar Comments
• Weekly Message

Links

AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

Search

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 June 2, 2007

+ 8th Week in Ordinary Time

Be wise but don’t be a ‘wise guy.’

Readings: Sirach 51:12-20 Psalm 19:8-11 Mark 11:11-27-33

“When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer; I prayed for her before the temple, and I will seek her until the end.” [Sirach 51:13-14]

I’m not sure that when I was young and ‘innocent’ I sought wisdom. More often than not, I think I was a ‘wise guy.’ Such is the need to break out and stretch our egos. Carl Jung suggested that this is a normal process of achieving a healthy self-identity and the esteem that flows from it.

However, as we progress toward maturity, we come to the realization that our will to power cannot be absolute and must be curbed lest we become barbaric in our interpersonal relations. Sooner or later—better sooner than later—we get knocked off our high horse and come to the realization that wise guys are not successful. Unfortunately, some wise guys just don’t get it and never will.

There is a healthy wisdom tradition in Judeo-Christian spirituality rooted in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. Today’s reading is a good example. Notice too that wisdom is translated as a feminine word—‘sophia’ in Greek. It is in fact a feminine attribute of God.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend an interfaith wedding in the Greek Orthodox tradition. It has been many years since I have attended the Divine Liturgy in Eastern Rite. The Eastern Roman Catholic and the Greek Orthodox Churches follow the ancient rites of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil among others early Greek saints. The Eastern tradition stresses the presence of God in all things and its Divine Liturgy cries out, “Wisdom! Let us be attentive!”

The truly wise are not ‘wise guys’ but believers who are attentive to God’s voice and they strive to live daily the rhythm of God’s life. Yes, they smell God’s breath in the air. These are apt metaphors for those who strive for goodness and Godliness.