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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

Tuesday July 3, 2007

+ Feast of St Thomas, Apostle

There’s no doubt about it; we do have our doubts.

Readings: Ephesians 2:19-22 Psalm 117:1-2 John 20:24-29

“The other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’”[John 20:25]

When I was a kid, we weren’t ‘allowed’ to doubt—certainly not about matters of faith. It was tantamount to a denial of faith.

But of course, the denial of our ‘right’ to doubt only increased our doubts. I suppose it’s accurate to state that doubt itself is a certainty.

Doubt is also an indicator of curiosity and the invitation to search for answers notwithstanding the reality that all our questions will never be answered satisfactorily. That’s okay. We don’t have to know it all or have all he answers. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews states that: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” And St. Anselm defined theology as faith seeking understanding.” These two quotes go well together.

Just consider all the wonderful advances in science that have happened as the direct result of research based on doubt about evidence available to the human eye.

St. Thomas eventually ‘saw’ and believed. Blessed are all those who have not seen and yet believed. But doubt may be the first step or a door opener to belief.

“I do believe. Help my unbelief.” [Mark 9:24]