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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 29, 2004

+ 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Readings: I John 2:3-11 Luke 2:22-35

Try it again for the first time; love, that is.

“My dear people, this is not a new commandment that I am writing to tell you, but an old commandment that you have heard from the beginning…. Yet in another way, what I am writing to you is a new commandment….” [I John 7-8]

The words are the same but the message is ever new. Life changes from one year to another, indeed, from one day to the next. So too ordinary words often take on a new meaning in the light of the changing circumstances of life.

Last evening, PBS whizzed through the significant events of 2004; and the year is not over yet. Surely nature’s attack on southeast Asia will rank among the most tragic in recorded history.

Where was God? Where IS God? These are the questions believers and non-believers ponder.

The unchanging commandment is “to love.” John wrote that “God is love and those who live in love, live in God. ”I think it was Francis de Sales who wrote, “The measure of love is to love without measure.” There are many more reasons to love this year than last – 60,000 lives lost and counting. The most and the least we can do is dig down deep and give until it hurts. But this is only the beginning . All of a sudden, our own needs and wants seem petty.

Catholic Relief Services is a wonderful conduit for your charity. Catholic Relief Services – 209 West Fayette Street – Baltimore, MD 21202 Att: Ken Hackett.