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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.

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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

Friday January 7, 2005

+ Friday after Epiphany

Readings: I John 5:5-13 Luke 5:12-16

What or where is your ‘leprosy?’

“Now Jesus was in one of the town when a man appeared, covered with leprosy. Seeing Jesus, he fell on his face and implored him, ‘Sir.’ He said, ‘If you want to, you can cure me.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once.” [Luke 5:12-13]

Never in my 67 years have I ever met a true leper. However, I have ministered to several people in the final stages of Aids. One in particular took place many years ago when victims of Aids were viewed by many in the category of the biblical leper – to be avoided at all costs.

I recall entering the room of the patient with much apprehension but my outreach to him was not a choice. Though a lapsed Catholic, he had asked for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Despite troubling times for our Church, we can take great consolation in the fact that it has been in the vanguard of ministry to victims of Aids—no questions asked, no recriminations suffered. To do what Jesus did is non negotiable for the Christian to say nothing of the ministry of the priest-shepherd.

But there are other leprosies that plague our society and our Church. Sexual abuse is one, the impact of which is incalculable and too many of them have been treated as lepers by the very persons who abused them or covered up the abuse.

Substance abuse is a form of leprosy that affects not only those who are addicted, but their families and their friends. Indeed, our society continues to pay a high price for its effects on the workplace and in tragedy on the highway.

But aren’t we all in recovery from one dysfunction or another that prevents us from being our best selves.

With the leper of the Gospel we cry out, “Lord, that we might be cured.”