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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

Thursday November 29, 2007

+ 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Watch out for the lions!

Readings: Daniel 6:12-28 Responsorial Daniel 3:68-74 Luke 21:20-28

“So the king ordered Daniel to be cast into the lions’ den. To Daniel he said, ‘May your God, whom you serve so constantly, save you.’” [Daniel 6:17]

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world.” [Luke 21:25-26]

My memory still holds a vivid image of Daniel in the lions’ den standing in their midst unharmed. In as much as I was blessed with a very active imagination, I recall imaging myself in the den along with Daniel. He became my instant hero. Of course in my innocence as a child, I believed that this was an historical event, that Daniel actually survived his ‘visit’ to the lions’ den. I suppose this was consistent with my deep conviction that yes, Ken, there is a Santa Claus!

As I mentioned above, this is a divinely inspired hero story and yes, it was written to encourage the Jews suffering persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes IV around 165 BCE. It belongs to the category of apocalyptic literature, i.e., describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world. Although this particular story was intended to support the faithful, much of apocalyptic literature was written to scare the hell out of the unfaithful as we see evidenced in today’s gospel selection.

Biblical and theological fundamentalists do indeed use these texts to preach fire and brimstone but do more harm to the innocent than to the guilty. The guilty are not listening anyway because they do not view themselves as enemies of God.

There are indeed lions out there but they are not the caged orange-colored, black speckled animals but predators who prey on the poor and attack the innocent. They wear religious and secular clothing and they as clever as foxes in their exploitation of power under the guise of the protection of orthodoxy or democracy.

Every day is an opportunity of grace for those who seek to live in the dominion of God. People of integrity do not need to be frightened into goodness and ‘Godness.’ People of virtue who breathe God’s spirit, live the rhythm of God and need not fear the end whenever and however it comes.

And remember, God speaks the loudest in our hearts.