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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

Saturday January 8, 2005

+ Saturday after Epiphany

Readings: I John 5:14-21 John 3:22-30

Now let’s get back to ‘normal.’

“We know, too, that the Son of God has come and has given us the power to know the true God. We are in the true god, as we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God; this is eternal life. Children, be on your guard against false Gods.” [John 5:20-21]

As I walked back to my apartment on the evening of the 17th having enjoyed a performance of “Messiah,” I admired the variety of Christmas lights and holiday decorations anticipating the celebration of the feast. Of course, the lights and festive ornaments communicate a different message to believers than to pure entrepreneurial market economists for whom Christmas is essential to balance the budget. But then, it would be simplistic to suggest that we are all one or the other.

At any rate, I had a momentary distraction as I recalled how tired are the red bows and barren Christmas trees after New Years, i.e., if they have not already been removed and boxed by that time.

Back to normal? But what is normal? Indonesia will never be normal again in our lifetime and certainly not in the lifetime of several general generations of southwest Asians.

As Christians, we live with the conviction that Jesus birth changed the course of human history. But it was Mahatma Ghandi who stated that it is not that Christianity has been tried and found wanting but that it has never been taken seriously. To be sure, he was overstating the point to make the point.

As faithful believers, we should struggle with the very notion of getting back to normal and instead, use our imagination and creativity to look for ways for Christ to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others.

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, let us be mindful of our own baptism and recommit ourselves to make a difference this year.