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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.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Saturday December 8, 2007

I confess and do not deny that this is basically a repeat of last year’s meditation because I think it still makes sense.

It’s not about biology but about the technology of love.

“And the angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;” [Luke 1:35]

But the grace of God overshadowed Mary long before the announcement of the Angel Gabriel.

Every so often a new phrase will show up in public discourse and in ordinary conversation. “Over time” is one; another is “at the end of the day.” Short phrases are short cuts to meaning. I’ve used them frequently in these brief reflections and meditations.

Several years ago, “Be open!” was making the rounds. It was a plea for greater openness to new ideas, many of them fruits of the enlightenment. For some it was an invitation. For others it was a rebuke. But when it comes to being open to God’s Word and God’s Spirit, the phrase takes on new meaning.

Mary was so totally open to God’s word that she became pregnant with the living Word of God in Christ.

The feast is not about the conception of Christ but abut Mary’s return to ‘Original Blessing’ at her own conception. It’s a feast that is not found in the Bible. In fact, biblical scholars accept the fact that the infancy narrative, including the description of the Annunciation is ‘midrash’ i.e., Luke’s meditation on the mystery of the incarnation rather than an historical account.

However, this feast is not about the technology of Mary’s conception as much as the belief of Mary’s favor (living in grace). The feast reminds us of how dependent God is on our collaboration in bringing Good News to the world.

At Baptism, women and men, we were all returned to “Original Blessing” and thereby empowered to say ‘yes’ to our ‘partnership’ with God in the continuing work of creation.

The seed of God’s word is sown in the heart of believers to empower us to goodness and Godness. We are called to be conduits of God’s grace.

As in this feast, the Church is still catching up to the faith and devotion of the faithful in the pew. Mary’s favor surely hints at other ‘favors’ bestowed on women by God but still not foully recognized by ‘men’ of the Church.