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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

Sunday January 9, 2005

+ Baptism of the Lord

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 5-7 Acts 10:34-38 Matt 3:13-17

Extraordinary things can happen in ordinary ways.

“You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen in to the power of the devil.” [Acts 10:37-38]

The Christmas season culminates with the celebration of this feast of the baptism of the Lord and the return to ‘Ordinary Time’ in the liturgical calendar of the Church. But ‘Ordinary Time’ is anything but ordinary. It is really ‘kairos’ time, i.e., opportune time for disciples of Jesus to integrate the message of Jesus life into our ordinary daily experiences in extraordinary ways.

Saint Therese of Lisieux, known as “The Little Flower,” in her ‘little way of perfection’ witnessed in her own life as a Carmelite to the ordinary in extraordinary ways. I reckon is an another application Saint Ignatius’ maxim, ‘age quod age,’ do what you are doing to the best of your ability or the counsel of St. Thomas Aquinas, “Be who you are!”

Recovery programs promote wisely under the guise of staying sober “one day at a time” I call it the ‘salami technique,’ one thin slice at a time. Don’t attempt more than you can handle but give every effort your all. But remember above all that we cannot merit salvation. Ultimately it is a gift, grace upon grace from a generous God counts our good efforts more than our failures.