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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

Monday January 21, 2008

+ 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

Readings: 1 Samuel 15:15-23 Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23 Mark 2:18-22

“Does the Lord so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat o rams.” [1 Samuel 15:22]

The anointing of Saul by Samuel as king of Israel was the beginning of a new era for the Israelites. His appointment was against Samuel’s wishes but after several attempts to persuade the Israelites and God to forgo an earthly king, Samuel gave in to the desire of the people and the will of God.

In reading these ancient texts, we need to bear in mind that God’s will is perceived through the ears of the human mind and heart. It’s hard to believe, for example, that God willed the extermination of the Amalekites or of any nation. This is a very primitive understanding of the texts.

In any case, Saul turned out to be less honorable in the fulfillment of his responsibilities and succumbed to the temptation of ‘other kings’ to pursue their own path of glory and suffered recrimination for his disobedience in pilfering the spoils for himself.

The passage is not about God’s intent to destroy but of Saul’s need to obey. The word ‘obey’ is related to the word ‘listen.’ To live each day in ‘obedience’ to God is to listen to the heartbeat of God under all circumstances. In practice it means doing what we know we are supposed to do each day without complaint knowing that God’s plan is being fulfilled through our dedication to our daily responsibilities.