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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

Wednesday February 20, 2008

+ 2nd Week in Lent

We all admire prophets until they challenge us.

Readings: Jeremiah 18:18-20 Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16 Matthew 20:17-24

Listen to me, Lord, hear what my adversaries are saying. Should evil be returned for good? For, they are digging a pit for me. Remember how I stood in your presence to plead on their behalf, to turn your wrath away from them. [Jeremiah 18:19-20]

Have you heard about the psychiatrist who told his paranoid patient, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean someone is not out to get you!”

As with every exaggeration, there is some truth to this ‘truism.’

Jeremiah was one of the beloved of his contemporaries until he began to challenge them for their indolence in the face of injustice and oppression. As with most of the Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah did not want to want to be a prophet in the first place. He protested that he was too young. I suppose it would be fair to say that he identified with Isaiah who told God that he was not worthy to be a prophet and would not be able to find the right words to say.

Jeremiah accepted the call but he found out all too soon that “there are no cheap graces!” His contemporaries turned on him.

Jeremiah is a proto-type for Jesus-—prophet of prophets. He experienced the same response not so much from his peers but from the religious leaders, the chief teachers and from the Sanhedren.

Matthew softens the arrogance of James and John, sons of Zebedee by assigning to their mother, their maneuvering and jockeying into the favor of Jesus. She didn’t get it and neither did they as was pointed out poignantly in yesterday’s gospel, discipleships with Jesus is not about position status. And those who hold ‘position’ or ‘status’ (authority) in the church are to be servants not governors.

We are not called to be prophets as Isaiah and Jeremiah but as Christians, we are called respond to Jesus prophetic call to live with integrity and to work for justice; to free the oppressed, to shun titles and honor for the sake of the Gospel—inside and outside the Church. Anyone among you who wants to be great must be your servant and anyone among you who wants to be first among you, must be your servant, for the Son of man has come not to be served but to serve, to give is life as a ransom for many. [Matt 20:24]

Check a recent posting on my homepage link, click ‘Underwater Astonishment’