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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 May 3, 2008

+ Sixth Week in Easter

But in the end, we all want what’s best for one another…

Readings: Acts 18:23-28 Psalm 47:2-3, 8-9, 10 John 16:23b-28

Jesus said to his apostles: ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; as and you shall receive, so that your joy may be complete.” [John 16:23b-24]

I thing there a bit of, “I want what I want when I want it in all of us.” Perhaps that’s a bit more crass than I should be willing to admit. Shall we chalk it up to hyperbole? I suppose at the core of our deepest desires there is the desire that all our relationships be in order—that we all have what we need to be whole and at peace in our relationship with God and all those who are precious to us.

I really think it’s more a matter of praying so that over time we can think with God because if we think like God, then we will be happy and all our relationships will be in order —we will say and do the right thing at all times and love will be the driving force that keeps us on the straight and narrow. That ’s a vision, for sure.

As my mom faced the final chapter of her life, she asked us to pray not for a cure but that she would receive the gift of acceptance and the grace and strength to accept each day and each stage of her illness as Jesus accepted each step of his last journey.

Her prayer was answered and so was ours.