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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

Thursday January 27, 2005

+ 3rd Week in Ordinary Time

“The measure of love is to love without measure.”

Readings: Hebrews 10:19-25 Mark 4:21-25

“The amount you measure with will be measured back to you, for to the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what little he has will be taken away.” [Mark 4:25]

Occasioned by preparations for our high school reunion, I dug out my high school yearbook. As I paged through the notes and signatures of classmates and friends, I came upon the ‘mantra’ about the measure of love quoted above. I thought it was coined by the teacher, a religious sister, who penned it next to her photo. I discovered years later that it is a quote from St. Francis de Sales’ book, “Introduction to the Devout Life” but he undoubted was inspired by today’s gospel passage also quoted above. When I complained that my sister got more than I, my mother would say, “Don’t measure!” Happiness has little to do with what we ‘got’ but with what we give.

Mantras help to keep our focus clear. Succinct and compact, they are handy little phrases that provide a needed boost to our daily effort to maintain our commitment to the Gospel and our discipleship with Christ.

“If you don’t use it, you lose it!” Indeed. That’s what Jesus meant when he said to those who have, more will be given and for those have not, what little they have will dissipate. He certainly wasn’t referring to the investment of money but to the stewardship of our talents and resources.