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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

Friday January 28, 2005

+ Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas

“Virtus in medio stat.”

Readings: Wisdom 7:10, 15-16 Matt 23:8-12

“May God grant me to speak as he would wish and express thoughts worthy of his gifts, since he himself is the guide of Wisdon. since he directs the sages. We are indeed in his hand, we ourselves and our words, with all our understanding, too, and technical knowledge.” [Wisdom 7:16]

“Virtue stands in the middle” is the literal translation of the quote above and originates in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. If I may be so bold, St. Thomas was correct!

Brash young men and women tend to mellow out as they age; laid back and somewhat passive folks tend to become more assertive as they pass through their mid years. Healthy people move toward the center as they ‘weather the seasons of life.

Several years ago, my collaborator and good friend, Sister Marie Schultejann, explained it this way. Assuming the street lamps are located on both sides of the street, I would do well to progress down the center. If I walk on the extreme right, I will have plenty of light directly underneath the lamp but the light will blind me to the darkness in the spaces between the lights. The same if I walk on the extreme left. But if I walk down the center, the staggered lamps will provide sufficient light from both sides to see the road ahead and he darkness will not overwhelm me.

Balance is crucial for success in life. Only God who lives in perpetual light has all the answers. The wise person walks down the center of the road.