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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

Sunday January 30, 2005

+ 4th Week in Ordinary Time

Just be yourself!

Readings: Zehpaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 I Cor 1:26-31 Matt 5:1-12

“The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As Scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.” [I Cor 30-31]

When we know ‘who’ we are, we also know what to do and where to go to do it.

This may a convoluted sentence but it is not a convoluted thought.

Adrian Van Kaam, author of numerous books on the spiritual journey, has written extensively on the dynamics of faith, personality and our life in God. His works reflect much of the theology of Karl Rahner whose theological insights were so influential in the documents of Vatican II.

It is impossible for us to be our truth and authentic selves without acknowledging the spiritual principle in the depth of our being. This spiritual ‘principle’ is God who dwells in the center of our lives. Jesus is the paradigm of what it looks like to identify with God. That’s how Jesus can call God “Father” i.e., “Abba” or “daddy.” But it’s not a gender thing. God is also “mother” – the origin of all things visible and invisible, the source of our energy, the beginning and the end or rather, our destiny.

This is why ‘centering’ prayer is so important because it raises to the conscious level, our intimate connection to God and so come to know who we are. And when we known ‘who’ we are, we also know what to do and where to go to do it.

So, just be yourself!