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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 2, 2005

+ Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

It is a feast of light and liberation but not without cost.

“You see this child; he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected…’” [Luke 2:34b]

Readings: Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40

It used to be called the Feast of the Purification. Mothers over 50 will recall a ceremony called “Churching.” Based on ancient Jewish law, after giving birth to a child, mothers were expected to be ritually ‘purified’ before they could reenter the synagogue or sanctuary. It’s hard to believe that up until thirty years ago, women subjected themselves to this archaic and demeaning ‘law’ to which Mary herself was subject.

The feast has been appropriately renamed ‘Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.’ The focus is now on Jesus as the “Light of the world.” It is a mini-Epiphany, a reminder that Jesus is the focus of our faith as individuals and as a church. But faith is caught, not taught. As such we are challenged not to be the light but to reflect his light to the world. It takes a long time for believers to understand and absorb the message. That’s why we celebrate the feast year after year. We don’t get it the first time and not even after the 30th time.

Until we get to ‘know’ Jesus in the biblical sense, that is, heart to heart, soul-to- soul, the flame of Christ’s life and Christ’s love will flicker. It is in the embrace of life each day that we discover Christ the light in our midst.