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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 February 3, 2005

+ 4th Week in Ordinary Time

“Get ready to unpack for the journey.”

Readings: Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24 Mark 6:7-13

“And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses…” [Mark 6:8]

Several years ago I traveled to Eastern Europe for what was to become one of the most memorable journeys of my life. The Iron Curtain had collapsed only a fews years prior to our tour.

In any case, for reasons of convenience rather than virtue and whatever the destination, I prefer to travel ‘lite’ So there I was on the baggage line with no baggage to check. I had all I needed for this ten-day tour in my ‘carry-on’ bag. Everyone chuckled at my naïve wisdom.

We had to change planes at Frankfurt and arrived in Budapest early the next day. However, through an error in the baggage handling system, the baggage for all the passengers on our plane was still back in Frankfurt except, of course, for carryons. So there we were in the lobby of the hotel. Being very sensitive to the situation, I assured my companion travelers not to worry. I brought two toothbrushes – one for me and one for all of them! “Those who laugh last, laugh best!”

But there is a lesson in this homey and perhaps homely story. Disciples of Christ do better when they have fewer possessions to worry about, when they travel ‘lite.’