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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 October 13, 2004

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 – 28th Week in Ordinary Time

When we breathe in the Spirit freely given, we live in the rhythm of God’s life and readily lift the burdens of others.

“’Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on people burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’”[Luke 11:46]

We are living in a time of needed Church reform and renewal. On the other hand, the Church has always been in need of reform and renewal. As a human institution, we never really get it quite right. Our blindness gets in the way. Ironically, our will to power and need to control others is inhibits our freedom and our spontaneity. This is precisely what happened to many of the Pharisees and lawyers to whom Jesus addressed himself. But it applies to all of us including our ‘shepherd’ bishops some of whom appear more interested in their authority and our adherence to rigid rules and rituals than in challenging us to live the spirit of the Gospel.

The Church is not primarily a hierarchical institution established on rigid rules but a movement focused on Christ. To live ‘in Christ’ is to live freely in the Spirit that produces all good things. The sign that the Spirit lives and moves within the Church are the fruits of the Hoy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.