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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

Saturday February 12, 2005

+ 1st Week in Lent

There’s a connection between faith and good works; between sin and reparation.

Readings: Isaiah 58:9-14 Luke 5:27-32

When discussing the criteria for the selection of a godparent at Baptism or of a sponsor for Confirmation, I have asked parents to choose a good role model, someone whom their daughter can look to as a mentor, someone they can emulate as they mature into Christian adulthood. Evangelical churches take this responsibility very seriously. Although it is not universally true, Roman Catholics tend to view the role of godparent or sponsorship more as an opportunity to show respect for a friend or relative rather than the conferral of a sacred trust.

It has become the practice in recent years for pastors to request a ‘certificate’ of approval from the pastor of the godparent or sponsor as a testimonial that they are Catholics ‘in good standing,’ which means that they at least ‘show up for Mass’ every Sunday.

Occasionally parents object to this expectation suggesting that although the prospective godparent or sponsor does not go to church every Sunday, they are good Christians, conscientious citizens and generous to worthy causes.

It’s a dilemma, to be sure. As a pastor, I abandoned the requirement and simply asked parents to be conscientious about the selection. I truly believe that for Christians in the Catholic tradition, the weekly celebration of the Eucharist is essential to the ‘practice of the faith.’ However, I also believe that if the celebration of the mysteries of our faith at Eucharist does not overflow into good works, then that celebration becomes an empty ritual. Showing up at Mass is not enough.

I think we need to put the accent on two syllables but we need to avoid using edicts to evangelize. Insistence on certificates leads to a search for loop holes in the law. Not a good idea.

Preach the Gospel using words only when necessary. Keep the tables connected, the Eucharist table, the family table and the table of humanity. Leave the rest to God.