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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

Tuesday February 15, 2005

+ 1st Week in Lent

The Word of God is as relentless as the rain.

Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11 Matt 6:7-15

Though every few years we get hit with monsoon type rains and fierce nor-easterly blizzards or periodic droughts, we New Jerseyites can count on a moderate amount of snow and rain in season. Nature has its will to power and occasionally overpowers us with much more than we prayed for.

Nevertheless, snow and rain are excellent metaphors for God’s Word and God’s grace. Isaiah was wise to make the analogy despite the obvious inadequacies of its potential for destruction.

Meteorologists are reasonably good at predicting rain and snow but they cannot prevent it from happening. Day or night, weather patterns are persistent. Farmers count on weather patterns and we all know that a dehydrated earth yields no fruit.

We need to include God’s word in our daily diet. Jesus is the ‘living Word’ that can yield a rich harvest in our soul that can bear fruit in good works. Whether we are awake or asleep, God’s grace is relentless The Hound of Heaven will pursue us until we succumb to goodness and Godness.

Lent is the ideal time to till the soil and raise to consciousness, God’s abiding presence.