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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 16, 2005

+ 1st Week in Lent

Don’t make me laugh!

Readings: Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 11:29-32

“Jesus addressed [the crowd], ‘This is a wicked generation it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah.’” [Luke 11:29]

Last year during Lent when this reading occurred, I made my usual reference to the Book of Jonah as a cartoon. As the congregants left church, one gentleman paused to suggest that I not refer to the Word of God as a cartoon. Apparently the reference so distracted him that he did not hear my ensuing commentary on the reading.

Actually, cartoons are effective catechetical tools not only for children but also for adults. Cartoons contain amusing stories and even make us laugh. The Book of Jonah is no exception. It is intended to amuse and even make us laugh but it does communicate a serous lesson, indeed, many lessons to the reader, young and old.

As many prophets ahead of him, Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh because he thought these ‘pagans’ were beyond redemption. So he did anything and everything to avoid the trip even taking to a journey in the opposite direction to Tarshish. Read the entire Book; it’s only four chapters long.

Of course the Lord insists that the Ninevites were ripe for conversion and convinced that Jonah was the man to do the job!

Reminds me of all the times I have convinced myself that some people are beyond redemption or at least unworthy of our attention as Christians. While it is true, it is hard to find fault with our friends and equally difficult to find good in our enemies, God shows no favorites. He makes his sun to shine on the just and the unjust alike.

We have heard it often enough that Christianity is ‘counter-cultural.’ Jesus conformed to neither cultural nor political norms, or religious norms, for that matter, if they became obstacles to the ‘Father’s will’ that all people be saved.

Lent is a time for stretching beyond barriers and screening out our biases.