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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 19, 2005

+ 1st Week in Lent

Aren’t the Commandments enough?

Readings: Deut 26:16-19 Matt 5:43-48

Wow! I have never measured up to Jesus’ expectations and I don’t think ever will. It’s not because I don’t want to be like God or even like Jesus. It’s just that the harder I try, the harder I fall! I think some spiritual author commenting on priestly spirituality said, “The higher they go, the farther they fall.” Obviously, he was not an optimist. I have rarely been highly motivated by negative admonitions. I can still remember my mom’s cautious response to my plea to go out to a party during a storm, “You can go, but it’s against my better judgment.” How to kill a nice evening! She meant well. She was only looking at for my safety.

That having been stated, I think Jesus was calling his disciples beyond the minimal standards established by the Ten Commandments. It’s not that they should be abandoned. No, Jesus came not to do away with them but to bring them to perfection through an interior love that comes from the soul not just form the law.

I think there is a parallel in the political and commercial arenas. Political rhetoric is intended to get votes; commercials are designed to sell products. Christian love always looks to the good of others without denying the benefit that redounds to ourselves when we do the right thing. In other words, the law of true love yields a rich harvest in others as well as within our own souls. That’s what it means to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. However, perfection is not in the achievement but in the effort.