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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

Friday July 31, 2009

+ 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Despite the conflicts that divide families, nations and churches, there is a hunger for ‘atonement.’

Readings: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37 Psalm 81:3-6, 10-11 Matthew 13:54-58

The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement, when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourself with an oblation to the Lord. [Leviticus 23:27]

The Book of Leviticus, the third book of the Pentateuch, is essentially a book of liturgical or ritual prescriptions for the priests of the tribe of Levi. However, the prescriptions pertained to all of the Israelites as an application of the commandments, especially the first three that deal with the call to holiness. God wills that they (and we) be holy as God is holy.

Holiness is a term that conjures up all sorts of images in minds of sincere people. These images range from ‘visions’ of angelic purity to hardnosed but compassionate saints who rolled up their sleeves in streets of Calcutta or Mali to help the poorest of the poor to die in the embrace of God.

Whatever our image, vision or definition, holiness is not something we achieve. It results from the combination of desire and grace. Whatever our ‘call and career’ the path to holiness is unique to each of us.

So what does this have to do with ‘atonement?’

Atonement or ‘at-one-ment’ has to do with the deep down desire to be ‘at one’ with God as the source of ‘original blessing.’ The rituals prescribed in Leviticus are primitive and unfortunately convey the notion that somehow our failures can only be overcome and healed by appeasing an angry God. Even John the Evangelist somehow comes to the conclusion that Jesus had to die to ransom humanity and balance the scales of divine justice.

None of us is without fault or failure no matter how pure our motivation. This is what I would call a ‘healing truth.’ However, the oblation that we offer is a contrite heart, not a self-loathing plea for mercy.

Jesus’ oblation was not a commitment to death but the offering of his life unto death. They are not the same.

Our nation, our church and many of our families desperately need a commitment to healing truth in the light of God’s mercy. Thus we may come to see through the eyes of God the beauty in one another despite our will to power and our destructive need to control the destiny of everyone except ourselves.
Talk of dialogue is shallow without the concomitant desire to know ourselves as God knows us—warts and all—and a sincere commitment to the healing truth that frees us to be ‘at-one’ with God and others.

Although somewhat obtuse in spots, Benedict’s latest encyclical, “Truth in Charity,” does hit on some points that if taken seriously, could have an impact on the world order, particularly with regard to the economy. I reckon the same ‘truth’ about justice would, if applied equally to the Church, would also have a notable impact on the life of the institution, particularly with the full recognition and participation of women.