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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 September 11, 2009

+ 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

We are challenged to a ‘refined’ morality.

Readings: I Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13 Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 23-24 Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.” [Luke 6:27-29]

Could there be a more challenging text on this day of infamy? A high percentage of the survivors of the events of 9/11 are still prone to post traumatic stress syndrome. Many have been in psychotherapy for years attempting to deal with the anger that continues to rage in their hearts. WQXR will provide music all day without commercial interruption and the announcer urged us to be with friends today.

One commentator on today’s gospel asked the question, “What would Jesus have done in the face of an attack on his mother?” It is one thing to turn the other cheek when someone attacks us physically or verbally and quite another when someone attacks a loved one—spouse or child.

I have to confess that it doesn’t get easier. As the events of 9/11 transition into history, the memory of the events do not fade away. In many ways, they intensify the horror and bring back images that dull our response to life and blind us to the refined morality to which Jesus calls his disciples.

A refined morality is what St. Paul is referring to in today’s reading. Sometimes we need to ‘fake it until we make it.’ This often-used phrase is used in recovery programs to motivate those who are striving to overcome an addiction. In a sense we can become addicted to our anger until it destroys us.

I think a refined morality comes under what I would call the ‘umbrella virtue’ of integrity. Doing the right thing for the right reason no matter what the cost and going the extra mile for another is sound advice for the person who wishes to advance in the way of the Lord. No hypocrisy and no phony baloney. This does not mean that we deny our anger. It means rather that we embrace it but not allow ourselves to be controlled by it. There is no other way except with the grace of God that can work miracles.

No, I’m not there yet. Far from it but it remains a worthy goal and well worth its pursuit.