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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 25, 2009

+ 26th Week in Ordinary Time

” Let not the perfect become the enemy of the good! ”

Readings: Haggai 2:1-9 Psalm 43:1-4 Luke 9:18-22

Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it seem like nothing in your eyes? Take courage all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord. [Haggai 2:3-4]

Building and rebuilding – a never ending process.

Solomon’s temple had been destroyed and the people on their return from exile were instructed to rebuild the temple and though it could not compare with the glory of the original, greater will be the future of this house than the former, says the Lord of hosts; And in this place I will give you peace. [Haggai 2:9]

The temple, in fact all places of worship are a metaphor for all people of faith, collectively and individually. As we age, we become more aware of the fragile nature of life. We do our very best but the best never seems adequate to the task. We remember the days of our youth long past and the dreams we cherished about how life would be when our ‘temple’ would be complete. How glorious it would be!

But we need to be reminded of the beautiful doctrine of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If it is our firm belief that God dwells within the depth of our being, then God’s grace will sustain us throughout our lives and give success to all our efforts as long as we give life our best shot. Indeed, “let not the perfect become the enemy of the good.”

In his book entitled, “Good enough Catholic,” Paul Wilkes makes the same point. The drive for perfection can blind us to the good that happen when we allow God to do what God does best – bringing the best out of our most humble words and deeds.