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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.

Saturday September 26, 2009

+ 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Everyone needs a safety zone.

Readings: Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15 Responsorial: Jeremiah 31:10-13Luke 9:43-45

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. [Jeremiah 31:10d]

The returning exiles are encouraged to continue rebuilding the temple and are assured of God’s protective presence in their midst. There will be no need to measure off the boundaries or build a wall because God will protect them with a measure of safety symbolized by the wall of fire.

We all need a safety zone. Nations threatened by terrorist attacks, innocent people caught in the cross fire between enemy fire and friendly fire have nowhere to go escape the violence that surrounds them. Violence is in the air!

So where do we turn but to the core of our inner selves for safety where we discover the ever present God who guards and guides as a shepherd.

The forces of evil that surround us will ultimately be defeated not with weapons of mass destruction of whatever kind but with the hands and hearts of those who building and rebuilding villages in poverty pockets around the globe. They are for the most part, unknown men and women of every race and nation, unsung heroes who are building a wall of fire to protect the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers of every race and nation.