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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 October 23, 2009

+ 29th Week in Ordinary Time

The signs are all around us.

Readings: Romans 7:18-25a Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94 Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say immediately that it is going to rain – and so it does; you know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? [Luke 12:54-56]

As an amateur meteorologist I predict weather by instinct and though I’m not about to defend it as an alternative to weather maps, satellites and scientific forecasts, I will tell you that it has its advantages. I suppose it is akin to musicians who play only by reading the notes and those who read the notes but also play by ear.

That having been said, I think this is what Jesus was getting at in today’s gospel. Read the signs carefully and if your instincts are on the same wave length as God’s, then you have no difficulty in discerning the signs.

As I reflect more and more on our theological tradition, I’m coming to the conclusion that there is indeed something to natural law theory that we ought not dismiss too easily whether it applies to weather patterns or to social theory. We may be able to construct huge levies to withstand a category three hurricane but a category four hurricane will prove who is master of the sea and sky.

We may construct large fences and protect our borders against terrorists with preemptive strikes and our assets against the invasion of taxes, but if we avoid reading the signs of the times – the law of justice will prevail and there is no force that can withstand the voice of hunger and thirst.

No guilt, please. Just creativity in our thinking about the national and global economies and how we can work together for the good of all.