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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

Saturday March 27, 2010

+ 5th Week in Lent

The tension between good and evil increases.

Readings: Ezekiel 17:21-28 Psalm Jeremiah 31: 10-13 John 11:45-56

“What are we do,” they said, “with this man performing all sorts of signs? If we let him go on like this, the whole world will believe in him.’” One of them, Caiaphas, the high priest that year said, ‘You don’t seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, that for the whole nation to be destroyed.” [John 11:47, 50]

Change is never easy, even when we are convinced that personal change is necessary.

What is true of individuals is even truer of institutions – even the Church!

Jesus was a religious reformer. It was not his goal to establish a new religion. Far from it; “I have come not to abolish the law but to bring it to fulfillment.” He stood out alone even among his own, most of whom abandoned him at the end.

It was too difficult for the religious establishment of his time to reform and change what needed to be changed in order to be faithful to the ‘law’ – to the ‘spirit’ of the law. Better to do away with reformers because they disturb our consciences and challenge our lethargy.

Lent is the season of repentance and renewal. Repentance comes first. Renewal follows. Jesus was and remains the only reformer in whom there was no need for reform but he took on the guilt of us all by his faithfulness that we too might turn from our infidelity and be freed from our sins. For this he paid the price.

There is an ancient axiom that predates the reformation and is as poignant now as it was when it was first spoken: “Ecclesia semper reformanda est!” – The church is always in need of reform – from the top to the bottom. And if it doesn’t change from the top down, it will change from the bottom up. In the words of my dear mom, “Mark my words!”