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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

Wednesday August 11, 2010

+ Feast of St Clare

Clare was clear about her call.

Readings: Philippians 3:8-14 Psalm 15:1, 5, 7-8, 11 Matt 19:27-29

And everyone who has left houses, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life. [Matt 19:29]

I mentioned above, that “Clare was clear about her call.” Well, not exactly. She had to come to that conviction through a discernment process that had to include the mentoring of her parents, teachers and from her own experience growing up in troubled times when the disparity between the rich and poor was great – was it ever not great?

But the greatest influence on Clare was the witness of St. Francis of Assisi, who divested himself of all his worldly goods so that he might give his life to the poor.

We too are living in troubled times and though our call may not be that of Clare, we are being called to live a more simple life.

Two evenings ago, there was a item on the evening edition of NJR News about a new Good Will store that opened somewhere in North Jersey. The reporter noted that it is not only the poor who are taking advantage of the bargains, but also the middle class and even the well-to-do. In doing so, they are supporting Good Will’s outreach to the needy.

We are living in complicated times economically. In a consumer society, if we purchase less, there are inevitable reverberations on the economy. It’s a catch twenty-two. However, I think we can all agree that we do need to find a way to live with less so that others who have nothing can have the basic needs for survival.

As I look at the news of the flood in Pakistan – the worst in Pakistani history – and the floods in China, the ravaging fire in Russia to say nothing of the continuing downturn along the gulf as a result of the BP oil spill, I can’t help but think that we need to establish a global economic system that will better serve the needs of all.

However, St. Francis and St. Clare began with the poor in their neighborhood but their ‘gospel’ spread throughout the world. Clare was the foundress of the Poor Clares who continue to work among the poor world wide.