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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 February 5, 2011

+ 4th Week in Ordinary Time

In praise of God.

Readings: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 Psalm 23:1-6 Mark 6:30-34

Sisters and brothers: Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. [Hebrews 13:15]

As I looked out the window this morning, there was a strange beauty in the crooked trees and branches accented with cotton snow silhouetted against the gray sky. Nature has its own unique way of praising God with its stark beauty even in the face of an impending storm.

Of course were this the scene every morning throughout the year, the beauty would fade for the lack of contrast in the seasons.

Life is like that. The mix of storms and clouds with the promise of sunshine and the wisdom that comes with age and grace, somehow we experience the abiding presence of God within and around us.

Father Rento in his talk to the participants in St Luke Cornerstone retreat last evening quoted portions of a prayer entitled, “God-with-Us by Michael Morwood in his book, Praying a New Story. [Spectrum Publications, Melbourne, 2003]:

In the star we call the “sun,” converting six hundred million tons of hydrogen into helium every second and doing so for more than four billion years:

We see the presence of the God in whom we be believe.

In a universe beyond our comprehension, expanding a billion miles every hour:

We see the presence of God…

In the development of life on earth for hundreds of millions of years:

We see the presence of God…

In the emergence of human life:

We see the presence of God…

In humankind’s searchfor meaning:

We see the presence of God…
In Jesus of Nazareth:

We see the presence of God…

In you and me:

We see the presence of God…

Do you realize tht you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God is living in you? (I Cor. 3:16)

We give expression to the Spirit within us and give thanks for the wonder of who we are and for our conscious awareness of that Spirit at work in everthing that exists.

Amen.