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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

Tuesday March 1, 2011

+ 8th Week in Ordinary Time

Table wisdom

Readings: Sirach 35:1-15 Psalm 50:6-8, 14, 23 Mark 10:28-31

A person multiplies offerings by keeping the Law; by showing gratitude a person makes an offering of fine flour, the offering of alms is a sacrifice of praise. [Sirach 35:1-2]

I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mothers, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, and land now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life. [Mark 10:29-31]

Once again, we need to read both selections in their entirety because this is one of those days when the first reading introduces the second. The first is just the door opener.

As was explained earlier, the Book of Sirach is part of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament – family wisdom, table wisdom. In many respects it’s a book on etiquette, human and spiritual. In the words of Saint Thomas, “grace builds on nature.”

Yesterday we read about the young man who could not give his heart to Jesus. He kept the Law but Jesus wanted more. He wanted his heart, metaphorically speaking of course in the same way as God wanted the heart of his Son and his Son gave God everything he had to give by giving everything he had to give to humanity. He emptied himself, becoming like us in all things but sin.

Life in Christ I not about getting; it’s about giving. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The readings are not about giving money but about giving of ourselves. While it is true, no one of us is so altruistic that we give without hope of receiving; ultimately, we will be truly free only when we give without counting the cost. For us it is impossible. With God’s grace, all things are possible.