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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

Monday October 18, 2004

– Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist

We are all proclaimers of the “Good News.”

“The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit… He said to them… Cure those who are sick, and say, ‘The Kingdom of god is very near to you.’” [Luke 4:1; 4]

The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news,’ or should we not state, ‘God news.’ The gospels are about the intervention of God into human affairs in the person of Christ. This is our Christian vocation, to live Christ in the world, ‘using words only when necessary’ and it’s not just what we do that makes the difference but how we do it.

Think about the people who have made the greatest impact on you throughout the course of your life. Why are they significant? No doubt it is because they ‘were there for you.’ They didn’t tell you how to do life. They affirmed life in you. They challenged you but didn’t hassle you. They were concerned for you but did not try to control you.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring tidings of peace, jo;y and salvation.” [Isiah 52:7]