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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

Tuesday November 15, 2011

+ Tuesday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

There is goodness in everyone. My grandmother said so!

Readings: Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 Psalm 15:2-5 Luke 19:1-10

And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” [Luke 19:9-10]

Zacchaeus was not a believer but was ‘curious’ about Jesus. No doubt he had heard a great deal about this man known to be a ‘wonder-worker.’ Of course there were many magicians and false prophets who claimed to have divine powers Zaccheaeus’ curiosity drove him to the tree.

This story reads like a parable or even a sacred cartoon. It is no doubt based on oral tradition that included many stories about Jesus’ interaction with sinners and the lowly. Luke’s gospel portrays Jesus as one who reaches out not only to the poor but also to the outcast. Zacchaeus certainly fit into the latter category. He wasn’t poor. As with many tax collectors, he was considered to be a thief—dipping his hands into the tax till taking more than his share of compensation. No doubt he extorted money in order to make a good profit on his ‘earnings.’

But curiosity was enough for Jesus to approach him and invite himself to Zacchaeus’ table. Notice he didn’t scold him. He didn’t place him under a penalty or demand that he turn himself in to the authorities. He simply said, “I want to stay at your house.” That was all Zacchaeus needed and his life was changed forever and I assume that his household was also changed. If Zacchaeus was at peace with himself, then he himself would become a conduit of grace and peace to his family.

I used to narrate this story to the children at St. Joseph during their seasonal reconciliation services. When I asked them what Jesus saw in Zacchaeus, they would respond, “He saw something good in his heart.” That’s correct. Jesus looked beyond his face into his heart.

Some time ago during a conversation with a buddy, he mentioned the name of someone who had engaged in some shady dealings and then said that the man had done much good in his life. I responded spontaneously, “The guy’s a bum!”

I reckon I would have fit in well with Jesus’ disciples who “when they saw this they began to grumble saying, ‘He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.’” But Jesus stood his ground.

There is no doubt that there are some ‘bums’ out there who have done terrible things for which they must be held accountable. But this cannot prevent us from searching for a kernel of goodness and the opportunity for those persons to acknowledge their wrongdoing and be healed. “In you, O Lord, justice and mercy meet.” [Psalm 85] This is not to minimize the demands of justice or exonerate anyone, including our national heroes, from accountability when they have exceeded the limits of their office or failed to live up to the high moral standards that go beyond the legal requirements of the law.

At the same time, justice mixed with compassion can yield a rich harvest, enabling wrongdoers to come clean and accept responsibility for their ‘sins.’ It was Jesus’ compassion toward Zacchaeus that led to his confession of wrongdoing, sincere repentance and willingness to make amends for his dishonesty.

I think we can do the same if we reduce our inflated egos and adopt the ego of Christ. We are called to be conduits of God’s grace and instruments of healing and reconciliation.