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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

Thursday August 3, 2006

+ Friday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Where did this kid come from? She’s not my daughter!

Readings: Jeremiah 26:1-9 Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14 Matthew 13:54-58

”_Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, ‘Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother’s name Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Where did he get all of this _?’” [Matthew 13:54-55]

When the salutatorian rises to speak, mom and dad sit up with attentive ears but at the completion of her address, they stand tall! That’s my daughter! However, after the ceremony in a burst of modesty, parents might protest, “She can’t be my daughter—I could never have done what she did!” Well, the truth is that both mom and dad did any and everything they could “to make this day happen.”

Despite their protests, our children do surprise us with their wit and wisdom as they mature into adulthood and we are so proud of them when they achieve good things.

How did Jesus get so much wisdom over such a short period of time? He didn’t go to Harvard. His hidden years were apparently unremarkable. Scholars assume that he lived the modest life of a carpenter’s son.

Some will say that as ‘Son of God’ he had infused knowledge. I think that’s an oversimplification, a sort of ‘Deus ex machina’ explanation.

In any event, I would draw a parallel to women—and some men, of course—growing up in today’s male dominated Church. It is clear that women are paving the way to a new era in the Church. They have been very busy in their ‘hidden life’ equipping themselves for the future and now they are speaking—with reverence and without rancor—calling us all to reform. It’s a virtually a civil rights movement within the Church.

Yes, they are following in the footsteps of the ‘Master’ and as a result suffering the same consequences. Good for them!