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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 November 30, 2004

+ 1st Week in Advent

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill!

Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10 Matt 15:29-37

“On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all people a banquet… We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us; for the hand of the Lord rests on this mountain.” [Matt 25:6a; 10]

I have a friend who exaggerates the good and the bad. He will describe a positive experience as the most spectacular and the negative as the worst of his entire life. We all tend to exaggerate both our joys and our sorrows. Over the years, I have concluded that most things are not as bad as we say and few things is as good as we claim. We overstate the human condition in both directions, the worst and the best.

It’s not that things can’t get real bad. What is worse than the horror of wars, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricane? What is worse than the horror of losing a son or daughter to illness or accident? Terrible things do happen in life and no words can express the loss or pain.

The mountain is a powerful biblical metaphor. The world looks different from the mountaintop. It is where the Lord dwells. It was where Jesus fed the crowds. It is where in prayer we can put life in perspective; the good and the bad, and from both we can gain new insight into life.

Advent is mountain time for believers.