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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

Friday August 11, 2006

+ 18h Week in Ordinary Time

Faith is not magic or automatic.

Readings: Habakkuk 1:12—; 2:4 Psalm 9:8-13 Matthew 17:14-20

“Amen I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘More from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” [Matthew 17:20]

Though there are indeed, psychics who say they can move matter through the power of the mind, I have yet to see anyone stand in front of a mountain and make it move.

Faith is more than mind over matter. It involves a relationship with the divine and is not about performing Herculean tasks. It is a movement deep within the soul that alters the way we respond to life—and death.

There is no doubt about the fact that our relationship with God, however we understand God, can make a difference in the way we respond to the ordinary and most extraordinary events of our lives. Miracles still happen but they are not magic and they are never automatic.

I do think that faith begins with belief in oneself and belief in oneself ultimately leads to belief in the abiding presence of God in all situations and circumstances. Jesus didn’t work miracles for the sake of miracles but to assure his followers and onlookers that the sovereignty of God is paramount and that there is no situation in which God’s intervention is impossible.

Ultimately faith is nothing more or less than living in the rhythm of God’s life—as did Jesus.