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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 18, 2006

+ 19th Week in Ordinary Time

God calls us to be childlike, not childish.

Readings: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19 Matthew 19:13-15

“Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for the dominion of heaven belongs to them.” [Matthew 19:14]

I’ve met a lot of ‘childish’ people who act more like children than adults. Please know that I do not exempt myself from having acted in like manner on more than one occasion. It’s usually camouflaged in altruistic words and phrases but it really can’t be disguised. It’s narcissistic and self-centered. It’s my way or the highway. Nothing can compare with an adult tantrum.

To be ‘childlike’ begins in the awareness that we are all children of God. This does not mean, however, that we are subservient to God. I mentioned in one of my previous reflections or homilies that my parents did not treat me like a child after I reached adulthood even though I may have acted like an adult child on occasion. My parents treated us like ‘partners’ in the enterprise of life. Yes, we became ‘adult friends’ and we took responsibility for one another without taking control. That’s a delicate balance, to be sure.

This is the way I understand my relationship with God. We are partners. God does not do life for me but with me. But as with every good parent, God holds me up when I run out of steam and God holds my hand when I am afraid and God holds my heart when the well runs dry. I like that arrangement because I know that God will always be here for me.

I think this is what Jesus meant when he said: “Let the children come to me and do not stop them because it is to just such as these that the dominion of God belongs.”