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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

Sunday October 1, 2006

+ 26th Week in Ordinary Time – Feast of the Guardian Angels

“Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”

Readings: Exodus 23:20-23 Psalm 91:1-6, 10-11 Mt 18:1-5, 10

“For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways.” [Psalm 91:11]

I know that we recited that prayer at the beginning of the school day, every day at old ‘Bayley Grammar School,’ predecessor to the Assumption School in Morristown. However, for some reason, I only recall reciting it third grade with Sister Paulita in the lead.

I also remember the framed copy of the famous painting of the guardian angel guiding the two children as they crossed the bridge that hung on my bedroom wall.

Of course guardian angels can’t be photographed but an artist can portray them in living color, wins and all. We learned in our ‘penny’ catechism that angels are free spirits without bodies.

There are lots of stories about angels and each of us can tell our own about how we were protected in a close call with death.

At this stage of my life, I prefer to think of angels as a field of energy generated by God through the care and concern of good people. There are people who generate goodness. I call them ‘good news’ people who focus on the positive without denying the negative.

A good example of what I mean are the folks I’ve met in ‘Healing Touch’ ministry who have brought ‘healing’ to many folks in pain and even those who are at the gateway to eternity.

I think they are ‘angels.’