[Sundaycommunity] Wisdom

[John Scandiffio]

Hello all, 

A long note from today’s daily mass  first reading Nov. 2nd 2021. 

First reading

Wisdom 3:1-9 ©

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God



Things attract and love attracts and   love is a changing thing. One time a long time friend and wondrous scholar said to me , in a critical tone, “ you think that by saying those words the Spirit will come instantly”.  I had said the words at the opening off the Latin mass 'Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem’

To God with the joy and laughter of youth. 

I replied wow, I could never have said that myself. Thank you. 

When the Spirit moment happens I name it Spiritation.  You are taken over by a wave of the Spirit. 

Once it happened when I read the opening words in Wisdom 3: 1-9 at the funeral of Eileen Scandiffio in Ottawa, some years ago. A very somber setting. She had suffered from  Alzheimers for many years. 

My sister ,Frances  ,was asked to do the reading but asked me to it.  It was a very difficult reading but I worked on it.  When I arrived at the church the deacon noted how hard the reading was.  Then the priest arrived and told me how simple and wonderful it was and handed over a revised version .  He just found it while searching for a new version in the library. 

When it came time to do the reading I read the first words in a simple solemn tone. Oh, oh , I thought , the sound system was not turned on. 

The deacon behind me came to the  podium and reached under my arm and turned on the sound.  I felt a wave pass over my face , a joy at thinking what happened and what the folks saw what the deacon did, and repeated the opening words 

 ‘The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God’. 

The whole community broke out in joyous laughter.  As said in the Latin liturgy. 'Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem

After mass the joy continued. The priest, and Eileen’s family came up to me and were so thrilled at the reading.  Of course it was’t me it was the Spirit.  One very tall black man was so drawn to the reading came up and wanted the version. He is a doctor and was drawn away immediately by another doctor to go to a meeting. I still have’t been able to trace him and don’t know his name. 

I called the priest later and he said he doesn’t know where it came from.  I searched but could not find it. 

It is the first reading in today’s liturgy.  https://universalis.com/usa/mass.htm



Now I can start my search for the doctor anew with the bible and reading. 

The lines The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God’ were a significant change in Jewish spirit and was written in the Greek period in late first century B. C.  

 Now , back to read the other readings in today’s liturgy. 



MLove and peace 



John Scandiffio 

Sent from my iPhone
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