THE WORD AND THE SAINT
January 31, 2020: Celebrating St. John Bosco
2 Samuel 11:1-4,5-10,13-17; Mark 4: 26-34.
Jesus today explains how the Reign of God is subtle in its presence and its growth; it does not happen with a bang but it germinates, sprouts and grows in a manner that no one notices it. The danger is, even the enemy is subtle in his ways! The first reading presents how the chosen one falls into the inconspicuous trap set by the enemy. One fall follows the other...one worse than the former!
The reminder given to us is the necessity to be alert all the time, as the Word of God reminds us very often. To be alert would mean to know what the Lord wants of us at a particular time and being able to choose exactly that. More than that, it means to be careful about the deceiving ways of the evil one, who is intent on winning us over to ruin, not merely by gross blunders but more dangerously by subtle compromises, slight slides instead of mighty falls. However the ruin is certain!
St. John Bosco, the saint we celebrate today, understood this fact perfectly. That is why he suggested that the way out of sin, is holy joy! To be thoroughly occupied with good things, that you will never have the time to sin - that was his ingenuous suggestion to the young. 'Run, jump and shout, but do not sin,' he said. Let our hearts be so filled with the Lord, that we hardly have time to think of any other.
The Reign, no doubt, is subtle; unfortunately the ruin too could be subtle. Our dedication to the Lord has to be absolute; let us serve the Lord in holy joy!
[Note: the readings are different where the proper of the feast of St. John Bosco is chosen; Since not everywhere the proper readings of the Saint will chosen, the readings reflected on here are of the day - i.e., Friday, 3rd week in Ordinary time]