St. Paul is called The Apostle to the Gentiles. St. Faustina Kowalska is the Apostle of the Divine Mercy. And St. John Bosco, whose feast day we celebrate today is known as The Apostle to the Youth.
Born in 1815, John Bosco devoted his life to ministering and accompanying the young people of his time, most especially the delinquents. He believed that delinquents should not be punished but reformed by giving them a good Catholic formation and education. He sought to teach them a trade so that they could become productive and responsible members of society. This he did as he focused on self-respect, which every human being values. He had no formal system of education but centered on persuasion, genuine religiosity, and love for young people. Eventually, he gathered men who shared his vision and founded a religious order called the Salesians of Don Bosco. Later on, he co-founded with St. Mary Mazzarello a religious order for women, the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. Having led a holy life spent in the service of the Church, John Bosco passed away in 1888 at Turin, Italy.
Easily Dismissed
Sometimes we easily scorn and reject people with the words, “Oh, I know him! S/He is a child of this or that…Oh, I know his/her parents, aunts, and uncles…” This was exactly what ran through the minds of Jesus’ townmates in today’s Gospel, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:2-3). Jesus seemed to be too ordinary and familiar for them. Too bad, they were missing what they thought they already knew about Jesus.
Seeing Beyond What the Eye Can See
Jesus was not a delinquent, but if John Bosco happened to be one of the Jews in the Gospel today, John would surely not have had that thought nor said those words about Jesus. John Bosco saw beyond what the eye can see. He saw a precious child of God in the person of the delinquent. He will surely not miss seeing the Beloved of God in the person of Jesus.
May we see Jesus in the ordinary and familiar. But may we see Him even more in the delinquents. Then we are indeed apostles of the Lord.
Make me see people, O Lord, as You see them, love them as You love them, and serve them as You serve them. Make me an apostle of Your love.
REFLECTION QUESTION:
What kind of an apostle of the Lord am I?
