The Memorial of St JohnBosco

2 Sam. 11:1-4.5-1013-17, Mk 4:26-34. The saying that "an idle hand is the work place for the devil" is true in the case of David in today's first reading: "At the turn of the year, the time when kings go campaigning... David, however, remained in Jerusalem." If he, like others kings went for campaigning, he would not have had time to stroll on the palace roof, to have seen Bethsheba bathing. Hence, dedication and commitment is necessary to keep us away from evil. The dark, inert “earth” where the mustard seed in today's Gospel, begins its new life is foreshadowed in the account of David’s adultery. Smitten by Bathsheba’s beauty, king David first tried to make his dedicated soldier, Uriah, go home and sleep with his wife, in order to conceal the real cause of her pregnancy. Later, when Uriah refuses the chance to take some rest and recreation, David had him done away with, by treacherous collusion with his commander, Joab.

We may wonder why God made use of such a darkly tangled family to promise an everlasting dynasty. The story of David tells us that God does not give up on us or lose patience with us. Sometimes our best efforts seem to bear little fruit. However, we might be achieving more good than we realise, just as the mustard seed is tiny and yet it grows into a very large shrub. What looks so insignificant takes on a life of its own, GROWS out of proportion from its small beginning. The little effort of St Johnbosco (1815 - 1888) whose memorial we celebrate influenced his world through his concern for the young ones. Johnbosco was born in Piedmont of a peasant family and he was brought up by his widowed mother. He became a priest and devoted himself to setting up a boarding-house for apprentices and then workshops for their training and education. To ensure the continuation of his work, he founded a congregation, named the Salesians.

May the Lord sanctify us through His life-giving Word and help us to be committed to our duties! Amen!! Good morning and have a great day!!!