FRIDAY, THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint John Bosco
Heb 10: 32-39 Ps 37: 3-6,23-24,39-40 Mk 4: 26-34
STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY AND EASE
Ease has ruined far more men than trouble ever did. Hannibal of Carthage, was a general who had defeated the Roman soldiers in battle. However, when winter arrived, he paused his campaign, resting his troops in Capua (Italy), a city known for its luxury. The comforts of Capua made Hannibal’s soldiers lose their spirit. When spring came and they resumed their campaign, they were not able to withstand the Romans. Ease had ruined what struggle had fortified. That is often true of the Christian life. Sometimes, we can handle tough situations well, but when things get easier, we lose strength and faith.
The author to the Hebrews appeals to us, saying, “Be what you were at your best.” Christianity does not demand the impossible, but if we were always as honest, as kind, and as courageous as we can be, life would be transformed. In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God, using the parable of the growing crop and the mustard seed. These parables show the quiet, yet powerful, growth of faith and the Kingdom of God, often happening in unseen ways. Just as the seed requires nurturing and care to grow, our faith also needs continual attention and care, especially in times of ease.
Don Bosco, whose memorial we celebrate today, was a priest who faced adversity yet thrived in his mission to educate and uplift the youth. He was committed to his values of kindness, courage, and dedication, even when faced with the comforts that might have distracted him. His unwavering commitment reminds us that it is not just our trials that define us but our response to both struggle and ease. In trials and triumphs, we need to remember that our strength is nurtured through vigilance and commitment, ensuring that we remain true to our values of kindness, courage, and dedication. Thus, in both adversity and ease, we can grow stronger and draw closer to the Kingdom of God.
Response: From the Lord comes the salvation of the just.
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