Mk.1:14-20
This month is special for all the members of the Salesian family because this month is dedicated to Don Bosco, the founder of Salesian charism in view of his feast on 31st of this month. As part of this commemoration, we have various forms of preparations such as special mediations on Salesian spirituality, serenades in different languages, prayer services, sermonettes and typical Salesian way of honouring Don Bosco – the Bosco tournament. This time Bosco tournament was shortened for a week because of exam schedule yet it was indeed memorable. The entire community was divided into four groups. We participated in the tournament with great enthusiasm because the spirituality of the playground was very dear to the heart of Don Bosco. I would like to share an experience that impressed me deeply. Our team for the tournament was rather competent because some of the best players in the community were with us. We had three events: football, basketball and volleyball for the tournament. We did not have much expectation for football and basketball because other teams were also equally strong and they could challenge us. Anyhow, we won the first round of these games and entered in the finals. The volleyball was our long-awaited match because we were confident that our team was the best and we could easily win the volleyball.
Our captain, one of the finest players of our community decided that he would remain outside and give chance for those who did not get a chance to play basketball and football. None of our team members was happy with his decision. Though we entered in the finals of basketball and football, our chances were doubtful but for volleyball, we were definite about our victory. Despite our insistence, he was not ready to change his decision and we had to play the game without his presence in the court. Anyway, we put up a good fight. The opponents won the first set. Anyhow, we were not ready to give up and played with the best of our effort and we won the second set. Therefore, the third set became crucial for us. Again, we insisted our captain to play even so he did not enter the court, encouraging all of us to play a cool game and shared all the tactics to put up a good fight. It was quite tough, the opponent’s strategy was quite dynamic and realized that we would lose the third set. We requested the captain for the last time to save the match. Finally, he agreed. Soon we could make a draw with the opponents and then the match point shifted between the teams for some time. In the end, we lost the match.
We felt so bad and regretted about our failure. However, our captain was so happy and contended that we played with team spirit and good coordination. Later on, I was deeply touched by the convictions with which our captain approached the game. In normal circumstances, all the captains wanted best players to play and win the match. All the same, he gave priority for the participation of all the team members in the tournament than winning a particular game. He knew for sure that if he would include the weak players, definitely, possibilities are more to lose and we may even lose the championship. In any case, he was not carried away by the desire for victory. I felt so proud of him because he reflected the attitude of Christ. He too made a team of twelve, containing all the weak players and lost very badly…
One of the facts that always surprised me is the choice of disciples by Jesus. Why did he choose fisher men to follow him and carry his Good News to all the nations? The only skill most of them mastered was to catch fish skillfully. They were illiterate and belonged to the periphery. The only apostle who could claim a scholarly background and good reputation in the society was St. Paul. Even though Paul was contemporary of Jesus, he chose Paul as his apostle only after his resurrection. When Jesus called these fishermen, he promised them that he would make them fishers of men. The choice of these individuals by Jesus reveals to us God’s preferential choice for the weak to fulfill His mission. We could observe similar examples when we glance through the Old Testament. The case of Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah… we observe that these men were not at all extra-ordinary. They were weak and well aware of their inabilities to carry out the mission. However, God called and qualified them. Though they doubted their strength, they never doubted God who called them.
The gospel passage of the day reveals to us this reality. When Jesus began his ministry, he was not known much to the public as a Rabbi or miracle worker. Nonetheless, when he calls them, they follow him even without a second thought leaving behind all their earthly possessions and relationships. They did not rely on their strength to follow him rather surrender their whole life at the feet of Jesus. He chose each one of us to follow him, out of his unconditional love and mercy and not because of our merit. Jesus always remained with the weak and surprised the world with his little ones. Let us recall to our mind the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1Cor. 1:27). Let us inculcate in us the mind of Jesus and let us care and nurture the weak best as we can…