Memorial of Saint
John Bosco, priest
(Hebrews 12:1-4; Mark 5:21-43)
Are the “Hebrews” of today’s first reading undergoing
persecution? Or are they just tired from
waiting for Christ’s coming? The text speaks
of a “struggle against sin,” but it does not specify what kind of sin. Perhaps it is referring to the Roman Empire’s
banning Christianity which pressured some to give up the faith. It is also possible that some Hebrew
Christians were still expecting an imminent return while others were beginning
to believe the whole idea preposterous.
In any case the reading reminds the people that great men
and women of the past. This “cloud of
witnesses” endured more persecution and had to wait longer that they have
had. These are the saints of the Old Testament:
Noah, Abraham, and Moses. They kept the
faith, and in the end were rewarded beyond their dreams.
We too enjoy a “cloud of witnesses” to assure us that our
faith is not in vain. Most of us have
vibrant memory of Saints Mother Theresa and John Paul II. We also can take note of St. John Bosco whose
feast we celebrate today. He was, Americans
might say, the Fr. Flanagan original. He
believed that there is no such thing as a bad child. He urged his followers to show patience and
love for children. He should encourage especially
parents and teachers to endure the trials which children often bring.
