The first reading comes from the 34th chapter of the Prophet Ezekiel. It's only gives us select portions of this particular chapter, when examined as a whole can be rather grim. The lectionary gives us the words of hope, that God is our shepherd, He will find, bind up and heal the lost and wounded. He will send the One Shepherd, "David," a figure for Christ, who will gather and protect the people. These cherry picked passages skip over the more harsh assessment God has for those he has given the care of His flock. The LORD points out that too many of the shepherds have been busy looking after themselves, neglecting the weak and abandoned.
In Don Bosco's time few of the local clergy were willing to work with the large numbers of young people flooding into Turin. It's was the mid 19th century, and the Industrial Revolution had finally come to northern Italy. There was a migration from rural areas into the cities like Turin and Milan. Many of these were young people, some in their teens, looking for work in factories and construction sites to support families back home. Some were orphans who lost parents because of illnesses that are today curable by antibiotics, or war. Italy wasn't a unified country when Don Bosco was a young priest. The peninsula was broken up into separate principalities and zones occupied by foreign powers. Different regions often had different languages. What it meant to be Italian was still forming. So, in a relatively short period large numbers of uneducated and unaccompanied youth came into Turin. In some cases they were treated almost as foreigners. Neither the Church nor the state knew how to handle the influx.
Into this scene came Don Bosco. From an early age he felt the call of God to serve young people. But he didn't serve them from afar, but could be found out in the street with them, gathering them together in parks and fields for prayer and recreation. Some of the local clergy were concerned that all these young people should be going to their parishes for Sunday Mass instead of with Don Bosco to whatever makeshift site he could find, and later at the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales. But the Saint knew that these boys had no parish. Oh, that the day would come when they had stable homes and could participate in parish life. But for now many of them were wanderers on the earth, with no regular place to lay their heads. The Oratory was their parish, and Don Bosco was their pastor. Eventually it became a home for those who who had no roof, as well as a spiritual home for all. He taught them catechism, and a trade, that they would have hope in the life to come, and hope of a happy life here and now.
At the Oratory Don Bosco formed a school for holiness. His program is reflected in the second reading from today's Mass: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all (Philippians 4:4-5). It is a holiness based on fulfilling your everyday, ordinary responsibilities in an extraordinary way. When it's time to do your homework, do your homework. When it's time to put out the garbage, put out the garbage. When it's time to go to work, go to work, and be diligent in fulfilling your duties. The key to all this is to be joyful as well as exacting. Don Bosco set this example. He was a tireless worker, and encountered many hardships along the way. Yet those around him say they never noticed any change in demeanor, maintaining a positive attitude. It was said that he became even more joyful at times when the going was the roughest.
Don Bosco was human: he could have a temper, and I'm not implying that the never lost it, especially in moments of righteous indignation. But generally he always wanted to project a sense to the boys that to be holy was to be happy. He put a great stress on fulfilling the responsibilities of life, but he also made sure that feast days were celebrated with joy as well as solemnity. He also made sure the boys had time for healthy recreations. The 1840's through the '60's were a time of revolution in Italy and Europe, and many other oratories in Turin spent there recreation periods in military style marching drills. Don Bosco had none of that. When not praying and studying, the boys would play. His motto was "jump, scream and play, but don't sin." All this combined to impress upon young people that to be a saint was to be faithful, for sure, but also joyful.
Lastly, the Gospel (Mark 9:33-37 or Matthew 18:1-6) depicts the Apostles arguing among themselves as to who is the greatest among them. Jesus reminds them that to be the greatest in the Kingdom is to become the servant of the rest, taking on the humility of a child. Jesus places a child at the center and makes him the focus, the model for us to follow in the path to holiness. It is a reminder that we are a part of a movement, we work as a part of a team. We must put egos aside and recognize that we are a part of something greater than ourselves. It isn't a call to be childish, but to be child like: trusting, open and docile to the will of God, especially when it goes against our own wishes.
Don Bosco certainly had and ego, and any woman or man who accomplishes anything has to have a healthy sense of self worth and confidence in their abilities. But it is only those who place their abilities, even their own egos, at the service of others who will accomplish truly great things. Our talents come from God. We train them, sharpen them, prefect them with discipline and practice, but they can only accomplish lasting work if God is allowed to guide them, using them for the good of the Kingdom.
Don Bosco founded a religious community of brothers, priests and sisters. But he first formed a family, with the Salesian Cooperators as a key component. This is a movement of peoples dedicated to the evangelization of the young. It is a movement that needs pastors after the heart of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ - pastors of souls who seek out the lost, and assist the young who need guidance. It is a movement that promotes holiness, fostering a living relationship with Jesus Christ in joy and happiness. It is a movement that seeks the material good of young people. It advocates for their rights and looks out for their interests. It is a movement where all the members are pulling together, putting aside their own wants and desires for the greater good of the mission. These are high ideals, I know - But Don Bosco never doubted in the grace of God, and the guidance of the Blessed Mother to help us along.
With that, I wish all of you a blessed Feast of St. John Bosco!
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