Servants or Friends.

The GC27 has offered us a theme or better an identity card of every Salesian called to be 'mystic, prophet and servant'. Serious efforts to delve into the "union with God" relation of Don Bosco, leads to a conviction that there is a mystical dimension to our Salesian Family spirituality which needs to be cultivated in our communities and in our personal lives, as a priority value, given the pressure of secularism and its worldly values. GC27's  choice of the term 'prophet' to witness to a fraternal life of communion is also relevant and apt, to offset the growing individualism and egoism that is creeping into our personal and community dealings.

While I subscribe enthusiastically to the call to be mystics and prophets, I wonder whether the salesian identity should include  the icon or paradigm of a 'servant of the young''. The word servant brings to mind a menial position, a mostly hired not voluntary service remunerated by a salary. To me, the term servant smacks more of a colonial or outdated image, perhaps not palatable to the younger generation of Salesians. We are certainly not 'hired shepherd' of the young. Besides, in actual life, as educators, we need to have an ascendency over our students, for the 'disciple is not greater than the Master. How then may we describe our relationship with the young? I suggest 'friend'.

Talking to the community of Apostles, Jesus says, I will not call you servants any longer, I will call you friends, because I have revealed to you all that the Father has told me. We note here, that the relationship of Jesus with his first community evolved from servanthood to friendship. Jesus gave a new meaning to the servant ministry. Even when He washes the feet of his apostles at the last supper, Jesus does so spontaneously as a gesture of love and concern rather than as an act of ritual purification performed by dutybound servants. Service for Jesus is not hired or paid servant ministry but a ministry of spontaneous, selfless and sacrificial love,

The choice of the term 'servant of the young' is new in salesian vocabulary. Don Bosoc was always considered the 'friend of the young'. We are familiar with some other terms, too, like 'shepherd of the young' or 'missionary of the young'. Since we talk today so much about the educator's role as 'accompaniment', a friend and not a servant describes better the quality of the relationship, Salesians ought to have with the young. Let's be friends with the young!

Formation to Transformation

The current concern in the Formation of priests and religious is about the very understanding of Formation and the actual role of Formators.
Formation is no more a set period of time, a package of courses or a terminal destination or point of arrival. Formation rather, is a 'process' that begins at birth and grows with the individual. More than talk about 'initial and ongoing formation, as distinct compartments, we speak today of lifelong formation process. Hence, even in the case of Religious formation, the process does not start at the phases of Prenovitiate and Novitiate but rather continues as a maturing process, accompanied by professional guidance of Formators. Today, insistence on personal responsibility obliges every Formee to be responsible for his/her religious formation, advisedly with the assistance of competent guides.  

God's Will versus Human expectations!

The tensions we face in life ultimately are the struggle between trustingly submitting to the Will of God and stubbornly striving to realise our human expectations.  The more we grow in our faith that God's Will is always wishing us peace and happiness, the less we will enforce our expectations that stir up ambition and anxiety in our lives. Let God happen in our lives for His Will is always more blessed than our expectations.

VOCATION CAMPS leading somewhere?

While there are specific "vocation camps" being held in the summer holidays, I believe every youth programme is an opportunity to promote vocations to the priestly and religious life; to married life and layministry as well. With the World and the Church going global, there is need for  "global vocation camps" with a broader vision and wider mission enabling especially the younsters to see in every walk of life, a Call from God.

We have heard over the past years of a "Vocation Crisis" due to fragility and falling numbers in priestly/religious communities. Shouldn't we also admit a more serious crisis in marriages, in families and in society as well. Infact, Humanity as a "Vocation to Life from God" is in crisis too.

From Sin to Mercy not mere Confession

Introducing the topic on Confession, the first question put to the children was - "What is the first condition to make a good Confession?" and promptly came the reply - "Commit Sin". There couln't be a more pertinent answer, for even we grown ups, associate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our sins. Confession of sins is just one aspect of the Sacrament. More importantly, it is the unconditional Mercy of God that draws us into the overwhelming embrace of God which transforms sinners into saints.

In the parable of the Prodigal son, Jesus highlights the mercy of the father who hardly thinks of the sins of his son but waits with open arms to be reconciled with his errant younger son. The younger son desired to confess his sins and was even prepared to face a punishment, like being demoted to the level of a servant. But the merciful heart of the father bursts with joy and calls for a celebration of a meal with the fattedd calf. It is precisely this open arms welcome of the merciful father that Jesus wants us to focus on, when we return to the Father's house through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In fact, the Absolution formula says just this: God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of His Church may God give you his pardon and his peace; and I absolve you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Though the main lesson of the parable exemplifies God's mercy towards the sinner, Jesus conintues the story but shifts focus from the younger son to the elder brother with a purpose. The big brother cannot forget and forgive the sins of his kid-brother. His gaze is firmly fixed on the sins of the sinner and he is caught up in his self-righteous and merciless attitude and calls for a justly deserved punisment and not pardon. But "God does not see, as man sees", Jesus seems to say and adds: "Man sees the appearances, but God looks at the heart". The merciful God invites all to be merciful. In forgiving others "seventy times seven" Jesus teaches us to pray: "forgive su our sins as we forgive those who sin against us".

The Holy Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis, invites us to celebrate God's mercy by becoming merciful ourselves, like the Father.

The POWER of LOVE.

The Post-Resurrection accounts recorded in the Acts of the Apostles portray the "Salvation History" of the early Christian Community based on Love experienced as a "power" rather than Love as a "force". The two words "power" and "force" have distinct meanings in the context of Energy. While "power" describes energy that is generated from within, "force" refers to an external pressure. We might say that "power" generates true Love while "force degenerates into Law. Let's think over it as we contemplate the Love of Jesus who empowers his Pentecostal community even unto our times.

Christianity is not a religion but a spirituality of Empowerment. The Teachings of Jesus are rarely forceful or for that matter, threatening with punihments and condemnations. Discipleship is not an obligation but an option. "If you wish to be my disciples...."  And if you do, only then, the terms and conditions matter: "Take up your cross and follow me"

In the post-Resurrection scenario, the Risen Lord patiently plays an empowering role, dealing compassioantely with his traumatised disciples and coaxing them to feel the power of his resurrection. The Holy Spirit triggers the hesitant faith of the disciples and the Pentecost is infact, Empowerment. 

The real Challenge

THE REAL CHALLENGE – Not to proclaim but to be, Don Bosco.

The Parish Priest of a city church had invited the Salesians to regularly animate and celebrate  the Sunday Youth Mass. After some 9 months however, he aborted the deal  and expressed his concern that his youth would think there was only one saint in heaven.

A Bishop in India had offered a parish to the Salesians who very zealously built 4 Mass centers and invited the Bishop to bless the new chapels. The Bishop observed that all the 4 chapels were dedicated to Don Bosco. On being invited to lunch at the Salesian residence, the good humoured bishop remarked: “let me get back home, before my own chapel becomes a Don Bosco chapel”.

Way back in 1982, the Salesians of Don Bosco set up residence in Nairobi, Kenya. It was their first presence in East Africa, and till then, Don Bosco was unknown to a majority of the Kenyans. In fact, in the first month, seeing the board, “Don Bosco – Salesian Fathers” at the entrance to the villa, a gentleman walked in and asked to see Mr. Don Bosco.  But in less than six months the name and fame of the Founder of the Salesians spread, and on 31^st January, a surprisingly big gathering attended the festive Holy Mass, presided over by Maurice Cardinal Otunga to celebrate St. John Bosco.  Other Religious Congregations were already working in Kenya effectively and with great missionary zeal among the people but they perhaps, did not make much mention of their Founders and someone even remarked, “don’t the other religious congregations have founders? “

No doubt, the Salesians exhibit a great devotion to their Founder, Don Bosco, almost to a fault and sometimes, to the annoyance of others. But, It is precisely this enthusiasm and attachment to the person of Don Bosco that is the bonding force that unites all the members of the Salesian Family and perhaps, explains their apostolic drive and missionary zeal  in the service of the Church and the holistic uplift of poor youth in particular, over the years.  The Salesians, also do not hide the fact that their Founder placed his religious congregation under the patronage of a French Bishop, Saint Francis of Sales. But after the canonization of Don Bosco, in 1931,  the switch from Salesian Congregation (SC) to Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) has since become, not just a boastful slogan but in fact, a ‘brand name’  which today, encompasses the “whole” Don Bosco – his life, his mission, his youth apostolate, his method of education and his salesian family, today.

But now,  in this Bi-centenary Year, 2015, of the Birth of Don Bosco, what is clearly visible in the vibrant celebrations across the world,  is less of  an extravagant euphoria and more of a serious commitment, to be “like Don Bosco with the young and for the young”.

The 27^th General Chapter of the Salesians (SDB) had already discussed intelligently and deliberated wisely on the importance of being realistic and relevant. It redefined the identity of every Salesian to be like Don Bosco: “Mystics of the Spirit, Prophets of fraternal life and Servants of the young”. 

Yes, Don Bosco was not only realistic and relevant in responding to the situations and needs of youth in his times,  he was also bravely resilient, like a tennis ball. Just as a tennis ball bounces higher, the harder it hits the ground, Don Bosco possessed that admirable quality of “resilience”, an important ingredient of Gospel radicality exemplified in Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding the stiff  opposition, persecution, passion and death on a cross, Jesus did not succumb but bounced back. Resilience, ultimately  for  Jesus is Resurrection. Resilience in Jesus Christ, then, more than grit, is a “mysticism”  founded on total trust in God and unconditional fidelity to His Will.

Resilence characterised the life of Don Bosco, too. He lived in deep “union with God” and he literally “hoped against hope” . Don Bosco  grew up from childhood through tough challenges of poverty and faced all kinds of obstacles to realise his vocation as a priest and his mission to be a friend of poor, marginalised youngsters. The harder he hit the floor of difficulties, the higher he bounced to achieve his goals, trusting in Divine Providence and Mary, the “help of Christians”.  It is infact, this quality of  faith-propelled Resilience that is needed to grow into Mystics of the Spirit, Prophets of fraternal life and Servants of the young.

To respond to the complex needs of modern youth, groping in a world of confused values and false promises; and, to carry forward the Salesian Mission beyond this bi-centenary year,  the Salesian Family would do well to shift from being mere story-tellers of the glories of Don Bosco and strive to emulate the realism, relevance and resilience of Don Bosco, the Mystic, the Prophet and the Servant of the young, with the young and for the young.