Today, we see how Jesus' own relatives react «He is out of
his mind» (Mk 3:21). Once again, the old proverb «only in his hometown
and in his own house is a prophet without honor» (Mt 13:57), is seen to be true. It is unnecessary to say this
complaint does not "taint" the Blessed Virgin Mary, because from the beginning
to the last moment -when she was at the foot of the Cross- she always kept her
unmovable faith and trust towards her Son.
But, what about us? Let us consider! How many,
amongst our neighbors, or those closer to us, can we say light up our lives...,
and what about us...? We do not have to go far: let us consider the Holy Father
John Paul II: how many people followed him, and..., how many did not hesitate
to accuse him of being an "stubborn old person", jealous of his "power"? Is it
possible that after two thousand years we still keep Jesus crucified on the
cross for our salvation while we onlookers continually say «come down from the
Cross so we may see and believe» (cf. Mk
15:32)?
Let us look at it another way! If we valiantly
identify ourselves with Christ, our presence will not be neutral for those
interacting with us for reasons of kinship, work, etc. What is more, for some,
our presence will be a pain in the neck, because we shall be like a reminder
for their conscience. We can be certain: «If they persecuted Me they will
persecute you...» (Jn 15:20). With their
mockery they will try to conceal their fears; with their disqualifications they
will perform a poor defense of their "laziness".
How many times we Catholics are being accused
of "exaggerating"? We have to reply we are not. For it is impossible to
exaggerate in matters of love. Instead, it is quite true we are "radical",
because love is just so "absorbent": «it has to be either all or nothing»; «or
love kills the I or the I kills love».
This is why the Holy Father spoke of "evangelic
radicalism" and of "not being afraid": «In the cause of the Kingdom we have no
time to look backwards, and much less to let ourselves be carried away by
laziness» (John Paul II).
