“Dare to walk and live the path of the Crucified Lord with a passionate zeal!”

(Based on 2 Sam 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27 and Mk 3:20-21 – Saturday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2 – Feast of St Francis de Sales)

It was a tense afternoon in the September of the year 1594.

The Bishop of Geneva in France, had convoked a meeting of all his clergy.
There was an urgent need for priests to go to a place named Chablais.

Chablais was a territory in Geneva, which had been under political and religious siege.

Around fifty priests in this place had been banished.
Many churches had been burnt and devastated.
Chablais had become a place of terror for the Catholic Church.

It’s in this horrifying situation, that the Bishop of the place had called for a meeting…
… to ask for volunteers to go to this place and renew the faith.

But none came forward…

None were willing to risk their lives…

It’s at this point, that there comes a gentle yet firm voice – “My Lord, if you think that I am capable of it, command me, I am ready!”

The voice was of St Francis de Sales.

His own father considered this decision as “utter madness”

Perhaps, the other priests and clergy would have also felt this decision as a “crazy one”

The risk of being driven out, failing in his undertaking and of becoming a laughing stock of the world was great indeed.

But St Francis de Sales stood firm to His decision.

It was a decision which perhaps defied reasons…

It was a decision which perhaps seemed out of senses…
But this decision was to become the turning point of a spiritual revolution!

The one who has eyes fixed on one’s goals is indeed a mad person!

Mad for one’s aim…
… obsessed in love
… passionate about one’s goals!

The Gospel of the Day is also a narrative of the “mad and insane” Jesus!

St Mark’s Gospel is pretty straightforward, to the point and blunt in its nature.

The Lord is out to preach and proclaim the Kingdom of Love and Mercy…

Hardened hearts are touched by the softness of His presence
Broken lives are mended by the balm of His Holiness
Ruined minds are revived by the power of His teachings
Shattered destinies are made whole by the cure of His touch
Ruptured consciences are restored by the gentleness of His love
The crowd following has increased!

This however causes a great disturbance and distress in the family of Jesus…
“Again the crowds gathered, making it impossible for them, even to eat.

When His relatives heard of this, they set out to seize Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’ ” (Mk 3:20-21)

Jesus was labelled as being “out of mind!”
… tagged as being “insane and mad”

The one who has eyes fixed on one’s goals is indeed a mad person!

Mad for one’s aim…
… obsessed in love
… passionate about one’s goals!
And Jesus was indeed passionate and highly zealous for His mission…

So much so, that even His own relatives misunderstood and mistook Him.

The Bible and the Church is a gigantic collection of deeds and acts of such people who were “mad” and who took “crazy” decisions in life…

Abraham was “crazy” to have faith in God, to have children, even at the ripe old age of hundred!
Moses was “mad” to trust God to lead a tiny nation from the clutches of the imposing Egyptian empire!
Mother Mary was “crazy” to give up her promising life and instead consent to an Angel to become the Mother of God!
St Peter was “mad” to abandon his career and family to follow Jesus for a ministry of unknown and uncertain future!
St Paul was “crazy” to undergo tremendous sufferings and agonizing troubles for the sake of the spread of the Gospel!
St Francis De Sales was “crazy” and “mad” to undertake risk of going to the Chablais mission and renew the faith of the people!

When one is really passionate towards one’s mission, there is an element of “craziness”!

Do I have and reflect this “mad” passion and zeal for God’s love?
… by seeking Him in all our works, activities and plans
… by reaching out His love to the needy and the disadvantaged
… by spreading hope, courage and optimism in this broken world

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Francis de Sales.
He is the Doctor of Love!
He is the Gentleman Saint!

And today, he invites and encourages us to embrace this path of love and gentleness!

Let us dare to walk and live the path of the Crucified Lord…
… the One who was called mad and insane
… the One who was misunderstood and unaccepted

Because He chose to live and die for His convictions of Love!

Let us not be worried…
Let us not be anxious…

But trust in our Loving God!

In the words of St Francis de Sales…
“God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand,

He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you. Why do you worry?”

Happy Feast of St Francis de Sales!

With joy and love, let us proclaim with him, “Vive Jesus… Live Jesus!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!