First Reading II Samuel 18:9-10,14, 24-25, 30 - 19:3 Gospel Mark 5:21-43

John Bosco’ father died when John was two years old. His family was poor peasant. When he went to the seminary, his clothes were provided from charity. It was an age of anti-clericalism, and his mother told him (when he entered the seminary), “If you ever become rich, you will never set foot in this house again.” Such was the attitude of many toward a great many of the clergy who appeared to ingratiate themselves financially. The industrial revolution was just beginning, and John Bosco saw the crying need to help children who were displaced and homeless. Without funds, but with the help of his mother, he founded a house for poor homeless boys. In 1857 it opened with six boys. In 1862 there were 600! He not only provided shelter, but also education in a trade, such as printing, bookbinding, shoemaking, and so on. Others during the era were interested in the roots of social injustice, but John Bosco involved himself on the practical side. He lives a poor man, and died a poor man. He devoted himself entirely to others. In his shelters, he especially educated the boys in the spiritual life. Once, when John Bosco was deathly ill and given up by doctors, his “boys” organized days of fasting and of perpetual prayer for him: He recovered. He was filled with kindness. In one of his letters he writes: “It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. Yet it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm, but kind, and be patient with them. Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. ....”

The weekday readings: We have mentioned that David was a doting father. This may be illustrated by today’s first reading. Even though Absalom had committed treason in rebelling against his father’s authority, and even though he tried to kill his father, still David pined for him. When he finds that Absalom was dead, David is almost inconsolable. The gospel is a miracle within a miracle. Since this is the form in all the synoptic gospels, the narrative must be most ancient. While on the way to heal the daughter of Jairus, a woman with a hemorrhage touches Jesus’ garments and is cured. Jesus proclaims that it is not the garment, but faith, which heals. We honor various relics, but we should always realize that it is not the relic but faith in the Lord which heals.