In search of ‘other shores’

In search of ‘other shores’

Dear friends,
the Gospel of the 12^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, celebrated last 23^rd June, told of Jesus inviting his disciples to “go to the other shore” (Mk 4:35) of the Sea of Galilee. Taken in themselves, regardless of the geographical context of the Gospel passage, these words constitute a courageous and unequivocal invitation, asking us to break our bonds, not to be content with what we have acquired and what makes us feel good, because our securities and comforts are often gilded cages in which we end up living badly.

For Jesus’ disciples, however, there was a worrying aspect to their Master’s invitation: “beyond the lake” was the land of the Gerasenes, who were pagans, considered savages, to be avoided at all costs. Of them one was very much afraid.

Given, however, that it was Jesus who made that invitation and that he continues to do so today to all those who believe in him, then we, Combonian missionaries, must look for another, deeper reason: “on the other shore” there are people to evangelise. “Going to the other shore”, or “going beyond”, must be an integral part of our missionary lifestyle.

In this short piece of writing, I would like to tell you briefly how I have tried – over the last few months – to reach out to a side or shore that is undoubtedly “other”: that of the young drug addicts in our neighbourhood, whom I told you about in my last letter, and who regularly meet at a red bench that they themselves have built and coloured.

I assure you that deciding to visit them requires preparation on my part. Yes, I have to ‘charge my batteries’ because the meeting is never easy. I sometimes go there and am completely ignored. Sometimes, as soon as they see me coming, some of them get up and leave.

There is, however, almost always someone left to greet me. Sometimes I find myself with a small group of pretty teenage girls – always in frayed jeans and cross-eyed – who have left one or two children at their grandmother’s house to come there to take drugs. They always welcome me. At other times, I find myself with three young adults: one has a strange look that is a little scary; the second is what I call ‘the group’s ideologue’, who always has a little speech ready for me to brag about the wonders accomplished by the current government of Colombia; the third is called Dogoberto, who likes to play ‘theologian’.

Here is an account of three meetings that I have no hesitation in describing as ‘successful’.

1. Dagoberto and the parable of Jesus

It happened a couple of weeks ago. Among those present is Dagobert. He is the first to respond to my greeting and hastens to add:

“Father, why don’t you tell us a parable?”.

“A... what?”

“A parable. One of those beautiful stories that Jesus used to tell”.

I ask the boys and girls if they are interested in hearing that. They answer me yes. And I begin to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. They listen to me very attentively. At the end, I invite them to stay with me for another quarter of an hour so that we can deepen the words we have heard. I ask them to identify with one or more of the various characters mentioned in the story and to ask themselves how they would have reacted if they had been in their place.

2. Ronald’s knife

Another day, when I arrive at the red bench, I immediately notice the handle of a knife sticking out of Ronald’s trousers – a guy who has the manner of one who must have few friends. In a joking tone, I ask him: “Do you carry it around for peeling fruit?”

Immediately, the boy sitting next to him gets up and leaves. Then I hurry to take his place. I wait for the moment when Ronald is distracted, take the knife from him and say: “I’ll hold it now. Then I’ll go and throw it in the pond nearby, before you do something stupid.”

“Give me back the knife,” he says.

“No way,” I retort.

“Give me back my knife!” he shouts.

“I said no,” I repeat.

Seeing that he is really getting angry, I promise him that I will only give it back, if he answers one of my questions.

“What question?” he says.

“Do you really think that carrying a knife in plain sight will help you deal with and solve possible problems?”, I ask him.

“Of course,” he replies aloud, “I need it to defend myself against my enemies.”

In less than half a minute, I try to tell him that there are a thousand other ways of dealing with problems, much smarter, much more humane... and that they do not require the use of a knife.

Then, I give him back the knife, stand up and greet him: “Think about it.”

I notice that he does not greet me. I turn around and see that he is looking at the knife twisting and turning in his hand. I believe he is thinking.

3. Prayer for Donald

Another day, I decide to pay a visit to my friends of the red bench. I have not yet reached the appropriate distance for the greeting, when I see Dagoberto get up and come towards me. I stop and wait for him.

When he reaches me, he gives me a handshake and asks: “Could you go home and get your portable altar and come back here to say mass for Donald? He is dying in hospital. A few hours ago, a motorbike approached him and whoever was sitting on the back seat put a bullet in his head.”

With Dagoberto and the others we go to visit Donald’s family. When we arrive, we invite everyone to join us the next day for a time of prayer, that the Lord will help Donald. We tell the family that they can invite all their boy’s companions.

The next morning, Donald is already dead, but we gather anyway, now to pray to the Lord to mercifully welcome Donald into his fatherly arms. The short ceremony lasts about half an hour, with singing, reading of Bible texts on hope, and spontaneous prayers. Then I bless the water and spray it on the 25 or so people Dagobert has managed to gather. They also ask me to go and bless the exact place where Robert was shot and the place where he used to sit to smoke. I accept.

Before leaving, I ask them if they enjoyed what we have just done. They answer me yes. I tell them: “If you want, we can repeat something similar on other occasions. Just tell Dagoberto and I will make myself available.”

May the Lord always help us to visit ‘other shores’ of our society to sow seeds of hope there.

I embrace you all.

Father Franco Nascimbene,
Comboni missionary in Colombia