The conclusion of this transformative journey was centered on the Word of God, with reflections on the Rector Major’s homily on the Parable of the Sower. His words offered a profound synthesis of the experience and a roadmap for authentic Christian accompaniment. The Rector Major’s reflection focused on three key verbs from the Parable of the Sower: to listen, to receive, and to guard.
Listening: The First Step
Listening, the Rector Major emphasized, is more than simply hearing. It is the intentional decision to create space for the Word and to establish a relationship with it. He stated, “Listening means allowing the Word to become a dialogue partner—a diá-logos.” Without this attentive listening, the seed of the Word risks being stolen by distraction, busyness, or indifference. True accompaniment begins with this openness to listen deeply.
Receiving: Welcoming the Word
Receiving the Word means allowing it to take root in one’s life. The Word is not merely an idea or a sound; it is a Person—Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. To receive the Word is to welcome Christ into one’s life as one would welcome a treasured guest into one’s home. This act of receiving reflects a maturity that recognizes being loved by Jesus and, in turn, allows Him to dwell within us.
Guarding: Nurturing the Word
Guarding the Word ensures that Christ’s presence is not static but dynamic, bearing fruit in and through us. Grace requires our active collaboration, and growth demands consistent effort. The Rector Major reminded participants that accompaniment is not a set of techniques but a personal journey of fidelity to these three actions: listening deeply, receiving sincerely, and guarding joyfully.
The Soil of the Heart and the Environment for Growth
Beyond the three verbs, the Rector Major highlighted two essential conditions for the Word’s growth: the soil of the heart and the environment we cultivate.
The Soil of the Heart: Inner freedom shapes the soil of our hearts. Echoing Edith Stein, the Rector Major stated, “God stops before the freedom of the person.” The fruitfulness of the Word depends on the choices, attitudes, and dispositions we nurture within ourselves. The Environment: The environments in which we live and accompany others must be carefully discerned. Are they spaces that promote life, freedom, and growth? Or are they toxic and suffocating? Authentic accompaniment requires the creation of environments where young people can flourish and breathe freely.
Authenticity Over Perfection
The Rector Major concluded with a powerful reminder: today’s youth are not seeking perfection—they are seeking authenticity. Young people long for educators, pastors, and guides who have first listened to the liberating Word, welcomed it into their lives, and nurtured it into freedom. Only such authentic witnesses can inspire meaningful growth in the young.
A Call to Authentic Accompaniment
This message resonated deeply with the participants of the School of Accompaniment. Over the weeks, they discovered that true accompaniment is not about methods or techniques but about becoming living witnesses—individuals who cultivate free hearts, create healthy environments, and journey alongside the young with credibility and hope.
The Parable of the Sower, proclaimed at the conclusion of the School, becomes a call to all: to cultivate the soil of one’s inner life, purify the environments one inhabits, and accompany others with authenticity. It is an invitation to continue Don Bosco’s mission with renewed energy, ensuring that young people encounter not only educators but disciples who embody the liberating power of the Word.
With hearts rooted in the Word—listened to, received, and guarded with care—the mission of accompaniment is no longer a duty but a profound joy. It becomes a collaboration with God’s grace, helping the seed of the Word bear fruit a hundredfold.
