The first leap

How often, even as kids, do we find ourselves in a circle or a gang and suddenly someone gets an idea that captivates everyone, but is a little scary; or we listen to a very learned lecture and then it's time for questions and there's a deep silence, because we're afraid of asking a question that doesn't live up to the lecture we've heard. We're afraid of losing face, or time, or peace and quiet.

I was about twelve or thirteen years old and I was with my brothers and friends in a barn and underneath there was a huge pile of corn husks. My cousin exclaimed, "Let's jump down!" We were a little paralyzed, but she jumped. One by one, they all jumped in, and I was left alone. I've always been afraid of diving. I couldn't stay up there alone with everyone watching me, and, thinking the worst things about my cousin, I jumped... and I didn't die.
That's life: the hard part is being the first to jump in, asking the first question, taking the first leap, setting out on a humanitarian mission without too many guarantees, saying out loud something uncomfortable (not politically correct) but something everyone is thinking, and accepting everyone's gaze. The ice is broken and the water flows.
Jesus set out for Jerusalem, hardening his face, the Gospel says, while the disciples would have gladly stayed in Galilee. But they followed him. When Lazarus was dying, Jesus said he would go to him; none of them was inclined to go to Jerusalem, but Thomas said, "Let us go and die with him," and they all went.

It's a great responsibility to be a Christian, or even simply to have the clear intuition that something must be done, no matter what the cost; not only must one tell others that good is on that side and stand firm, but one must know how to set out alone, even if one has no idea whether anyone will follow. Saint Benedict and all formators know that commands, advice, and instructions are useless if they are not followed by example. Indeed, Benedict says: "When one assumes the title of abbot, he must impose himself on his disciples, demonstrating with deeds rather than words all that is good and holy: in other words, he should teach the Lord's commandments orally, but present them exemplified in his actions." It is everyone's responsibility to lead others. Good ideas are not enough. Today, we are presented with a broad overview of the world, and we are aware of almost everything, unless we are content to simply look at the major newspapers and instead seek out real news about places and events that no one cares about or that are best hidden. This global perspective is beautiful, interesting, and right, but the breadth of the world's problems, the gravity of events, the cruelty of situations, risk paralyzing us. How can we say, "Shall I start?" when we don't even know where to begin?
Great undertakings, discoveries, and things that have shaken societies have almost never begun at a table, in front of large sheets of paper. Jeanne Jugan one day found a poor sick woman on the street, thrown out of her house without being able to pay the rent. She picked her up on her shoulders and put her to bed. A few years later, there were many homes of the Little Sisters of the Poor, with thousands of guests!
It's not difficult to recognize the gesture to make; they present themselves every day. It's rather difficult to stop and make the first gesture; from that will follow a chain that takes us "where we didn't want to go." We know it, and we hesitate.
Let us allow ourselves to be pushed by the Holy Spirit or by our conscience.


Cesare Falletti
NP October 2025