A few days ago, I was told an anecdote that made me blush because something very similar to what happened to the protagonist of the story had happened to me. A professor, arriving to teach at the university, without realizing it, genuflected in front of the blackboard, which generated a clear surprise for his students. I must confess that almost the same thing happened to me during a conference, to which, to top it all off, I was late. It can happen that, on occasions, the gestures of our faith can emerge unexpectedly and out of context, causing funny or somewhat embarrassing situations.
After a few minutes of laughter at the expense of clueless people like us, we inevitably reflect on how we Catholics show ourselves in contemporary society: without doing things out of place, such as improper genuflections, but also without complexes.
I mention this about the recent sanction against judoka Nemanja Majdov for crossing himself before entering the tatami at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Without a doubt, this is a surreal persecution that cannot leave us indifferent. Nemanja, world champion in 2017 and European champion in 2023 declared that the Lord had given him everything in his career, that he was proud of it, and that nothing, under any circumstances, would change that reality. He also expressed regrettable that a sport like judo allowed itself to be influenced by this type of situation. And it really is.
However, as believers, we know that God is never outdone in generosity, and that He will reward Nemanja’s courage a hundredfold. These kinds of situations challenge us to educate our young people in the courage to live their faith, without being “strange,” but also without hiding it. It is not about “wearing the card in your teeth” or going around kicking people around with the Bible, as I once heard a priest say, but about living our Christian identity coherently and naturally.
Today’s society seems increasingly uncomfortable with any public manifestation of faith, even with gestures as simple as crossing oneself. This reflects a growing pressure to keep our beliefs within the private sphere, as if faith were something that must be hidden or concealed so as not to cause discomfort. But, as Catholics, we are called to be living witnesses, not in a strident way, but with the courage and firmness of those who know that their lives are guided by higher values.
Nemanja Makhdov is a good example of how we should behave in these kinds of situations. He did not allow himself to be intimidated or betray his principles, and that is something we can all learn from. As believers, we must walk with our heads held high, without shame or fear of showing ourselves as we are. Our faith is not a rarity, but an integral part of our identity, and when we live it authentically, it becomes a powerful testimony.
Finally, we must remember that, as Christians, our reference is always Mary, our Mother. She, in her simplicity and humility, lived her faith with unwavering courage. She is the perfect model of how we should be: without fanfare, but also without cowardice, fully trusting that God accompanies us in every step we take.
