Eqqaumaniq San Gioan Baotixita Toquninganik

Qatanngutikka nagligijaujut Kristusimi…

Isumagilauruk una takujassaq: Badminton-court-mi green lines-ngit qaumajut. Sila qaumajuq, ammalu court-up qitiani, nutaqqamik takuvugut sweatshirt-qarluni, badminton racket-mik tigumiartuq. Shuttlecock qutsiktumut tingivuq, ammalu taissuma nutaqqap iijitigut malikpaa. Sangiittutut ippunngilaq, mianirisuungilaq failure-mik, kisiani uummammi piumaniqarluni upalungaarpuq tingmisuarmik shuttlecock-mik tigusiriamik. Racket-nga nilliaqpuq striking-tautillugu. Taanna nipi, suurlu inuusirmik quviasungnirmik qaititsijuq. Taanna nutaqqaq, Benjamin Vo-ngulaurpuq. Ben-up uummanga uqausiqaqpuq: "Pinasungniq kisimi pijariilik." Trying is all that matters. This court of effort, this quiet court of joy, is where we must begin today.

Ullumi, Katisimavissuarmi, eqqaumavugut Passion-nga San Gioan Baotixita. Evangiliumi, takuvugut contrast-mik angijumik. Herod-up banquet-nga tatatitaupluni pride-mik, uqallagutirjuanik, ammalu silataani qaumajunik. Herod-up banquet-nga inuusiqaqpuq nunarjuap silatuningatigut: power, wealth, status, ammalu fear of what others think. Herodias-up panianga qitilauraluarmat, Herod uqallalaurpuq boast-rluni: "Tuniniaqpagi sunamiklunniit apirijarnik, avvangaluunniit nunaqutingma." This is the boast of a man who thinks he owns the world. But in the dark prison, weak and bound, was John the Baptist. John did not have a kingdom, he did not have status in Herod's court, but he had the truth. He had the wisdom of God.

Paulos titiraqmat Corinthians-nut Sivulliq Reading-mi, uqausiqalaurpuq taissuminnga contrast-mik: "God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong… so that no human being might boast before God." Herod boasted in his power, but his power was empty, leading only to death and regret. John the Baptist boasted only in the Lord, and his life, though cut short in a dark prison, remains a shining light of fidelity and truth for all eternity.

Tagva marruuk taqqiik qangiqsimaliqtut—June 13, 2026-mit—Benjamin Vo nuulaurmat nunamit qilangmut. Marruuk taqqiik… 60-nik ukiunik qangiqsimajuq. Alan, Thao, ammalu Ryan-mut, suli ullaakkut makinniaqtillugit, illu nipiqanngippallaarami uummammi aaniarnartuq saqqiqattarpuq. Issiarvik inuqanngittuq nirivingmi… Benjamin-up qunganninga, nipingalu tusaassaarutilimat illumi…

Nallunngituugaluaq, qatanngutikka, uqumaittumi aaniarnirmi, uummavut qiaisinamat, taaqtuq isuma saqquqtisarpaa. Suuq? Suuq Benjamin? Suuq maanna? Inuusiq heavy-tut ippuq, suurlu badminton court-mi green lines-ngit taartumut nuusimajutut ippujut, ammalu racket-up nipinga tusaassaajunneertutut ippujuq. Comfort-niq saqquqtinnagu, uqaqtariaqaqpugut sulijumik: aaniarniq suli tatamnaqpuq. Alan ammalu Thao, ernissinnik 15-nik ukiuqaqtillugu asiujaarniq anniaqnaqtuq asuilaak. Guutiup illissi qiarumanissinnik tusaajuq, nalunngilaalu qanuq ititigimangaat uummatissinni aaniarniq. Suli qiajuvusi, ammalu Guutiup qiaqatauvuq ilissinnik. Do not rush past the wound. The silence in the house is real.

Kisiani, isumagilauruk una image: "The Court of Effort and the Humble Racket."

Benjamin Vo inuusiqaqluni, inuit takulaurtangit silataani: silatualuuniranga, mathematics-mi pialuktuuninga, coding-mi, AI-mi, DevOps-mi, ammalu cloud infrastructure-mi qaujimaninga. Taakkua pitsiaqtut, silataani qaumajut. Kisiani, Benjamin-up inuusia sanningajuup court-ngatut ippuq. Ben-up uummanga boast-launngilaq. Ben-up uummanga gentle soul-ngulaurpuq. Ben-up uqausirilaurtanga: "Trying is all that matters." Pinasungniq kisimi pijariilik.

Isumagilauruk una facet Benjamin-mit: Ben badminton court-miittuq. Sangiittutut ippunngilaq, sweat-shirt-qarluni, basketball tryouts-ni uvaluunniit badminton-mi piumaniqarluni pinasulaurpuq. Piumalaurpuq tunisiriamik tamatkirlugu. Making the badminton team was one of his family's proudest moments, a pure joy he shared with his entire extended family. Why? Because it was not about boasting of human strength; it was about the pure, beautiful effort of a boy who loved to try, who was not afraid to fail, who simply worked hard with a smile. This is the wisdom that Paul talks about: "God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong." Ben did not need the boastful banquet of Herod. He found his joy in the quiet court of effort, in the matching smiles with his family, in the simple, beautiful determination of his heart.

Herod's banquet was a place of empty promises and misplaced loyalty. Herodias harbored a grudge, and Herod, because of his pride and his guests, committed a terrible act. He was trapped by his own boast. But Benjamin's life was the opposite. Ben's life was built on true loyalty, on deep love, and on a gentle respect for his parents and his brother. At just 12 years old, Ben wept at his father’s 40th birthday out of a premature fear of losing him. Think about that. A boy of 12, whose heart was so deeply bonded to his father that he wept not out of weakness, but out of the sheer depth of his love. This is not the cold, calculating world of Herod's palace. This is the warm, holy world of a family bonded in Christ. This is the love that boasts only in the Lord.

Alan ammalu Thao, your grief is a heavy cross. Two months have passed, and the world continues to move, but for you, time has a different weight. The temptation in grief is to think that because Benjamin's life was short, it was incomplete. But Paul reminds us today that God's wisdom is different from human wisdom. In the eyes of the world, a life of 15 years might seem incomplete, like a game cut short on the court. But in God's eyes, Ben's life was fully complete because it was filled with the only thing that lasts: love. Ben's effort, his determination, his "trying is all that matters" spirit—this was his offering to God. And God has accepted that offering. Ben is not in a dark prison like John the Baptist; he is in the light of the eternal Banquet of Heaven, where there are no empty promises, only the fullness of joy.

And Ryan, his beloved brother, his best friend. Ryan, Benjamin loved you so deeply. You stood together at the overlook high above San Francisco Bay, with your arms around each other under the soft pink sky. Ryan, you must carry Ben's racket now. Not literally, but in your heart. You must continue to live, to study, to play, and to laugh—not just for yourself, but for Ben. Carry his gentle spirit in your smile. When you feel the court of life is too hard, remember Ben's words: "Trying is all that matters." Give your best, Ryan, and know that Ben is watching over you from the best seat in the house, cheering you on with that radiant smile.

To everyone tuning in from afar, to other children who are suffering, and to every family carrying a heavy cross: You are not alone on the court. Sometimes the game is hard, and the opponent feels too strong. But the Lord we trust in is our help and our shield. He does not look at our human strength or our noble birth. He looks at our hearts. He looks at our willingness to try, to love, and to stand firm in faith.

Benjamin Đại Dương Vo's legacy of love continues to flow, like the clean water of the "Giếng Gioan Baotixita" well dedicated in his name in Cà Mau, Vietnam. Just as that well brings life-sustaining water to those in need, Ben's memory brings hope and love to our hearts. His love was not a boastful stream that dried up; it is a permanent well of kindness that keeps giving.

What can we carry out the door today?

Today, when you face a challenge, when you feel weak or afraid of failing, remember the boy on the badminton court in his sweatshirt, smiling, holding his racket. Remember his simple, profound wisdom: "Trying is all that matters." Do not boast in your own strength, but boast in the Lord who gives us the grace to try. Look up, and say a quiet prayer:

"Lord Jesus, give us the grace to play the game of life with gentle hearts like Benjamin's. Help us to believe that trying in love is all that matters. Comfort Alan, Thao, and Ryan in their sorrow, and keep us firm in hope until we join Ben at Your eternal banquet."

Benjamin Vo, saimmalirit Ataniup qaumarikningani isuqaqanngittumi.

Amen.