I've often heard young people described as "the Church of tomorrow," or in the words of the Vatican Council "the hope of the Church." Of course I recognize that they're the ones who will play a leading role in shaping society in the Third Millennium - in their hands will rest the future of humanity. But in many countries they already represent half the entire population. So it's not enough to think of them only in terms of tomorrow. Young people are the Church TODAY. Their presence in the Church now is as important as anyone else's, and they have just as much to contribute.
One of the most exciting things in the Charismatic Renewal is the way God is working in the lives of young people. Stories of young men and women turning their backs on the values of the world, and putting their faith in Jesus Christ are not unusual today. This is not something initiated by man - it's the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. But to live the Gospel day by day in a climate of hostility and intense peer-pressure is extremely difficult. It's hardly surprising that so many other young people are still turning away in their thousands and leaving the Church. What can we do about it? How can we encourage them, and help them to feel part of the Church?
The first question to ask is have they ever been properly evangelized - called to a living faith in Jesus Christ? Or have they just passed through a process at home, at church, and at school which has produced "cultural" Christians who have never encountered the living Lord? Some will ask if such an encounter is necessary; Pope John Paul seems to think so. During a pastoral visit to Brazil in 1991, he called the young people "to a decisive encounter on which their life's meaning and plans would depend." That sounds important to me. "You have already realized," he told them, "that I intend to speak to you of your encounter with Christ, which should be fuller and more authentic every day. In calling you to an authentic encounter with Christ, this is what I ask of you: open wide your hearts to Jesus! Open your souls with trust to the treasures of the Christian truth! Seek with perseverance the formation that will make your faith mature! Let your hearts burn like the disciples of Emmaus (Luke 24:32), close to Christ, the living Bread and the Word of Life. Let Him live in you so that you may be able to love the world, and all humanity as He loved them (John 15:12-13)."
In very few of our parishes or Church schools is there ever such a clear call to conversion, but it's only out of a on-going, living relationship with Jesus Christ that any of us, young or old, can live the Gospel. An encounter with the living Christ is essential - nothing can substitute for it. But coming to a living faith isn't the end of the story - everyone has to take their place in the Church. We will often find young people who love Jesus but still don't want to be part of parish and Church life. Why not? Perhaps we need to look at our own attitudes and ask if WE really want them in the Church. Are we older people going to allow them to contribute, or are we jealous of their enthusiasm, gifts, and ideas? Do we think they should only come on OUR terms, and accept OUR ideas and OUR ways of doing things? If so, we need to change.
We must be willing to accept them, provide for them, learn from them, teach them, disciple them, and serve them. Instead of lamenting the absence of young people in our churches and groups, we need to pray for them, encourage them, and offer them practical help. Young people will bring enthusiasm, energy, challenges, and commitment. Older people have the resources, wisdom, and experience needed to support them. It's a partnership.
More and more prayer groups and communities are praying for, welcoming, and encouraging the involvement of young people. Such groups have often provided training opportunities for the young men and women who are now leading the work of evangelization among their contemporaries. To quote again from John Paul's address to the young people of Brazil: "Walk with Jesus," he told them, "united in communities, movements, and other Church groups, and you will be the renewed leaven of evangelization on earth." One place where this seems to be happening is in the Charismatic Renewal.
Not every prayer group will be able to provide training, but most can offer support in prayer and resources. This will enable their young people to attend the special formation courses they need. Surely this is something we can ALL offer? While this is happening they need the support of groups and communities where they are accepted and encouraged. But the time may come when they will feel called to set up their own prayer groups or community structures more closely geared to the needs they have to meet. When this happens, we may be tempted to hold them back, but we must release them to answer God's call, and maintain our support and commitment to them. Henceforth the partnership will be on a new basis.
The leaders of any young group or community engaged in active evangelization will face enormous pastoral needs. Catching fish is often much easier than cleaning them. They need to know that there are lay people and priests committed to them and available for consultation or active involvement whenever necessary. The problems they have to face will show them how much they need the experience and support of other leaders - young and old.
The Lord is doing a wonderful thing among these young men and women. He has graciously baptized them in His Holy Spirit, called them into His service, and sent them out into the world. They are a fruit of the Charismatic Renewal and a sign of hope for us all. In his first letter, John writes to "you, young people, who have overcome the evil one," and later to "you, young people, who are strong, because God's Word remains in you" (I John 2:13-14). We could write the same words today to our youth groups and communities. So let's praise God for all He is doing through them - but let's also commit ourselves to helping them with our prayers, our money, our resources, and our active involvement when they need it and ask for it.. We all have something to contribute, and we need each other to build the Kingdom of God. We are partners in mission, working TOGETHER. We are ALL part of the Church of today.
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