Live the Word, Liberate the World When I preached a retreat at one of the parishes in Gulf. End of the retreat a youth came to meet me. Then he asked me Fr Franklin, Why didn�t you come to our College to preach the retreat? If I would�ve got this message there I wouldn�t have lost myself in the world. I told him at least you�ve realized now thank God for that. There are thousands of youth who have not realized the worth of their life, lost in the world. Don�t know where to go? What to do? Yet they think they are in right track. What a tragedy! Many think College life is to ENJOY! That�s why some have this policy �Kao Pivo Maazaa karo� (Eat, Drink, and Make merry). Because of this they lose the worth of their life and even lose their studies. Why this particular youth came and told me that; I needed this type of spiritual guidance during my college days. Because no one dared to tell him the truth. Only Jesus can reveal you the truth. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32). Jesus is the truth and his words are also the truth. When John Paul II addressed the youth of Switzerland he asked them this question: �Dear young people don�t ask the question what is the truth? It is clear that Jesus is the truth. Ask the question who is the truth for you?� Make Jesus as your truth. His message is the truth. Read the Word and your world will change. The word of God has the power to lift you up from your wretchedness, from the sin. He loves the sinner and hates the sin. Peter writes in his letter why the youth stumble it�s because they disobey the word and go in their own way. "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do� (1 peter 2: 8.) We read all the books that are available in the world except Bible. For our �Enjoyment� we browse the website whichever we want, we try to get maximum entertainment that we like and need, for this sake we are ready to do anything. But we lose real Joy and peace that Jesus gives during our Youthful life. Psalm 119: 9 says �how can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word�. Youth have to keep their way pure to experience real joy and peace in their life which Jesus gives. Purity of life, mind and heart is the foundation for good, holy and joyful life. Word of god gives us warning; Ecclesiastes 12:1 says: Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; word of God also brings healing: �He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds�. (Psalm 147:3). Once a troubled Catholic youth called me over the phone. He was enquiring why there is no success in his life. I enquired whether he is praying, reading scripture, reciting rosary, having personal prayer? His answer was yes. Then I asked him are you in any bad habits. He told me he had given up from two years. Then as I prayed for him God revealed this Word for him from Proverbs 28: 13 �if you hide your sins there is no success in your life, but if you confess God shows mercy.� I asked d him when was your last confession? He told me 10 years back. That�s the reason he and also we experience failure in life. Now recall the words of Jesus: �If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.� Remember; we are not fans of Jesus but the disciples of Jesus. Dear young friends during youth life develop youthfulness with the values of Christ. These values will shape your life to become the Salt of the earth and the Light of the World. Do good and be good today. You�ll have real joy. Hence live the Word and liberate the world, before liberating the world dear young people you get liberated. That�s what youth ministry is trying to do. Contributed by : Rev. Fr. Franklin D’Souza, M.A (history) |