Committed young people: Christus vivit, paragraphs 168 to 178

Last updated: Thu 31 Mar 2022 PM

Committed young people

168. It is true that sometimes, faced with a world full of violence and selfishness, young people can run the risk of shutting themselves up in small groups, thus depriving themselves of the challenges of life in society, of a vast, stimulating and needy world. They feel that they are living fraternal love, but perhaps their group has changed into a simple extension of themselves. This becomes more serious if the vocation of the laity is conceived only as a service within the Church (readers, acolytes, catechists, etc.).It consists of living in the midst of the world and of society in order to evangelize its various instances, to increase peace, coexistence, justice, human rights and mercy, and thus extend the Reign of God in the world.

169. I suggest that young people go beyond groups of friends and build "social friendship, seeking the common good. Social enmity destroys. And enmity destroys a family. Enmity destroys a country. Enmity destroys the world. And the greatest enmity is war. And today we see that the world is being destroyed by war, because they are unable to sit down and talk to each other.... Be able to create social friendship". It is not easy. You always have to give up something, you have to negotiate, but if we do it thinking about the good of all, we can have the wonderful experience of putting aside differences to fight together for something common. Yes, let us try to look for points of coincidence among the many dissensions, in this sometimes costly artisanal effort to build bridges, to build a peace that is good for all; this is the miracle of the culture of encounter that young people can dare to live with passion.

170. The Synod recognized that "although in a different form from that of past generations, social commitment is a specific trait of today's young people. Alongside some who remain indifferent, there are many others who are available for voluntary initiatives, active citizenship and social solidarity: it is important to accompany and encourage them to bring out their talents, skills and creativity and to encourage them to take responsibility. Social commitment and direct contact with the poor remains a fundamental opportunity for discovering and deepening one's faith and discerning one's own vocation. ...] The readiness to commit oneself in the political field for the common good has been pointed out".

171. Today, thanks be to God, groups of young people in parishes, colleges, movements, or university groups often go out to accompany the elderly and sick, or visit poor neighbourhoods, or go out together to help those in need in what are called "nights of charity". They often recognize that in these activities they receive more than they give, because one learns and matures much when one dares to come into contact with the suffering of others. Moreover, there is hidden wisdom in the poor, and they can, with simple words, help us to discover values that we do not see.

172. Other young people take part in social programs to build houses for those without a roof over their heads, or to clean up polluted places, or to collect aid for those most in need. It would be good if this community energy could be applied not only to one-off actions, but in a stable manner, with clear objectives and good organization that helps to achieve more follow-up and more effective work. Students can unite in an interdisciplinary way to apply their knowledge to the solution of social problems, and in this task they can work shoulder to shoulder with young people of other Churches or religions.

173. As in the miracle of Jesus, the loaves and fish of the young can multiply (cf. Jn 6:4-13). As in the parable, the young people's small seeds are transformed into trees and crops (cf. Mt 13:23, 31-32). All this from the living source of the Eucharist in which our bread and wine are transfigured to give us eternal life. If young people are asked to do important and difficult work, they will be able to face it with faith in the Risen One, with creativity and hope, and always placing themselves at the service, like the servants at this wedding, surprised to be collaborators in the first sign of Jesus, who only followed his Mother's command: "Whatever he tells you, do it" (Jn 2:5). Mercy, creativity and hope make life grow.

174. I want to encourage you to make this commitment, because I know that "your heart, a young heart, wants to build a better world. I follow the news of the world and I see that many young people in so many parts of the world have gone out on the roads to express the desire for a more just and fraternal civilization. Young people on the roads. They are young people who want to be protagonists of change. Please do not let others be protagonists of change! You, you are the ones with the future! Through you the future enters the world. I also ask you to be protagonists of this change. Continue to overcome apathy, giving a Christian response to the social and political concerns present in various parts of the world. I ask you to be builders of the world, to set to work for a better world. Dear young people, please do not look at life "from the balcony", immerse yourselves in it, Jesus did not stay on the balcony, he immersed himself; do not look at life "from the balcony", immerse yourselves in it as Jesus did".

Courageous missionaries

175. In love with Christ, young people are called to bear witness to the Gospel everywhere by their own lives. St. Albert Hurtado said: "To be an apostle is not to wear a badge in the lapel of the jacket; it is not to speak the truth but to live it, to become incarnate in it, to become Christ. To be an apostle is not to carry a torch in one's hand, to possess the light but to be the light [...] The Gospel [...] more than a teaching is an example. The Gospel [...] more than a teaching is an example. The message is changed into a life lived".

176. The value of witness does not mean that the word must be silenced. Why not speak about Jesus, why not tell others that he gives us the strength to live, that it is good to speak with him, that meditating on his words does us good? Young people, do not allow the world to lead you to share only the bad or superficial things. Be able to go against the current and know how to share Jesus, communicate the faith he has offered you. If only you could feel in your heart the same irresistible movement that moved St. Paul when he said: "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel" (1 Cor 9:16).

177 "Where is Jesus sending us? There are no frontiers, there are no limits: he sends us to all. The Gospel is for all and not for a few. It is not only for those who seem closer, more receptive, more welcoming. It is for everyone. Do not be afraid to go, and to carry Christ in every environment, to the existential peripheries, also to those who seem further away, more indifferent. The Lord is in search of all, he wants everyone to feel the warmth of his mercy and love". He invites us to go without fear with missionary proclamation, wherever we are and with whom we are, in the neighbourhood, in the office, in sport, on outings with friends, in voluntary work or at work; it is always good and opportune to share the joy of the Gospel. This is how the Lord will seek everyone. And he wants you, young people, to be his instruments for spreading light and hope, because he wants to count on your boldness, courage and enthusiasm.

178 We should not expect the mission to be easy and comfortable. Some young people have given their lives so as not to stop their missionary impulse. The bishops of Korea declared: "We are waiting to be grains of wheat and instruments for the salvation of humanity, following the example of the martyrs. Even if our faith is as small as a mustard seed, God will give it growth and use it as an instrument for His work of salvation". Dear friends, do not wait until tomorrow to collaborate in the transformation of the world with your energy, audacity and creativity. Your life is not an "in-between". You are the hour of God who wants you to be fruitful. For "it is in giving that you receive", and the best way to prepare a good future is to live the present well in giving and generosity.

Source: Christus Vivit