Faith Reflection: Mercy—The Beauty of Our Young
During his live Q & A at the Religious Education Congress this past March Bishop Robert Barron, an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, was asked what was the first step in evangelizing our youth. He answered, “Witness is the most important thing. Get young people to see Spirit-filled Catholics, people in your parish or community who are on fire with the Holy Spirit...who are exemplifying the Christian way of life in a compelling way, a beautiful way, and to bring young people close to that.”
Nicely said, but how do we become those folks exemplifying the Christian way of life? Pope Francis, in his exhortation from last month that we’ve been examining, offers perseverance, patience, and meekness as the foundation to build upon to do just that. Together these three are the first of what he calls the “five great expressions of holiness.” They provide “solid grounding in the God who loves and sustains us.” Grounded in God these virtuous ways become our source of inner strength and not only “enables us to persevere amid life’s ups and downs, but also to endure hostility, betrayal and failings on the part of others.”
Seeing this does not go unnoticed by our youth—or others for that matter. “Grace defuses vanity and makes possible meekness of heart,” said Francis. With cultivating an attitude of meekness (the ability to will the good of the other) we will have an inner strength that will allow us to “give a witness of holiness,” he said, “through patience and constancy in doing good.” You will be showing the joy and good in the Christian way of life, and others, including our youth, will want to participate in it.
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have a near death experience, to experience a sublimely joyful taste of heaven, then find yourself back in the humdrum of the life you thought you had just left behind? Cinema for the Soul will be showing “90 Minutes in Heaven,” one man’s near death experience and the emotional upheaval and questions that followed. Join the growing group Thursday night, May 31st at 7p in the Olive youth room.
Thank you. Mrs. Alhadef