Can Spirituality be so much fun - (BJRE001)

Can spirituality be so much fun?

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2016)

“I just wanted to discover why these people are so interested in Jesus Youth. Won’t they get bored with prayer and these talks on Spirituality?” 

I was taking my 17-year-old son to the Joy Conference, which Jesus Youth Teens Ministry had organized. Earlier, some youth came home and mentioned the program to him, and to my surprise, he willingly gave his name. As we drove to the program, he told me he was going there out of curiosity. His idea is that anything to do with spirituality is so dull; if so, why are so many smart teenagers and youth so crazy about Jesus Youth? And he was going there to unravel the mystery.

After four days, as I was taking him back home from the Joy Conference, I asked him how the whole thing had been. “Not bad,” he said. Knowing him, I heard it as ‘Excellent”. Little by little, he spoke to me about the friendly ones he had met there, how they had fun during the talks, about the skits, the interesting interactions in small groups, and so on. Listening to him, I sensed that he had now willingly joined the stream. The following days proved my conclusion. 

1. Young people with a positive difference

I have journeyed with the Jesus Youth movement since its inception and have witnessed it struggle, grow, and expand. It has now become like a large, fruitful tree. Familiarity does not always breed contempt, but sometimes much wonderment and respect. At least, when I think of many of my Jesus Youth friends, that is the case. I am wide-eyed with amazement. 

In many areas where young people are active, Jesus Youth is present, and they do something beautiful there. In universities and other educational institutions where everyone is busy and preoccupied with trends and success, there is a group of young people who are focused on the spiritual orientation of their friends and committed to social concerns. Jesus Youth campus groups are vibrant and widespread. In parishes, these young people bring a lot of creativity and freshness. They come together and visit the poor and the needy. Jesus Youth organizes exciting and colorful programs with songs, skits, group interactions, and creativity. And the beauty of it all is that these are mainly dreamed, planned, and carried out by young people themselves. 

However, there should be a clear path outlined in the movement, and what is it? More or less, the pilgrimage starts with a meeting or friendship with someone in the movement, leading to a personal encounter with God. In Jesus Youth, considerable attention is devoted to drawing today’s youth to a personal experience of God. This encounter should lead a person to a friendly fellowship. In this Jesus Youth group or a small cell, a young person learns a lifestyle of certain spiritual habits. They call it a lifestyle of Six Pillars. Finally, the movement envisions every young person as a committed missionary, especially in the places where they live and work. The movement’s statute sums it up: 

“Jesus Youth strives to lead people, especially the youth, to a renewed life in Christ, assists them in their growth in holiness, and prepares them for the apostolate in communion with the mission of the Church” (#5).

2. The Journey of the Movement

The movement originated in Kerala, India. It has been the fruit of a renewal wave that swept this part of the world in the 1970s. A well-planned youth conference in 1978 laid the foundation for a network among the younger generation in the renewal circles. Young leaders began to come together to search for and develop modalities and approaches for effective youth ministry. A big leap came when Pope John Paul II announced the International Year of Youth. The fast-growing network decided to observe 1985 befittingly, and the concluding conference was named ‘Jesus Youth 85’. From that time on, the network became known as Jesus Youth. Under this banner, young people came together in various life situations to pray, learn from one another, and share the joyful tidings of Christ with others. 

Young people want to connect with their peers, and given the chance, they will go on to dream and work towards something joyful and beautiful. Such youthful dynamism helped Jesus Youth spread to other parts of India during the early 1990s. As young people with a touch of the Lord searched for a better career or migrated as families, they took their newfound enthusiasm. Thus, the Jesus Youth movement spread to the Middle Eastern countries and various continents. It is currently (in 2016) present in more than 30 countries and is active in all continents. 

The latest joyful news about the movement is that it has been formally approved by the Catholic Church. This is surely of great significance, as it is the first from India and the second from the whole of Asia. On the last Pentecost day, 15 May 2016, the Vatican recognized Jesus Youth as an international association of the faithful. For this grassroots youth enthusiasm that sprouted as an insignificant initiative and has now become an international reality, this lends much joy and confidence. 

3. The movement moves on.

We all say that these are challenging times. There are so many changes all around, and riding the technology wave is thrilling for the young. Peer pressure has taken new forms, and all are disturbed by the resultant letdowns and even tragedies in the lives of so many. And a silver lining amidst these worrying signs comes from this bunch of enthusiastic youth. A variety of Jesus Youth ministries, driven by so many committed and well-focused youth, give assurance for a better tomorrow. What John Paul II of Happy Memories commented on the Church in Asia is true of these young missionaries as well: “One solid cause of hope is the increasing number of better trained, enthusiastic and Spirit-filled lay people, who are more and more aware of their specific vocation within the ecclesial community.” We can hope and pray for ‘Let their tribe increase!’.

= Pointers for Reflection =

1. What attracts youth to JY?
2. What are the essential ingredients of JY’s journey?
3. AA 2:42 - How does it relate to JY’s life?
4. Discuss JY in relation to the quote from Ecclesia in Asia.

= The key themes:

1. Spirituality Can Be Engaging and Joyful  
2. Personal Encounters Spark Transformation  
3. Young People Leading Young People  
4. A Clear Path of Growth and Mission  
5. A Movement Rooted in Renewal and Expansion  
6. Recognition and Legitimacy  
7. A Response to Modern Challenges  
8. A Hopeful Future for the Church  

 

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