Two Timothy Two Twenty-two - (BJRE004)

 

Two Timothy two twenty-two

Shun youthful passions; aim at righteousness, along with those who call on the Lord.

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2017)

The year was 1983. We were already a few years into building an active youth leadership network in Kerala, India. Every month, a close-knit group called ‘First-liners” from all over the state would meet to build friendships, review what we were doing, and plan ahead. Though much was happening, nothing was official about it, and we even had no coordinating office or other paraphernalia. So, I was not sure when Ravi Thomas, the one in charge of communications and accounts, proposed printing a letterhead. Finally, we agreed upon a simple format, mainly with a Bible verse that will accurately represent us. There was a search for a suitable verse. Finally, the one I proposed was Two Timothy two twenty-two, a reference that is easy to remember and a message truly representing our core orientation: 

Shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart (2Ti 2:22)

The network was not yet christened and had to wait two more years to get its name. In 1985, the name Jesus Youth was introduced as the name of the famous conference, and it became the name of this network. Years have passed, and the movement has grown into an international reality, but the same Bible verse continues to represent some strong aspects of the Jesus Youth movement. 

What are the basic elements of the Jesus Youth movement? Maybe there are four distinct steps or aspects of being Jesus Youth:

1. A radical giving up of selfishness and worldly ways

2. A positive choice of Jesus and the Gospel path

3. Getting rooted in a new friendship and culture, and

4. Going forth to build others in Christ’s love and peace

How beautifully and forcefully these aspects are conveyed in this verse! St. Paul’s exhortation to his young apprentice outlines a clear path for anyone to follow Christ faithfully. And it is a true roadmap for forming a committed Christian. Even after two thousand years, it continues to be relevant and forceful. So, if someone asks how to be a true Jesus Youth, the right answer is Two Timothy two twenty-two. 

One: Jesus Youth is all about a big giving up, and a continuous one

The world and society are wonderful because God created them, but there is enough evil. Each one of us is also groomed in these sinful ways. So, giving up on these “youthful passions” is the first step in any earnest journey toward a life of joy and fullness. This radical decision to give up is not easy for a young person. But the presence of other youngsters, with their gentle and joyful encouragement and prayer-imbued guidance, makes the big turning away possible.

Two: Jesus and His plan become my main concern

Giving up is only a half step; it has to find completion in a definite welcoming of Jesus into one’s inner life and day-to-day living. In the movement, one is helped, on the one hand, through the proclamation of the Word and also by the positive nudging of peers. In short, this ‘shunning of youthful passions’ and a firm grasp of ‘righteousness and faith’ becomes the doorway to and continuing foundation of active living of Jesus Youth spirituality. 

Three: Those who call upon Him become my best friends

The movement strongly believes that the right kind of friendship is an integral part of your walk with Jesus. “I call you friends” (Jn 15:15), and Jesus stressed love and friendship as the nucleus of his Kingdom. In the movement, one has to be fully immersed in an active fellowship that will help build a culture and lifestyle based on the ‘Six Pillars.’

Four: A new vision and mission drive my life 

As they say, ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’; if the above steps have been effective, one should become a committed Catholic and a true witness of Jesus, making a positive difference in the places where one lives and works. This missionary emphasis is at the movement's core and has been making ripples wherever it grows.

Jesus Youth can be called ‘a lifestyle for a joy-filled abundance in the Lord’. Many people, even from outside the movement, find Jesus Youth very special because some very attractive and committed people come out of it. Some even ask about the secret behind it. Maybe we can say it has to do with the 4 C’s: change, choice, culture, and commitment. That is what the Apostle’s words in 2 Timothy 20 speak about.

= Pointers for Reflection =
1. Freely paraphrase this Bible passage in your own words.
2. How far is St. Paul's roadmap for a young Christian relevant today?
3. Discuss the consequence of missing any of the four elements or aspects of Jesus Youth. Repeat the discussion for each of the four.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Story of the Name ‘Jesus Youth’ (BJRE013)

Image
The Story of the Name ‘Jesus Youth’  (Published in Kairos Magazine in 2018) This movement, ‘Jesus Youth,’ has grown and spread. It is present in almost three dozen countries and on all continents. The movement has given rise to several fascinating and youth-friendly initiatives. For numerous people, ‘Jesus Youth’ is a label they proudly apply to themselves, saying, ‘I am a Jesus Youth!’ So naturally, people ask, ‘How did this name come about?’ or ‘Who gave the movement this name?’ I tell them, initially, the name was that of a conference, and we never thought of it as the name of a movement. However, after the 1985 conference, those who had participated in the gathering began identifying themselves as Jesus Youth, and gradually, other people associated with the network also adopted this name. To discuss its background, the steps to bring together the youth in the Charismatic Renewal in Kerala started in earnest in 1978. For this purpose, a team was formed, and after a few gathering...
Read more

What is Jesus Youth Mission? Building witnessing communities (BJRE071)

Image
  What is Jesus Youth Mission? Building witnessing communities (By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2023)   These days, I regularly attend two weekly prayer groups. The Wednesday group is my old one, which now meets online. It goes very well.  The local group gathers on Sunday afternoons, but its attendance is not very consistent. Occasionally, they cancel the meeting because other commitments arise, and they often choose to skip it for study sessions or outside events. Participation in a community is a habit, and a good habit must be carefully nurtured. However, many people gradually disconnect from Jesus Youth as the group becomes inconsistent. Perhaps this was what the writer of the book of Hebrews observed: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (10:24,25) Even in the early Church...
Read more

Can Spirituality be so much fun - (BJRE001)

Image
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...
Read more