Build recesses of love and joy! (BJRE046)

Build recesses of love and joy!

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2021) 

We don’t easily forget some childhood games. Building a playhouse and gathering there with neighborhood friends was one of my favorite pastimes. Using twigs and palm leaves, we would build a spacious two-room hut in the corner of the backyard, decorate it tastefully, and all the neighborhood children would gather and spend days there. Bringing in some food, sitting and chatting, and reading books together all would add to that special experience.

In youth training, sometimes I have used the same approach. One I remember was at Mercy College, Palakkad. At the start of the three-day seminar, I divided them into groups of 10, assigned each group a corner of the big hall, and told them to decorate the place as nicely as possible. They quickly made plans and ran out to get sheets, branches, nice pictures, and so on to decorate their little corner. During the rest of the seminar, the group met for discussion, occasional tea-and-snack, and relaxation. Finally, one big ‘hit’ out of the seminar was the special recesses they built. 

Young people need meeting places

Even before my Jesus Youth journey, one excellent formative group I had was a college students’ group near Cochin. Franciscan fathers animated our group on the campus of FMM Sisters. We were a vibrant group of young men and women who engaged in many activities. But one big hit again was our permanent meeting room, with some reading materials tastefully decorated. Young members would gather there almost every evening, and a lively youth community grew around that room. Any day and every day, any new youth could also be invited to that room. 

Later, when we began our youth renewal journey, we had a nice prayer meeting room, but it was open only two or three days a week for meetings. But to compensate, we had some houses. Augustine was working at the Shipyard, and his room was open 24/7 for all young men to relax, chit-chat, and pray. Also, there was Stephany’s house, where boys and girls could gather. Around these rooms and cozy places, our little community grew. 

I don't know how Jesus used to do it, but it was not always just traveling alone. John’s Gospel tells us how Jesus started gathering his disciples. One of their first questions was, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ He said, ‘Come and see’ (Jn 1:39). They went and stayed with Him. That became a focal point of gathering new followers and building up an intimate community.

What stops us from good moments?

Our life and work often become like trains going round and round on the same track. We got stuck with certain programs and training and bogged down in certain prayer modes without the newness of the Spirit. When a youth ministry becomes that way, most youth will look for other joyful and creative places with much life and love. Instead, what is needed is to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, who inspires the hearts of the young ones. 

I often remember what Fr. Gino said in the movement's early days. One of the diseases that can kill your movement is ‘Programitis’.  Names of diseases often end with “-itis," like conjunctivitis, hepatitis, and cystitis. Such a ‘program mania’ would kill a growing Christian community. Pope Francis also hints at the danger of being overly concerned about teaching youth. “Rather than being too concerned with communicating a great deal of doctrine, let us first try to awaken and consolidate the great experiences that sustain the Christian life. In the words of Romano Guardini, ‘When we experience a great love… everything else becomes part of it’”. (Christus Vivit, 212)

Let us Prepare lovely meeting places

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord”. That is how Psalm 84 begins. People of God always gathered in beautifully arranged places, and there, Christians gathered to fellowship, listen to instructions, and pray. Today, the Churches are mostly beautiful, but if we have fellowship there, many would be upset because they are set apart for formal liturgy and not for friendly, joyful meetings. The need of the hour is to have lovely places where young people can gather and experience the joyful presence of one another and the Lord.

Pope Francis describes youth ministry very vividly. “Our institutions should provide young people with places they can make their own, where they can come and go freely, feel welcome, and readily meet other young people, whether at times of difficulty and frustration or of joy and celebration.” (CV, 218).

In many cities worldwide, Jesus Youth sprouted and bloomed through places where youth gathered and spent time. Many parishes and educational institutions generously gave Jesus Youth room to gather and build the movement. However, one challenge, as was mentioned above, is that instead of using it as a place of mutual friendship and loving fellowship, it slowly becomes a place only for teaching, prayer, or program planning. 

The Pope continues to elaborate on this beautiful concept, saying that such a place should “offer a friendly and relaxed setting where friendships can grow, young men and women can meet one another, and share music, games, sports, and reflection and prayer. In such places, much can be offered without great expenditure of funds.” (CV, 218).

Very often, the beautiful plans of the Holy Spirit are very close to our hearts, “near you, on your lips and in your heart” (Ro. 10:8). Young ones want to build lovely playhouses and experience love and friendship there. If only we had more safe and lovely recesses where young men and women could come in and spend delightful time with one another and the Lord!