Called to be Witnesses in a Whirlwind of Confusion (BJRE086)

Called to be Witnesses in a Whirlwind of Confusion

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2024)

We began our New Year prayer meetings by studying the first part of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Our discussion focused on St. Joseph’s life. He was aware of God’s great plans and believed in them, yet everything around him was chaotic. What could his inner response have been to that constant change and confusion? 

Later, someone discussed the condition of young people today: “With much prayer and preparation, we planned an engaging youth weekend. However, the youth response was disappointing, and the team felt very upset.” Another person recounted the story of a very active youth leader in the parish, who was well-supported but suddenly ended her life, driving many who heard about it into despair. More and more stories emerged, painting a troubling picture of youth culture.

We are eager for a safe, well-ordered world.

During stormy times when the sky darkens and the wind and rain begin to lash, most of us seek shelter and desire to feel safe. In a foreign land where everything seems strange and confusing, we search for a bit of friendship and a small group to belong to. When we find this group, the intimacy can be intense. Young people experience similar feelings when they enter a new school or workplace. 

Interestingly, spirituality and religion often become exactly that: a safe space to feel secure in a confusing world. That much is acceptable, but we may need to go beyond it. What will we do in that protected space? We will engage in numerous activities to keep ourselves occupied. Then, we will regard the wider, perplexed world with derision and contempt. Is that our spirituality?

Jesus sought to challenge this spirituality, which was confined within the boundaries of laws and customs. He ventured into a chaotic world, close to the lost sheep, and sent his followers into that world. Chapter 9 of St. Matthew’s Gospel illustrates this well. Jesus traveled through the cities and villages, observing and interacting with the crowds, and he felt compassion for them. He recognized their confusion and helplessness, yet he viewed this as a great opportunity and a harvest. Jesus wanted his disciples to pray for the people, not to flee from this chaotic situation, but to engage with that tumultuous world. 

Can we be close to that formless, chaotic world?

I recall a meeting of leaders and animators discussing ideas for a series of youth programs. The main question was how to implement those plans. “Our young leaders are not meeting expectations. They appear confused and inconsistent. Most of them don’t arrive on time for anything.”

I noticed a significant disconnect in that discussion between the overarching ideas and the chaotic lives of the youth. As Pope Francis often emphasizes, “Realities are more important than ideas.” I attempted to explain that certain concepts and plans that had proven effective in the past or in different contexts were not entirely applicable here. They focused on grand, impressive initiatives and their implementation, yet the disoriented youth felt far removed from them. What a pity!

For most of us, doing God’s work or mission means following a safe path and using familiar plans and approaches. However, yesterday's world is gone; today, in the present moment, is entirely different and new. When people want to do something for the youth, they think of helpful retreats or seminars they have encountered before. They also consider familiar topics and program styles. Yet, for the new generation, these methods seem increasingly ineffective. 

Interestingly, this highlights the effectiveness of the less organized Jesus Youth. Some members, even when planning a small gathering of young people, first sit together and ask, "Who will be there?” “What does the Lord want?” and "How should we go about it?” If possible, they explore some untried topics and approaches. Often, the Spirit works there better.

Connect, Embrace Joy, Belong, and Stay Committed

The night is darkest just before dawn. When confusion increases, we know God’s action is not far away. For a believer, chaos presents a God-given opportunity or a harvest. The journey of the Jesus Youth movement has many examples to support this. Young leaders found working among students challenging and ineffective many years ago, which led to the birth of Campus Ministry. Rex Band emerged from confusion when a well-known music group could not attend one of our large conferences. Canonical approval from the bishops arrived during a time of considerable uncertainty regarding the movement's status. Any fruitful ministry emerges when old ways fail, and there is significant confusion about addressing major issues.  

During prolonged student unrest and chaos, the Principal of a Catholic College contemplated relying on Jesus Youth to inspire some change. Young people prayed and sought new methods, leading to a miracle. How do these simple changes succeed when many experienced individuals feel stuck? A notable strength of the Jesus Youth movement lies in its ability to embrace confusion and lack of order. In this environment, they explore newer and more creative approaches. But how do we proceed with this?

1. Connect to reality. Like Jesus in Mt. 9, a missionary looks at things and offers it to the Lord. 

2. Embrace a joyful Christian spirit. Only through Jesus can you truly experience joy amidst confusion, and God can work.

3. Community is essential. A missionary serves in a community; love and community are the antidote to chaos.

4. A strong sense of commitment is essential to building on God’s foundation during times of change and confusion.  

I shared with that leaders’ group how today’s situation is often described using the acronym VUCA: volatile (fast-changing), uncertain (difficult to predict), complex (with many levels), and ambiguous (with no clarity). What is VUCA to human planners can be a joyful opportunity for one moved by the Spirit. Today's youth world is confusing and troublesome, but the solution is not to worry or over-plan but to engage and be present so that God can do wonders in that confusing situation.

Topics:

Youth world today

Reach out 

Missionary initiative

VUCA

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