Let’s be attentive to the guidance of the Spirit! (BJRE081)


Let’s be attentive to the guidance of the Spirit!

On JY's culture of sharing inspirational messages.

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

I have a habit of keeping bits of notes and pieces of paper from meetings and discussions. Revisiting them many years later is interesting. It is also inspiring to see patterns of divine intervention and God shaping events through simple moments and ordinary people.

In Jesus Youth, we often discuss ‘messages,’ sharing deep inspirations that someone feels within and expressing them with the conviction that God is speaking through them. This may seem quite strange to others, even to other good Christians. However, in Jesus Youth, there is an openness to these messages and a readiness to discern what God is communicating through them. But isn’t there some risk in this, and a potential for misuse? Oh yes, a wise and discerning approach is essential. The Apostle provides us with a balanced perspective: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thes. 5:19-21).

Foster a culture of openness to the Spirit

In my collection, I have a handwritten letter from Prof. PC Joseph that he wrote to me in November 1985. In it, he shares his concern for the youth on college campuses and discusses the need for a youth-to-youth approach. He wanted our First-line group to take the initiative and was urging us to begin something by June 1986. What is amazing is that something momentous started that very month.

Inspirational messages and prophetic utterances come in various forms. As I mentioned, it could be a letter. Someone might express a persistent thought or share a Bible passage that deeply inspired them. In a group setting, individuals often share images, visions, or messages that arise in their minds. For instance, in our prayer group, every week, after a time of praise and quiet reflection, we have the opportunity to share any insights someone may have. Different people speak out during this time. It might be a word of assurance or consolation (1 Cor. 14:3). When we notice a pattern or recurring messages, we often ask, ‘Is the Lord urging us to take some special action or move in a particular direction?’ Consequently, from these repeated messages and our reflections on them, several initiatives emerged, such as starting a ‘sharing group,’ engaging in regular intercession, reaching out to a needy community, celebrating Christmas, and organizing picnics, among Others.

A message is like a seed.

People outside of Jesus Youth often marvel at the effectiveness of JY conferences, music performances, dramatic presentations, ministry groups, and social outreach programs. However, they may not realize that nearly all of these initiatives originated from a message someone received and shared in a group. When complemented by other inspirations and shaped by skilled planners within the group, these messages become the foundation of our projects. It's not only at the beginning but at every stage of its growth that these inspirational messages shared in Jesus Youth groups play a pivotal role in shaping our initiatives, programs, and projects. 

Should every message be followed without question?

As we prepared for the Jesus Youth 85 conference, everyone was encouraged to develop creative ideas and proposals. And there was a lot of enthusiastic response. Young people planned skits, dances, music performances, and other innovative program elements. Then, several people came up with messages suggesting we should not venture into theatrical performances. There was much talk about their danger. After duly listening to and reviewing them in the appropriate forums, we disregarded the warnings and proceeded with stage performances.

Stories of inspirational messages derailing people's lives and splitting families are not uncommon. I can reflect on several irreconcilable conflicts in various groups resulting from individuals blindly following certain inspirational messages. Where do things go wrong with these prophecies and messages? Surely, God speaks through people. However, those who convey these messages from God are human beings with weaknesses, past hurts, and cultural prejudices. It’s like crystal-clear water flowing from a good spring, then becoming tainted by the soil or mud in the stream. How should we approach this? St. Paul provides the answer: give due importance to inspirational messages or prophecies, but “test everything and hold fast what is good” (1 Thes. 5:21).

Cultivating a culture of being led by the Spirit

“Faith and Reason” is the title of a renowned encyclical by Saint Pope John Paul II. As the Church has always taught, the brain and heart should work together, as both are gifts from God. To hear God speaking to us and to see the guidance of the Spirit, our “spirit, soul, and body” must be alive and active to welcome the word of the Lord. When our knowledge, reason, imagination, feelings, and aspirations all collaborate, it becomes easier for us to discern the guidance of God.

St. Paul’s concept of a Christian community resembles a human body, with diverse yet united and mutually complementary organs (1 Cor. 12:12, 25). Throughout the centuries, the Church has consistently practiced this group listening approach, which St. Ignatius Loyola and his followers later referred to as Communal Discernment. Today, we can observe the same spirit at work in Jesus Youth groups. In the face of numerous challenges, the Holy Spirit inspires individuals, prompting them to share their insights with the community. The community listens attentively and discerns together, gradually moving to action, step by step. The ultimate outcome, or best measure, is the love and joy that steadily grow within our groups.

Most people see only the tree, often forgetting the seed. The messages that sparked many significant waves in the Jesus Youth movement were often small. However, some inspirations are frequently discussed. I have a piece of paper that speaks of a gathering of about 175 people on 11 October 1981 at Vidyaniketan, Ernakulam. Two visions and a couple of messages shared by different youths on that day mentioned a bright light that would be lit in a large church, with the Lord leading the movement step by step. For many, these small messages have served as profound sources of inspiration, guiding their steps with clear hope that leads to great rejoicing. 

Topics:

Listening to the Spirit

Messages

Prophecy

Discernment

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