JESUS YOUTH | KAIROS GLOBAL | JANUARY2022

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

Youth ‘restless’ for other youth

The last weekend of June of 1986 was quite special. About a hundred college students from all over Kerala gathered to join hands for a change in college campuses. This gathering at Sacred Heart College, Thevara¹ became a big first step in the history of the movement, creating a new platform to connect activities in college campuses.

‘When I went to my college to get the admission form,’ Santhosh from Trivandrum² enthusiastically shared, ‘as I climbed the steep flight of steps, I prayed, “Lord, if I get admitted here, let it be to bring many to you”’. Sony, an engineering student from Kothamangalam³ spoke about her struggles to start a group in her college. Treasa from Trichur⁴ spoke about support from the sisters that made possible student gatherings in her college. This went on. Many of these students talked about their deep desire to help other young people in their colleges, which soon became plans for the future. Before they left on Sunday, Jesus Youth Campus Ministry was born.

How change makers are born

Youth is a time of restless dreaming. Before they become ‘mature’ and start building a comfortable life for themselves, they look around and wish for the impossible, especially in the world around. When they are touched by Christ’s spirit this becomes a fire that is impatient to spread ‘to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). If this little fire is alone in the wind, it will be soon blown out. But when many little tapers come together, they make a bonfire.

Recently, I presented some of Jesus Youth’s social concern initiatives to a large group of social work students in Europe. Later many of them commented, ‘this gives us great hope amidst growing hopelessness’. Many of them were talking about how most youth are talented and wish to do a lot of good, but eventually become cynical finding negativity all around. But here were signs of hope, ordinary youth coming together and making a big difference!

One big question is ‘What is at the heart of these good turns?’ Stirring of the spirit in young people is mostly the Lord’s work, but the bystanders can tend the flame and foster it. Much before that campus gathering a few of us had met a few times to prepare the background. And we worked with one plan: identifying a few young people and grooming them into people with vision and a sense of responsibility for other youth.

Those who rise to responsibility

Look at the youth culture around! Signs of degeneration abound. Aimless life, violence, drug abuse, fashion frenzy, mindless partying, shunning spirituality and numerous other indications are a cause for many elders’ consternation.  One clichéd response I hear often is, ‘We have to pray a lot for today’s youth’. If that means ‘we have to persuade the Lord to do something for youth’ because we have other things to do, then it is a very shallow spirituality. What we need is a bunch of youth and others who will hear the call of the Lord, stand up and take responsibility for other young people. 

Pope Francis phrases it quite beautifully, ‘The love of God and our relationship with the living Christ do not hold us back from dreaming; they do not require us to narrow our horizons. On the contrary, that love elevates us, encourages us, and inspires us to a better and more beautiful life. Much of the longing present in the hearts of young people can be summed up in the word “restlessness” … Restless discontent, combined with exhilaration before the opening up of new horizons, generates a boldness that leads you to stand up and take responsibility for a mission. This healthy restlessness typical of youth continues to dwell in every heart that remains young, open and generous.’ (Christus Vivit, 138)

Something beautiful about Jesus Youth movement is that in it you come across numerous people who have this positive restlessness, wanting to make a positive change in the lives of others. Thomas and a few other friends have taken a special commitment to fast and pray every Friday so that the youth in their parish will change their ways. Simi was so concerned about adolescents and together with a few friends, she came to me with their big plans. They wanted to gather teens in different places and offer interesting options to continue and grow in groups. Joseph and his friends were trying out many ideas and proposals to use music for changing youth lives. Looking at a long procession of such young missionaries I understand the passion behind the words of St. Paul, My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19).

Building up this positive ‘restlessness’

When Sab had his encounter and came into the group, he saw a new world and, in some ways, it was his dream come true. There were a lot of enthusiastic youth reaching out to other young people in creative ways. He was so excited. But from my experience with youth enthusiasm this was only stage one. Some time passed by, and situations changed. Gradually he had difficulties working with certain group members. ‘Some of them are crazy’. And what is more, some of the approaches found effective at the beginning were not working well. I knew this was stage two. 

One good turn was that during this period of change and personal crisis, Sab did not just leave everything and disappear. Instead, he came for a quiet chat. We could take a fresh look at the whole situation. Sab could see that not everything was lost, but this was only an inevitable change. There was a need to turn more to the Lord and learn to accept difficult people and situations as they were. At the end of our brief chat, he was peaceful. This was a good stage three. 

In a world that is increasingly becoming dark and confusing, the best thing to happen is the emergence of enthusiastic youth who are restless to bring in a positive change in the lives of others, especially other needy youth. But one thing that we shouldn’t forget is that these missionaries will also need accompaniment to deepen their mission and be mellowed up to become beautiful persons.