JESUS YOUTH | KAIROS GLOBAL | JUNE 2021

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

Doubts and Questions – Youth-friendly spaces to raise them

‘He has so many questions. Some are a bit too much for me. Could you spare some time?’ Suma had been accompanying this youth for a few months and now she sounded overwhelmed. But my greater worry was, ‘Will he be open and comfortable with me?’ Fortunately, she arranged a Zoom call among the three of us.

Doubts, a sure sign of growing up

Our faith journey is a winding path of joys, troubles, assurance and doubt. At the initial phase of their interior pilgrimage, many young people are full of confusion. Remaining insensitive to them, or worse still, ridiculing them is truly heartless. On the other hand, one must consider, do our youth have welcoming spaces to raise their questions and doubts? 

St. John Paul II in his encyclical Faith and Reason, explains the importance of doubts and questioning. We receive traditions and beliefs from an early age, but there comes a time when we take a fresh look at them and question them to make them truly our own. He adds, ‘personal growth and maturity imply that these same truths can be cast into doubt and evaluated through a process of critical enquiry’ (# 31). So, when a young person asks me, ‘Most of my friends don’t go to church and they are okay, so why should I?’ there I see a strong desire to grow as a mature Christian and my contribution is to respond with empathy and offer a little help.

I often recall my own restless questioning days, soon after my high school. Fortunately, I had people to listen to me, especially a senior seminarian from my parish. He would give me books to read, listen patiently to my questions and try to answer them. Later, he introduced me to his rector, a kind, scholarly priest. During my first meeting I tried to argue with him raising my confusions. But, after listening to my questions, Fr. Dominic very gently took out his Rosary from his pocket saying, ‘Eddy, when I am troubled and confused, I pray the Rosary.’ Somehow, the sincerity and clarity of this great man moved me and gave me a transforming touch. Later it was this Spanish Carmelite priest who put me in touch with the Charismatic Renewal that accelerated my faith journey. 

What I like most when I go for youth sessions is ‘question-time’. A few months ago, at Jyothirbhavan¹, after a time of input I opened up for questions. And it was a flood of queries, counterpoints and arguments. We broke for tea after that session but many of them surrounded me for more. ‘We never get opportunities to ask such questions,’ one of them remarked. 

Pope Francis indicates how tragic it can be if youth lack chances to raise questions. ‘A Church always on the defensive, which loses her humility and stops listening to others, which leaves no room for questions, loses her youth and turns into a museum. How, then, will she be able to respond to the dreams of young people? Even if she possesses the truth of the Gospel, this does not mean that she has completely understood it; rather, she is called to keep growing in her grasp of that inexhaustible treasure.’ (Christus Vivit, 41)

Truly, their questions, as a bonus, help me to reexamine my own faith and when presented in a community, builds up the whole group as well. 

Not from fear or anger, but with love

Unfortunately, in many groups young people never raise questions. It takes some effort to create an ambience of openness and confidence, helping them to opt to be different – raise hands to indicate ‘I think differently’. Of course, ‘authorities’ and experts often frighten them away and, if that happens, gradually many of them will leave the premises too.  

In Jesus Youth, a more comfortable setting for raising questions are group discussions or team meetings held during the youth programmes. But when a person raises a point in a group how should we respond to it?  I say - ‘Don’t speak out of fear or anger!’ 

Often, young people raise questions for fun or distraction, and I would take it positively. But two other possible responses are fear and anger. This can be true for those who raise questions as well as those who face them. What builds up any conversation is love and understanding. A person who faces the questions must keep in mind that sometimes, even the questioner may not grasp the crux of his/her question. In such a situation, sympathetic enquiry will bring to light the person’s deep thirst for knowledge and guidance.

Jesus, the best model

Our Lord, as the Gospels repeatedly indicate, was extremely welcoming of queries and even triggered further questioning. Some privately, disciples in their intimate circles and others in public, questioned Jesus. He in turn, sometimes replied directly, or asked counter questions, but always responded eagerly. 

In Jesus Youth movement the variety of groups become the natural setting for a young person to open up, raise questions and even argue. An ambience of warmth and acceptance in these places helps one’s search for clarity of faith and experience ‘the deep calling to deep’. But what if we don’t have experts in these groups? May be there, in all humility, we depend on the Lord’s help and the guidance of his Spirit.  

In a way, such a question-friendly setting is not merely a precondition for faith upbuilding and growth in inner freedom, but an important support to develop distinct personal charisms and resultant missionary initiatives. As Pope Francis puts it, if the Church ‘sets aside narrow preconceptions and listens carefully to the young, this empathy enriches her, for it allows young people to make their own contribution to the community’ (CV, 65).

I started this discussion, mentioning the Zoom call and hinting at sessions like the one at Jyothirbhavan. I would often begin such faith dialogues with an informal chit-chat and friendly interaction. Of course, this leads to a time of opening up of confusions and questions. And what is my role there? Gently allowing the indwelling Spirit in me to reach out and awaken the presence of the Lord in my friend. Then the light dawns and the right solution is in sight. Invariably, this works, as ‘the Wind blows where it wills’. And our abundant harvest is the heart full of gladness that the Spirit brings forth in my friend and also in me.

¹ Jyothirbhavan is Institute of Theology and Spirituality run by the Discalced Carmelites in Kochi, South India