JESUS YOUTH | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2019

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

Meeting the Jesus of the Gospels

Jesus Youth movement got its name from the 1985 conference.  Many participants of that gathering would recall a group discussion we had there, on the person of Jesus. We all met in small groups and each group had a card on which there were ten very different pictures of Jesus - Jesus teaching, Jesus praying, pointing the way, as a shepherd, the suffering one, the merciful Lord, Jesus caressing a child and so on. Each person was asked to reflect on these, select a favourite image and share what he or she found fascinating about Jesus. That workshop somehow deeply touched most of the delegates in that historic conference. 

In the very next year, Jesus Youth began operating in college and university campuses in a big way. Under the leadership of the ‘Campus Ministry’, a variety of programs like Youth Encounter, Campus Meet, Leaders Meet, Talent sessions and the like were organised. One essential ingredient in most of these programs was a session called ‘Jesus of the Gospels’. Everyone had heard so much about Jesus, but taking a fresh look at this Jesus as described by the four biographers was quite a novel and energizing experience for all these young people. 

Going to the sources can be so fascinating

I recall my own experience of meeting the Jesus in the Gospels. During my school days a vernacular translation of the Bible was published, and my own aunt was so enthusiastic to get it to as many people as possible. As a result, I was used to seeing many Bibles at home and started some sporadic reading of the Bible, especially the Gospels.  In some ways, it was better that in my life these direct personal impressions came much before the talks and instructions by ‘experts’. 

Another interesting learning path in this connection was the Bible reflection groups while in college. In small friendship groups, we would take some passage from the gospel, read it together and share insights. These used to be quite enriching. One very useful gospel sharing mode was the Serendipity Bible sharing approach, in which we used questions that led to unexpected discoveries in each passage.

Jesus, the rebel and revolutionary was a recurring theme in my youth group discussions, surely well founded on the life and words of Jesus in the Gospel. I remember, many young hearts turned to Jesus when they realised that he was not merely a soft and pious soul but also a vibrant youth upset about injustice and the corruption of his times. Pope Francis hints at this in Christus Vivit: “Jesus does not teach you, young people, from afar or from without, …. It is very important for you to contemplate the young Jesus as presented in the Gospels, for he was truly one of you, and shares many of the features of your young hearts.” (31)

Helping youth to fall in love with Jesus

The great youth evangelist St John Paul II talks of one of the preoccupations of every one of us – “How are we to reveal Jesus Christ, God made man, to this multitude of children and young people?” (Catechesi Tradendae, 35). Then the saintly Pope continues to talk about the various aspects of this meeting with Jesus and growing in Christian mission. These words are so near to our hearts because in Jesus Youth we constantly ask the same question: the times have changed, life styles and communication modes are radically transformed, and in this new context what is the best way to help young people encounter Jesus and grow as his disciples?  Surely there are many possible pastoral approaches, but one very important path is by helping them open their eyes to the Jesus in the Gospels. 

Young people are often fascinated by the historical Jesus depicted in the Gospels. For them that human person like you and me is so attractive, but unfortunately, he is often veiled in some cloud of too much faith teaching. A Jesus in heaven, on the cross, in the Eucharist, the eternal judge and so on – the young are so familiar with these images. But a Jesus who walked this earth, called others ‘my friend’, who sat and listened to boys and girls, who argued with people, who laughed and cried, prepared good food and feasted with them; a Jesus who narrated stories and conversed in poetic language, who spoke sharply against corruption in high places, and at the same time, who was so compassionate and forgiving, who came to show forth the merciful heart of the Eternal Father, is often kept away from the grasp of the youngsters. 

And what are some ways to connect youth with the Jesus of the Gospels? 

1. In our fellowships have some sessions to talk about the many sided personality of Jesus in the Gospels, 

2. Challenge them to take the Bible and read the Gospel, at times continuously, 

3. Show them how footnotes and text explanations can help us understand the context and implications, 

4. In small groups read Gospel passages, encourage sharing, and 

5. Make use of media that depict the person and life of Jesus.

   
   

Most young people are quite comfortable when we start with what they can feel and touch, and move on to what is abstract and theoretical. May be this reality is also there at the heart of the Incarnation or God coming into flesh and blood. In Jesus, God wanted all of us to see the beauty and warmth of the Father in ways that we can see and understand. So, it is very important that we help young people to keep aside the glasses of ‘high spirituality’, and look at the simple picture of Jesus in the Gospels. And who knows, may be a young person will meet there a Jesus whom no one else has met before, and that will be the beginning of a unique journey in his or her life and the foundation of forming a missionary like never before.