THE SPIRIT OF JY IS JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN JOY | KAIROS GLOBAL | OCTOBER 2022

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

Jesus Youth and the synodal path - 1

This was many years ago: For a JY teen-leaders’ training they wanted me to give a session on ‘a new lifestyle with Jesus.’ ‘We will walk and talk,’ Chackochan told me. ‘All of us will walk through the dry riverbed and then climb the hill. You can give the input as we journey. In between you can sit on some boulder and explain a point, while the group gathers around. Maybe they will also speak up.’ Eventually, the session was well received and memorable. And when I look back, it became a parable of what the life in the movement should be, ‘journey together, talk and act.’

Synodality is in Focus

In recent times, the Church has taken an unusual step. Pope Francis announced a two-year process of listening and dialogue in the Church, known as the ‘Synod on Synodality.’ We have heard of synods, but this expression ‘synodality’ sounds quite strange to most of us.

Synodality is the journeying together as the People of God. It is from two Greek words, ‘sun’ – together, ‘Hodos’ – way or journey, and so, synod – journeying together.  It indicates a way of listening to each individual person as a member of the Church to understand how God might be speaking to all of us. In this way, synodality reminds us of the work of the Holy Spirit through each of us and through all of us working together for our common mission.

The core JY spirit

‘How do you succeed in making almost everyone in your group so enthusiastic and full of missionary spirit?’ I have often heard people ask about Jesus Youth groups. I often speak of the Spirit-led dynamic of the community, but now I can mention the spirit of ‘synodality’ in JY groups.

Young Jesus Youth families from our sub-zone met recently. The gathering started with each family introducing themselves and others commenting on their good work. That became a vibrant time of joyful interaction. Then Jibson and Linton led us through a time of singing, praising and shared prayers. Afterwards everyone began sharing about little initiatives of mission each were undertaking in their life situations. Those were all small, but big undertakings of reach out to colleagues, neighbours, and family members. A variety of initiatives of guidance, help and support. Everyone was talking with much enthusiasm and there was so much to learn from everyone. 

This vibrancy I have noticed in most lively Jesus Youth communities. Now, isn’t this what Pope Francis refers to as the spirit of synodality? In this connection, the Church highlights three elements, namely, communion, participation, and mission, all this made possible through the vibrant presence of the Holy Spirit.

Communion or a deep sense of fellowship characterises every Jesus Youth group. This is the visible fruit of the presence of the Spirit, and thus we take part in the life of the Trinity.  Each of us is moved by the Spirit to participate in the life of the body of Christ and to listen to the Lord and to everyone else. This listening is the best way to ensure the participation of everyone. When everyone comes alive to talk and discuss the gathering becomes enjoyable for everyone and from it mission initiatives sprout. This is the synodal way in a community.

How Do We Travel the Synodal Path?

The most beautiful miracle of the Spirit is the formation of a community of love and its missionary outflow. A lively Jesus Youth group is a vivid manifestation of this joyful work of the Spirit. And how do they go about it?

1. Walking in the Spirit: A vibrant Jesus Youth group is a gathering of persons awakened in the Spirit. They are not led by rigid plans and agenda but moved by the joy of the Spirit and led by the Lord. This sense of walking in the Spirit distinguishes a JY group.

2. We gather to face challenges: Each individual and every community is alert in the Sprit to ‘read the signs of the times.’ Being deeply aware of the challenges and readiness to face them are important signs of being alive in the Christian path.

3. Not alone, but together: The joy of coming together and my desire to connect with my brothers and sisters helps me fulfil the Lord’s plan of gathering and building a community of love. A JY fellowship ensures continuity of walking and also developing a spiritual culture.

4. No one is insignificant: Ensuring the participation of everyone in the community is of prime importance, as each person is a precious child and instrument of God. Respectfully listening to the little ones is the best path to hear the true promptings of the spirit and move to mission.

5. To fight and to build: The two sides of Jesus’s plan of mission are fighting corruption around and building God’s kingdom of love. The work of the Spirit in a Jesus Youth community bears visible fruits of creative initiatives of such mission.

Pope Francis gives clarity to what the Spirit has been doing in our movement: ‘It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium. What the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense present in the very word “synod”. Journeying together is an easy concept to put into words, but not so easy to put into practice.’ (Address on 17 Oct 2015). Thank God, Jesus Youth movement has been alive on this synodal path and have been bearing rich fruits of communion, participation, and mission. The movement has been journeying on this path all the while and these days the Church is giving us greater clarity on this walk and urging us to move forward in the same direction. Let us pray that the Spirit of God will guide us to be more zealous in the spirit of synodality.