杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

The celebration began with the testimonies of two young people, who told the 杏MAP导航 about their experiences in prison ministry and in mission work, respectively.

A faith on the move

杏MAP导航 Francis responded by saying, 鈥渉ow good it is to meet two young people with a living faith, a faith on the move!鈥� Jesus鈥� disciples, he continued, 鈥渕ust not keep still鈥� They need to be on the move, acting, committed, certain that the Lord is supporting and accompanying them鈥�.

What do you seek?

The 杏MAP导航 recalled the question Jesus asks His disciple on the banks of the river Jordan: 鈥淲hat do you seek?鈥�. 鈥淭he Lord knows that we are looking for the happiness for which we were created and which the world will not be able to take from us鈥�, he said.

Any search, born of faith, 鈥渉elps make the world in which we live a better place鈥�, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis. What we do for others transforms us; it changes our way of seeing and judging people. It makes us more sensitive, and we understand and discover that the Lord is part of our life.

Called by name

鈥淭he Lord does not call us by our sins, errors, faults, or our limits鈥�, explained 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渂ut by our name鈥�. The Lord always reminds us 鈥渉ow precious we are in His eyes, and He entrusts us with a mission鈥�.

Making a fresh start

Referring to the prison ministry described in one of the testimonies, the 杏MAP导航 described what that young person had learned. 鈥淵ou abandoned the quick and easy criticism that always paralyzes us鈥�, he said. 鈥淵ou realized that a good number of those in prison were there not because they were bad, but because they had made bad choices. They took the wrong path and they realize it, but now they long to make a fresh start鈥�.

Never give up

鈥淥ne of the most beautiful gifts our friendship with Jesus can offer us鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, is that He is always with us and never abandons us. We all know from experience, he continued, that people can 鈥済o astray鈥�, running after enticing illusions that end up 鈥渓eaving our dreams and our soul stranded along the way鈥�. Those disillusionments can cause us to 鈥渂ecome bitter鈥� or be tempted to 鈥済ive up鈥�.

Get your hands dirty

The Lord is the first to tell you 鈥渢his is not the way to go鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 insisted. He calls you 鈥渢o become missionary disciple here and now鈥�, he said. 鈥淗e is the first to reject all those voices that would lull you to sleep, make you passive, numb and apathetic鈥� He tells us not to be afraid to get our hands dirty鈥�. 

Can Jesus count on me?

鈥�The Lord is the first to trust in you鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 told the youth of Madagascar, 鈥渂ut He also asks you to trust in yourselves and your own skills and abilities鈥�. The Lord asks you to 鈥渆ncourage one another and join Him in writing the most beautiful page of your lives, rejecting apathy and offering a Christian answer to the many problems that you face鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis challenged the young people to ask themselves: 鈥淐an Jesus count on me?鈥�

You are not alone

The Lord entrusts us with a mission, insisted the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渂ut He does not send us out alone to the front lines鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis used the example of another testimony to illustrate how 鈥渋t is impossible to be a missionary disciple all by ourselves鈥�. We may be able to accomplish great things on our own, he said, 鈥渂ut together we can dream of and undertake things undreamt of!鈥�

The 鈥測es鈥� of Mary

杏MAP导航 Francis reminded the young people that 鈥渨e are one great family鈥� and that Mary is our Mother. She would never have said: 鈥淟et鈥檚 see how things turn out鈥�, continued the 杏MAP导航. She simply said 鈥測es鈥�. This is the 鈥測es鈥� of all those 鈥渨illing to commit themselves and take risks, ready to stake everything, with no guarantee except the sure conviction of knowing they are bearers of a promise鈥�, he said.   

The light of hope

Mary, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, is 鈥渢he Mother who watches over her children as they walk in life, often weary and in need, but always anxious that the light of hope not be extinguished. This is what we desire for Madagascar, for each of you and your friends鈥�, concluded the 杏MAP导航: 鈥渢hat the light of hope not be extinguished鈥�.