BENEDICT XVI DECRIES "LOST YOUTH"

In his address to my fellow youth in Pacaembu, Brazil, the holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, decries what he called “lost youth,” which results from the many physical and moral violence youths face today, not only in Brazil but all over the world.

But the holy Father is optimistic and has lots of encouraging messages for us all. He drew his inspiring message from the Gospel story of the rich young man who came to ask Jesus what he must do to possess eternal life. According to Pope Benedict XVI, the question of this young man represents a quest for authenticity of life; “the issue of life’s meaning” or the secret of good living. When we reflect on this, we discover that “life” transcends the confines of space and time—it is eternal and “we must apply ourselves to reach it.” How can this be done?

The Pope responds, “Jesus alone can give us the answer, because he alone can guarantee us eternal life. He alone, therefore can show us the meaning of this present life and give it fullness.” So, we must realize that Jesus is a good teacher—the truth, the way and the life—He has answers on the secret of a happy life. When we recognize deeply that Jesus is good, we love Him. “And whoever loves…knows God…To be open to goodness means to receive God.”

However, the Pope says, “To understand what is good, we need help.” Here lies one of the importances of the Commandments. The Commandments lead to life, which means they guarantee our authenticity.” We must hear witness to them by our way of life. They are basic principles of authentic living. Therefore, “the Commandments are not imposed upon us from without, they do not diminish our freedom…They are strong incentives leading us to act in a certain way.”

They holy Father wants us to have experience of goodness, and therefore, of God by keeping the commandments. In this way, we will be free and responsible. This may require making new decisions. We must be promoters of life in all its stages, protect the elderly, work diligently, and avoid excessive ambition for wealth and power. Above all, we must decide to have great respect for the boundaries of marriage. Prophetically, the Pope says, “God calls you to respect one another when you fall in love and become engaged, since conjugal life, reserved by divine ordinance to married couples, will bring happiness and peace only to the extent that you are able to build your future hopes upon chastity, both within and outside marriage.” In the midst of growing affluence, the Pontiff prays that young people, guided by the Holy Spirit, may decide to choose priestly and vocations.

According to the Pope, when we reject the invitation to participate in the saving mission of Christ, the invitation to leave off our treasure and pleasure to follow Christ intimately, the invitation to experience goodness, we cannot but be saddened like the rich young man in the Gospel. Further, when we go to the good Teacher to overcome “lost youth,” to receive authentic life, we must be courageous at the moment of the “the great decision” when we must wedge everything on Christ.

We cannot experience happiness or authentic living if our decisions waver and become cowardly and self-seeking or if we lack generosity. Therefore, the Pope appeals: “Do not waste your youth. Do not seek to escape from it. Live it intensely. Consecrate it to the high ideals of faith and human solidarity.”

Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
21/05/07 (This is a summary of the address Benedict XVI gave on 10/05/07 in Brazil)

Pa Celestine

Two years ago, just like two days ago, Pa Celestine Obichere Nwachukwu entered into the silence of death. Last Good Friday, 6th April, 2007 marked this unforgettable day in my life. As I reflected on the passion of Christ that day, I couldn't but recalled this day two years ago.

As Christ hung on the cross, his silence cried for 3 hrs. He accepted death. Our Lord Jesus entered into the silence of death. But the tomb could not hold him. Three days later he rose from the dead. Oh! Death, the greatest enemy of man, the one who snatched my beloved Dad away from me, has been defeated. All those who henceforth cling to Christ in faith shall equally triumph over death.

Once my Dad told me that one of his greatest happiness is that he had never put his trust in any other god or sought their help or protection--that his faith had always been rooted in Christ. It is worth emulating that despite trials and all sorts of hardships, Pa Celestine remained firm in Christ. So, I'm rest assured that he will share in the glory of Christ's resurrection since he clung to him in faith.

Christ's sound of silence on the Cross has shattered the scaring silence of the grave! Death where is your sting?

We must never forget that the virtues we accumulate today live after us...

The Cry of Silence

One of the most interesting scenes in Jesus passion is His trial before Pilate. Initially the Jews were struggling to get false accusations against Him, for they thought He would do all things possible to elude them as He did to them in the past. Pilate, on his part, must be used to the accused vehemently defending himself. But Jesus' case was different. Here the accused was reluctant to defend Himself against the obvious false charges. Like a lamb before its shearers, Jesus was silent! He put up no resistance; no violence. What kind of accused is this? Pilate found himself on trial before Jesus. Oh! The power of silence! The more Jesus' silence cried, the more Pilate was thrown into confusion--his competence as a judge was at stake. The 'sound' of Jesus' silence shook him.

Silence is not only interwined with 'mystery', it is equally powerful. Have you discovered the power of silence in your life?

SILENT GAZE

What is my brother Dibia doing in the picture above? He is gazing at the cross inside St. Patrick's Alaba. Yes! Lent is a favourable time to pause and reflect on the mystery of the Crucified. This is the message Pope Benedict XVI passed across in his Lenten address. “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced (Jn 19:37). This is the biblical theme that this year guides our Lenten reflection. Lent is a favourable time to learn to stay with Mary and John, the beloved disciple, close to Him who on the Cross, consummated for all mankind the sacrifice of His life (cf. Jn 19:25). With a more fervent participation let us direct our gaze, therefore, in this time of penance and prayer, at Christ crucified who, dying on Calvary, revealed fully for us the love of God"

It is rewarding to maintain a silent gaze at the Crucified. This will dispose us to internalize this mystery. The possibility of encounter with the Divine, which silence brings, in turn gives silence its great relevance--its elusiveness, its mystery!

SILENCE!

Your God is listening as His faithful friends adore; tread softly in His presence and gently close the door! A noise may change the current of another's train of thought and steal from God the glory deep thinking would have brought. At Holy Mass you're standing on Calvary's lonely hill; a God is dying for your sins. For His sweet sake, keep still.

----From Joseph Odiah, OCD.

Silence...with "Attention"

For sure, silence intrinsically involves quietness. The two are not separable, but are distinguishable. Personally I see silence as a deeper level of being quiet. To be quiet implies to be externally without noise--to be calm. Isn't this the same as being silent? It seems any distinction here is merely psychological.Nevertheless, Ashamu introduced the concept of "attention." The silent person is equally attentive. In silence, we gather up the heart, we recollect the principles of action in us. Thus, the silent person is in touch with his inner being. First and foremost, he is attentive to himself. But such self-conscious attentiveness is not blunt. The silent person is aware of the other. In fact, he enters into the mystery of the 'other.' This enwrapping sentivity to the 'other' is not arbitrary. It is consciously oriented and sustained as such. Interestingly, the other could be God...

"The divine word reveals its depths to those who, through silence
andmortification, are attentive to the Spirit's mysterious action. While
therequirement of regular silence establishes times when human words must
bestilled, it points to a style marked by great moderation in
verbalcommunication."----Pope John Paul II

SILENCE AND LISTENING

On our way back from school yesterday, I was telling my brother an experience I had the previous day. Just before getting to what I thought was the peak of the gist, he exclaimed, "Ah!" I thought he was reacting to my story. To my amazement he added: "I like the design of that car that just passed." It then dawned on me that he was not listening. Without further "warning" I abruptly ended the story, and shyly joined in the rather new but odd discussion.

Some thoughts then flashed into my head. It seems there is a connection between silence and listening. Of course, we can only listen when we are silent. But to be quiet is not the same as to be silent. My brother was quiet while I was telling the story, but he was grossly distracted internally; he was not silent. Hence, he was not listening. What do you think? Which do we need in meditative prayer, silence or quietness?