One of our young readers has written an important message for other young Christians.
A CALL TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE
God is pouring out His Holy Spirit on the younger generation, and I think that he wants to use us, young people for building up his kingdom. Joel 2:28 says “In the last days, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy; your young men shall see visions and your old men dream dreams.” Many of us, teenagers and young people, have been touched by the Holy Spirit and our lives have been changed. We don’t want to waste our time on things that have no benefit for our soul. All we want is to build a relationship with God and to grow as a generation ready to serve Him and be used by Him. We know that through personal prayer, reading the Bible, Holy Mass and the Sacraments, we are able to love Jesus and be filled with His power. We live every day wanting to become more immersed in His love. We want nothing more than to love and serve our God and we want people to experience the love of Christ through us. Jesus is calling all young people to live their lives to the full with the true joy and freedom that comes from Him. (John 10:10).
A CALL TO PARENTS
The Church calls us to pray for young people, because it sees them as “the future of the church!” It’s strange that parents work very hard to earn enough money for a comfortable life for themselves and their children, and they strive to make sure that their children get the best education and study hard in school, but rarely do parents look at their children and say, “I want you to become a saint!” It seems such a funny thing to say. But later, when they have problems with their children, they wonder what they did wrong! St. Augustine said, “The life of parents is the book which the children read.” His mother, Monica, spent seventeen years of her life praying for his conversion, as he was living a very sinful life. None of her prayers were wasted and after seventeen years, her son’s life was totally changed. After his conversion St. Augustine became one of our most powerful Saints. This was all due to the prayers of his mother, and she became a Saint too. This is what all parents are called to do. They should spend their time praying for their children but also, they need to teach them how to say no to sin, and yes to holiness.
FAMILY PRAYER
Family prayer is very important and we should make time for it in our homes, praying the Rosary together as a family. The younger generation must see their parents practising their faith; otherwise they will lose it when they grow up. It is said that the family that prays together stays together. If there is no family prayer in your homes ask your parents if you can start it. If they are unwilling then pray for your family and your parents, crying out to God for them. Families should also read Bible stories together. By hearing these powerful stories families are bonded together and grow in faith. “Take care and watch yourselves closely, so you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen, or let them slip from you mind all the days of your life: make them known to your children and your children’s children.” (Deuteronomy 4:9) Let us pray that all the young people in this nation may encounter the love of Jesus and be filled with His Holy Spirit!