YOUTH MATTERS: Beyond our First Glance

By Darcy Rogers, Director of the Office of Youth Evangelisation

I love experiencing the Mass in its fulness, as even a few words can take you to a deeper place of reflection. The other day I was taken aback by the words of the Nicene Creed, as I reflected on the following: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible”.

God the Father almighty, the Creator, the maker of all things visible, was realised right in front of my eyes, as I found myself scanning the pews of people and seeing their body language and attention directed towards the altar.

I remember in that moment thinking about how we all have different capacities to love, we all experience a different day lived, however we still turn up to Mass as the faithful.

A friend of mine used to say, “I think most of us in life are trying to do our best”. It took a few times of her repeating this over a year for me to believe it. I think it’s because often we are too focussed on how we are to turn up to God, we can often be sceptical of how our neighbour responds to God personally.

The truth is that God sees your neighbour for exactly who they are, even if you can’t see it. The Spirit of God lives in all who take part as adopted children of God, we are called to share in Christ’s suffering, and to ultimately share in his glory (Rom 6:9-17). This was integral to Jesus’ mission. He was compassionate and truly modelled accompanying others in their suffering.

This Lenten season, instead of being preoccupied by our own observances, perhaps make it a goal to go through this season together as a Church, to walk with the commitments of our sisters and brothers in Christ.

I have been fortunate in my faith journey to have had friendships that have shaped the person I am today, people who are prepared to sit with me through desolation and consolation. I pray for the Youth and Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Hobart, that we can be people who have the holy awareness to love our neighbour as our self.

Who is one person you can journey with this lent?