The need for youths to be true and effective witnesses of our Lord Jesus
CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH DAY, ABUJA, HOLY MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES ONGOING BUILDING, KUBWA, HOMILY BY ARCHBISHOP I. A. KAIGAMA, 7th AUGUST, 2021
I am so happy to see a gathering of many young men and women of our Archdiocese in Abuja. Your faith has brought you here, the same faith that brought you when we prayed together during a Holy Hour at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja, on 14th November, 2020, with many of you coming from the chaplaincies, pastoral areas and parishes for adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I believe you understand clearly again that you are here not for a picnic or a jamboree, but to pray and to reflect on your faith and how to pass on this faith to others. Commendably, you have chosen the theme of evangelization from Acts 26:16 which calls you to stand up to be witnesses to what you have seen.
To be effective evangelizers, you need to confidently look up to Jesus, even in the midst of the social deprivation and negligence you suffer, for Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Yes, we must struggle to have our legitimate rights, look for what to keep body and soul together, expect the best from our political and civil leaders, but let us not forget the Leader who never fails – Jesus. He calls all who are burdened to come to Him – youths without jobs, hungry and without a sure future, come to Jesus. If He could feed the multitude of over five thousand with five loaves and two fish, He can do it for you too, someday, somehow.
Coming to Jesus is not merely to look for miracles or prosperity or perishable food. Jesus said to the crowd looking for him, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life” (Jn. 6:27). Dear youths, the Kingdom of heaven is real. Live this life very aware of eternal life. Don’t wave it off.
Nourished with the body of Jesus and His word, you are expected as St. Paul says in Philippians 2:15, to “be without blame, simple sons of God, without reproof, in the midst of a depraved and perverse nation, among whom you shine like lights in the world.”
Our Catholic Church is a family that is universal and of apostolic origin. While we should struggle individually for daily bread and a better life, we must treasure our unity; work for the salvation of souls and try to qualify as citizens of heaven. Let us not fall into the temptation of many in Nigeria who allow regional, tribal, clannish or religious sentiments to deprive us of the peace, stability and phenomenal progress we yearn for. The secret of growing stronger, bigger and happier is when we cherish one another and consider others with equal dignity, avoiding the North/South dichotomy and ethnic/religious antagonism.
In our country today, poverty, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, etc have almost become a new normal; children are abused, young girls are raped, palliatives for the poor are diverted, persons are kidnapped, and if sensitive political or security positions in the state or national government are available, they are given not on merit but based on religious and tribal considerations; so also admission into important institutions, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) postings, recruitment into the military or para-military, etc. We still have a long and rough way to go as a nation.
Dear youths, in the face of all this, it is easy to become so frustrated and to seek solace in drugs, immoral behaviour and violence. We are called to seek consolation in Jesus and to find strength in being together. You must offer comfort and encouragement to one another; amend your lives so that you will be the shining stars of Nigeria. For a little while you may have to suffer through various trials (cf. 1 Pt. 1:6), but you can do all things in Jesus who strengthens you (cf. Phil. 4:13).
The first reading from Isaiah 2:1-5 encourages us to embrace the path of peace to beat our swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks; neither to raise sword against another nor to train for war anymore. Verse 5 concludes that all this is possible if only we walk in the light of the Lord and allow the Lord to instruct us with His words and to teach us His ways.
You are called to be evangelizers. “Go and make disciples” is the great commission by Jesus as we read in the Gospel of Matthew 28:19. We are called to be fishers of men, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (v. 20a). Jesus gives the assurance of His presence with you as you do this (v. 20b). This is a most urgent and necessary task for our world today. You are not to remain passive consumers of religious goods. Be active in spreading the Good News.
In Romans 10:14, St. Paul asks: “But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?”
Dear friends, find time for the word of God, personal prayer and silence; not always to be on the phone or computer or in the social media. Talk with Jesus; talk to our Blessed Mother. Allow no room for religious schizophrenia. Be committed Catholic Christians. The rich young man in Matthew 18 chose to walk away from Jesus sad! Judas chose to leave the company of Jesus with disastrous consequences. Without Jesus there is no happiness. Jesus never fails.
I commend the CYON of Abuja Archdiocese and the Youth Commission for organizing this assembly to emphasize the need for youths to be true and effective witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even with all the problems you have, surrender all to Jesus
