2 Jesusin the Eyes of Today

8/4/2019 2 Jesusin the Eyes of Today

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Prepared by:Richard G. Pazcoguin UST-IR


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THE CATHOLIC YOUTHTHE CATHOLIC YOUTH

Studies show thatStudies show thatyoung people whoyoung people whoattend Massattend Massfrequently are morefrequently are more

like likely to reportlike likely to reportthat they feel closerthat they feel closerto God and that theirto God and that their

Catholic faith playsCatholic faith playsan im ortant role inan im ortant role in


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Young people desire toYoung people desire toknow more aboutknow more about

their faith, regardlesstheir faith, regardless

of whether theyof whether theyparticipate in aparticipate in a

religious educationreligious education

programprogram


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Young people whoYoung people whoparticipate in at leastparticipate in at leastone retreat, rally,one retreat, rally,conference, mission trip,conference, mission trip,

or extension serviceor extension serviceproject report significantproject report significantincrease in theirincrease in theircloseness to God, thecloseness to God, thedegree that faith isdegree that faith isimportant in their lives,important in their lives,


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Youth are quiteYouth are quitespiritually attuned:spiritually attuned:an extremely highan extremely highpercentage reportpercentage report

that they are close tothat they are close toGod; they pray alone,God; they pray alone,and use traditionaland use traditional

Catholic experiencesCatholic experiencesin their rivatein their rivate


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It seems impossible toIt seems impossible toempower youngempower young

people to live aspeople to live as

disciples if the youngdisciples if the young

are not present in theare not present in the

faith community.faith community.


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Todays young people are in searchfor meaning in life. Sometimes theyare misguided so they turn to thewrong things. This doesnt mean theydont have a sense of God.

The 10th World Youth Day held in

Manila, Philippines last January 1995was a concrete manifestation that theFilipino youth are not apathetic abouttheir faith. The closing mass attendedby four million people is the largestaudience ever in attendance of a

Papal Mass.


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In Christ, we find a God who is not a strangerto the struggles of young people.

No doubt he was a good son but surely hewould have been involved in some conflictsperhaps with his parents or with other youngpeople.

The Scriptures are silent about the teenageyears of Jesus. What we know is that he grewin wisdom, in age, and in grace (Lk 2:52).This doesnt mean his teenage life wasabnormal. He was fully human. He wentthrough everything we are going through.


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Pope John Paul IIs teachingsPope John Paul IIs teachings

about Christ to the Youthabout Christ to the Youth

Have you already discovered Christ whoHave you already discovered Christ whois the Way? Yes, Jesus is for us a wayis the Way? Yes, Jesus is for us a waythat leads to the Father. You youngthat leads to the Father. You youngpeople often find yourselves atpeople often find yourselves atcrossroads, not knowing which path tocrossroads, not knowing which path to

choose, which way to go; there are sochoose, which way to go; there are somany wrong paths, so many facilemany wrong paths, so many facileproposals, so many ambiguities. Inproposals, so many ambiguities. Inmoments like this, do not forget thatmoments like this, do not forget thatChrist, with his Gospel, his example,Christ, with his Gospel, his example,

his commandments, is always andhis commandments, is always andalone the safest way, the way thatalone the safest way, the way that


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Have you already discovered ChristHave you already discovered Christwho is the Truth? Truth is thewho is the Truth? Truth is thedeepest need of the human spirit.deepest need of the human spirit.

Young people especially areYoung people especially are

hungry for the truth about Godhungry for the truth about Godand man. Christ is the Word ofand man. Christ is the Word oftruth uttered by God himself, intruth uttered by God himself, inresponse to all the questioning ofresponse to all the questioning ofthe human heart. He is the Onethe human heart. He is the One

who reveals fully to us thewho reveals fully to us the


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Have you already discovered Christ whoHave you already discovered Christ whois the Life? Each one of you is anxiousis the Life? Each one of you is anxiousto live life to its fullness. You live withto live life to its fullness. You live withgreat hopes, with great plans for thegreat hopes, with great plans for the

future. But do not forget that the truefuture. But do not forget that the truefullness of life is to be found only infullness of life is to be found only inChrist. He alone gives the strengthChrist. He alone gives the strengthand the joy of living, in spite of anyand the joy of living, in spite of anylimit or external impediment. Yes,limit or external impediment. Yes,

DISCOVERING CHRIST IS THE FINESTDISCOVERING CHRIST IS THE FINEST


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Open the doors toOpen the doors to

Christ! Open yourChrist! Open your

hearts to Christ!hearts to Christ!

Welcome him as aWelcome him as a

companion andcompanion and

guide to yourguide to your

journey!journey!


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CHRIST IS A FRIEND, A BROTHER.

He always finds time for us. He listens toour stories. He laughs with us. He crieswith us. We cant trust him with oursecrets. He accepts us for what we are.He gives us good advise.

HES JUST A TEXT MESSAGE AWAY.His messages are in the bible. We cancontact him anytime, anywhere.


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Sometimes we call him PAPA JESUS. Though he isour brother, he is for many of us a Father-image.And indeed that is what he is- the image of God theFather. He is our provider and protector. We can leanon him in times of trouble. He sees to it that thingsturn out well for us.


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HE IS OUR SAVIOR. When we stumbleand fall, he helps us rise again. Whenthings go bad, he is always there to helpus and to get us out of our misery.

HE IS OUR GUIDE. Amidstthe storms of life, he teachesus the right way. He gives usdirections on what we shoulddo in order to live holy andhappy lives.


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HE IS A PASSIONATE LOVER.His words are music to our ears.He is a source of inspiration.

HE IS A COOL PERSON. Its fun

to hang out with him. Hes neverboring.


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HE IS THE KING OF THEROAD.He knows where tobring us. He leads us safely toour destination.

HE IS OUR IDOL, OUR ROLE MODEL.

His life serves as the pattern of ours. He isour coach. He teaches us to play the gameof life fairly.


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As young people, we are faced with many

problems and issues that challenge us to take astand and make a choice.

In face of all these, we ask:WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

The way of Christ should be our way.If we follow Christ, we shall overcome theturbulent storms of this difficult yet wonderful andexciting stage of our lives that we callYOUTH.


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When Pope John Paul II visited us in 1995, hesent us, the youth, on a mission- the same

mission Christ gave his apostles:

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

We, the young people of today, are not merebeneficiaries of the Good News. We are agents ofthe Good News as well. We commit ourselves toillumine the world with the light of Christ which webear.

Jesus loves us. We cant help but tell the

world of His love.


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2 Jesusin the Eyes of Today