"To celebrate the Eucharist, “to eat his flesh and drink his blood”, means to
accept the wisdom of the Cross and the path of service. It means that we signal
our willingness to sacrifice ourselves for others, as Christ has done.
Our society desperately needs this sign, and young people need it
even more so, tempted as they often are by the illusion of an easy and
comfortable life, by drugs and pleasure-seeking, only to find themselves in a
spiral of despair, meaninglessness and violence. It is urgent to change
direction and to turn to Christ. This is the way of justice, solidarity and
commitment to building a society and a future worthy of the human person.
This is our Eucharist, this is the answer that Christ wants from
us, from you young people at the closing of your Jubilee. Jesus is no lover of
half measures, and he does not hesitate to pursue us with the question: “Will
you also go away?” In the presence of Christ, the Bread of Life, we too want to
say today with Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal
life”
......You will carry the proclamation of Christ into the new millennium. When you
return home, do not grow lax. Reinforce and deepen your bond with the Christian
communities to which you belong. From Rome, from the City of Peter and Paul, the
Pope follows you with affection and, paraphrasing Saint Catherine of Siena’s
words, reminds you: “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world
ablaze!” (cf. Letter 368)."
- Pope John Paul II
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.