“Filled with the Holy Spirit, century after century Christians have communicated to others, the trust of faith. Will you, for your part, be one of those who open up the ways of the Risen Christ? Or will you hesitate and say, ‘Why do you ask me to prepare ways of the gospel for others? Can’t you see that I am quite helpless, like a child?’ Who can tell all that certain children communicate through they are still unaware of? Some of them awaken others to God by the trust they display by unexpected words. You awaken others to Christ above all, by the life you lead. Words alone can easily make do with illusions. When a small group discussion turns into mere chatter about God, the Holy Spirit, or communion with Christ, is there still anything creative about it? You communicate the life of the Risen Christ through a profound personal unselfishness, by forgetting about yourself. Instead of short-lived outbursts of enthusiasm, will you fashion for yourself a steadfast heart so as to be faithful to the end? “Awakening Others to God by the Life You Lead,” The Sources of Taizé – No Greater Love Brother of Taizé, 2000 Page 30 Scripture Reading and Reflection Read John 14:15-19 For Reflection: When called by God, there are some biblical prophets who responded, “Can’t you see that I am quite helpless, like a child?” Yet they went on to do great things for God. Describe the ways young people can make a difference in the world today. Which sentence above inspires you to share the promise of faith? Explain your choice. How is your school a place where knowledge and relationships are transformed by the quest for meaning and the search for the truth? Explain your answer. Tuesday – The Promise is Within You Shortly after the extension of full funding to Catholic Schools in Ontario in 1985, the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario published a Pastoral Letter on Catholic Education in Ontario entitled This Moment of Promise. The section of this letter written specifically to students says the following: “We invite you to become active participants in the process of Catholic education. We urge you to bring your energy, enthusiasm and generosity to the task of building a Catholic community within your school and to shaping the vision of Catholic education. Your strengths and your
Breathe in … and out … In … and … out … Let the Spirit of God lead you … to a place of solitude … where you feel comfortable … A place of peace … A where you can invite God to be with you … A place where you can be still … with God … A place where you can be safe … and free … and still … A place where nothing can disturb you … Where you can be quietly aware of God’s presence … Aware of the silent breath of God … Breathing life into your life … Quietly … in … and … out … Be still … just slowly breathing with God … In and out … peacefully … calmly … Slowly breathing in rhythm with God … Slowly … Gently, you realize that you are not alone … Not far from you … is Jesus … sitting with his head lowered … Jesus … with his eyes closed and free from distractions … His folded in peacefulness … praying … He hears you approach … he smiles as though he has been waiting for you … He invites you to sit with him … Both of you sit comfortably with your legs stretched out in front of you … You feel peaceful, simply by sitting beside him … Jesus looks at you with loving eyes … Helping you to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are … He asks you … how are you … ………………………… ………………………… What is making your heart peaceful? … ………………………… ………………………… What do you say to Jesus? … ………………………… ………………………… He asks you … what are you working on these days? … … How are you growing? … … What is the growing edge of your life at this time? …