5th Anniversary Celebration of the Diocese with Youth
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 39 Lantana Street, Cubao, Quezon City
August 29, 2008 6:00 pm

THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN BUILDING UP THE LOCAL CHURCH

I am delighted to celebrate this Eucharist with you on the occasion of our 5th anniversary as a diocese. What I see before me is the vibrant image of the local church of Cubao – our youth who are energetic, full of hope and aspirations, motivated by their dreams and ideals, and are searching for the truth.
Last July 12-21 we held the 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia with the theme: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). The message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is still fresh in our minds. He reminded you that on the day of your baptism, God drew you, into His holiness as St. Peter reminds us in his Second letter (2 Pt 1:4). You were adopted as a son or daughter of the Father. You were incorporated into Christ. You were made a dwelling place of His Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). Indeed, towards the conclusion of your baptism, the priest turned to your parents and those gathered and, calling you by name, said: “You have become a new creation. You are to walk always as children of the light. May you keep the flame of faith alive in your hearts. When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet Him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.” (Rite of Baptism).
The task of witness is not easy especially today when the values of the world we live, the society where we belong, are contrary to the Gospel. The attraction of secularism and materialism is very strong. There is the temptation to be independent even from God. Morality has become relative. “What people think and feel is right” is considered as the standard or “true”. The pursuit of one’s ambition becomes more important than serving others. The value of the person is no longer his being but what he has and his looks. God is no longer the center of life instead He is set aside. God has become marginalized! But you – our YOUTH – you are challenged to counteract this kind of mentality. You are called to become witnesses of the truth of the gospel against the lies that this world is promoting.
Today, we commemorate the beheading of St. John the Baptist. He died a martyr’s death as he fulfilled his prophetic mission of bringing to the people the Word of God and of witnessing to the truth. He proclaimed what God wanted him to tell His people. He accomplished his mission in three ways.
First, he announced the good news: “The Kingdom of God is at hand! He pointed to Jesus. In his preaching, he testified that someone mightier than him is coming. He said: “I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. (Lk 3:16) I must decrease, He must increase.” (Jn 3:30) Second, he denounced whatever was wrong and sinful in the lives of people. In today’s gospel narrative, he told Herod: “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife” (Mk 6:18). And third, he challenged the people to action, to conversion. To the crowds who went to him to be baptized, he said: “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. To tax, collectors, he said: “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” To soldiers, John said: “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages. (Lk 3:10-14). And to everyone, he said: “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15) To announce the good news, to denounce sinfulness, to challenge people to conversion, in short, to witness to the truth: This was the mission of John the Baptist. This is our mission and this is also the mission of our youth today!
There are only two ways to respond to the truth: either one listens to the truth or one can close his ears, suppress the truth and remain silent. When John told Herod the truth that it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife, instead of listening to him, Herod chose to suppress the truth by having John the Baptist killed. Yet, the truth continued to be proclaimed. Nothing could stop the announcing of the good news and the call to repentance with the coming of Jesus after him. The mission to witness to the TRUTH continues even now through us.
The task of witnessing is not easy. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us. Let us recall the theme of the 23rd World Youth Day: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) Like St. John the Baptist, you are asked to announce the good news i.e. how God has guided, enlightened, inspired and transformed your lives. You are asked to announce and proclaim the joy of finding Christ in your life. You are challenged to denounce what is wrong and sinful. This would mean that you do not give in to peer pressure and in doing so, you can lose some of your friends. Others would laugh at you for not being like them, not “being in” in your life style as you observe moral values like being chaste and self-disciplined. Some people would consider you naïve if you do not follow current practices like being lose in one’s moral standards, taking part in corruption, bribery and dishonesty. But be firm. Be steadfast in living your faith and convictions each day. You must challenge your fellow youth to live a life of holiness, a life pleasing to God, a life characterized by true freedom and integrity.
The world may be besieged with secularism, materialism and relativism, but I am full of hope that these false beliefs, ideologies and principles will not triump because we have you – the youth of the diocese to witness to the truth, to Christian values and you center your lives in Christ and not to the world. As St. John the Baptist and other people gave their all and held nothing back, you are likewise invited to do the same to tell the world about real love, real self-giving, real dying “so that others may live.” Entrust yourselves to the maternal care of Mama Mary. She is not just the mother of God. She is entrusted to us by Jesus to be our Mother and Protector, our model and inspiration. In the end I hope and pray that when God calls you, you will meet Him with a heart full of love, no pretensions and a life characterized by integrity.

MABUHAY ANG ATING MGA KABATAAN!
MABUHAY ANG YOUTH NG DIOCESE OF CUBAO!