Day 2: Youths in Mission

Feast Days, Parish News

Homily

The theme for the 2nd day was Youths in Mission and Fr. Louis began his sermon by quoting Pope Francis that the youth “are not the future but the now of God.” The youth have the mission to do God’s work now.

To go forth in the mission, one needs to be prepared with the armour of humility. Humility is seeing ourselves through God’s eyes. We need to acknowledge that we are made in the image of God and use the gift given to us to serve the Lord. Humility is also recognizing the weakness within us. He quoted St. Theresa of Avila, “to know what we can do and what we need to surrender to God”.

In Luke 14: 10, Jesus teaches us not to exalt of ourselves but be humble. Fr. Louis also cautioned the congregation on false humility. When God invites us to do his work, many a time we refuse by saying we are not worthy. This he said is false humility.

In Lk 13: 13, Jesus probes our intentions for our actions- he says do not invite those who repay us.  When we do something, we must do it out of love. Fr. Louis reminded the people that when we do God’s work, we may not see the fruits immediately. He related the story of the indigenous clan- Bidayuh living in Mt. Singai in Sarawak. He said a Catholic priest evangelized to them and stayed with them. Their conversion from animism to Catholic faith took place long after the death of the priest. Today Mt. Singai has become a place for retreat.

Fr. Louis then addressed the youth with the following question: What is your mission? He told them that they are called to be priest, prophet and a king- to make God known to others. He urged them to pray, stand up for the truth and use their technology to serve God.

The 2nd day of Novena Mass Devotion was well coordinated and participated by the youth in novena devotion, liturgy of the word and the choir.

Presentation of the National Flag