The world is so greatly advanced but the human heart
is restless and growing in hopelessness, especially among the younger
generation. The Church realises that there is a lack in development of faith
and vocation discernment amongst young people. Thus, St. Paul’s writing to
Timothy (2 Tim 3:15) recalls that the greatest kindness parents and
grandparents can do for their children or grandchildren, is to get them to
know the Bible early. Children experience true learning when they understand the Scriptures
and Traditions in order to attain salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
There are two areas where parents and teachers can
apply Scripture to encourage faith in young people to be disciples of Jesus
include:
1) Starting them
young for their ultimate future.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is
old, he will not turn away from it” (Proverbs 22:6). This verse reminds parents
of their duty to pray with and for their children, instruct and teach them
about Christianity, and set good examples of holy life. Within this
environment of faith, they will grow in endurance, facing the trials of life
and continue to walk in the path of truth and holiness.
2) Rooting our children
in faith.
The first seven
chapters of the Book of Proverbs exhorts the fear of God and obedient to
parents. The fear of the Lord, (Pro 1:7) is about reverence towards God and
respect for Him. Parents should instruct godly wisdom to their children so that
they will learn to be wise in the present as well as in the future in order to
choose the right thing to do. True wisdom comes from the Bible and when we
implant these seeds of wisdom in them, surely they will remain in them, even when
they grow old. A life which is rooted in faith will help our
children stay in Church till the end.
Two areas young people can apply
Scriptures to develop their faith and vocation discernment include:
1) Rekindle the Gift of God.
St. Paul reminds us “to stir the
flame the gift of God that is within you…” (2 Tim 1:6). Young people are urged
to watch and fan the flame in their hearts, to keep it burning brightly. They
ought to set the flame ablaze by daily prayer, meditating on the things of God,
using their gifts to improve the spiritual ability, which God has given them.
2) In the Spirit of power, love and self-control.
St. Paul says, “God
has not given us a Spirit of timidity but a Spirit of power, love and
self-control,” (2 Tim 1:7). Very often, our young people fear standing up for
Jesus and for His Church. They are somewhat weak and timid in nature, when it
comes to placing the Word of God in their lives. The Spirit of power and
courage are with them, to meet difficulties and dangers in life. The Spirit of
love – to love God and His people, and
the Spirit of self-control, to avoid temptations and pleasure.
On this Bible Sunday, let’s remember the message of the Holy Father for the
young people, inviting them to enkindle faith in their hearts and hope in
mission to bring Jesus joyfully to every street and corner of the earth.
(EXTRACT FROM THE KL BIBLICAL COMMISSION MESSAGE ON
BIBLE SUNDAY 2018)
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