Devotion for today: Teach the young love

Scripture for meditation: Colossians 1:28, 29

We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching our children with all wisdom, so that we may present all of our children perfect in Christ. To this end we labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in us, their parents.

Scripture for reflection: Psalms 78:2-4
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Blessed John Paul II tells us: It is necessary to teach (young people) love. Love is not something that is learned, and yet there is nothing else as important to learn! As a young priest I learned to love human love. This has been one of the fundamental themes of my priesthood – my ministry from the pulpit, in the confessional, and also in my writing. If one loves human love, there naturally arises the need to commit oneself completely to the service of “fair love,” because love is fair, it is beautiful. After all, young people are always searching for the beauty in love. They want their love to be beautiful. If they give in to weakness, following models of behavior that can rightly be considered a “scandal in the modern world” (and these are, unfortunately, widely diffused models), in the depths of their hearts they still desire a beautiful and pure love. This is as true of boys as it is of girls. Ultimately, they know that only God can give them this love. As a result, they are willing to follow Christ, without caring about the sacrifices this may entail. As a young priest and pastor I came to this way of looking at young people and at youth, and it has remained constant all these years. It is an outlook which also allows me to meet young people wherever I go…. And not only in Rome, but anywhere the Pope goes, he seeks out the young and the young seek him out. Actually, in truth, it is not the Pope who is being sought out at all. The one being sought out is Christ, who knows “that which is in every man” (John 2:25), especially in a young person, and who can give true answers to his questions! And even if they are demanding answers, the young are not afraid of them; more to the point, they even await them. (Crossing the Threshold of Hope, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1994)

Prayer: Mary, Help of Those in Need

Holy Mary, help those in need. Give Strength to the weak, comfort the sorrowful, pray for God’s people, assist the clergy, intercede for religious. May all who seek your help experience your unfailing protection. Amen

My thoughts: I wonder a great deal about the hesitancy I see in so many parents to speak the truth to their children about the true value of pure love. Pope John Paul II tells us to teach young people love. Most of us feel we have shown love to our children; we have given them opportunities to love others; but have we actually taught them love. Judging from the attitudes of casual sex, frequent partners, and cohabitation before marriage,  I am not sure we have. Parents say they don’t want to impose their own beliefs on their children. I have also heard parents say that their job is done: they have told their children what is right and wrong, and now it is up to the kids to decide. I have heard this one from parents of high schoolers!!! This is part of the big lie presented in society today. True love is pure, and fair. True love is God’s love. He is not duplicit. His love hurts no one. He gave himself freely for us on the cross. His love brings forth life and beauty and goodness. Young people know this in their hearts. They know in their hearts that allowing themselves to be used as objects of pleasure is not pure, nor is it fair, nor is it free. They ultimately want a love that is true, and constant, and beautiful. In other words, they want God in their lives. His love should be their goal. Once filled with the love of God, no other false love will do. Pope John Paul II knew that he had to get this message out to the young people of the world, and he spent his pontificate doing just that. Young people loved him, and not because he told them what they wanted to hear. He told them what they needed to hear, and that made all the difference. Be brave and bold adults. Speak the truth to the youth of today.  Help to raise them to a high standard of living by believing that they are so special, so loved by God, that only a true and pure and lasting love in their relationships with others will bring them the peace and joy they desire. Speak the Truth to our youth, and the Truth will set them free.