Toward the end of his World Youth Day homily in Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis said, “the life of Jesus is a life for others. It is a life of service.” He then quoted St. Paul, “I have made himself a slave to all, that I might win the more” (1Cor 9:19) to show us, “that evangelizing means bearing personal witness to the love of God; it is overcoming our selfishness; it is serving by bending down to wash the feet of our brethren, as Jesus did.”
The Holy Father then drew on the wisdom of his namesake saying that if you follow these three ideas — go, do not be afraid, serve — “you will experience that the one who evangelizes is evangelized, the one who transmits the joy of faith receives more joy.”
He’s reminded us that in giving, by being selfless, we can receive and experience joy!
After connecting the young prophet Jeremiah to the young people present he said, “Dear young friends, Jesus Christ is counting on you! The church is counting on you! The pope is counting on you! May Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always accompany you with her tenderness. ‘Go and make disciples of all nations.’ Amen.”
Makana Aiona is the diocesan coordinator for Young Adult Ministry.