Empowering the youth through the Eucharist

The reality of fanta-seryes in our television programs like Mulawin, Krystala, Marina and Spirits, to name a few, are indicators of the massive changes in the psyche of our young people. Children, as they are, and even young people like you and me are avid viewers of these T.V. shows. Aside from its visual delight, we are subconsciously aspiring and desiring for power, to become superhuman, to be mutants who possess extra-ordinary talents who can fly like an eagle or swim to the bottom of the sea and see these beautiful mermaids. Though these are fantasy shows, they become real in our imagination.

But later on as we grow old, these fantasy shows will later be forgotten as we face the real world. These fantasy shows when you reach certain age of your life will be just a part of a long forgotten childhood. As we go on living, you will realize that there are real people who really bring evil to the world. You will see for yourself that the Ravenas and Victoria are true creatures in this world and they disguise themselves not in a birdie–birdie costumes but in alluring and tempting looks. These evil forces in televisions become real when young as we are, we are allured with the fleeting and exciting pleasures. Ravenas and Victorias of this world use drugs, pornography, sex, cyberspace and many other forms of vices to destroy us. And sometimes, we become powerless to this. Our own strength is not enough to combat or resist their temptations. We need somebody to help us combat these evil forces. And this is where Jesus Christ, the bread in the Eucharist comes in to the scene.

Yes, it is only through and with Jesus that we can fight these snares of evil.
Let us invite Jesus to come in our lives. And the best way to let Jesus come into our lives is through the Eucharist. I don’t want you to think that the bread you receive in the Eucharist is like the magic stone Darna swallows every time she needs to transform from a very naïve office worker to a sexy and powerful woman. The bread in the Eucharist is not a source of magic or a lucky charm. The Eucharist is not a source of magic but it can be a source of power if we allow it to transform our lives.

Yes, only in transforming our lives that the Eucharist takes its real effect. It is as nutritious compared to a one piece of pandesal but it is very nutritious when you receive worthily and wholeheartedly, for the good of our souls. The Eucharist is the living testimony of God’s continuous presence in our midst.

How can the Eucharist be a source of power? It can only be a source of power when we receive it and allow Jesus to change and set our hearts on fire. In the breaking of the bread in the Road to Emmaus, the two disciples who at first failed to recognize Jesus along the road, has recognized Him, in the breaking of the bread. They asked themselves, Are not our hearts burning within us? This experience should also be our experience that the Eucharist becomes a source of transformation. And to be transformed is to be empowered.

Having been empowered? What now do we have to do? Are we to keep that power for ourselves? Remember real power is meant to be shared. It is because if you will just keep this power, in the long run it will corrupt you. The power that we get from the Eucharist is not the power that our superheroes have. It is not a power with fire coming from our mouths or from our armpits; it is not a power that can provide everything that we need. But it is the same power that Jesus shared to us.

Other youth should also be empowered by your own witnessing. Your own transformation can lead other young people’s lives to their own transformations, to their change of hearts. To be able to transform and serve others, make sure that you too are willing to be transformed not in one sitting but always, every day of your lives. You see, the change of heart does not happen one night, it is a process. Our commitment should be renewed again and every day. That’s is why we are asked to receive the Eucharist every day or every now and then.

The Eucharist can also be our own model of Christian living. Empowering here does not mean that you become strong physically, but the empowerment that comes in the midst of temptations, when you can say No to Drugs, say No to Shoplifting, to Stealing, say No to Pre-Marital Sex, say No to these bold movies! Say no to Sin! Saint Dominic of Savio, a very young saint said DEATH but not SIN! Empowerment is best tested in moments when the devil offers you the forbidden fruit. By living a holy life suited for young Christians as you are, you can be witnesses of the love of Jesus.

Remember also that bearing witness to Christ’s love is to be persecuted, to be called baduy, old-fashioned, probinsayano! Empowerment comes when we Christians are persecuted, take for example the life of the early martyrs, most of them our young women and men like us, and yet in spite of their age, they bear witness to the love of Jesus! If in love age does not matter so as in bearing witness to Jesus’ love, even if you are young, you can now start being holy.

Looking at the bread in the Eucharist, it is simple, no flavors, no colors, not even a distinct taste. In spite of its simplicity, we are assured that it has already changed the course of man’s history. We Young People are called to that kind of life- simplicity. I don’t say that simplicity is not taking a bath or wearing the proper attire in a proper occasion. Neither do I say that simplicity is not eating the right food our body needs nor going out to socialize with friends. Simplicity is an attitude we commonly misconstrued. To be simple is to be happy with Jesus. Delight in the blessings you receive. That’s why simplicity is not becoming poor, even if you are rich you can be simple and even if you poor you can be extravagant, you can be the exact opposite of simplicity.

Do not accumulate vices but virtues. Vices are extravagant but virtue is to be always simple and happy. The Eucharist, in spite of our possible persecution should also be the source of our own happiness. Our own delight. Who among the people on earth is privilege to be able to touch, to hold, to be in communion with their God. We are the only persons in the universe who can touch our God. Many of us in the Church are not cheerful Christians, remember their wrinkles and their saggy faces, they go to church too, and yet they don’t give or offer a smile to their seatmates. As young people, strive to be happy with Jesus. The Eucharist is a source of true happiness.

Perhaps it’s about time that you share this happiness in your hearts. I am calling you that in receiving the Eucharist be another Eucharist for other. Be living Eucharist. Eucharist is meant to be enlivened. That is where you become true and real Christian. Your becoming a Christian does not start when you open your mouth or your hand and eat the bread. Becoming a Christian begins when after the Mass, you go home and share this love, this Jesus whom you receive to people around you. And later on, I am sure, this love of Jesus is infectious and contagious, it will change the world and make this I better place for all of us. The power is in your heart, in your hand and in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior forever and ever Amen.