By Jesvita Princy Quadras

New Delhi, April 16, 2020: With the COVID-19 pandemic, many international events are either canceled or postponed such as Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It is too early to say, if the World Youth Day (WYD) 2022, in Lisbon, Portugal, will take place or not, for which I am an Indian delegate.

Though I am apprehensive and hopeful about the events that are challenging, we all leave it to the hands of God about it with the global public health crisis the world is facing today.

In this write-up, thinking of WYD 2022 in Lisbon, I cannot but relive my memory of WYD 2019 in Panama City, Panama, that I was blessed to attend it.

Panama event had its theme “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” It helped the young to reflect and listen carefully to the Lord’s voice and the purpose that he has bestowed upon us.

The theme also helped us understand that God chooses a path for us that may lead us to be servants of Christ in doing the best we can for others.

Panama was an experience worth sharing with others and yes I had written an article about it. It was by far one of my best experiences that it would be difficult to compare.

Anyways, WYDs are those experiences that change the lives of the young—the young travel as pilgrims and return as ambassadors of Christ. Nothing is worth attending the WYD. It is a life-changing encounter that the young have with Christ where they even get an opportunity to meet the Vicar of Christ.

Recently Pope Francis brought out a letter that read the themes of the WYD 2020 and 2021 (these are celebrated in a diocesan level). Let us reflect on it separately. The theme for 2020 is “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

My understanding of this theme is that the Pope wants each of us young people to come out of our hollow being and to wake up with more vigor and charm in our hearts and minds. The WYD 2020 was celebrated in different places in different forms this month. WYD 2019 asked us to say ‘yes’ and accept the plan the Lord has for us just as Mary willingly accepted the will of God.

In continuation of this idea, the next theme was planned for us to say ‘yes’ and arise and begin the missionary life that the Lord has planned for us.

The Pope connected the ideas so that the young may understand that our lives are to be lived for more than just listening but to follow it in the path bestowed upon us.

The Holy Father says that we as youngsters like to take on life’s adventures and trips. So why not take an adventure that leads us closer to the lord? When we are so curious and enthusiastic about an adventure, our little trip gets more interesting.

In the same manner, if we take on the missionary adventure, our life gets interesting because at every turn and twist we meet Christ and understand that he is alive and with us on this trip.

Today as we are amidst a terrible pandemic it is difficult to understand the purpose God has for us. But the pope mentions in his letter that in the gospel the young man was also dead but he was seen by someone who wanted him to live- Jesus. These things could happen to us today and every day. Just have hope and faith. ‘Arise’ not only means to live a life that helps us follow Christ. But it also means that we need to not just connect but communicate, not just speak but listen, not just live a shallow life but a compassionate one. It also means to use our modernity to communicate with others and Christ.

Pope also adds that if a young person is passionate about something, more so about someone, he or she will arise and do great things. Young people will arise from the dead and become witnesses to the lord and devote their lives to him.

The theme of the WYD 2021 is “Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen.” This is a continuation of the previous theme shares the idea that once we accept and arise we need to be witnesses of our experiences during our encounters and adventures.

Next, would be the reason that the pope chose the WYD 2022 to be in Lisbon. It is because we young people like to take long trips and adventures and that in the 15th and the 16th century many young people set out to share their experiences with Jesus and to share it with other nations.

As a young person, I urge you to first listen. Listen to the voice Jesus speaks to us in. Listen intently to understand what plan he has set for us. Next, arise. Rise to set your life in a mission to encounter Jesus.

Lastly, be witnesses of what you have experienced. The Pope has so many ideas to offer to us. Consider at least one to change your lives for others.

At the end of the day, Jesus remained a servant leader and so should we. I also request you, from my personal experience try and attend at least one WYD.

Trust me. You will and may never experience the kind of transformation that the WYD has to offer to you. Stay safe and God bless!

[Jesvita Princy Quadras is a Catholic youth leader and member of YSM]