Joe and Kieran in RIO for WYD!!!

Kieran and Joe had the awesome opportunity to attend WYD RIO 2013

Here is a reflection that helped me to appreciate the experience of WYD from afar.

And Pope Francis keeps reminding us that the doors of the Church need to be open, not so that people can come in, but so that we can go out. Go and make disciples of all nations. Go be missionaries of love. We don’t have to venture too far from home to do that. How do we rebuild the Church? We love.
Yet love means the Cross. Laying down your life for someone else is the Cross. Being open to God’s surprises is the Cross. Having to be present to the other, being authentic to the other is the Cross. Still, when we do it out of love, and it is rooted in prayer and the Sacraments, it doesn’t feel like a cross.
On Saturday night, at the Vigil, Pope Francis told us that it doesn’t have to be perfect. “There will always be thorns and rocks in life.” But all we need is a little bit of good soil. He said using Argentinian slag, that we just need “tto make a “little bit of good soil (un cachito de buena tierra) in your hearts”. “You will see how it grows”. It’s ok to struggle and it’s ok to fall, all we need is a little bit of good soil.
On Sunday morning, in front of 3.2 million pilgrims, Pope Francis again gave us three parting ideas: Go, without fear, to serve. I’m afraid to go, yet Jesus says “I am with you always.” He will always help us carry our Cross. I am afraid to serve but Jesus sends us two-by-two. I am afraid to be surprised, yet Jesus asks, “do you trust me?”
And it was that same Martha who was too anxious and worried, when her brother Lazarus died and Jesus asked her, “do you believe?” who gave one of the only five confessions of faith found in the Gospels. She said, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” If I am to say the same, I have to let Him be God.

May God continue to bless the young people who attended WYD RIO and aid them in serving His Church.