Weep For The Less Fortunate

Palm Sunday is also World Youth Day. In 1975, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines conceived the Alay Kapwa inspired by the Gospel values of peace, justice and love. Ten years after, then Pope John Paul II wrote an Apostolic Exhortation to the young people of the world and announced the institution of World Youth Day.

Today, Pope Francis asks us whether we are sincere in living these Gospel values: “Can I weep? Can I weep when I see a child who is starving, on drugs or on the street, homeless, abandoned, mistreated or exploited as a slave by society? Or is my weeping only the self-centred whining of those who cry because they want something else?” Try to learn to weep for all those young people less fortunate than yourselves. Weeping is also an expression of mercy and compassion. If tears do not come, ask the Lord to give you the grace to weep for the sufferings of others. Once you can weep, then you will be able to help others from the heart” (CV 76).

If the youth is the present of the Church, we need to journey with them as we weep for the less fortunate. “Today, thank God, many young people in parishes, schools, movements and university groups often go out to spend time with the elderly and the infirm, or to visit poor neighbourhoods, or to meet people’s needs through “nights of charity”. Very often, they come to realize that there they receive much more than what they give. We grow in wisdom and maturity when we take the time to touch the suffering of others. The poor have a hidden wisdom and, with a few simple words, they can help us discover unexpected values” (CV 171).

With Mama Mary, the supreme model for a youthful Church, may we all have a prayerful Holy Week.