Young people gather for World Youth Day SA

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Caption: Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, kneels on a stone wall as attendees take part in an outdoor Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the St. Anthony High School football field the night of July 25. Jordan McMorrough | Today’s Catholic

Calling on the intercession of St. James the Apostle, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and St. John Paul II, young people from across the archdiocese gathered recently for World Youth Day San Antonio, which was held July 25 at St. Anthony Catholic High School.

The event featured an information session regarding next year’s archdiocesan pilgrimage to Poland, a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross by the St. Leo the Great young adult group, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a eucharistic procession.

The gathering concluded with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS.

Archbishop Gustavo told attendees that the Holy Father reminds them that “the church asks us not to be afraid of God’s generosity.”

With those words in a homily in November last year, Pope Francis challenged Christians everywhere to be open to God’s generosity. “Often we are like the apostles in the Gospel, or like the man speaking to Elisha in the first reading, who are quick to ask ‘How can what we have ever be enough?’’ the archbishop questioned. “They are worried, but there is no reason to be.”

In the first reading and in the Gospel, listeners heard of two events in which God takes the little bit that his people have, and multiplies it to feed the multitudes. Whether it was the visiting man’s two loaves of bread or the little boy’s five loaves and two fish, the Lord managed to take that meager food and feed thousands of people. Everyone ate and had their fill, and there was still so much more left over.

“God is generous, overly-generous even. And yet, we still doubt him. The apostles knew the Scriptures, they knew the story of Elisha and two loaves, but they could not recognize the same situation happening right in front of them,” Archbishop Gustavo explained. “They were too wrapped up in their own insecurities and doubts, scared that they might not have enough to do the will of God. They wanted to follow the Lord faithfully, but when asked to trust him in his generosity, they simply could not take that extra step in faith. But the Lord showed his generosity anyway.”

The archbishop again quoted Pope Francis’ words. He said: “We feel safer in our sins, in our limitations, because at least we feel at home… All of us Christians have this fear hidden inside. Catholic, but not too much. Trusting in the Lord, but not too much. This ‘but not too much,’ marks our lives, and makes us small. The gift of God is free. Salvation cannot be purchased: it is a great gift. God’s love is the greatest gift! This is gratuitousness. And yet we are afraid, and so we would prefer a holiness that we make for ourselves. But holiness and salvation are freely given.”

Archbishop Gustavo said we are all called to share the light of the Gospel in the New Evangelization, but we make excuses: “I don’t know the scriptures that well. I have not studied church teaching much. I don’t know what to say.”

He continued, “But God will take the little we have and feed his people! He will help you inspire others to follow him. It only takes prayer and love. If we then go out prayerfully sharing the love God has given us, he will feed their souls. They will have their fill, and there will be so much more grace left over; grace that can be shared with even more people. God will also help us grow in knowledge of Scriptures and church teaching, and make us even better missionary disciples every day, but only if we offer what we have to him.”

The archbishop challenged the youth to not be afraid of their limits. “He is infinite, he is all powerful, and he loves you with every bit of his being,” he said. “We will always have more than enough in him, and we will always have more than enough to share in him.”

“Are you ready to serve?” asked Archbishop Gustavo. “Are you ready to put what you have before the Lord so he can multiply it and feed his people, body, mind, and soul?”

Archbishop Gustavo concluded his homily by calling for the Blessed Mother’s intercession as the faithful renewed the promises of their baptism — saying yes once more to the mission given as disciples of the Lord.

“May she who trusted in the Lord and gave all she was to his will, guide you by her example and bless you through her grace,” he prayed. “Be people of generosity and hope, remember that “the hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.”

The archbishop closed the liturgy with remarks in Polish, a language he learned while serving as an auxiliary bishop in Chicago.

For more information on World Youth Day Poland 2016, go to [email protected].