I hear you’ve broken your engagement with Anil — what happened?” a woman asked her daughter. “My feelings towards Anil have changed,” explained the daughter. “Then?,” asked the mother, “Are you going to return his engagement ring?” Pat came the reply: “Oh, no! My feelings towards the ring haven’t changed!” Many mixed motives make or break marital engagements. But, today, celebrating International Youth Day, the United Nations offers us the theme ‘Youth Civic Engagement’ for reflection and response.
The Bible has engaging stories of extraordinary youth. King David slew gigantic Goliath and Queen Esther saved her people. Mary, Jesus’ mother, surrendered her life to God when still in her teens, while Jesus, and his disciples like John, were in their early twenties and thirties when engaged in toiling for God’s rajya.
The Bible highlights three symbolic dimensions of youth. First, youthfulness signifies vigour, promise and strength. Daniel and his companions are described as “youths without blemish, handsome and skillful in all wisdom...”
A second dimension of youthfulness contradicts the first, i.e. youth can go astray. A good example is the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable — he grabs his share of his father’s property, leaves home and indulges in all excesses, thereby disgracing his family and destroying himself. Thirdly, the Bible depicts youth as a time to build firm foundations that will reap rich dividends in adulthood.
Paul advises Timothy: “Shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love and peace,” and, again, “Despise not your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.” Let’s join our youthful hands and encourage hopeful hearts to make meaningful engagements for a youthful India and a peaceful world.
Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com
