My World Youth Day 2011 - Justin Stroh

(Source: dedicating-my-life-to-god)

VATICAN CITY, 16 NOV 2011 (VIS) – During today’s general audience in St Peter’s Square, attended by over 11,000 pilgrims, the Holy Father imparted the final catechesis of his cycle dedicated to the Psalms. He focused on Psalm 110, which “Jesus Himself cited, and which the authors of the New Testament referred to widely and interpreted in reference to the Messiah. … It is a Psalm beloved by the ancient Church and by believers of all times”, which celebrates “the victorious and glorified Messiah seated at the right hand of God”.

The Psalm begins with a solemn declaration: “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”. Benedict XVI explained that “Christ is the Lord enthroned, the Son of man seated at the right hand of God. … He is the true king who by resurrection entered into glory, … higher than the angels, seated in the heavens over all other powers, … and with all His adversaries at His feet until the last enemy, death, is definitively defeated by Him”.

God and the king celebrated in the Psalm are inseparably linked. “The two govern together, to the point that the Psalmist confirms that God Himself grants the regal sceptre, giving the king the task of defeating his adversaries. … The exercise of power is a task the king receives directly from the Lord, a responsibility which involves dependence and obedience, thus becoming a sign to the people of God’s powerful and provident presence. Dominion over enemies, glory and victory are gifts the king has received, that make him a mediator of divine triumph over evil“.

The priestly dimension, linked to that of regality, appears in verse four. “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek’”. This priest, the king of Salem, had blessed Abraham and offered bread and wine following the victorious military campaign conducted by the patriarch to save Lot from the hands of his enemies. The king of the Psalm “will be a priest forever, mediator of the divine presence among His people, a catalyst for the blessing of God”. Jesus Christ “is the true and definitive priest, Who will complete and perfect the features of Melchizedek’s priesthood”. In the bread and wine of the Eucharist, Christ “offers Himself and, defeating death, brings life to all believers”.

The final verses portray “the triumphant sovereign who, with the support of the Lord, having received power and glory from Him, opposes his enemies, defeating adversaries and judging nations”.

The Church traditionally considers this Psalm as one of the most significant messianic texts. “The king as sung by the Psalmist is Christ, the Messiah Who establishes the Kingdom of God and overcomes the powers of the world. He is the Word generated by God before any creature, the Son incarnate, Who died and rose to heaven, the eternal Priest Who, in the mystery of the bread and wine, grants forgiveness for sins and reconciliation with God; the King Who raised his head in triumph over death by His resurrection”.

The Psalm invites us to “look to Christ to understand the meaning of true regality which is to be lived as service and the giving of self, following a path of obedience and love ‘to the end’. Praying this Psalm, we therefore ask the Lord to enable us to proceed along this same journey, following Christ, the Messiah, willing to ascend with Him on the hill of the cross to accompany Him in glory, and to look to Him seated at the right hand of the Father, the victorious king and merciful priest Who gives forgiveness and salvation to all mankind”.

Finally, the Pope explained that, in the course of his catechesis dedicated to the Psalms, he had sought to focus on those “that reflect the different situations in life and the various attitudes we may have towards God. I would like to renew my call to everyone to pray the Psalms, to become accustomed to using the Liturgy of the Hours, Lauds, Vespers, and Compline. Our relationship with God can only be enriched by our journeying towards Him day after day”.

Recently I made a pilgrimage to Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI. 

 World Youth Day (WYD) is one of those intense experiences that requires every fiber of a persons existence.   There are amazing joys and unmet expectations, 110 degree heat and subway sing-alongs, 100 acquaintances in a day and intimate sharing about the meaning of life.

This was my seventh WYD and I knew what I was getting myself into yet I did not know what God was going to surprise me with.  This, I now realize is the path of a Catholic Pilgrim – having a plan, setting out and being surprised by God.  Here, I wish to account some of my favorite divine surprises.  

1. I have had the honor of journeying with youth who where struggling with their faith and others who were firm. 

2. I have seen teens, who did not believe in God, transformed by the witness of the Saints buried for centuries. 

3. I have encountered tour guides who thought they were guiding tourists and later realized that God had sent these youth to witness to them. 

4. I have sat next to priests who have gained deeper insights into how to relate with teens from an aging pontiff. 

5. I have watched multitudes singing in joy and cheering in the rain! 

6. I have cried with millions enjoying the greatest fireworks display, a gift from a Blessed pope. 

7. I have venerated a cross, carried by hundreds of thousands of youth throughout the world.

8. I have stood in a mob for 30 minutes just to fill my bottle with water.

9. I have chatted with Cardinals who happen to be strolling among the thousands.

10. I have exhaled as much as I can to make room for one more pilgrim in a subway car.

11.  I have heard a WYD theme song so many times that even the Italians moaned about it.

12. I have recommitted my life to Christ because of the faith of thousands and strong words from the pope.

13.  I have laughed with a hundred people who do not speak my language.

14. I have sung to the One Father in Heaven in one language with millions.

15.  I have seen the flags of the nations of the world waving for the Vicar of Christ.

16. I have been entrusted with the task to make the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ known to the world by the successor of Peter.

“He [Jesus] wants you to be the apostles of the twenty-first century and the messengers of his joy.  … He sends you out to be his witnesses, courageous and without anxiety, authentic and credible! Do not be afraid to be Catholic, and to be witnesses to those around you in simplicity and sincerity!  … You have met Jesus Christ! You will be swimming against the tide in a society with a relativistic culture which wishes neither to seek nor hold on to the truth. But it was for this moment in history, with its great challenges and opportunities, that the Lord sent you, so that, through your faith, the Good News of Jesus might continue to resound throughout the earth.”

I have now passed it on to you.  What will you do to seek God and become more firm in your Catholic Faith? 

Justin Stroh is Catholic Lay Apostle.  He spreads the Catholic Faith in anyway possible.  He is a speaker and musician, find out more at http://justinstroh.webs.com  

I have just returned from my seventh World Youth Day experience with the Pope.  Amazing and enlightening.  

The highlight of my experience was the Vigil with the Pope.  After a six mile pilgrim walk amongst thousands of pilgrims into the park “Cuatro Vientros” (The Four Winds, a prophetic name) we remained hydrated depending on the love of other pilgrims, bringing us water in the 110 degree heat. Finally, the sun relented and the vigil began in the usual way, selected youth asking the profound questions of life to the pope.  The Gospel was read (John 15, “I am the Vine…”) in response to their questions, the Holy Father prepared to elaborate.  Just then, a huge electrical storm enveloped the 1.5 million crowd with gale force winds blowing from every corner of the park with pouring rain.  

 The storm was greeted by a cheering crowd!  The youth, not surprised by the storm recognized it as a test of faith and resolved to remain rooted in Christ.  Some did not – they left the park to seek man made shelter, but our shelter was Christ and the Pope our captain docking the ark of the Church in the harbor of Christ. It was biblical.  This went on for 20 minutes and the pope himself was buffeted by the storm!  No words were spoken by the pontiff until the storm passed.  At this time the Holy Father by-passed his talk and said:  ”Dear Friends: I thank you for your joy and your resistance. Your strength is greater than the rain. Thank you. With rain the Lord has sent us many blessings. In this also, you are an example.”

At this point, he silently got up and left the stage.  He vested in gold and brought the Blessed Sacrament out and exposed Our LORD in a monstrance.  He then led the multitude in silence before our LORD.  Picture this:  Close to 10 minutes of silence with 1.5 million people before Jesus Christ led by the Pope!  I recalled the word’s of Christ to the storm on the Sea of Galilee “Be still.”  We were still and Christ bade us to cross the water with Peter and fix our gaze on him. 

After benediction, the Holy Father said:  ”We have lived together an adventure. Strengthened by your faith in Christ, you have resisted the rain. Before leaving I wish you all good night. Have a good rest. I thank you for the sacrifice that you are making and I have no doubt that you will offer it generously to the Lord. We shall see one another tomorrow, God willing, in the celebration of the Eucharist. I am expecting all of you. I thank you for the fine example that you have given. As happened tonight, you can always, with Christ, endure the trials of life. Do not forget this. I thank you all.”

This profound providential moment spoke to each heart and continues to be reflected on by millions.

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