'CARRY THIS JUBILEE OF HOPE HOME WITH YOU!'

Bishop Fintan Gavin

Below is Bishop Fintan Gavin's homily on 31st July to over 600 Irish pilgrims in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth in which he emphasises the three pillars of communion, community and charity. Also below are two videos by Bishop Robert Barron - the first is a message to the youth of Ireland and the second is another talk he gave to American young people in Rome.

We live in a world obsessed with appearances – likes, followers, and highlight reels.  But so often, behind the filters and the noise, we carry anxiety, insecurity, burnout, or a sense of being lost.  We wonder if we’re enough, if we’re on the right path, if God even sees us.

 The Transfiguration is God’s answer to all of that.  It pulls back the curtain on what is real and lasting.

 Jesus reveals that even in the routine of life – in our studies, work, relationships, and even in the challenges – there’s a hidden depth:  God is present, and His glory is quietly breaking through.  The Transfiguration isn’t just about Jesus being revealed as the Son of God, it’s about us being reminded of who we are called to become: radiant, renewed, and fully alive in Him.

Some years ago, I had the privilege of listening to the late Cardinal Carlo Martini, a biblical scholar and later Archbishop of Milan, speaking about this Gospel.  He described the Transfiguration as a “moment of reassurance.”  Not just a dazzling vision of Jesus, but a moment when the disciples saw clearly – maybe for the first time – who He truly was.

We all need those moments in our lives – moments of clarity that reassure us of God’s presence, remind us we are not alone, and confirm that we are on the right path.  They might come through prayer, retreat, beauty, nature, silence, or a conversation that touches our hearts.

This gathering in Rome, this Jubilee of Youth – although we are still only halfway through it and we have yet to have our vigil and final Mass this weekend with Pope Leo – is one of those mountaintop moments.

Like the disciples on the mountain, you’ve stepped out of your ordinary rhythm and glimpsed something bigger: not just the beauty of Rome, but the beauty of being Church together, young and alive in faith.

You have come with your hopes, your dreams, your questions, maybe some doubts too.  But here, in this wonderful city and the energy of almost 600 Irish young people gathered tonight and up to a million by the weekend from around the world, you’ve had a glimpse of something more.  Something real.  The joy of being with others who share your values, a space to be yourself with a sense of joy and fun and opportunity to reflect on life’s bigger questions.  Experiences of prayer and fellowship.  A depth of reflection that can so often be difficult to find in our culture today in Ireland.

And now, like Peter on the mountain, we might say: “Lord, it’s good for us to be here!”  But Jesus doesn’t let the disciples stay up there – and He doesn’t let us stay either.

The real questions for us to reflect on are:– how do we carry this moment home?– how do we translate this experience back into our lives, and back into our faith communities?

I want to offer you three practices/movements which I would like to frame as three friendships that I believe can help us do that:

1.  Communion – Friendship with Jesus. Being a disciple means we have to take time to get to know Jesus – deepening that relationship with Christ.  This is true of all our friendships.  In order for them to thrive, we must make ourselves available to spend time with the other person.  We can do this by getting to know who Jesus is and what He does in the scriptures, speaking and listening to Jesus through prayer, and receiving Jesus in the sacraments, especially in frequent Eucharist and Confession. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we will realise how much He loves us and wants the best for us. This jubilee is providing many opportunities to do this. I would encourage you find a way or ways of praying that allow you to get to know Jesus, some of you will already have a prayer life pattern, the Rosary, praying with scripture, Lectio Divina, holy hour, Eucharistic adoration, contemplation, meditation and so on. If you are beginning – or starting again – start small and build on it but the secret is to be consistent – make it a habit part of your daily practice.

2.  Community – Friendship with others. In the gospel this evening we see that Jesus was with his disciples.  This is true of Jesus’ life and ministry throughout the gospels. Trying to live your faith in isolation is nearly impossible.  You need community.  You need others who believe, who encourage you, challenge you, and stand with you. This Jubilee has shown us the joy of being together: laughing, praying, exploring, singing, and worshipping as one Church.  That sense of belonging is not just a warm feeling – it is part of our faith DNA. We need to bring that home.  In our parishes, families, friendships: we need to create spaces for young people to gather, pray, and grow together.  Not just holy huddles, but communities that look outward with love. Out of our gathering tonight, coming home from this Jubilee of Youth, my deepest desire is that each one of you as a young Irish person should feel that you belong in our Church, that you are accepted, that you are supported, and are listened to and accompanied by your local faith community.  On my own behalf and on behalf of the Irish Bishops, on behalf of the Irish Church, I want to offer you whatever support you need to sustain and encourage you to follow Christ with all your heart despite the challenges which are real.

3.  Charity – Friendship with the stranger, the marginalised – Mission. 

Our Christian faith, our encounter with Christ, our life and support in the Christian community must always lead us out to the wider community, to service, to action, to sharing our faith.  Our Christian faith isn’t private, we need to share it – we witness to it. Yesterday we had the privilege of listening to Bishop Robert Barron speak so powerfully to you as young Irish people challenging you to be missionaries for renewal in Ireland and beyond.  Last year Bishop Barron was speaking at the national Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in the US.  He said, rather provocatively, “Your Christianity is not for you, Christianity is not a self-help programme, something designed to make us feel better about ourselves, your Christianity is for the world … our Christianity isn’t for us.  We are called to be Christ for others – in us – through our witness as a Eucharistic people others should recognise Christ in us.”We need then to put our faith into practice through our life.  We are called through our lives to build God’s kingdom, of love, peace and joy, justice, especially for those who are excluded or marginalised.  Today God is inviting each of you to be His protagonists in building a better world.Being a person of faith in Ireland today means having the courage to stand out from the crowd and go against the dominant secular culture.  As we do this, Jesus is promising to be with us and is offering us the gift of a life of purpose and meaning, a life of true happiness.I believe that our world; indeed, our own country, has never been more in need of Christ and His hope-filled message as transmitted by His Church.  This year’s Jubilee of Hope reminds us of the importance of looking to the future with a hope that does not disappoint, because it is rooted in the love of God (cf. Rom 5:5).  It is in these times that Jesus is calling us to make disciples and to build His Kingdom.

So, bring those three friendships home with you:

Friendship with Jesus – through prayer and the sacraments. Friendship with others – through community, faith, and support. Friendship with the world – through love, service, and courageous mission.

If you nurture those, you’ll discover something powerful: God has a unique plan for your life – a purpose no one else can live.  You may not see the whole picture yet.  That’s okay.  Just keep listening.  Spend time with Jesus.  Ask Him: What do you want me to do with my life?

So, I encourage each of you to spend time listening to Jesus; He believes in you.  Even when you might doubt yourself, trust Him.  Ask Him to reveal to you where He is calling you, with your unique personality, gifts and talents.

What is your vocation, as a married person, as a single person, a priest or a religious?  Step outside your comfort zone.  Risk all as Christ did.  You were made for greatness, so don’t be afraid to dream with God His wonderful dream for your life.  With God we will find real happiness – and true fulfilment.

So, I encourage you to carry this Jubilee of Hope home with you.  Let it shape your life.  Don’t let it stay up the mountain.  Let it walk with you – in your prayer, your friendships, your courage to love and serve.  Because God is with you.  And you were made for greatness.

To paraphrase Blessed Carlo Acutis, the soon to be first millennial saint’s most famous quote: “Don’t settle for being a photocopy – be the original masterpiece God created you to be.”

Amen.

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON TO THE IRISH YOUTH