The Youth Are Not the Future of the Church

Perhaps you have heard it said that the youth are the future of the church. I’m here to tell you that this statement is not true. The youth are NOT the future of the church; they are not now nor have they ever been.  Have I gotten your attention? Please, let me explain…

We know that through our baptisms we become members of Christ’s holy Church. We claim our share in His life, His death, and His resurrection. At our baptism, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are purified, justified, and sanctified. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states,

“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: ‘Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.’” (CCC 1213)

It is through baptism that we become members of the Church and members of the faith.

The line that stands out in this passage from the Catechism is “we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission…” This statement tells us that immediately at our baptisms we are not only a part of the Church, but we are sent to do her work. This means that each and every baptized member of the Church shares in the duty to spread Christ’s love and His teachings. This doesn’t mean that we wait until we are all grown up to share in this labor of love, instead, we are reminded that each and every child, teen, and adult shares in the duty of spreading the Gospel now! Of course, we do our best according to our knowledge and capabilities, but this statement shows us that the youth are not the future of our Church, the youth ARE the Church!

Bella’s Example

I am reminded of a very embarrassing moment in church years ago. It was a Monday evening and we were attending the anniversary Mass for our parish priest. He was celebrating ten years of service to the Lord through the priesthood. At the time, I had only six children. My youngest was just six months old and the next child up from her, a sister, had only just turned two. She was a handful. Up to that point, I had never had a child who misbehaved in church. But Bella, God love her, was always on the go, and loud. And well, full of life. I got to the church and we sat in the very last pew, so that if I needed to make an exit with Bella I could in a hurry.

On cue, she started “singing” and talking and crying. I quieted her down the best I could. Father got up to give his homily and I prepared myself to step out into the narthex. For the moment, Bella was quiet and I sank back into the pew hoping for the best. Father began his homily and then Bella began her’s. Bella was so loud I had no idea what Father’s homily was even about.  Mortified, I stood up to leave with her when Father motioned his hand towards me and said, “And take Michelle with little Bella here… this, my friends, this is the church! I love to hear children in the church. We often look at them and think they aren’t as important as we are, but they are equal members to you and to me! Bring your children to church! They are the church!”

His declaration would stick with me and change the way I viewed the Church itself!

Calling All Children . . . and Parents

We often put limits on our children and what they are capable of doing. But did Christ do this, too? Christ says in Matthew 19:14, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” The kingdom of heaven belongs to these… what powerful words Christ speaks to us! If heaven belongs to people such as these, imagine what children can do for the Church, if we only let them! The youth of our Church are called, from the moment of their baptisms, to serve God just as we are. It is our duty, as parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, catechism instructors, to make sure the children and youth have opportunities to do so.  Their mission, like ours, is now, not in the future! They have the power to affect change and to bring Christ to the world. We need to ask ourselves if we are standing in their way. If we are, we need to move, so that they can go forth and do their duty to Christ and to His holy Church!

Without us and without our youth, there is no future for the Church. We must serve here and now. We must impart the Truth of the faith to our children and their children. If we don’t teach them to serve others and serve Lord now they won’t want to serve in the future.

If we don’t take them to church now, why will they want to go later?

If we don’t trust them to share their faith as children, why would they even think about sharing it as an adult?

The future begins now… we build it up every time we take our children to Mass, every time we open God’s word and read together, every time we serve the poor and needy, and every time we allow our children to share in the grace that flows from the sacraments.

Our children are not the future of the Church, they are the Church.

Pope Francis reminded the youth at World Youth Day in Rio, “Go and make disciples of all nations”. With these words, Jesus is speaking to each one of us, saying: “It was wonderful to take part in World Youth Day, to live the faith together with young people from the four corners of the earth, but now you must go; now you must pass on this experience to others.” Jesus is calling you to be a disciple with a mission! Today, in the light of the word of God that we have heard, what is the Lord saying to us? Three simple ideas: Go, do not be afraid, and serve.”  

The youth are disciples too, some of God’s best; they are building the Church now. They are called, just as we are, to serve the Lord in all they say and do. Let me reiterate this message again: The youth are not the future of the Church, they are the Church! Let us be always supportive of our youth and see in them what Christ sees –  a hope for His kingdom here on earth.