Cry out to God, youth urged

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski

CARMEL, Sask. — Washed by Mercy, Saved by Grace was the theme of the 2010 Rock the Mount Catholic youth rally at Carmel Aug. 21, addressed in three talks by keynote speaker Rev. Simon Lobo, a member of the Companions of the Cross from Ottawa.

Salvation is first of all connected to baptism, Lobo noted. We are baptized as infants, but at a certain point, “when we are mature enough, we need to be able to choose this baptism faith for ourselves.”

Lobo described it as “a moment when we encounter the love of God again, we feel what it’s like to be washed by his mercy again, but this time we are aware of it.”

Lobo described growing up, believing that by trying hard he could achieve his goals, including his primary goal of being liked and accepted. When a moment of crisis came, Lobo realized that relying on his own efforts was not enough to bring him peace of mind. He began to recognize that he also had a false idea that doing more and trying harder would earn him love and acceptance from Jesus.

“I realized in that moment that I was always trying to present to Jesus this perfect image of Simon. This is the perfect me: love this.” In a moment of honesty, Lobo carried his pain to Jesus. “Could it be possible for you to love and accept me right now, the way I am?” he prayed, and was filled with a powerful moment of peace.

“It was so real, and I knew that he loved me,” he said. “I felt that I was in a whole new world with Christ.”

The sanctifying grace received at baptism continues to grow within us as we live our lives and grow in the virtues of faith, hope and love, Lobo said.
He suggested that a Catholic answer to the evangelical Christian question, “Are you saved?” should incorporate the past, present and future. “Yes, I have been saved by that initial baptism, I am in the process of being saved, and I hope to be saved at the end,” he said, describing the in-between sanctification process happening in our lives here and now.

“Sanctification training” involves seeing everyday difficulties and irritations, as well as ongoing trials and sudden tribulations as opportunities for spiritual growth, said Lobo, quoting St. John Chrysostom that “it is the work of love to expand the heart.”

Lobo said that he does not believe that God causes suffering, but in the midst of sometimes inexplicable suffering, God is with us, seeking to bring good out of bad situations. Jesus is asking us to stand in the midst of difficulties and trials beside him.

“Whatever those crosses are, if we choose to stand and be crucified with Christ, as Paul says, there is no way that we can be closer to him than if we say, ‘Yes, I am going to accept this opportunity to grow in salvation.’ We can say, ‘I am going to remain here, close to Christ, and he then can expand my heart.’”

In his final talk, Lobo described how the story of salvation is about God rescuing his people and bringing us to safety. “All we have to do is call for help,” he said, stressing the saving grace of God as opposed to anything we can do by our own efforts.

Describing his own vocation story, Lobo encouraged youth to spend time asking God to reveal his plan for their lives. “It is possible to know what God is calling you to do,” he said. “Cry out to him.”