Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! What does it mean to give praise to the Lord? It means to praise God for who He is and for what He does.

We can praise God for He is the creator of the universe. He is good, and loving, and kind. His very nature is love. He is all powerful and He rules over all the universe. He is just and fair in all His dealings. You can praise God for who He is each and every day.

We can also praise God for what He has done in our lives. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. God forgives our sins when we accept Christ as our Savior. He provides food for us and blesses us with His love. Every good blessing in your life comes directly or indirectly from God’s hand. He has given us the promise of heaven — of eternal life — when we ask Christ to be our Savior. Truly God is good and we can praise Him every day for what He is doing in our lives.

The Bible says to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” We are to praise the Lord at all times. Sometimes life may seem dark, and your problems may be very great. Yet even in the midst of difficult times, we can praise God for who He is — and for the gift of Jesus Christ — and for the good things He has provided for us — and for the promise of heaven.

So, this week, let us pray and

• Thank God for all His goodness to us
• Praise God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for us
• Thank God for His blessing to all of us
  

THANK YOU so much as you join with us in prayer. We are seeing God answer our prayers as we see many people come to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. May God bless you as you seek Him.

May God bless you

Tuhan berchat dengan kita

Connecting to Heaven & Earth Messenger Sign in...

TUHAN :Kamu memanggilKu ?

PEMUDA :Memanggilmu? Tidak... Ini siapa ya?

TUHAN :Ini TUHAN. Aku mendengar doamu. Jadi Aku ingin berbincang-bincang denganmu.

PEMUDA:Ya, saya memang sering berdoa, hanya agar saya merasa lebih baik. Tapi sekarang saya sedang sibuk, sangat sibuk.

TUHAN :Sedang sibuk apa? Semut juga sibuk.

PEMUDA:Nggak tau ya. Yang pasti saya tidak punya waktu luang sedikitpun. Hidup jadi seperti diburu-buru. Setiap waktu telah menjadi waktu sibuk.

TUHAN :Benar sekali. Aktivitas memberimu kesibukan. Tapi produktivitas memberimu hasil. Aktivitas memakan waktu, produktivitas membebaskan waktu.

PEMUDA:Saya mengerti itu. Tapi saya tetap tidak dapat menghindarinya.Sebenarnya, saya tidak mengharapkan Tuhan mengajakku chatting seperti ini.

TUHAN :Aku ingin memecahkan masalahmu dengan waktu, dengan memberimu beberapa petunjuk. Di era internet ini, Aku ingin menggunakan medium yang lebih nyaman untukmu daripada mimpi, misalnya.

PEMUDA:oke, sekarang beritahu saya, mengapa hidup jadi begitu rumit?

TUHAN :Berhentilah menganalisa hidup.Jalani saja. Analisalah yang membuatnya jadi rumit.

PEMUDA:Kalau begitu mengapa kami manusia tidak pernah merasa senang?

TUHAN :Hari ini adalah hari esok yang kamu khawatirkan kemarin.Kamu merasa khawatir karena kamu menganalisa. Merasa khawatir menjadi kebiasaanmu. Karena itulah kamu tidak pernah merasa senang.

PEMUDA:Tapi bagaimana mungkin kita tidak khawatir jika ada begitu banyak ketidakpastian.

TUHAN :Ketidakpastian itu tidak bisa dihindari. Tapi kekhawatiran adalah sebuah pilihan.

PEMUDA:Tapi, begitu banyak rasa sakit karena ketidakpastian.

TUHAN :Rasa sakit tidak bisa dihindari, tetapi penderitaan adalah sebuah pilihan.

PEMUDA:Jika penderitaan itu pilihan, mengapa orang baik selalu menderita?

TUHAN :Intan tidak dapat diasah tanpa gesekan. Emas tidak dapat dimurnikan tanpa api. Orang baik melewati rintangan, tanpa menderita. Dengan pengalaman itu, hidup mereka menjadi lebih baik, bukan sebaliknya.

PEMUDA:Maksudnya pengalaman pahit itu berguna?

TUHAN :Ya.Dari segala sisi, pengalaman adalah guru yang keras. Guru pengalaman memberi ujian dulu, baru pemahamannya.

PEMUDA:Tetapi, mengapa kami harus melalui semua ujian itu? Mengapa kami tidak dapat hidup bebas dari masalah?

TUHAN :Masalah adalah rintangan yang ditujukan untuk meningkatkan kekuatan mental. Kekuatan dari dalam diri bisa keluar melalui perjuangan dan rintangan, bukan dari berleha-leha.

PEMUDA:Sejujurnya, di tengah segala persoalan ini, kami tidak tahu kemana harus melangkah...

TUHAN :Jika kamu melihat ke luar, maka kamu tidak akan tahu kemana kamu melangkah.Lihatlah ke dalam. Melihat ke luar, kamu bermimpi. Melihat ke dalam, kamu terjaga. Mata memberimu penglihatan. Hati memberimu arah.

PEMUDA:Kadang-kadang ketidakberhasilan membuatku menderita. Apa yang dapat saya lakukan?

TUHAN :Keberhasilan adalah ukuran yang dibuat oleh orang lain. Kepuasan adalah ukuran yang dibuat olehmu sendiri. Mengetahui tujuan perjalanan akan terasa lebih memuaskan daripada mengetahui bahwa kau sedang berjalan. Bekerjalah dengan kompas, biarkan orang lain berkejaran dengan waktu.

PEMUDA:Di dalam saat-saat sulit, bagaimana saya bisa tetap termotivasi?

TUHAN :Selalulah melihat sudah berapa jauh saya berjalan, daripada masih berapa jauh saya harus berjalan.S elalu hitung yang harus kau syukuri, jangan hitung apa yang tidak kau peroleh.

PEMUDA:Apa yang menarik dari manusia?

TUHAN :Jika menderita, mereka bertanya "Mengapa harus aku?".J ika mereka bahagia, tidak ada yang pernah bertanya "Mengapa harus aku?"

PEMUDA:Kadangkala saya bertanya, siapa saya, mengapa saya di sini?

TUHAN :Jangan mencari siapa kamu, tapi tentukanlah ingin menjadi apa kamu.Berhentilah mencari mengapa saya di sini.C iptakan tujuan itu. Hidup bukanlah proses pencarian, tapi sebuah proses penciptaan.

PEMUDA:Bagaimana saya bisa mendapatkan yang terbaik dalam hidup ini?

TUHAN :Hadapilah masa lalumu tanpa penyesalan.Peganglah saat ini dengan keyakinan. Siapkan masa depan tanpa rasa takut.

PEMUDA :Pertanyaan terakhir, Tuhan. Seringkali saya merasa doa-doaku tidak dijawab.

TUHAN :Tidak ada doa yang tidak dijawab.S eringkali jawabannya adalah TIDAK.

PEMUDA:Terima kasih Tuhan atas chatting yang indah ini.

TUHAN :Oke. Teguhlah dalam iman, dan buanglah rasa takut.H idup adalah misteri untuk dipecahkan, bukan masalah untuk diselesaikan. Percayalah padaKu. Hidup itu indah jika kamu tahu cara untuk hidup..........

TUHAN has signed out

Where were you, God, when my son needed you?

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'
The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.' Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep. It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said :

, 'Dear Mom

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You' . I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you.

God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.


( Let's see Satan stop this one. ) Take 60 seconds and repost this, within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers to pray to God for each other. Then sit back and feel the Holy Spirit work in your life for doing what you know God loves 'When you're down to nothing, God is up to something.'

Syukur dan terima kasih kepada Tuhan atas bantuannya program Seminar Who Am I setakat ini berjalan agak lancar dari pelbagai segi.

Bagi saya sendiri di bahagian Publikasi, banyak bantuan yang diperolehi dari rakan-rakan Tim untuk menjayakan program ini dari aspek promosi. Buah fikiran untuk membuat poster dan borang pendaftaran telah berjaya disiapkan dalam dalam edaran ketika ini.

Untuk pengetahuan Tim yang lain, baru tadi saya menyerahkan poster untuk diletakkan di papan kenyataan Financial Park. Dalam perkiraan kemungkinaan poster ini tidak dibenarkan sama sekali. Tetapi mukjizat Tuhan sentiasa ada dan yang pasti Dia beserta dengan saya sebentar tadi. Apa yang ingin saya katakan sini adalah, bukan sahaja poster itu dibenarkan untuk dilekatkan di papan kenyataan berdekatan Parkson dan Maybank, malah sebarang bayaran untuk itu tidak dikenakan, ulang suara lagi, tiada bayaran untuk promosi di Financial Park.

Lagi satu, saya cuma mahu benda itu berada di papan kenyataan bagi tempoh 2 minggu tetapi sekali lagi bisikan Yesus telah didengari wanita yang bertugas (boy, buli tahan juga lawanya tapi inda tau namanya) dan semamangnya dia Katolik dan sempat bertanya seminar apakah ini, mengeluh kerana lama tidka ke gereja pergi sembahyang, dan macam-macam lagi pertanyaan yang dikemukan, sikit lagi sia 'hancur' tadi inda dapat jawap, tapi terjawap jugalah.

Berbalik kepada cerita tempoh akhir poster itu mahu dilekatkan..... seperti yang sia bilang tadi, sia mahu 2 minggu saja, tapi dia agak berkeras (secara lembut begia) "sia tanya betul-betul ni, ko mau sampai bila?" dia bilang.... emmm jawapan yang sama juga bah sia kasih iaitu 2 minggu tapi dia bilang bagus kasih simpan sampai 11 Julai 2009. (Nah dalam otak sia, mati kudasai lah ni mau membayar kunun sebab kalau sampai tarikh tu lebih kurang ada 6 minggu lagi, jadi kalau seminggu RM3 untuk satu poster, jadi sia kena bayar RM36 untuk dua poster bagi 6 minggu) Sebab macam masih inda percaya bah sia mau minta resit tapi dia bilang inda payah lah bayar, tulung-tulung untuk penginjilan dia bilang.... terus terkeluh ni lidah, tapi ucapan terima kasih tidak lupa sia bagi lah....

Nah jadi bila kita bekerja bagi Tuhan, pasti akan ada banyak pertolongan yang Dia berikan untuk meringankan keletihan, bebanan, ketakutan, kekosongan dan macam-macam lagi dalam diri kita bah kan....

Jadi sekian sajalah perkongsian sia pada pagi ini, opsss sebelum terlupa,
Selamat Menyambut Pesta Kaamatan untuk semua rakan belia...... (sekejap lagi sia balik kampung sudah ni... ngehehehhe)

Coretan peribadi sebagai satu kenangan terindah: Tapak kaki di pasir pantai

Coretan peribadi sebagai satu kenangan terindah: Tapak kaki di pasir pantai

A Return is requested....You'll see why!

Breakfast at McDonald's.

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!): I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, and 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son? When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE...
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE. There is an Angel sent to watch over you. In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over.

An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart. God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest. Send it back, you'll see why! A Box of gold With a secret inside that has never been told This box is priceless but as I see The treasure inside is precious to me. Today I share this treasure with thee It's the treasure of friendship you've given me.

Puisi Perjalanan ke Emaus

Aku berjalan menuju Emaus
7 mil menjauh dari Yerusalem
Kutinggalkan semuanya
Lelah dan bingung merasuk
Perih rasa tertipu dan terhina

Aku bercakap, aku berdebat
Segala, semua yang telah terjadi
Tapi Dia ku tak lihat
dan segala sesuatu serasa konyol

Tak kusadari
Tuhan ada sertaku
Ia berjalan seperti seorang asing
Tak kukenali suaraNya dan wajahNya
yang mendekat padaku

Sebuah asa telah mati dalam jiwaku
Sebuah perjalanan yang panjang
Sosok pendekar yang kini terluka

Menuju redup remang senja
dan sebuah hari telah berlalu
Tuhan tinggal sertaku, tapi Dia tak kulihat

Sampai Dia semeja denganku
memecah roti setelah memberkati
terbukalah mataku
Oh, itu Dia!T

Kini dari pandanganku Dia menghilang
Tapi kobar api Dia nyalakan di hatiku
Bangkitlah aku saat itu juga
menuju Yerusalem…


( Lukas 24:13-43)

Jesus Christ has risen from the dead!

This is the most wonderful news in the universe — that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins and was raised from the dead three days later. Jesus was crucified and died to pay the penalty for our sins on Good Friday, almost 2,000 years ago. His body was placed in a tomb and a large stone was rolled to block the entrance to the tomb and soldiers guarded the tomb.

Three days later, on the day we celebrate as Easter Sunday, Christ rose from the dead! The soldiers shook for fear and ran, and the stone was rolled away from the tomb. Jesus appeared to His disciples; He was now miraculously alive! Jesus conquered sin and fear and death. Even the grave had no power over Him.

So this day, let us celebrate that Jesus died for our sins and then was raised from the dead. He has risen into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God His Father. All of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have been given the gift of eternal life. Praise the Lord for His goodness and love.

So this week, let us pray and

* Thank God for sending His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins
* Praise the Lord that Jesus has risen from the dead
* Pray that people all over the world will come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
* Pray that God will bless and protect us.

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. They mean so much to us. Some day we can all meet together in heaven and rejoice together. For now we can meet by email and talk to each other — and praise the Lord that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.

May God bless you,

Your friends

Pesanan Bapa Suci Benedick 16 Sempena Hari Belia Sedunia ke-XXIII April 2009

“KITA MENARUH PENGHARAPAN KITA
KEPADA ALLAH YANG HIDUP”
(1 Tim 4:10)

Para sahabat yang saya kasihi,

Pada Minggu Palma nanti kita akan merayakan Hari Belia Sedunia yang ke-24 yang akan dirayakan di peringkat diosis masing-masing. Dalam persiapan kita ini, saya ingat kembali saat-saat pertemuan kita di Sydney pada bulan Julai tahun lalu. Ia merupakan satu pertemuan yang tidak dapat dilupakan dimana Roh Kudus membaharui hidup kaum muda yang datang begitu ramai dari seluruh pelusuk dunia.

Dalam masa beberapa hari tersebut, kehadiran Roh Kristus ternyata dalam kegembiraan dan keghairahan yang dialami semasa perayaan. Kini, kita berjalan menuju ke pertemuan antarabangsa yang akan diadakan di Madrid pada tahun 2011, yang akan mengambil tema dari kata-kata Santo Paulus “Berakar dan dibangunkan di atas Kristus Yesus, bertambah teguh dalam iman” (ruj. Kolose 2:7 ). Sambil kita menantikan pertemuan global belia itu, marilah kita mengambil bahagian dalam persiapan ini bersama. Tahun 2009 ini kita mengambil kata-kata dari Santo Paulus : “ Kita menaruh pengharapan kita kepada Allah yang hidup” (1 Tim. 4:10), sementara pada tahun 2010, kita akan merenungkan soalan seorang pemuda kaya yang dikemukakan kepada Yesus “Guru yang baik, apakah yang harus ku perbuat untuk memperolehi hidup yang kekal?” (Markus 10:17)

Belia, Masa Pengharapan
Di Sydney, kita memfokuskan perhatian kita kepada apa yang dikatakan Roh Kudus kepada orang-orang yang percaya pada masa kini, terutamanya kamu, kaum muda-mudi yang saya kasihi. Dalam misa penutup, saya telah menggesa supaya anda membenarkan diri anda dibentuk oleh Dia agar sedia menjadi perutusan kasih ilahi, mampu membangunkan masa depan yang mempunyai harapan bagi bangsa manusia. Pada masa ini, sebagai manusia dan dalam misi kita sebagai Kristian, soalan mengenai harapan merupakan sesuatu yang penting dalam kehidupan kita. Kita semua sedia maklum bahawa kita memerlukan pengharapan, bukan sekadar pengharapan biasa, tetapi sesuatu pengharapan yang teguh dan boleh dipercayai, seperti apa yang saya tekankan di dalam Surat Spe Salvi (Harapan Penyelamatan). Zaman muda merupakan masa istimewa untuk berharap kepada sesuatu kerana ia melihat masa depan dengan pelbagai ekspektasi. Dalam usia muda, kita sering mendambakan apa yang ideal, segala impian serta cita-cita. Zaman muda merupakan masa ketika kita akan menghasilkan keputusan berkaitan dengan masa depan kita. Mungkin sebab inilah dalam tempoh ini, soalan-soalan penting mendesak mereka berfikir: Mengapa saya berada di dunia ini? Apakah erti hidup ini? Apakah yang akan terjadi dalam hidup saya kelak? Dan lagi: Bagaimana saya boleh mengecap kebahagiaan? Mengapa wujud kesengsaraan, kesakitan dan kematian? Apakah yang menanti kita selepas kematian? Persoalan-persoalan ini menjadi mendesak apabila kita menghadapi rintangan-rintangan yang kadangkala tidak dapat diatasi: masalah dalam pembelajaran, pengangguran, pertengkaran dalam keluarga, krisis dalam persahabatan atau membina kasihsayang dalam hubungan, sakit atau tidak terdaya, sumber yang tidak mencukupi akibat daripada krisis ekonomi dan sosial yang berleluasa. Kemudian kita tanya diri sendiri: Di manakah saya boleh mendapatkan pengharapan dan bagaimanakah saya dapat terus menghidupi semarak harapan yang membara di dalam hati saya?

Dalam Pencarian “Pengharapan Agung”
Pengalaman membuktikan bahawa kualiti-kualiti seseorang individu dan kebendaan materil tidak dapat menjaminkan harapan yang dicari oleh roh manusia. Sepertimana yang saya tulis dalam Spe Salvi, politik, sains, teknologi, ekonomi dan semua sumber kebendaan tidak mencukupi untuk memberi pengharapan agung yang kita dambakan. Pengharapan ini “hanya boleh terdapat di dalam Allah saja, yang meliputi segala ciptaan dan yang boleh memberi kepada kita sesuatu yang kita tidak dapat capai dengan usaha sendiri” (no. 31). Inilah sebabnya jika tidak memperdulikan Allah, salah satu akibat utama ialah kehilangan arahtuju dalam masyarakat, mengakibatkan kesepian dan keganasan, ketidakpuasan hati dan hilang keyakinan yang menjurus kepada kehampaan. Sabda Allah mengingatkan dengan lantang dan jelas: ”Terkutuklah orang yang mengandalkan manusia, yang mengandalkan kekuatannya sendiri, dan yang hatinya menjauh daripada Tuhan! Ia akan seperti semak bulus di padang belantara, ia tidak akan mengalami datangnya keadaan baik.” (Yeremia 17:5-6).

Krisis pengharapan lebih banyak menjejaskan generasi muda. Di dalam persekitaran sosio-budaya yang menawarkan beberapa kepastian, nilai-nilai atau titik rujukan yang kukuh, kaum muda menghadapi masalah dan cabaran yang mereka sukar menangani. Sahabat-sahabat muda yang ku kasihi, saya teringat dengan rakan-rakan sebaya kamu yang telah dilukai oleh pengalaman hidup. Mereka selalu menderita akibat ketidakmatangan peribadi yang disebabkan oleh keadaan keluarga yang tidak menentu, oleh elemen-elemen yang terlalu permisif dan bebas dalam pendidikan mereka, serta oleh pengalaman yang susah dan penuh trauma. Bagi sesetengah – malangnya dalam jumlah yang besar – mereka mencari jalan keluar dengan tingkah-laku yang ganas dan berbahaya, ketagihan dadah dan alkohol, dan banyak lagi jerat-
jerat lain. Walau demikian, keinginan terhadap kasihsayang yang tulin dan kegembiraan yang sejati masih belum terpadam dalam diri mereka, meski pun mereka berada di dalam situasi yang sukar atau telah disesatkan oleh pengaruh-pengaruh yang tidak baik. Namun bagaimanakah kita dapat berbicara mengenai pengharapan ini kepada para muda-mudi yang sedemikian? Kita tahu bahawa hanya di dalam Tuhan seseorang insan menemui kepenuhan yang sejati. Tugas utama kita ialah untuk memulakan penginjilan baru yang bertujuan untuk membantu para muda-mudi untuk menemukan semula wajah Allah yang benar, iaitu Kasih. Kepada anda para kaum muda yang sedang mencari suatu pengharapan yang kukuh, saya menanggapi semula kata-kata Santo Paulus yang ditulis kepada orang-orang Kristian di Roma yang menghadapi penganiayaan pada masa itu: “Semoga Ia mengisi hatimu dengan segala sukacita dan sejahtera karena kalian percaya kepada-Nya, supaya dengan kuasa Roh Allah, kalian semakin berharap kepada Allah”. (Roma 15:13) Semasa tahun jubli yang didedikasikan kepada Santo Paulus, Rasul kepada orang-orang kafir, sempena dua ribu tahun peristiwa kelahiranNya, marilah kita belajar daripadanya bagaimana menjadi saksi-saksi pengharapan Kristiani yang boleh dipercayai.

Santo Paulus, saksi kepada pengharapan
Ketika Paulus berdepan dengan kesusahan dan pelbagai cobaan, dia telah menulis kepada Timothy pengikutnya yang setia: “Kita menaruh pengharapan kita kepada Allah yang hidup” (1 Tim 4:10). Bagaimanakah pengharapan ini bertumbuh di dalam dirinya? Untuk menjawab soalan tersebut, kita selami pertemuannya dengan Yesus yang telah bangkit semasa dalam perjalanannya ke Damsik. Ketika itu, Saulus adalah seorang muda seperti anda sekitar usia awal 20-an, seorang pengikut setia kepada Taurat Musa dan bertekad untuk berjuang dengan apa cara sekalipun, termasuklah membunuh mereka yang dianggapnya musuh Allah (ruj. Kisah 9:1).

Semasa dalam perjalanannya ke Damsik untuk menangkap pengikut-pengikut Kristus, matanya dikaburi dengan satu cahaya misteri dan dia mendengar namanya dipanggil: “Saulus, Saulus, mengapa kamu menganiaya Aku?” Saulus jatuh ke tanah dan bertanya: “Siapakah engkau, Tuhan?” Cahaya itu menjawab: “Akulah Yesus yang engkau aniaya itu” (Kisah 9:3-5). Selepas pertemuan itu, kehidupan Paulus berubah dengan drastiknya. Dia menerima permandian dan menjadi seorang Rasul kepada Injil. Dalam perjalanannya ke Damsik, Paulus telah diperbaharui secara dalaman berkat daripada cintakasih yang dia temui di dalam peribadi Yesus Kristus. Dia kemudian menulis: “Hidupku yang kuhidupi sekarang di dalam daging, adalah hidup oleh iman dalam anak Allah yang telah mengasihi aku dan menyerahkan diri-Nya untuk aku.” (Gal 2:20). Dari seorang penyeksa, dia menjadi seorang saksi Kristus dan missionari. Dia menubuhkan dan membangunkan komuniti Kristian di Asia Barat dan Greece, dan telah mengembara beribu batu, mengharungi pelbagai seksaan, sehinggalah dia dihukum mati sebagai ‘Martir’ di Roma. Semua ini dilakukannya demi kasihnya kepada Kristus.


Pengharapan Agung berada di dalam Kristus
Bagi Paulus, pengharapan bukan sekadar sesuatu yang ideal atau emosi semata-mata, tetapi seorang yang hidup, iaitu Yesus Kristus, Putera Allah. Dengan penuh inspirasi yang pasti ini, dia menulis kepada Timotius: “Kita menaruh pengharapan kita kepada Allah yang hidup” ( 1 Tim 4: 10 ). “Allah yang hidup” ialah Kristus yang telah bangkit dan hadir di dunia kita. Dialah pengharapan yang benar: Kristus yang hidup bersama kita dan tinggal di dalam kita, dan yang memanggil kita untuk turut serta dalam kehidupan-Nya yang kekal. Jika kita tidak sendirian, jika Dia bersama kita, apata lagi jika Dia adalah kehidupan sekarang dan masa depan kita, mengapakah kita harus takut?

Justru itu, pengharapan bagi orang-orang Kristian ialah menginginkan “kerajaan syurgawi dan kehidupan kekal sebagai kebahagiaan kita, dengan meletakkan kepercayaan kita kepada janji-janji Kristus dan tidak bergantung kepada kekuatan kita sendiri, melainkan kepada bantuan dan rahmat Roh Kudus” (Katekesmus Gereja Katolik, 1817)

Jalan menuju ke pengharapan agung
Sebagaimana Yesus pernah bertemu dengan Paulus, Yesus juga mahu bertemu dengan setiap kamu, para kaum muda yang saya kasihi. Sungguhnya Yesus Kristus lebih dahulu ingin berjumpa dengan kita sebelum kita mahu bertemu dengan-Nya. Tetapi mungkin ada di antara kamu yang akan menanyakan saya: Bagaimana saya dapat bertemu dengan-Nya hari ini? Atau, dalam cara apakah Yesus mendekati saya? Gereja mengajar kita bahawa keinginan untuk bertemu dengan Tuhan sudah merupakan buah rahmat-Nya. Apabila kita menyatakan iman kita di dalam doa, kita dapat menemukan-Nya walaupun dalam masa kegelapan kerana Dia telah mempersembahkan Diri-Nya kepada kita. Doa yang tak putus-putus akan membukakan hati untuk menerima-Nya, seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Santo Augustin: “Tuhan dan Allah kita ... mahukan supaya keinginan kita dilatih dalam doa, yang memungkinkan kita menerima apa yang disediakan untuk diberikan kepada kita,” (Surat 130:8, 17). Doa adalah kurnia Roh Kudus yang menjadikan kita lelaki dan wanita yang mempunyai harapan, dan doa kita membolehkan dunia ini terbuka kepada Allah (Ruj. Spe Salvi, 34).

Berilah ruang untuk berdoa dalam hidup anda! Berdoa secara peribadi adalah baik, akan tetapi ia lebih indah dan menghasilkan buah untuk berdoa bersama, kerana Tuhan telah meyakinkan kita bahawa Dia akan hadir di mana dua atau tiga orang berkumpul di atas namaNya (Mt 18:20).

Ada banyak cara untuk mengeratkan hubungan dengan Tuhan. Terdapat pengalaman-pengalaman, perkumpulan dan pergerakan, pertemuan dan kursus di mana kita boleh belajar berdoa dan seterusnya mengembangkan
pengalaman mengenai iman. Ambil bahagianlah di dalam liturgi paroki anda dan semoga anda disegarkan oleh Sabda Tuhan serta penyertaan yang aktif di dalam Sakramen. Seperti yang anda tahu, kemuncak dan titik kehidupan serta misi bagi setiap yang percaya pada Dia dan setiap komuniti Kristian ialah Ekaristi, sakramen penyelamatan di mana Kristus hadir dan menyerahkan tubuh dan darahNya sebagai makan rohani bagi kehidupan kekal. Sungguh, suatu misteri yang tidak terkata! Menerusi Ekaristi, Gereja dilahirkan dan berkembang – keluarga Kristian yang besar yang kita sertai melalui pembaptisan dan di mana kita senantiasa diperbaharui melalui Sakramen Perdamaian. Melalui Sakramen Penguatan, orang-orang yang dibaptis telah dikuatkan di dalam Roh Kudus agar dapat hidup sebagai sahabat-sahabat sejati serta saksi-saksi Kristus. Sakramen Tahbisan dan Perkahwinan membolehkan mereka mencapai tugasan kerasulan mereka di Gereja mahupun di dunia. Dan yang terakhir, Sakramen Pengurapan Orang Sakit yang memberi kita pengalaman penghiburan ilahi walau dalam kesakitan dan kesengsaraan.

Bertindak sesuai dengan pengharapan Kristian
Para belia yang saya kasihi, jika kamu menemukan erti kehidupan dalam Kristus, dan jika kamu hidup berpusatkankan Dia seperti Rasul Paulus, kamu tidak akan dapat berhenti mewartakan tentang Dia serta membuat Dia dikenali dan dikasihi oleh kawan-kawan serta rakan sebaya anda. Jadilah pengikut Kristus yang setia, dan dengan itu kamu boleh membentuk komuniti Kristian yang dipenuhi dengan cinta kasih, seperti yang dinyatakan di dalam Kisah Para Rasul. Gereja bergantung kepada kamu dalam misi yang mencabar ini. Jangan mudah tawar hati apabila anda menghadapi kesusahan dan percobaan. Bersabar dan bertabahlah agar anda tidak cepat membuat keputusan dan menginginkan segala sesuatu dengan segera.
Para sahabat yang saya kasihi, ikutilah teladan Paulus dan bersaksilah tentang Kristus yang bangkit. Bawalah Yesus kepada rakan sebaya kamu dan kepada yang lain, kepada mereka yang sedang mencari “pengharapan agung” yang akan memberi makna kepada kehidupan mereka. Jika Yesus telah menjadi sumber harapan anda, beritahulah hal ini kepada orang lain dengan gembira serta penglibatan anda dalam isu kerohanian, kerasulan dan sosial. Benarkanlah Kristus tinggal di dalam anda. Setelah anda menaruh segala iman dan harapan kepada Dia, sibarkanlah pengharapan ini kepada mereka di sekitar anda. Buatlah pilihan yang menyatakan iman anda. Tunjukkanlah yang kamu mengerti risikonya jika seseorang itu terlalu mengagungkan wang ringgit, kebendaan, karier dan kejayaan; dan jangan benarkan diri anda terpikat kepada ilusi yang palsu ini. Janganlah menyerah diri pada keadaan yang hanya mahu mencari keuntungan diri sendiri. Samaikan semangat cinta kasih kepada sesama dan gunakan diri anda, bakat serta kebolehan profesional anda demi melayani kebaikkan bersama dan kebenaran. Bersedialah selalu untuk “memberi pertanggungan jawab kepada tiap-tiap orang yang meminta pertanggungan jawab dari kamu tentang pengharapan yang ada padamu” (1 Petrus 3:15). Kristian yang tulin tidak akan merasa sedih walaupun mereka berdepan dengan bermacam dugaan, sebab kehadiran Yesus merupakan rahsia kegembiraan dan kedamaian hati mereka.

Maria, Bonda Pengharapan
Semoga Santo Paulus menjadi contoh dalam menjalani hidup pelayanan mu. Dia menyegarkan kehidupannya dalam iman dan pengharapan yang kekal dengan melihat ke arah Abraham yang telah ditulisnya dalam surat yang diutus kepada orang-orang di Roma: “sebab sekalipun tidak ada dasar untuk berharap, namun Abraham berharap juga dan percaya, bahwa ia akan menjadi bapa banyak bangsa, menurut yang telah difirmankan: Demikianlah banyaknya nanti keturunanmu” (Rom 4:18). Dengan mengikuti jejak bangsa yang punya harapan, yang terdiri daripada para dan sangti sepanjang zaman, kita terus maju untuk memenuhi kerajaan Allah, dan dalam perjalanan rohani ini, kita ditemani oleh Perawan Maria, Bonda pengharapan. Beliau yang melahirkan semula harapan orang-orang Israel, yang telah memberikan dunia ini seorang Juruselamat, yang setia di kaki salib dengan harapan yang teguh, adalah model dan tunjang kita. Di atas semua itu, Maria telah menjadi pengantara untuk kita dan memimpin kita melepasi dugaan-dugaan kita ke arah pertemuan kita dengan Yesus yang Bangkit.

Sahabat muda yang terkasih, saya ingin mengakhiri utusan ini dengan doa Santo Benard yang indah dan terkenal ini, yang diilhamkan oleh salah satu gelaran Maria, Stella Maris, Bintang Lautan: “Ditengah-tengah cabaran hidup, anda mendapati diri anda dilanda oleh ribut taufan dan bukan berdiri di atas daratan yang teguh. Jika anda tidak ingin ditenggelami oleh ombak yang bergelora, jangan sekali-kali memalingkan wajahmu daripada sinar cahaya Bintang ini. Jika bayu godaan melanda, jika jatuh di atas batu-batu penyeksaan, pandanglah ke arah Bintang, berserulah kepada Maria...Dalam bahaya, kesedihan, kebingungan, ingatlah akan Maria, serulah padanya...ikutilah teladannya, anda tidak akan tesesat. Bila anda memohon bantuannya, anda tidak akan pernah kecewa. Dengan mengingatinya, anda tidak akan terpesong. Dalam naungannya, anda tidak akan hilang arah. Di bawah perlindungannya anda tidak akan takut. Dengan bimbingannya. anda tidak akan letih-lesu. Dengan bantuannya, anda akan sampai ke pelabuhan dengan selamat...” ( Homili Memuji Bonda Perawan, 2:17 )

Maria Bintang Lautan, kami mohon bimbinganmu bagi semua kaum muda di seluruh dunia agar mereka bertemu dengan Putera Ilahi mu, Yesus. Jadilah rahmat pelindung dalam kesetiaan mereka terhadap Injil dan dalam harapan mereka.

Para sahabat belia yang saya kasihi, yakinlah bahwa saya akan mengingati kalian dalam doa harian saya. Saya memberi berkat dengan sepenuh hati saya kepada anda semua dan mereka yang anda sayangi.

Daripada Vatican, 22 Februari 2009

BENEDICTUS PP, XVI

Message Of The Holy Father Benedict XVI

To The Young People Of The World
On The Occasion Of
The XXIV World Youth Day, 2009

We have set our hope on the living God" (1 Tim 4:10)

My dear friends,

Next Palm Sunday we shall celebrate the twenty-fourth World Youth Day at the diocesan level. As we prepare for this annual event, I recall with deep gratitude to the Lord the meeting held in Sydney in July last year. It was a most memorable encounter, during which the Holy Spirit renewed the lives of countless young people who had come together from all over the world. The joy of celebration and spiritual enthusiasm experienced during those few days was an eloquent sign of the presence of the Spirit of Christ. Now we are journeying towards the international gathering due to take place in Madrid in 2011, which will have as its theme the words of the Apostle Paul: "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith" (cf. Col 2:7). As we look forward to that global youth meeting, let us undertake a path of preparation together. We take as our text for the year 2009 a saying of Saint Paul: "We have set our hope on the living God" (1 Tim 4:10), while in 2010 we will reflect on the question put to Jesus by the rich young man: "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mk 10:17)

Youth, a time of hope

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In Sydney, our attention was focused upon what the Holy Spirit is saying to believers today, and in particular to you, my dear young people. During the closing Mass, I urged you to let yourselves be shaped by him in order to be messengers of divine love, capable of building a future of hope for all humanity. The question of hope is truly central to our lives as human beings and our mission as Christians, especially in these times. We are all aware of the need for hope, not just any kind of hope, but a firm and reliable hope, as I wanted to emphasize in the Encyclical Spe Salvi. Youth is a special time of hope because it looks to the future with a whole range of expectations. When we are young we cherish ideals, dreams and plans. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition. Perhaps this is why it is the time of life when fundamental questions assert themselves strongly: Why am I here on earth? What is the meaning of life? What will my life be like? And again: How can I attain happiness? Why is there suffering, illness and death? What lies beyond death? These are questions that become insistent when we are faced with obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable: difficulties with studies, unemployment, family arguments, crises in friendships or in building good loving relationships, illness or disability, lack of adequate resources as a result of the present widespread economic and social crisis. We then ask ourselves: where can I obtain and how can I keep alive the flame of hope burning in my heart?

In search of "the great hope"

Experience shows that personal qualities and material goods are not enough to guarantee the hope which the human spirit is constantly seeking. As I wrote in the Encyclical Spe Salvi, politics, science, technology, economics and all other material resources are not of themselves sufficient to provide the great hope to which we all aspire. This hope "can only be God, who encompasses the whole of reality and who can bestow upon us what we, by ourselves, cannot attain" (no. 31). This is why one of the main consequences of ignoring God is the evident loss of direction that marks our societies, resulting in loneliness and violence, discontent and loss of confidence that can often lead to despair. The word of God issues a warning that is loud and clear: "Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes" (Jer 17:5-6).

The crisis of hope is more likely to affect the younger generations. In socio-cultural environments with few certainties, values or firm points of reference, they find themselves facing difficulties that seem beyond their strength. My dear young friends, I have in mind so many of your contemporaries who have been wounded by life. They often suffer from personal immaturity caused by dysfunctional family situations, by permissive and libertarian elements in their education, and by difficult and traumatic experience. For some - unfortunately a significant number - the almost unavoidable way out involves an alienating escape into dangerous and violent behavior, dependence on drugs and alcohol, and many other such traps for the unwary. Yet, even for those who find themselves in difficult situations, having been led astray by bad role models, the desire for true love and authentic happiness is not extinguished. But how can we speak of this hope to those young people? We know that it is in God alone that a human person finds true fulfillment. The main task for us all is that of a new evangelization aimed at helping younger generations to rediscover the true face of God, who is Love. To you young people, who are in search of a firm hope, I address the very words that Saint Paul wrote to the persecuted Christians in Rome at that time: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:13). During this Jubilee Year dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles on the occasion of the two thousandth anniversary of his birth, let us learn from him how to become credible witnesses of Christian hope.

Saint Paul, witness of hope

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When Paul found himself immersed in difficulties and trials of various kinds, he wrote to his faithful disciple Timothy: "We have set our hope on the living God" (1 Tim 4:10). How did this hope take root in him? In order to answer that question we must go back to his encounter with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. At that time, Saul was a young person like you in his early twenties, a follower of the Law of Moses and determined to fight with every means, and even to kill those he regarded as God's enemies (cf. Acts 9:1). While on his way to Damascus to arrest the followers of Christ, he was blinded by a mysterious light and he heard himself called by name: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He fell to the ground, and asked: "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:3-5). After that encounter, Paul's life changed radically. He received Baptism and became an Apostle of the Gospel. On the road to Damascus, he was inwardly transformed by the Divine Love he had met in the person of Jesus Christ. He would later write: "The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20). From being a persecutor, he became a witness and a missionary. He founded Christian communities in Asia Minor and Greece, and travelled thousands of miles amid all kinds of perils, culminating in his martyrdom in Rome. All this for love of Christ.

The great hope is in Christ

For Paul, hope is not simply an ideal or sentiment, but a living person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Profoundly imbued with this certainty, he could write to Timothy: "We have set our hope on the living God" (1 Tim 4:10). The "living God" is the Risen Christ present in our world. He is the true hope: the Christ who lives with us and in us and who calls us to share in his eternal life. If we are not alone, if he is with us, even more, if he is our present and our future, why be afraid? A Christian's hope is therefore to desire "the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1817).

The way towards the great hope

Just as he once encountered the young Paul, Jesus also wants to encounter each one of you, my dear young people. Indeed, even before we desire it, such an encounter is ardently desired by Jesus Christ. But perhaps some of you might ask me: How can I meet him today? Or rather, in what way does he approach me? The Church teaches us that the desire to encounter the Lord is already a fruit of his grace. When we express our faith in prayer, we find him even in times of darkness because he offers himself to us. Persevering prayer opens the heart to receive him, as Saint Augustine explains: "Our Lord and God ... wants our desire to be exercised in prayer, thus enabling us to grasp what he is preparing to give" (Letter 130:8,17). Prayer is the gift of the Spirit that makes us men and women of hope, and our prayer keeps the world open to God (cf. Spe Salvi, 34).

3

Make space for prayer in your lives! To pray alone is good, although it is even more beautiful and fruitful to pray together, because the Lord assured us he would be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name (cf. Mt 18:20). There are many ways to become acquainted with him. There are experiences, groups and movements, encounters and courses in which to learn to pray and thus grow in the experience of faith. Take part in your parish liturgies and be abundantly nourished by the word of God and your active participation in the Sacraments. As you know, the summit and centre of the life and mission of every believer and every Christian community is the Eucharist, the sacrament of salvation in which Christ becomes present and gives his Body and Blood as spiritual food for eternal life. A truly ineffable mystery! It is around the Eucharist that the Church comes to birth and grows - that great family of Christians which we enter through Baptism, and in which we are constantly renewed through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The baptized, through Confirmation, are then confirmed in the Holy Spirit so as to live as authentic friends and witnesses of Christ. The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony enable them to accomplish their apostolic duties in the Church and in the world. Finally, the Sacrament of the Sick grants us an experience of divine consolation in illness and suffering.

Acting in accordance with Christian hope

If you find your sustenance in Christ, my dear young people, and if you live profoundly in him as did the Apostle Paul, you will not be able to resist speaking about him and making him known and loved by many of your friends and contemporaries. Be his faithful disciples, and in that way you will be able to help form Christian communities that are filled with love, like those described in the Acts of the Apostles. The Church depends on you for this demanding mission. Do not be discouraged by the difficulties and trials you encounter. Be patient and persevering so as to overcome the natural youthful tendency to rush ahead and to want everything immediately.

My dear friends, follow the example of Paul and be witnesses to the Risen Christ! Make Christ known, among your own age group and beyond, to those who are in search of "the great hope" that would give meaning to their lives. If Jesus has become your hope, communicate this to others with your joy and your spiritual, apostolic and social engagement. Let Christ dwell within you, and having placed all your faith and trust in him, spread this hope around you. Make choices that demonstrate your faith. Show that you understand the risks of idolizing money, material goods, career and success, and do not allow yourselves to be attracted by these false illusions. Do not yield to the rationale of selfish interests. Cultivate love of neighbor and try to put yourselves and your human talents and professional abilities at the service of the common good and of truth, always prepared to "make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet 3:15). True Christians are never sad, even if they have to face trials of various kinds, because the presence of Jesus is the secret of their joy and peace.

Mary, Mother of hope

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May Saint Paul be your example on this path of apostolic life. He nourished his life of constant faith and hope by looking to Abraham, of whom he wrote in the Letter to the Romans: "Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become the father of many nations" (Rom 4:18). Following in the footsteps of the people of hope - composed of prophets and saints of every age - we continue to advance towards the fulfillment of the Kingdom, and on this spiritual path we are accompanied by the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope. She who incarnated the hope of Israel, who gave the world its Savior, and who remained at the foot of the Cross with steadfast hope, is our model and our support. Most of all, Mary intercedes for us and leads us through the darkness of our trials to the radiant dawn of an encounter with the Risen Christ. I would like to conclude this message, my dear young friends, with a beautiful and well-known prayer by Saint Bernard that was inspired by one of Mary's titles, Stella Maris, Star of the Sea: "You who amid the constant upheavals of this life find yourself more often tossed about by storms than standing on firm ground, do not turn your eyes from the brightness of this Star, if you would not be overwhelmed by boisterous waves. If the winds of temptations rise, if you fall among the rocks of tribulations, look up at the Star, call on Mary ... In dangers, in distress, in perplexities, think on Mary, call on Mary ... Following her, you will never go astray; when you implore her aid, you will never yield to despair; thinking on her, you will not err; under her patronage you will never wander; beneath her protection you will not fear; she being your guide, you will not weary; with her assistance, you will arrive safely in the port" (Homilies in Praise of the Virgin Mother, 2:17).

Mary, Star of the Sea, we ask you to guide the young people of the whole world to an encounter with your Divine Son Jesus. Be the celestial guardian of their fidelity to the Gospel and of their hope.

Dear young friends, be assured that I remember all of you every day in my prayers. I give my heartfelt blessing to you and to all who are dear to you.

From the Vatican, 22 February 2009

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI