By Emilie Ng
FRIENDS have often told me if there were ever a search for the human Energiser Bunny, I’d make a great contender.
My extroverted nature helps, but so does the supernatural.
In 2007 I spent a year in Sydney volunteering with the Youth Mission Team.
On Mondays and Tuesdays I would wake up at 5.30am to spend 30 minutes in the Scriptures and 10 minutes putting on work clothes.
My household and I would rush out the door about 6.15am to make the 6.45am Mass in the next suburb.
Research has shown that when you prepare your body for prayer or meditation, in the way you sit and breathe, you become more relaxed.
At this early stage of the morning, I was more than relaxed – I was on the verge of sleeping.
My attempt to wake up naturally was in poor form.
My last percentage of energy went into a prayer to the Holy Spirit to fill me with His energy, to turn me from a zombie to a civilised human being with vitality and life.
Never underestimate God’s supernatural power.
Everytime I said this prayer, I walked out of Mass revitalised, like a child who insists at midnight that it’s playtime, not bedtime.
I was ready to tackle the day with a new energy, but only because I sought supernatural gifts that only God can give.
I believe that this is what the Church needs today – to seek God daily for new ways and energy to tackle the problems, challenges and concerns we are now facing as the Body of Christ.
I’m not alone in my thinking.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge has also seen a need to unleash new energy into the Church, and he’s asked young people to be a crucial part in that.
It’s an opportunity for young people, for me, to share my thoughts about what it means to be a young Catholic.
In my opinion, being a young Catholic today is difficult
It’s not just the world that tempts me to be half-hearted in my faith, but half-hearted Catholics whom as Pope Francis said, have one foot out the door and one in the Church.
These Catholics agitate the faithful with their skewed and distorted understandings of the faith and unfortunately, many people take their word over the Word.
It’s a draining task to try and filter what is theologically correct and what is heresy.
But not many young people would not even know the differences, or are led to believe the differences don’t exist.
It’s not their fault. It’s the fact that there are Catholics who have forgotten the struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Yes, they might know their faith, but theirs is a washed-out, defensive line of thought that does not produce new energy, but rather maintains old grudges and discontentment.
We need young Catholics who are ready to fight for the faith, not fight against it in an effort to be more open and accepting.
In effect, we need young people to be Catholic.
