Youth with a purpose

Galatians 3:26-29 & 4:6 - 7; Luke 4:16 - 21

Today the church remembers William Wilberforce. I wonder how many of you know who he is. He was a reformer. He grew up surrounded by wealth. He wasn’t a serious student but educated at St. John's College at Cambridge. He was a man with a purpose. 

Two causes caught his attention. One the issue of slavery. He saw it as wickedness. And he made up his mind that it has to be abolished. As a young parliamentarian 30 years, he faced much opposition and he was vilified. Yet he did not give up. One of his friends feared that he would be broiled by Indian planters, barbecued by African merchants. His antislavery efforts bore fruit in 1807. That was an impact he had on the world.

His second interest was the "reformation of manners," that is, morals. At the age of 28 he started a society for the Suppression of Vice.  He gave away one-quarter of his annual income to the poor. He fought on behalf of chimney sweeps, single mothers, Sunday schools, orphans, and juvenile. He helped found parachurch groups like the Society for Bettering the Cause of the Poor, the Church Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Antislavery Society.

He also promoted education in Sri Lanka through a parliament bill. 

Paul writing to the Galatians (3.26-29, 4.6-7), says, You are all God's children, through faith and through baptism. Therefore clothed with Christ. And so an heir." Now this is God's goal for every follower of Jesus - a life that reveals Jesus to the world. 

As a young man Jesus shows how it can be done - That is by  becoming involved in the work of God. 

What is it that Jesus did? What was his mission? In Luke 4.16-21 we see Jesus spell out his purpose - Mission in the midst of the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed. So we see that his life too had purpose - to heal hearts, meet needs and give hope.

William Wilberforce as a young man had a burden and a purpose for life that got him involved in the mission of Jesus. What are you the young people of our Diocese burdened for? What is your purpose in life? Is your life all about you? What do you want the Youth Movement of the Diocese of Colombo to be known for to stand for?  Lets reflect.

May the good Lord Jesus disturb you as youth and the youth movement and give you courage to make you a true youth movement to make the mission of Jesus your mission - a mission that heals, meets needs and gives hope to people living in hopelessness within the church and the community we live in, through word and action.

May God bless you all.

Reflection shared at the CCYM AGM 31st July,2022