SHARING, SOURCE OF JOY

What the mass media reflect and spread at every moment is in no way the totality of the reality of today’s world. There are signs of hope and light. God makes himself present in the small gestures of love, of solidarity, of sharing, of self-giving, of forgetting himself in order to think of those in need. In Jesus, all are brothers. The solidarity of the youth of the Franciscan Youth Ministry of the Mother Cecilia Lazzeri High School of Santiago de Chile, educational institution of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, is an example of this.

In the country, there are still families suffering the consequences of the pandemic - covid 19, job insecurity, low income to cover family expenses. The young people of youth ministry who gathered online during the global health crisis, now take on a commitment - mission, put into practice what they received in their weekly meetings, go to meet each other on the example of Jesus, who looks with compassion at those most in need and shows his love with concrete facts.

First step, open your heart to welcome Jesus and his message: "to love God above all things and your neighbour as yourself". Enlightened by the action of the Holy Spirit that arouses in the soul The desire to do good for the love of God, motivated by the religious responsible for the group, by the support of parents and the college, the solidarity activity is organized: dedicate efforts, enthusiasm and joy to the children of the "Sagrada Familia" Foundation, 200 children divided into two kindergartens, many of them children of migrant parents who, for various reasons, leave their country.

What begins as a small mustard seed, grows. Young people encourage their classmates, from elementary school to high school, to participate in solidarity activities. Each class sponsors a group of children, so that they can ensure each of the children a personal gift, designed and purchased for him. This shows the value of the human being, who is thought by God even in the present of history.

The Word of the Lord illuminates the heart and action of young people " I was naked and you dressed me, sick and visited me..." (Mt 25:36) we dream of sharing with children a new clothing, toiletries or some candy, for this reason it also involves adults, parents, teachers and administrative staff of the college , to be part of this beautiful solidarity activity, and it continues like this, forging the characteristic of this High School.

The perseverance and effort of the youth ministry is also manifested in spending every morning, class by class, to collect gifts, which arrive, little by little; large, medium packages, in boxes or bags, with ribbons and ornaments; everyone strives to best present the gift that bears the name of the recipient.

The culmination of this joint action, like the whole process, is entrusted to the God of life. The youth of the youth ministry, on the day of the delivery of gifts, in interacting with children, become "giants", because their arms, legs, eyes and heart are transformed into the arms, legs, eyes and heart of the Lyceum, because they bring the love of the whole educational community. The enclosure radiates joy and closeness: children, speechless, await these moments of happiness amid so much family poverty. Children living this beautiful experience feel loved, loved by the people around them.

There is more joy in giving than in receiving, Saint Paul says. High school students also receive their gift: the most beautiful gift, the smile and embrace of every child.

Let us give thanks to God for these moments of grace, in which his presence becomes visible in the little ones, in which Divine Love is drawn in children’s smiles, leads us to proclaim forcefully that SHARING IS A SOURCE OF JOY. Do the same thing!