‘We're here for a transforming experience,’ archbishop says at special NCYC Mass
Archbishop Charles C. Thompson and priests throughout central and southern Indiana offer the eucharistic prayer during a special Mass for archdiocesan participants at the National Catholic Youth Conference at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Nov. 20. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)
By John Shaughnessy
Youthful exuberance was already on full display in the hallways of the Indiana Convention Center on Nov. 20, the first day of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis.
Silly hats were traded. Clothespins with messages were clandestinely clipped on backpacks, and beach balls were bounced and volleyed.
But in a large meeting hall, the tone was reverent. There, 1,550 youths and chaperones from throughout central and southern Indiana gathered to worship at a Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson and about 30 priests.
His homily began with instructions related to this year’s NCYC theme, “I AM/YO SOY.”
“Every time I say, ‘Are you ready,’ I want you to respond, ‘I AM,’ ” he explained. “And when I say, ‘Estás listo,’ you respond, ‘YO SOY.’ ”
The archbishop noted there was “a lot of emotion” in the day’s readings.
“Jesus certainly did not hold back on his emotions, displaying sadness, joy, anger, frustration and so forth throughout the Gospel [Lk 19:41-44],” he said. “Jesus weeps over Jerusalem” for failing to recognize him as the Son of God.
Christ’s display of emotion “helps us to identify with him, which is an essential aspect of being able to connect with the person of Jesus in a personal, transforming experience,” the archbishop continued.
“And that's why we're here—for a transforming experience … of a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus Christ.”
Such a personal encounter is at the heart of what it means to be an authentic missionary disciple, he said.
In the first reading from 1 Mac 2:15-29, the Hebrew Mattathias “stands firm in his conviction to remain faithful to the covenant relationship with the one true God,” Archbishop Thompson noted.
Cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus “through speechless prayer, words, sacrament and service” is necessary to meet the challenges of missionary discipleship, he added.
“For that relationship, are you ready?Estás listo?” he asked. Responses of “I AM” and “YO SOY” rose from the congregation.
That relationship is strengthened by the transformative effects of receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
“Jesus offers himself to us in word and sacrament, especially in and through the most holy Eucharist, to nourish hearts and sustain our conviction of faith … ,” Archbishop Thompson said.
“Each time we gather for Mass, we bring all that burdens us, all that weighs upon us, and all that stirs in our hearts, and we give it to God, who transforms all things, who meets us where we are, but calls us to grow in faith, hope, and charity … .
“Are you ready? Estás listo?” he asked “I AM. YO SOY,” came the answer.
The archbishop called NCYC “a great spiritual occasion, much like the opportunity presented to the people of Jerusalem who failed to appreciate the divine presence before them in Jesus Christ … .”
In contrast, he expressed hope that Jesus would “weep with joy over NCYC, ... weep with joy that we embrace this great opportunity.”
He called on those gathered from throughout the archdiocese to “embrace that joy” and to become “people of hope, the hope that comes from not merely knowing about Jesus, but through personal encounter with him.
“Pope Leo continues to remind us to keep our eyes, our hearts, our minds fixed on [Jesus], and we shall not be disappointed.
“Are you ready? Estás listo?” Archbishop Thompson asked a final time.
And the people responded: “I AM. YO SOY.” †
See more stories from the National Catholic Youth Conference here
