A Korean celebrity at a Talk Concert for about 400 young people in the
Seoul Diocese, spent over two hours in a witty dialog with them on
their religious beliefs and studies. He took questions asked by the
group in handwritten messages to the speaker. Both Catholic papers
wrote an article on the gathering.
The celebrity
in his presentation was greeted with interest, seriousness, laughter,
hope and consolation. He treated many kind's of questions: becoming
Catholic, difficulties they meet, problems when their religious
beliefs clash with the values of society, meaning of a faith life, dealing with Protestant friends who look down on their religious
beliefs etc..
One young man baptized last year was asked
why he became a Catholic. He gave three reasons for entering the
Church: greatly impressed by Pope Francis in his trip to Korea, felt
the motherliness of the Blessed Mother and wanted to imitate, even in a
little way, the spirit of Jesus.
To
the question what is a Christian faith life: believing in Jesus, daily
present to us, and continually asking him questions was his answer. In
the way that God's creation gives witness to God we are to give witness
to our Creator.
He told the young people our 60-70 year old
citizens feel great pride in giving the country the economic growth. The
40-50 age group are proud of the work for Korean democratization but
the 10-30 group have nothing in which they can take credit.
He wants them to be the generation who helped bring about the
unification of the country. Not having any overall blueprint for life
is a reason for some of the young people's unrest, he reminds them.
Many
questions we have in life, said the entertainer, are the ones that
leave us breathless, frustrated. He has no answers, but wants his
listeners to keep on asking Jesus until he comes down from his cross.
'Young people enjoy life and remember your Creator' was the theme of the
gathering. "Rejoice, young man, in your youth and may your heart give
you joy when you are young, follow your desires and achieve your
ambitions but recall that God will take account of all you do. Drive
sorrow from your heart and pain from your flesh, for youth and dark hair
will not last. Be mindful of your Creator...." (Ecclesiastes 11: 9-)