MY FOURTH DAY

Before I attended the three-day Cursillo Course, I felt that my involvement in the church was very limited. I'd go to Mass every week with my parents, sit there… may be try to make some sort of sense out of the homily but usually be daydreaming about something more trivial. That was the extent of my participation at church. Sadly, this means also a reflection of my own faith at the time. Religion in general didn't really seem to have much relevance or serve any purpose in my life except that it was something that I practiced out of habit and of course to keep my parents happy. The result of this was that I was living a life without God or at least with very little impact from Him. So as you can imagine when I was asked to go to a three-day weekend in Adelaide, to learn more about the Bible and my own Faith, I was not the most enthusiastic person on the planet. However, my mum was victorious and I did end up attending the course. Most of you would already know the effects that the course had on me and how it changed my perspective on life especially on a spiritual level and just in general.

What I want to share with all of you today is more my journey since then, otherwise known as "NGY TH? TU", the Fourth Day. I've played a much more active role in the Church since my return: joining the choir and being involved in the TSC youth group. Even though my life has improved resounding by Cursillo, I still have so far to go on this journey. The fact of the matter is, reality really is a "rude awakening" from being in an environment such as the three-day course. It is both exciting and scary, being plunged back into daily life again with a new found Faith. Being a youth in the Church in this day and age, I find that I'm constantly rigged with temptations and everyday is a challenge to live out my faith, as I'm sure it'd be for all of you here as well.

The point I am trying to make is that, like all good things you need to nurture it for it to sustain and grow. Our faith is no different. Fair enough, we might have come out of the three-day course all fresh and re-energised but without God by our sides and each other's constant support, our faith will slowly but surely be tainted!

Stephano Đoàn Bác Ái