Create in Me a Clean Heart
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Bless me father for I have sinned…”
As I finished speaking of unspeakable things, silence filled the confessional booth. My tongue, weary of saying things I never wanted to say aloud in my life; my heart, heavy from the sheer difficulty of gathering all the worst things I could think about myself. In all the years I’ve been to confession, I don’t remember much of the things the priest would tell me. This time, on the other hand, was an exception.
The priest said to me, “If the president of Canada were to enter into your home, would you leave your room untidy, the dishes unwashed, and your clothes unfolded, or would you make sure that your home is in its best condition so that you can welcome him into your humble abode? Now, what if the President of the Universe were to enter your heart? Would you fill it with greed, hatred and impure ways of life, or would you do whatever you could so that you are able to welcome the Lord into your heart. It’s a simple choice that starts with loving ourselves and one another.”
The Lord spoke to me in that confessional. He told me:
“The only way to enter into my heart is if you let Me into yours.”
I didn’t know it yet, but in that moment the Lord gave me a glimpse of what was to come, a glimpse of the love one could feel through the simplicity of loving others.
At the time, I was the ripe age of 13, at the beginnings of searching for answers as to why we believe in what we believe. Fast forward a couple of years and the Lord blessed me with those answers, and in place helped me grow to ask more questions. I think in most recent events, I’ve really come to understand how much we must seek the Lord in everything to truly know Him and how He loves.
Lightning Struck Twice
In September of 2016, I was asked to step up to be the youngest and very first Advocacy head to serve the new cluster of the North. At the time, juggling such a service alongside my many extracurriculars, a heavy academic load, and my spiritual and family life didn’t seem like something I could handle. Because of this, I declined the offer and decided to focus on other things. Little did I know that the Lord had other plans for me, because 5 months later lightning struck twice and I was asked a second time to be advocacy head.
I said “yes” to the Lord’s calling and that’s when the question arose:
What does an advocacy head do?
When I first began my journey in this particular service role, in all honesty, I was very overwhelmed. I was asked to answer questions on sensitive topics that most Catholics veer away from. I studied and learned more about the teachings of the Church for the sole purpose of being able to defend it, if and when necessary. The Lord wanted me to mature in my faith, and the things I’ve been able to experience serving this program has acted as a catalyst to that growth. In truth, it’s very hard to be an advocacy head, but like with all things, the fruits of one’s labour is worth more than the hardships that are entailed. With all that being said, I think the best description to pin to this amazing service is that as advocacy heads, we are meant to be beacons for our community by upholding and teaching about the values of the Catholic faith.
More So Simple than Complicated
I think one of the greatest misconceptions about the advocacy programs is that it’s a complicated service. That to be an advocacy head one must know everything about the Catholic faith, and the four programs we as a CFC-Youth community advocate about (G-Project, RevUp, A+ and 100% Free). Although there is some truth to that statement, the role is meant to be pretty simple. Think of it as simple ideas rather than complicated rules. We worship a God who loves so extravagantly through the simplicity of life. It only makes sense that we worship and love Him through simplistic virtues. For example, the program 100% free isn’t really a list of do’s and don’ts that the community has waving over our heads, but rather just a program set in place so that we as Catholics, and most especially as young Catholics, can grow in virtue, and spiritual chastity.
Be FREE, Break FREE, Live FREE
Here’s how you be 100% free:
Be FREE
We as Catholic youth live in a culture of secularism with the media being a main source that has distorted our Catholic values and has confused the minds of those still maturing in their faith. These hindrances set in place by our generation prevent us from living the life God desires for us to have, a life in which we are able to use our true freedom to love, honor, and serve Him.
Break FREE
How do we break free? It all starts with bettering ourselves in the spiritual and physical aspect. In turn, this helps us to see how sacred life is. Life isn’t accidental, it’s deliberate. If we can believe that, we can find a deeper sense of our worth and see ourselves within the eyes of the Lord.
Live FREE
From the very moment of your conception Christ knew you were meant for something greater than a friday night drinking with your buds, or indulging in the materialism of our world, but instead he had in mind for you everlasting life.
When I first became an Advocacy head the goal we set for advocacies is that one day there won’t be a need for the program because everyone would be an advocate for the Catholic faith.
This calling to be an advocate for the faith isn’t one that is asked of few, but is rather asked of us all. To say yes to his calling for us to love our brothers and sisters by leading by example.
Jorry Umali Luz – North Advocacy Head | CFC-Youth Pacific Region
