Tonight, keynote speaker David Calavitta began by reminding the 3,500-plus members of Generation Z gathered here that each person is created fearless: made for love and from love. David shared with the teens that each of us is a miracle.
During the good times, we receive that simple, loving message easily. But, in more difficult times, the message of God’s unconditional love gets drowned out by lies from the Enemy. When we fail to live up to a certain standard of performance, behavior, expectation, status, or popularity, we might be tempted to run and hide from our loving Father. Shame drives us to hide instead of allowing us to run freely into His arms. There we would find the love and peace we seek.
The good news of our Catholic Christian faith is that because God is perfect, He doesn’t need us. “That isn’t meant to make you feel bad. It’s meant to free you,” David explained. “Let’s do the math. If a perfect God doesn’t need you, the only reason He created you is because He wants you. You’re not needed by God like an employer needs an employee. You’re loved by God as a Father loves His son or daughter.”
A Real Life Story
David illustrated this love by sharing a story about a young boy named Armand from Romania. Every day when his father dropped him off for school, Armand didn’t want him to leave. His Dad reassured him by saying, “It’s OK, Armand. I’ll always come back for you.” One day in the late 1980s, after dropping him off as usual, a massive 8.2 earthquake struck their city. Armand’s Dad drove to the site of the school determined to keep his daily promise. He ignored the barriers blocking off the road and the officials telling him to stay back for his own safety. His Dad dug through the rubble for 38 hours straight. Instead of finding a tragedy, he found the two eyes of his living son looking up at him. Behind the child were 14 of his classmates who were miraculously safe with him. Armand said to the other children, “See, I told you my father would come for me.”
Going Forward
The next time you fail, sin, experience difficulty, or don’t live up to some impossible standard, don’t give into the temptation of the Enemy to run and hide. Instead, run immediately into the merciful arms of Jesus who will never fail to lift you from the rubble of your situation. God loves you for who you are: His child, created for fearless love.
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you… plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
Click here to be inspired by the full Friday night session on our live stream here.
Leave a Comment