Students told to ‘run the race’ towards God

Students told to ‘run the race’ towards God

Mar 14, 2014

“We lead people into an encounter, where they can experience Christ in a profound way,” said music worship leader Chris Bray at the 22nd annual Lift Jesus Higher Youth Rally. Bray was accompanied by internationally renowned violinist Trevor Dick at the 2014 Catholic Renewal Ministries event.

Bray and the band pumped up the crowd with music and then the youth rally’s theme was presented. The theme — Run the Race — was taken from Hebrews 12:1. Each testimony and talk at the rally highlighted the spiritual race we all embark on, with God waiting at the finish line.

Sr. Sarah Burdick from the Diocese of Lansing, Mich., was the first to speak and reminded everyone that to run the race to achieve God and salvation requires training. She said spiritual training is difficult, but it doesn’t set us up for failure and we will receive victory as our reward. To run the race well, we must let go of sin that clings to us like baggage, she said, adding that although Jesus is our goal, He is also our companion in this race to holiness.

Youth rally emcee Pete Burak, one of the Renewal Ministers, said that this spiritual race of faith is beyond what the material world has to offer and thus it is important that we dedicate our whole lives to it. The race, like the letter from Hebrews says, is set out by God, and we all have to keep our eyes on God to make sure we don’t run astray.

Bray returned to the stage to talk about the purpose we have as Christians to work together and serve others. He said, “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose and it is everyone’s purpose to be disciplined but also have discipleship while running this race.” He also said that sometimes we let rallies and songs be our prayers, but to run this spiritual race well we must let our service to others be our worship to the Lord, and through that we will enter into a closer relationship with Him.

Author and speaker Fr. Michael Gaitley talked about the importance of a devotion to the Blessed Mother, with a focus on prayer and sacrifice as an effective way to become a saint, which is the ultimate victory. He stressed that, “Mary doesn’t just want to make us saints, she wants to give us a beautiful life for God.” This tied into what Fr. Scott McCaig later said in his homily during Mass that, “God isn’t just who made us, He is who we are made for,” and thus, we give up (sin) to run this race.

“Times of confession and adoration are what helped renew my relationship with Jesus, but it was all the talks, especially Fr. Michael’s, that inspired me to make running the race both for and with God as the centre of my life,” said Grade 12 student Catharine Khushaba from St. Andrew’s parish in Toronto.

Nicole Paties, a Grade 12 student from St. Benedict’s parish, is no stranger to the Lift Jesus Higher Youth Rally. “The theme ‘run the race’ related perfectly to the spiritual journey that I think many young Catholics are on,” she said. “The music, mixed with all of the talks and sacraments of Mass and adoration, make for a powerful day that changes not just the spiritual, but the entire life of a young Catholic like myself.”

The goal of the rally, as Bray says, is to “have a participant walk away with a renewed relationship with Christ in the midst of the fun, excitement, friendships, etc.” He added that the constant is God. “The Lift Jesus Higher Rally has had that impact on so many young people across the many years of its ministry… At the bare minimum this day will hopefully plant seeds of faith that can be nurtured by a disciplined family, coordinated youth group and Christ-grounded peers.” --NCR