in and around Budapest on Sunday December 30, after they were urged to give their worries to Christ. Aware of the global war against terrorism and other conflicts, the founder of the ecumenical Taizé Community, which organizes the 24th Young Adult European Meeting till January 1, asked young people to remain committed to the Christian faith.
"Christ tells us in His Gospel not to let ourselves be overcome by worry," said Brother Roger in a sermon carried live on Saturday December 29, by Hungary’s national television, MTV 2.
PRAYER BEST WEAPON
Speaking to tens of thousands of youngsters gathered in the Budapest Exhibition Centre, the soft spoken elderly leader suggested that prayer remains the best weapon to overcome fear.
"The silence in His presence seems like nothing. And yet, when our lips remain closed, our hearts speak to God and God understands us," he said as some young people were on their knees to pray.
"The Gospel reminds us that at every moment Christ knocks at our door and awaits a simple response from us," Brother Roger said.
Clearly tired and stumbling at times, he recalled his long road with Christ, since founding the Taizé community in 1940.
SURRENDER YOURSELF
"For 60 years now, my brothers and I have been trying to understand what simplicity means," he said. Brother Roger explained he had discovered that "each person can discover that prayer is a simple reality and therefore accessible to all."
"Surrender yourself in all simplicity to God. And trust yourself to God and you will discover that the little bit of faith you have is enough," he said as youngsters began burning candles.
UNUSUAL MESSAGE
His message appeared unusual direct for Hungary, a mainly Roman Catholic country where traditions have played an important role. Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently suggested that his country was in need of a spiritual revival, after decades of Communism.
Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow suggested in his message to the meeting that the young generation must play a crucial role in spreading the faith "of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ."
Referring to Luke 17:21 he said however that "young people who are entering the twenty-first century" must make "a conscious refusal of the temptations of the world."
GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE
He urged the youngsters, among them many from former Soviet countries, to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The Patriarch did not address directly fresh reports about persecution of mainly Protestant groups in Russia and other former Soviet republics.
However he said that the kingdom of love "asked for by our Saviour" will depend on what he called "peaceful and benevolent" relations
"between different religions and Christian confessions." Human rights workers have suggested that Russian authorities are trying to protect the Orthodox Church by banning non traditional groups.
