This document discusses life after spiritual experiences like World Youth Day and retreats. It notes that some people may become discouraged or return to old ways after such events. It then summarizes themes and messages from past World Youth Days, including encouraging youth to be salt and light in the world. Finally, it questions whether one's faith is alive after a retreat and asserts that there is life after death and something more.

1. .32nd Sunday OT
IS THERE LIFE AFTER:
World Youth Day?
The wedding ?
A retreat?
After the birth of your first kid?
What do we do when the young people who have experienced such tremendous WYD moments “come
down from the mountain” and return to our parish communities? Do they become discouraged? Quit?
Complain? Play victim card? Go back to their old ways?
Before WYD 2002 in Toronto (Canada) Pope John Paul saw Canadian society as well as the world
of Western culture steeped in mediocrity and darkness.
To the youth, he put out a biblical theme that was providential and highly appropriate for young
people who, at the time, we're looking for a different kind of message. For a world that was
steeped in mediocrity: "You are the salt of the earth." For a society driving itself deeper into
darkness, "You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14).
Pope John Paul II taught us that:
the adventure of orthodoxy,
the beauty of marriage,
the sacredness of family life,
the challenge of fidelity
personal integrity, authenticity and solidarity — are what attracts young people today.
Young people don’t want to live on the surface. In a world that constantly panders to their every need
and want and addiction and desire - a challenging Church, which combines the truth with charity and
pastoral care - is a very attractive proposition.
But how do you do this?
Benedict began by teasing out an answer during WYD 2005 in Cologne, Germany: "Listen for
God's whispers - and - Let yourself be surprised by Christ."

2. For the Sydney experience of World Youth Day 2008, Pope Benedict allowed the young people
of the world to encounter or perhaps rediscover the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives and in
the life of the Church. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
must go out and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
YOUTH THEMES FOR NEXT THREE YEARS leading up to WYD in Krakow, Poland:
The 2014 theme will reflect on the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
Kingdom of heaven,”
The following year, 2015, will be devoted to the theme “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
will see God.”
These two years will culminate with the international World Youth Day in 2016 which will draw
together the previous topics by finishing off with the theme “Blessed are the merciful, for they
will receive mercy.”
. .. and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
Why did the Sadducees fight Jesus so much on the topic of the Resurrection? Is it possible that the
Sadducees just couldn't imagine anything bigger or better than the small world they knew.
Proof of the resurrection:
No body
Not one of the martyrs gave up the information where the body was.
Reason was there was no dead body,
There is life after death. There is SOMETHING MORE.
Is there life after a retreat?
Are you alive?
Is your faith alive?
How do you know?
Can you point to a time when your faith "came alive?"

3. For those of you whose faith is NOT alive:
There is no body, the tomb is empty.
There is life after death.
There is life after a retreat?
There is SOMETHING MORE.
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