All Access

All Access!

All Access! It’s a loaded phrase with an edge to it. Ask the world what all access means and you’ll get answers like, unfettered freedom, being sexually promiscuous, having special privileges or the ability to get into special places, or getting the inside scoop. Some will hear in that phrase an echo of all the lies that the world tells us about ourselves – that we should beable to do whatever we want, whenever we want and with whoever we want and that is what having a full life is all about.

Yet once again we find that all of this is a distortion of a profound reality. It is Satan’s attempt to cast a shadow over the bright light that boldly proclaims:

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him weboth have access in one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:17-18.

Jesus came into the world to not only proclaim peace, but to become our peace. He brought us back into the family of God. Where our disobedience had made us enemies of God, His obedience restored us, redeemed us, and allowed us – through the waters of baptism – to become adopted sons and daughters of God!

This year we arecelebrating and proclaiming the amazing reality that through Jesus we have gained all access to the life and love of the Father. Paragraph 661 of the Catechism states that, “Left to its own natural powers humanity does not have access to the "Father's house", to God's life and happiness. “ We were truly lost and without hope before Christ. But God chose not to abandon us, not to leave us orphans.Paragraph 51 tells us that, “His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature.” What a God we have! Christ took on human nature in order that we might share in His divine nature!

While we are celebrating the access we have been given in Christ, the challenge that we will present tothe teens is to give God complete access to every part of their lives. Whether it is fear, doubt, confusion, serious sin, or love of the world, there are many things that can block God’s access to us. The teens need to see in us and hear in what we share that our lives were given to us by God that we might give them back completely to Him in love. That is who we are. Being a true disciple meanstotally surrendering to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This call is impossible without allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This summer we are taking time on Saturday night to expand empowerment. Friday night will end with a Eucharistic procession and a renewal of baptismal vows. Saturday night’s adoration will focus on giving the Holy Spirit all access tous – to heal, to mend, and to strengthen us as well as pour out His gifts on us in lavish abundance.

Why? Because God needs an army of young people equipped to go forth and change the world. The excitement and buzz created on a conference weekend will eventually fade and die. Only an experience of the Holy Spirit’s power can have a lasting effect. Our goal for these weekends is to bringyoung people into a life-changing relationship with Christ. Only then will they commit themselves to on-going conversion and service to the kingdom of God.

What is new for 2007?

The first thing that you will notice is that we are having the Eucharistic Adoration with the procession on Friday night. This time is meant to bring the young people into the Lord’s presence and lead them toexperience Him as our triumphant King who as given us all access to the Father. It’s meant to be an uplifting time of praise and worship where the young people will be asked to open their hearts to the reality of God’s unconditional love for them. This time will conclude with a Renewal of Baptismal Vows.

The Adoration on Saturday night will not include a procession but will be more reflective with...