The 77th Minute Substitute

In Australia, we recently celebrated the Socceroos qualification for the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil. It was a great night and a great victory with a style of football that was exciting, expansive and daring. We celebrated the skill and audacity of players like Robbie Kruse, Tommy Oar and Tom Rogic and the presence and experience of Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Mark Breciano. However there were defining moments that changed the game.

In the 77th minute, Coach Holger Oseick decided to substitute talismanic target man Tim Cahill for the man dubbed as “Jesus”, Josh Kennedy. Tim Cahill, the seasoned campaigner, goal-scorer in two consecutive World Cups, and most remembered for his famous brace to take the win in Kaiserslauten in 2006, was taken off. His replacement, the tall target man who has been a solid campaigner, but never spectacular. There were doubters everywhere. So many Australians were unconvinced of his ability and preferred the safer and tested option. In the 83rd minute, he rose up to meet a cross and headed it home. The Socceroos booked their ticket to Brazil 2014.

The following night on the program “The Project”, Josh Kennedy was asked what was going through his mind when he was to be brought on. Kennedy said “this could be my time for me to shine…I was thinking if I get this chance, if I get this chance, then anything can happen”.

I take great heart in these types of moments. Fear is a liar. Fear takes us to paralysis and a denial of the gift that God made us to be. In 1 Timothy we are told “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” In the parable of the talents, the servant takes a risk and invests his five talents. His success is rewarded. Jesus says “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s joy!”

In our Christian lives we lack this discipline of daring and boldness in our mission to tell the world of the love of Jesus. It is in those moments where Jesus turns to us and says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Kennedy took the moment by the scruff of the neck. He took it on as a chance to make a difference, to rise above the doubters that lay before him, and to overcome the challenges and obstacles that those before him could not.

God is calling us off the bench. For too long the youth of the Church have just sat back waiting for someone else to make a difference. The call is clear: “Go make disciples of nations” (Matthew 28:19). Our response needs to be “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”.

We often expect that some big name speaker, the local priest, bishop, a friendly nun, or even a visit from the Pope is going to be all that is necessary to evangelize the world. It will take more than that. These people will give everything they can to tell the world of God’s love, but it will take an wave of us young people to come marching in behind them and do our part.

This, however, is far from developing a mob mentality. What it will take is for us young people to be the eyes and ears of the Church in day to day life, observe and understand the issues young people are facing and taking the appropriate action. This may range from sitting down and listening to a friend or stranger, to starting up a local youth group, to posting an inspiring quote on Facebook or giving a gift to someone in need.

We may spend years in formation, prayer, Mass, reconciliation and scripture, but there will be moments where God will ask us to reach out to another person, and take that moment to be the face of God. Saint Dominic Savio says to us “I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.” The mundane and the routine dominates the lives of so many young people today. In our day to day interactions, we can take moment to create a cultural disruption and intervene in lives dominated by brokenness, loneliness, apathy, indifference, fear, anger and hate.

Perhaps consider the daily experience like this – every moment of the day my life will be a witness to Jesus Christ, and every action that I make could lead to a soul being won for Christ or one that is lost.

With an average attention span of 8 seconds and reading limited to 140 characters, we are only given precious moments to engage people. The young people of the Church have a chance to take on the responsibility given by God to reach out to a world crying out for love. Psalm 118 sings “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” Let us dare to step out in the moments where the world needs us most to takes Christ into the world. May it be a moment of true courage, authenticity and delight in making a real impact on those we meet.