Lasallian Youth Link
An Official OSA publication
Volume 1
Issue 17
DECEMBER 2003
2003 IS OVER
SONG
A MESSAGE TO LASALLIANS
REFLECTION
PRAYER
FEATURED SITE
A THOUGHT
FINAL WORD
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--- A NEW YEAR IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
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Dear Lasallian friends,
2003 is now over!
At this time of the year, we feel joy and harmony in our hearts. We see others
around us in a better light than ever. We smile and laugh more. We share more.
We give and we receive more. We take time to forgive those who wronged us. We
take time to forgive ourselves for our weaknesses.
At this time of the year, we feel the friendship, the brotherhood, the love
that as humans we are blessed to feel.
We would like to welcome onboard all those who are receiving the youth link for
the first time, mainly youth who participated in the Poland Youth gathering
last July.
It's at this time that we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of
you for all the trust and support you have given us during 2003. We are sure
that your same enthusiasm will be there throughout 2004.
We believe Christmas and New Years celebrations, no matter our faith and
culture, will bring a new breath of enthusiasm to the international Lasallian
youth movement, encouraging us to work together to build upon the foundations
most of us have laid over the past year. The international youth council set up
after the Quebec youth symposium is still alive and active. In fact from
the 30th December till the 4th January the council shall be meeting once again
in Rome.
Take this beautiful time to enjoy with your family, friends and neighbors, to
reflect, and to envision your next year.
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--- SONG
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CAN WE GO HIGHER ?
A thousand candles in the air
One by one
A body count each time I raise
My eyes to the sun
Here we are .....
Here we are .....
Can we go higher ?
Higher ?
Higher ?
In our dreams ?
A troop of angels, left and right
Watch and wait
Will it happen round the world tonight
A simple twist of faith.
Here we are .....
Here we are .....
No rain of understanding falls
To fill the well
Centuries and days have gone
With the ringing of a bell
Here we are .....
Here we are .....
(Love instead of borders)
(We can smile at the future)
(To believe !)
(Instead of borders,
smile at the future now)
Here we are .....
Here we are .....
Let us talk as people do
Woman and man
Let us shout out "Peace" again
In every land
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--- A MESSAGE TO ALL LASALLIANS
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Dear Brothers, Sisters, Catechists of Jesus Crucified and Mary Immaculate,
Signum Fidei members, Associates, Partners, young people and all members of the
Lasallian Family,
"Do you have sentiments of charity and tenderness towards the poor
children whom you have to educate? Do you take advantage of their affection for
you to lead them to God? If you have for them the firmness of a father you must
also have for them tenderness of a mother to draw them to you, and to do for
them all the good that depends on you." (St. John Baptist de La Salle)
This Christmas and in the course of the New Year which is about to begin, may
the children occupy a special place in our hearts and rouse us to a delicate
and generous commitment. May the Lord who became a child, bless all the
children of the world especially the poorest and most abandoned, and make us
creative in responding to their needs.
Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría
Superior General
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--- REFLECTION
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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
-- Ephesians 3:16
What is one of the most important things we can do for those we
love in the Lord? We can pray for them. But more than that, we
can pray that God will strengthen them with power through his
indwelling Spirit. This same Holy Spirit raised Jesus from death
(Eph. 1:19). This same Holy Spirit is God's great gift for those
who ask (Luke 11:13). This same Holy Spirit reanimated a valley of
dry bones (Ezekiel 37). And this same Holy Spirit will strengthen
those we love in the Lord if we ask for him to!
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--- PRAYER
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Mighty and awesome God, I have several brothers and sisters
in
Christ who need your grace, mercy, and power poured into their
lives by your Spirit. Some need to be convicted of their
sinfulness. Some need strength and courage for their difficult
road ahead. Some need power to overcome besetting sin in their
lives. Please strengthen them with your power in their inner being
through your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
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--- FEATURED SITE
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http://www.prayingeachday.org/reflect.html
A very useful site maintained by the De La Salle Brothers in England. One can
find a prayer for each day of the year. A prayer request can also be sent by
e-mail.
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---THOUGHT
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The Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole
which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never
leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer
reached his master's house it had leaked much of it's water and was only half
full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one
and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot
was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its
own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of
what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the
water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to
apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you
ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver
only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all
the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of
this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he
said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the
beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun
warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it
some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out
half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only
on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I
have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower
seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the
stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way
you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will
allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table. In God's great
economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge
them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find
our strength.
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--- FINAL WORD
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We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all and your
loved ones a very a happy and successful 2004.
May we remind you to inform us if you are going to change your e-mail address.
Peace
Ivan , Mark and David.