Religious Education Congress Youth Day 2025

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles
 
Religious Education Congress
Anaheim, California 
February 20, 2025
 
My brothers and sisters in Christ,^[1] 
 
I hope that you are having a good day on Youth Day! Is it good?
 
It’s always a special blessing and joy to get together for Youth Day at the beginning of our Religious Education Congress. So, I hope that it’s been a beautiful day for you all and it will help you to continue to be the present and the future of the Church!
 
So today is also special because we have the privilege to worship in the presence of a sacred relic, one of the sacred relics from Blessed Carlo Acutis, as we have it here.
 
As you probably know, Pope Francis will canonize him in April, just after Easter. I’m sure that you know about the life of Blessed Carlo, but I want all of us to reflect, for a little while, on his beautiful example. Because it’s an amazing, beautiful reality that can help all of us.
 
So, as you probably know, he was born in 1991 and grew up in Milan, Italy. He was just 15 years old when he died from leukemia.
 
But in his short time here on this earth, Blessed Carlo lived life to the fullest. He lived with a spirit of freedom and joy.
 
He was an ordinary person. He loved playing sports and video games especially with his friends; he had a genius for making websites and finding creative ways to use the internet to share his faith.
 
And I think what made this ordinary young man different was that his life was anchored in Jesus Christ.
 
When he was young, Carlo discovered the secret power of the Eucharist.
 
As you probably know, he started going to Mass every day. I think he made his First Holy Communion when he was 7 years old. And then as he was reflecting on the Eucharist and decided and made the decision to try to go to daily Mass — he came to understand the beautiful truth that the more we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, the more we become like him, the deeper Jesus comes to dwell in our hearts and in our souls.
 
As you also probably know, Blessed Carlo used to say: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.”
 
What a great idea! And my brothers and sisters, that should be your plan and mine, it should be everybody’s life plan!  
 
That’s exactly what Jesus is getting at in the Gospel that we just heard.
 
Jesus today asks his apostles two questions. First, he asks them what other people are saying about him. Then he makes a personal question to the apostles.
 
He says to them: “But who do you say that I am?”
 
It’s a big question. And Jesus is not only asking them. He’s asking us.
 
It’s a question that’s deeply personal. No one else can answer it for us. It’s a question that we have to ask each one of us personally.
 
Obviously, lots of people have opinions about Jesus. But if we really want to have a friendship with Jesus, then we need to make our decision about him. Who do we say that he is? Who do you say that he is?
 
As I said, it’s a big question for all of us, and it is much more important than any other question we will receive on — I don’t know on a final exam, or SAT — or whatever other challenges we have in our lives.
 
Because our life, in the end, depends on how we answer this question. Who you are depends on who Jesus is.
 
If Jesus is just another person, like John the Baptist or one of the prophets, if Jesus is just another historical figure who lived a long time ago, then it doesn’t matter who he is, it makes no difference.
 
But if we believe that Jesus is who he says he is, if we really believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who suffered and was killed and on the third day rose again, then our life totally changes!
 
And my brothers and sisters, as we know the truth is that Jesus is the Christ! And he did do these things. He did suffer, die, and rise from the dead. And he did those things for us — for you and for me!
 
In the first reading of today’s Mass, God tells Noah that every human life is precious, because every human life has been created “in the image of God.”
 
Think about it — that means that you and I are made in God’s image! It’s amazing!
 
You are not just a random creature, another creature on planet earth. You are a child of God! Your life has a meaning and purpose in God’s plan.
 
And God’s purpose for your life and mine is fulfilled in Jesus.
 
If you say to Jesus, as St. Peter did: “You are the Christ,” then he will set your life in a whole new direction, in a beautiful direction.
 
If you put your life in his hands and follow him, then Jesus will show you how to lead a beautiful life, a life filled with love and service, a life that will become your path to heaven.
 
Now. Obviously, I know that you all believe this, and I know you are trying hard to live out our beliefs. That’s why we’re here today!
 
We come to meet Jesus in the Eucharist because we want him to strengthen our faith and renew our sense of purpose. We come because we know that in every Eucharist, Jesus is shaping our hearts and making us more like him.
 
That’s why Blessed Carlo Acutis went to Mass every day, starting when he was in grade school.
 
For Blessed Carlo, living with Jesus and walking with him in friendship was natural. It was who he was, it was how he wanted to be.
 
So, my dear brothers and sisters, today I encourage all of you to keep going on our journey with Jesus. That’s really what makes a huge difference in our lives. Stay close to him and keep working to grow in your love for God and your love for others.  
 
It is our vocation. It is what is going to make a huge difference in our lives.
 
So, my dear friends, as we prepare to meet Jesus again in the Eucharist today, let us say to him, like St. Peter, each one of us: “You are the Christ!”
 
And let’s thank him for his love and all his gifts. And let’s ask him to stir in us the decision to become saints like Blessed Carlo Acutis.
 
And let us especially today turn our hearts to our Blessed Mother Mary. May she help us every day to become more like her Son. To love as he loves, and to share his love with everyone we meet.
 
Then we will have an amazing, beautiful life with the presence of Jesus in our lives.