October 19.  The oldies of the seniors group held regular discussions, often moving  between confidence and concern about the youth .  “It takes all kinds of young people these days, both boys and girls. Some are committed to their studies, some to their work, their sport, to music and to having fun.  Many are anxious about getting jobs and being able to settle down in future.  Maybe the best ones have some of each of these worlds, to enjoy life but also act responsibly in what they have to do. In fact, in the end those are most balanced are probably the most successful in the end.”  “We’ve seen it across the generations. It’s not easy to have a healthy balance at their age.  Peer pressure is very strong and not always positive.” “But we’ve also seen how their attitudes change as they grow older”

Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake. Luke 12:35-38    Pope Francis:   Young people demand change.   They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded. AL13.  We should recognise that despite the present crisis of commitment and communal relationships many young people are taking up various forms of activism and volunteer work. EG106.  Reflect, share, act and pray.  Am I learning from the youth or teaching them about ecological conversion?