Introduction

The Gospel is full of personal encounters with Jesus: John and Andrew, Peter, Matthew, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman. These stories are much more than a memory of the past. They are episodes in a story that is still happening, and is full of action, even today. Although it may seem difficult to meet Jesus in the midst of the rush and hectic activity around us, in fact his call continues to resonate in the hearts of young people. It is what makes them, in the depths of their hearts, to continue wanting big things. “They want injustice to stop. They want inequalities to be overcome and everyone to participate in the goods of the earth. They want the oppressed to be free. They want big things. They want good things.” That is why we Christians continue to announce, in the midst of the 21st century, that God cares a great deal about us: that he wants us to be happy, and that he is counting on us to make his Love the force that moves the world.

“Who am I?” is an important question. But much more important, Pope Francis tells us, is this one: “for whom am I?” Our identity is rooted in what we have received, but it takes its form above all from the love to which we dedicate our life. Loving God, letting ourselves be loved by Him, giving his love to others... we discover who we are. The series of articles in this book, written by priests who work with young people, are geared to help us to make this discovery. With the first disciples of Jesus, with the teachings of the Popes, of the saints, of St. Josemaría, we can deepen into this perennial reality – God calls us, “He has a plan for each one: holiness.”

The book has three sections. The first section includes three articles that present, within a broad framework, the reality of God’s call and the encounter with Him. The second section is longer: it presents different vocational paths and dwells on some aspects of the discernment of one’s own vocation. The final section is addressed to those who have already been following our Lord for some years; it is an invitation to contemplate, with grateful memory, the beauty of a life following Christ.

St. Josemaría recalled how, when he was only sixteen years old, he discovered that his heart was asking him for “something great that is love”. May we also discover and rediscover, because love is always young, always surprising, something great that is love.

Borja de León | Priest, Doctor in Philosophy. He carries out his pastoral work with families and is chaplain in a school in Madrid.

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