A GENERATION of people today are considered “Millennials.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term millennials generally refer to the people born between the early 1980s and 1990s, and some people also include children born in the early 2000s.
In a livescience.com article, studies have identified some characteristics of millennials which include lazy, narcissistic and prone to jump from job to job. They also emphasize extrinsic values like money, fame, and image, and less emphasis on intrinsic values like self-acceptance, group affiliation and community.
Rappler also conducted a study of Filipino millennials (2016) which reported that the top five words to describe themselves are “confident,” “driven,” “self-centered,” “ambitious,” and “passionate.”
In the gospel of Mark, an unnamed young man came to Jesus, knelt before him and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The unnamed young man was rich. He followed the rule. He is confident and in control of his life. The rich unnamed young man could be the millennial of his time.
Eternal life - according to Pope Francis is “happiness. ‘Eternal life’ is not only the life of there beyond, but what is a full life, a complete one, limitless.”
Young people today ask questions. But the question most millennials would seem to ask today is “Why?” It is possible because for far too long we have been considered as mere “participants or observers” sometimes mere objects in society and in the church even problems to be solved. But today we want to be gladiators and directors of our own lives. I am a millennial, too.
One social commentator stated that “Millennials who ask the question ‘Why?’ don't ask it to be rebellious, or to be a pain, or to skip all the hard work because we're impatient but rather it is the result of our parents simply giving us too many participation awards. Millennials don't ask this question out of impatience.” We ask because we want to take part, to provide value and do things better, to improve.
It is easy to put the blame on the millennials - to judge them as lazy and self-centered. They merely are trying and striving to survive in a world they received and not created for themselves. Maybe it is time we listen to them.
The young man - sincere in his desire to inherit eternal life asked Jesus what he must do. But a young person would certainly ask Jesus today, “Why would I want eternal life?” The young man in the gospel today understood that there is more to life than following and observing what the law dictates. The young man wanted something more. In response Jesus leveled up and told him, “There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
In doing so, Jesus challenged people who sought life and happiness in money, power even the self and other earthly realities like religion. Will you go away sad like the rich young man? Or will you totally commit yourself to Jesus and follow him. Jesus did not just come to teach us but to transform us.
When the young man heard what Jesus wanted him to do, he became sad and walked away. Jesus in the gospel looked at him and loved him. Pope Francis commented that Jesus realized that he was a good youth. Jesus gives him a practical advice: give everything he has to the poor and follow him. But this young man is torn between his God and his wealth, and he goes away sad. This shows us that faith and attachment to riches cannot coexist. Thus, in the end, the initial impact felt by the youth was lost in his sadness upon hearing what he should give up to follow Jesus.
The young man turned straight away from Jesus. He did not allow himself to be gazed in the eyes by the eyes of Jesus full of compassion and love for him. Like the rich young man in the gospel today, you can run towards Jesus and kneel before him. Pray and listen to him. Allow him to gaze and look you into your eyes. Do not turn away sad but live with the joy of Christ and live life to the fullest!
Beyond my eyes can see,
There must be something more
Beneath the surface rush of things
There's something else in store
Beyond this daily strife, there must be more to life.
(Something More, Lea Salonga from the album “Something More - Songs for Skeptics”)