Earlier this week, pictures of 15 year-old Jakub Baryla went viral on the internet, being spread throughout social media platforms and Christian news networks worldwide. The Catholic teen was captured standing fearlessly against a crowd of 1000+ individuals who were participating in an LGBT Pride parade that took place over the weekend in the city of Plock, Poland. With nothing but a crucifix and a rosary on-hand for protection, the Polish boy stood relentlessly for his Catholic faith throughout the march and even after police force on the scene had literally dragged him away. Jakub’s brave stance against the world has since made him praised as a “hero” and an example for many within the Church to learn from.
Hearing about Jakub’s powerful resistance, I did indeed learn something profound that resonated so deeply within me:
I learned that I am truly not alone in my daily fight for justice of Christ and the fullness of His true love.
Often times, I am so discouraged by many of my generation and their lack of faith and truth. I have witnessed so many fellow young Catholics and Christians pick and choose what they wish to comply with from Church teachings and sacred scripture, almost as if it’s actually a choice or right of ours. I constantly witness so many brothers and sisters of my youth justifying themselves under the name of “love”, seeming to forget that love isn't even love without incorporation of the truth.
This growing ignorance of truth, an essential part of love, is highly dangerous and concerning to witness the after-effects of.
If we are the future of the Church, then where is the Church even heading? With so many different parts of Her being picked away by Her children, is the Bride of Christ slowly crumbling right before our very eyes?
It is in the boldness of young faithful, like Jakub Baryla, that my confidence in the protection of the Church and the security of Her future is restored.
This young man will be one of many lights that will keep God’s Church alight as the world only darkens more and more.
This young man will be one of many hands that will lead God’s children into the gentle arms of His everlasting Bride.
This young man will be one of the many sparks that, as St. Catherine of Sienna commanded, will “set the world on fire”.
Jakub was not shaken by neither the crowds of hundreds that came marching against him or the wall of police that charged his way. Jakub knew exactly where he stood and who he stood for and he entrusted those moments to Him. Even in such raging waters within the storm of our society today, Jakub swam persistently against the tide for Christ and His greater glory.
This is what we are all called to do as Christians. This is who we are all called to be.
Just as Jesus had promised us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).
They crucified Him and they will crucify us too.
As each day passes, the world slowly becomes more and more in desperate need of Christ and the fullness of His love. Not parts of it or fragments, but the entirety of His most Sacred Heart. It is our duty then, as His faithful disciples, to lay His heart upon the broken world. To do this, however, we must not be afraid.
Just like Jakub, we must find ourselves reaching into the lost crowds.
Just like Jakub, we must not let His voice go unheard or be silenced.
Just like Jakub, we must stand loyally with our Lord against the rest of the world.
I find great liberation now knowing that another young man, years younger than me, is fighting the exact same fight for Him as I am. I find great peace now knowing that, just as Christ had promised, Mother Church is still being loved and defended by Her faithful children. I find great hope now knowing that the sanctity of the Church and Her teachings is still being held together by my generation, Her newest soldiers at the front line of the battle.
Indeed, Jakub and I are two of the Church’s newest soldiers at the front line of the battle.
But oh, faithful, take courage!
The war isn't over, it has only just begun.
His army isn't dead, we are only just coming alive.