“I will send you out to fish for people”

Thank you for being with us during this week of meetings in Taizé. Many of you are from Germany, but there are also groups here from Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands, not forgetting the team of young volunteers who are with us from further afield. This past week, new volunteers arrived from Chile, Mexico, Chad, Indonesia and Vietnam. But a special welcome for the group from China that has been with us this week. It is for you that we have been singing “Bless the Lord” in Mandarin!

In a few moments, I would like to ask Christine, one of our volunteers, to tell us about her recent visit to Peru, but first of all, I wanted to share a few thoughts with you.

Yesterday evening during prayer, we heard from Mark’s Gospel how Jesus was walking by a lake when he saw two brothers at work, Simon and Andrew. They were fishermen and were doing their job. Jesus spoke to them. He said very simply “Come, follow me and I will send you out to fish for people.”

I remember the first time I heard these words and they intrigued me. What did Jesus mean by “fish for people”? Was he asking these two young men to “catch” people for him? But when I looked in the rest of the Gospel, I didn’t see Jesus acting like that. He welcomed people, especially those who were excluded from society or from religious life. He showed them compassion and helped them to understand that they were loved by God.

So it became clear that following Jesus meant following this way of living and not catching people in a net. At the same time, they were fishermen and they were to become fishers of people. It’s a play on words, but for me it has always had a deeper meaning.

Jesus takes all that we are and transforms it, gives it new meaning as we follow him. He doesn’t abolish who we are, or reject our past experiences, but leads us to a fulfilment that perhaps takes time, but which is part of the journey he leads us on. Nothing is wasted, nothing is lost, all that is in us can be transfigured by his love.

During these days in Taizé, perhaps you have understood something more about what it means to follow Jesus. Maybe you heard a word that touched you, or a meeting reminded you of his presence, or the beauty of creation told you of God’s love. Take these things with you as you leave Taizé at the end of this week. Let them grow and lead you on that path with him.

Remember that you are not alone on that journey. Many of you came with others from your church or school. Together you can continue to search. May the Holy Spirit lead you deeper and deeper into the mystery of communion, which is the Body of Christ, the Church.

Good evening, everyone. My name is Christine, I am French, and I have been a volunteer at Taizé since August. I returned a week ago from a month-long trip to Peru. I went together with Vannia, who is from Bolivia and was also a volunteer in Taizé last year.

The brothers sent us to meet young people in Peru and share with them what we experience in Taizé, because next year there will be a national meeting for the Youth Ministry of the Catholic Church, and Taizé will organise the prayers during the meeting.

Almost every day we met a different group of young people involved in their churches or universities. Each time it was a very powerful moment, as they shared their lives, their faith and their commitments in their communities with us.

I was surprised to meet so many young people who are involved, and by the diversity of their missions. I was particularly impressed by the social actions in the missions they organise, and by their desire to pass on their faith to other young people.

In the north of the country, in Chulucanas, where next year’s meeting will take place, young people visit the hamlets of the diocese on weekends to encourage young people and all the inhabitants to continue living their faith together, even though priests can only visit them a few times a year.

I learned a lot during this trip, from the people I met, and from their faith and the way they live it. I am very grateful to the brothers for their trust and for allowing me to experience this mission.

On Saturday evening during prayer, we will welcome a new brother into our community. His name is Ismael and he comes from the city of Cochabamba in Bolivia. Ismael first came to Taizé in 2017 and wanted to return to Taizé to volunteer further, but the pandemic made that impossible. Finally in 2023 he was able to come and during his stay here, the question of following Jesus as a brother in Taizé grew within him.

Ismael prepared the European Meeting in Tallinn during last winter and then on coming back here after, asked to join our community. He has been living with us since February and on Saturday, we will welcome him with joy as a new brother. The time of preparation to commit his life in this way begins.

At the end of this year, our European Meeting will take place in Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France regiony [https://www.taize.fr/en_rubrique3947.html]. If you are aged 18 to 35, we would be so happy to welcome you there from December 28 to January 1. The Archbishop of Paris and bishops of the province have made such a warm invitation, together with Orthodox and Protestant Church leaders, that we rejoice already!

Can this meeting be a sign of our desire for peace and understanding in this time where so many people are suffering because of war? Can it renew our hope and lead us to do what we are able to do to help those who are affected?

During this past week, we sent many messages of support to people we know across the Middle East. It is so important that they know that we do not forget them in this time of great uncertainty. The same is true for the people of Ukraine and it is a privilege for us to be able to welcome some groups of young people from this country in the coming weeks.

Please come and join us tomorrow already at 8pm here in the church as we pray in silence for peace in our world like on every Friday evening. A silent prayer might not seem much, but it can be a sign of solidarity with those who cannot express their suffering and who are without words. During that prayer, intuitions can rise within us showing what action we could possibly take.