“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” (Lk 3:4).
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/12/01/dicembre-2011/)
The prophet Isaiah, with his exhortation, helps us to understand that the way and the paths that lead to life are of the Lord; thus they are always treaded upon. All we have to do is to detect them, free them from the holes, from the obstacles and “make them straight”, that is, to get rid of all the useless detours which slow down our meeting with the Lord.
We remember the penance and the prayers in order to better live out this period of Advent. Now we can give more attention to the Word of God which invites us to awaken ourselves from sleep and to walk, which is to say to live the Word daily. The Word must conquer our minds and our actions bring us back to the commandment of reciprocal love.
While we are surrounded by the spirit of the egotistical and consumerist Christmas which gives us a restlessness in the race to have and to enjoy, in the illusion to romantically find in this way fraternity and peace, let us seek to transform the encounter and the gift into a gesture of love, on the right and level walk of the will of God in each present moment.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Last Friday I had to go to Colombara for a meeting. I went willingly, even though without any expectation or any particular enthusiasm. Toward the evening Father Bruno telephoned me from the Caritas of the parish to tell me that the police were taking away two street girls during the night. Father Bruno does not ask, but he informs…! I told him that on my way to Colombare that I would stop by. After a few minutes I telephoned him and asked him: “Is it better that I bring some money for night lodging?”
By the time I arrived and prepared two rooms, two police officers arrive with the two girls. Someone inside of me took away any barrier of repulsion and of bother: I became welcoming, tender, I began taking care of these creatures with motherly solicitude. One of the girls told me that she was pregnant… I caressed her abdomen, and I accompanied her in a room; they put down their things and they told me that they were very hungry. I prepared the best supper I could; I served them while reassuring them with smiles and caresses. I prepared for them camomile tea; I lead them to bed. I showed them my room next to theirs and I told them that they could close and lock the door of their room. Two turns of the key and then silence… After twelve hours I went to wake them up with coffee. These are the facts!
I feel inside of myself that I am privileged that the Lord gave me this gift so special; I am amazed and happy.
I passed the night with little sleep, but with a nice serenity. I felt like I was the guardian of that sleep finally tranquil and so desired, on the other side of the hall. I have plenty of time to thank the Lord and to tell me: “In this way you come back, in this way you reveal yourself; two prostitutes and a little baby of no one… it is in this way that You make Yourself known filling me with joy!
Roberta, Verona (Italy)
Monday, December 5, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Matthew 25:13
“Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Mt 25:13)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/10/31/novembre-2011/)
The moment that we wait for is the second coming of Jesus: “The resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come”, as we say in the Creed.
For each one of us, the entrance in this new dimension is the end of the walk on this earth: the hour of death, or better, as the first Christians would say, the hour of one’s birth. Our life is actually an existence which will end, a path that at a certain point is interrupted. If we do not consider this, if we live as if we will live forever on this earth, our life is false, not authentic, not truly human.
Let us then do a test: in order to understand this attitude upon which Jesus insists so much, let us try to live one day as if it were the last day of our life. It is not all just a make believe, above all because, given that that moment will come, it is not very important if it will happen today or in fifty years from now. If we do this, there happens in ourselves a change: many things loose their value, we acquire many other values, and above all we find ourselves ever more free from possible illusions and we live more fully.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
One day, a man asked the surgeon where I work the results of the exam for his father. The results were terrible: malignant tumor; they will try an operation, but most likely there is nothing that can be done. The man became pale: his mother and his sister were waiting outside. How can he give them the news? How can he prepare his father? He was really desperate. I felt inside myself his suffering and I wanted to do something. I drew near to him and I asked him: “Do you believe in God?”. He lifted up his head and he looked at me stupefied. “Yes, in a certain sense I believe”. The surgeon having already gone out, called me. I followed him. A few minutes later, while I was passing again in the waiting room, I saw again that man still there, pensive, with his head between his hands. I had in my purse a page with the explanation of a phrase from the Gospel: I give it to him. A little surprised, he began to read it. “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour…” I tried a little bit to explain the phrase: “In this suffering is truly Him, God, Who comes to visit you, will all of His love…” He listened to me attentively and he seemed to become more calm, and to find a little bit of serenity. Before leaving, he suddenly turned to me: “I would be happy if you might be present during the operation. Your presence will give us courage.” I was there on the morning of the operation; I prayed to Jesus to be only, for however much I am able, an instrument of His love.
(Italia)
- - - - - - -
P.s. You might find rather interesting the book “Lord of the World” by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson (1871–1914) who was the son of the Archbishop of Canterbury and whose conversion to Catholicism caused a stir. Even though the book was published over 100 years ago, it gives an imaginative foretelling of the end of the world with many prophetic descriptions that we see today. Benedict XVI, as Cardinal Ratzinger before his election to the papacy, made positive references to the novel in some of his talks. You can download the book at: http://www.authorama.com/book/lord-of-the-world.html.
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/10/31/novembre-2011/)
The moment that we wait for is the second coming of Jesus: “The resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come”, as we say in the Creed.
For each one of us, the entrance in this new dimension is the end of the walk on this earth: the hour of death, or better, as the first Christians would say, the hour of one’s birth. Our life is actually an existence which will end, a path that at a certain point is interrupted. If we do not consider this, if we live as if we will live forever on this earth, our life is false, not authentic, not truly human.
Let us then do a test: in order to understand this attitude upon which Jesus insists so much, let us try to live one day as if it were the last day of our life. It is not all just a make believe, above all because, given that that moment will come, it is not very important if it will happen today or in fifty years from now. If we do this, there happens in ourselves a change: many things loose their value, we acquire many other values, and above all we find ourselves ever more free from possible illusions and we live more fully.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
One day, a man asked the surgeon where I work the results of the exam for his father. The results were terrible: malignant tumor; they will try an operation, but most likely there is nothing that can be done. The man became pale: his mother and his sister were waiting outside. How can he give them the news? How can he prepare his father? He was really desperate. I felt inside myself his suffering and I wanted to do something. I drew near to him and I asked him: “Do you believe in God?”. He lifted up his head and he looked at me stupefied. “Yes, in a certain sense I believe”. The surgeon having already gone out, called me. I followed him. A few minutes later, while I was passing again in the waiting room, I saw again that man still there, pensive, with his head between his hands. I had in my purse a page with the explanation of a phrase from the Gospel: I give it to him. A little surprised, he began to read it. “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour…” I tried a little bit to explain the phrase: “In this suffering is truly Him, God, Who comes to visit you, will all of His love…” He listened to me attentively and he seemed to become more calm, and to find a little bit of serenity. Before leaving, he suddenly turned to me: “I would be happy if you might be present during the operation. Your presence will give us courage.” I was there on the morning of the operation; I prayed to Jesus to be only, for however much I am able, an instrument of His love.
(Italia)
- - - - - - -
P.s. You might find rather interesting the book “Lord of the World” by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson (1871–1914) who was the son of the Archbishop of Canterbury and whose conversion to Catholicism caused a stir. Even though the book was published over 100 years ago, it gives an imaginative foretelling of the end of the world with many prophetic descriptions that we see today. Benedict XVI, as Cardinal Ratzinger before his election to the papacy, made positive references to the novel in some of his talks. You can download the book at: http://www.authorama.com/book/lord-of-the-world.html.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Matthew 9:9
“Follow me.” (Mt 9:9)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/10/01/ottobre-2011/)
Jesus asks us to follow Him in a radical way. But today the great majority of Christians who believe to be Christians follow Jesus in their own way, according to their own criteria, in relativism which totally surrounds us in our culture, in our mass media. A great number of people today want a Christianity without the cross and without humility, in particular for Catholics, humility before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament and humility before the difficult words of Jesus explained by the authority that Jesus left us here on earth before He ascended to Heaven, His Spouse, the Church, with His Vicar as the head.
But also for those who sincerely want to follow Jesus, there are moments in which one dies inside of oneself: we feel useless and defeated; we do not succeed anymore to believe in love; we have lost the ability to take risks. There is need of a future; there is need of a ray of heaven; there is need of true love.
Where does one find a new inspiration? If we give more attention to what God does for us, instead of thinking about what He asks of us, we will find a new breath of soul.
It is very different to hear about the importance of people due to the role that they have, and instead to hear about their importance because they are loved by God! Rediscovering in this way “the heart of life”, each day is tinted with adventure, a divine adventure, where even lose becomes a gain.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Liliana Cosi, an acclaimed dancer and founder, with Marinel Stefanescu, of a school of classical dance, speaking at a public manifestation at Auronzo, recounted her conversion and described art as an expression of harmony and beauty, which is God.
She spoke also about purity, about radical choices.
“Have you ever felt abandoned by God?” she asked a girl. She reflects a few seconds holding her head between her hands. “Yes, I had the impression one day that I was big dreamer, that my whole life and my commitment was only an illusion. And so I entered into a church, I stopped before Jesus on the cross and I said: “I will not leave here if You do not solve my problem!” I stayed there, alone, two hours. Then Jesus gave me a serenity that I never had before. It is the conviction to have to continue and the joy to be faithful to Him.”
S. De Martin
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/10/01/ottobre-2011/)
Jesus asks us to follow Him in a radical way. But today the great majority of Christians who believe to be Christians follow Jesus in their own way, according to their own criteria, in relativism which totally surrounds us in our culture, in our mass media. A great number of people today want a Christianity without the cross and without humility, in particular for Catholics, humility before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament and humility before the difficult words of Jesus explained by the authority that Jesus left us here on earth before He ascended to Heaven, His Spouse, the Church, with His Vicar as the head.
But also for those who sincerely want to follow Jesus, there are moments in which one dies inside of oneself: we feel useless and defeated; we do not succeed anymore to believe in love; we have lost the ability to take risks. There is need of a future; there is need of a ray of heaven; there is need of true love.
Where does one find a new inspiration? If we give more attention to what God does for us, instead of thinking about what He asks of us, we will find a new breath of soul.
It is very different to hear about the importance of people due to the role that they have, and instead to hear about their importance because they are loved by God! Rediscovering in this way “the heart of life”, each day is tinted with adventure, a divine adventure, where even lose becomes a gain.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Liliana Cosi, an acclaimed dancer and founder, with Marinel Stefanescu, of a school of classical dance, speaking at a public manifestation at Auronzo, recounted her conversion and described art as an expression of harmony and beauty, which is God.
She spoke also about purity, about radical choices.
“Have you ever felt abandoned by God?” she asked a girl. She reflects a few seconds holding her head between her hands. “Yes, I had the impression one day that I was big dreamer, that my whole life and my commitment was only an illusion. And so I entered into a church, I stopped before Jesus on the cross and I said: “I will not leave here if You do not solve my problem!” I stayed there, alone, two hours. Then Jesus gave me a serenity that I never had before. It is the conviction to have to continue and the joy to be faithful to Him.”
S. De Martin
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Luke 15:32
“But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found” (Lk 15:32).
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/09/01/settembre-2011/)
The parable of the prodigal son is rather that of the prodigal father of immense pardon, not always easy for us who sometimes say: “I forgive you, but I do not forget”, and thus we register everything so as to bring it back up later. God’s style is exactly the opposite. He respects the choice of the younger son who opted for the adventure in the city where he squandered everything even to the point of finding himself without food. In this situation he realized that he distanced himself not only from home, but also from himself, because in the text we read: “But when he came to himself…”
The tenderness of the father clashes with the assertion of the rights claimed by the oldest son and not respected, according to him, by the parent. The son does not discover that the love of the father goes beyond human justice and he loses himself in mercy. The Gospel leaves us in this doubt. Perhaps it is better like this, because, in order to love as God, it is necessary to go beyond human logic. In order to do this, divine charity is necessary, that can fill our heart only if we empty ourselves.
So many people today do not want to take this risk, this leap of faith, trust and love into the arms of God the Father! They trust in their own intelligence and wisdom in order to justify their way of living. They do not want to take the risk of having to change their life and to suffer and thus they remain immature in their shabbiness without wanting to know more!
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
I have two children: one is seventeen years old, the other sixteen. With the older one I have just about no relationship. Sunday we were in the country with some friends; a car passed by and smashed a bottle. I thought that someone might hurt himself with the pieces of glass and I was about to bend down to gather up the pieces: I am a doctor, I am a Christian! My older son takes me to the side: “do not do that, it is the job of the street cleaner”. His sarcasm made me feel a pang in my heart: I had promised to myself to always be the first to begin to open myself, but when it happens like this my courage fails me.
We went to the Saturday evening Mass and at the door of the church were two beggars who I knew well because they come to my outpatients’ clinic and, when they saw me, they were very happy. I noticed that my son is on the other side of the street and was watching me, but I thought clearly how I must behave; I greet them and I shake their hands. I look up again: my son smiles at me and salutes me affectionately. He had listened to my livinb words of my coherence and of my reception with which I try to have only one model: Jesus.
Mario V. (Italy)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/09/01/settembre-2011/)
The parable of the prodigal son is rather that of the prodigal father of immense pardon, not always easy for us who sometimes say: “I forgive you, but I do not forget”, and thus we register everything so as to bring it back up later. God’s style is exactly the opposite. He respects the choice of the younger son who opted for the adventure in the city where he squandered everything even to the point of finding himself without food. In this situation he realized that he distanced himself not only from home, but also from himself, because in the text we read: “But when he came to himself…”
The tenderness of the father clashes with the assertion of the rights claimed by the oldest son and not respected, according to him, by the parent. The son does not discover that the love of the father goes beyond human justice and he loses himself in mercy. The Gospel leaves us in this doubt. Perhaps it is better like this, because, in order to love as God, it is necessary to go beyond human logic. In order to do this, divine charity is necessary, that can fill our heart only if we empty ourselves.
So many people today do not want to take this risk, this leap of faith, trust and love into the arms of God the Father! They trust in their own intelligence and wisdom in order to justify their way of living. They do not want to take the risk of having to change their life and to suffer and thus they remain immature in their shabbiness without wanting to know more!
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
I have two children: one is seventeen years old, the other sixteen. With the older one I have just about no relationship. Sunday we were in the country with some friends; a car passed by and smashed a bottle. I thought that someone might hurt himself with the pieces of glass and I was about to bend down to gather up the pieces: I am a doctor, I am a Christian! My older son takes me to the side: “do not do that, it is the job of the street cleaner”. His sarcasm made me feel a pang in my heart: I had promised to myself to always be the first to begin to open myself, but when it happens like this my courage fails me.
We went to the Saturday evening Mass and at the door of the church were two beggars who I knew well because they come to my outpatients’ clinic and, when they saw me, they were very happy. I noticed that my son is on the other side of the street and was watching me, but I thought clearly how I must behave; I greet them and I shake their hands. I look up again: my son smiles at me and salutes me affectionately. He had listened to my livinb words of my coherence and of my reception with which I try to have only one model: Jesus.
Mario V. (Italy)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Hebrews 10:9
“Lo, I have come to do Thy will.” (Heb 10,9)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/08/01/ecco-io-vengo-a-fare-la-tua-volonta-eb-109/)
During Advent we read in the Liturgy that love knows how to keep watch (I Dom.); we saw love as the perfect realization of itself (the Immaculate Conception); reciprocal love as light and fire that renders present Jesus among us (II Dom.); love as the source of joy in giving (III Dom.). On Christmas eve the liturgy speaks to us of the greatest love, or rather of the sacrifice of ourselves, of our wills, motivated by the example of Jesus and Mary. In the letter to the Hebrews we are reminded of the words of the Son of God: "Lo, I have come to do Thy will"; and the Gospel of Christmas eve presents us with Mary who visits Elizabeth, concrete actuation of her yes to God: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
It is in total obedience to the will of God that we accomplish the perfect sacrifice: we do not give things, time or affections, but all of ourselves. It is in the daily yes that we deny ourselves and we confirm what the Scriptures say: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1Sam 15:22). Saint Bernard, the cantor of Mary, exclaims that Mary pleased God for her virginity, but she conceived and became a mother because of her humility.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
I had to be absent the whole day in order to participate in a meeting precisely on Mother’s Day. I talked it over with my wife and all seemed very well that I might be absent that day. Many times, however, I perceived a certain malcontent on the part of the children and also of my wife. It was for me the bell of alarm, the click of the trigger, the moment to live the Word.
From that moment I disengaged myself from that meeting and I began to live for Mother’s Day, for my wife, to begin with the children to choose a gift. I wanted that that day might be really beautiful, a true gift for my wife. For this I remained with her always, helping her in her work: washing the dishes, preparing to eat, doing the chores around the house. She was a little struck in seeing me always with her, but I said to her that this was the surprise to live Mother’s Day: I really wanted to share time with her, to live for her. We did everything together and it was wonderful. She was very pleased; myself and the kids were happy.
Renato S., Venice (Venezia), Italy
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/08/01/ecco-io-vengo-a-fare-la-tua-volonta-eb-109/)
During Advent we read in the Liturgy that love knows how to keep watch (I Dom.); we saw love as the perfect realization of itself (the Immaculate Conception); reciprocal love as light and fire that renders present Jesus among us (II Dom.); love as the source of joy in giving (III Dom.). On Christmas eve the liturgy speaks to us of the greatest love, or rather of the sacrifice of ourselves, of our wills, motivated by the example of Jesus and Mary. In the letter to the Hebrews we are reminded of the words of the Son of God: "Lo, I have come to do Thy will"; and the Gospel of Christmas eve presents us with Mary who visits Elizabeth, concrete actuation of her yes to God: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
It is in total obedience to the will of God that we accomplish the perfect sacrifice: we do not give things, time or affections, but all of ourselves. It is in the daily yes that we deny ourselves and we confirm what the Scriptures say: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1Sam 15:22). Saint Bernard, the cantor of Mary, exclaims that Mary pleased God for her virginity, but she conceived and became a mother because of her humility.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
I had to be absent the whole day in order to participate in a meeting precisely on Mother’s Day. I talked it over with my wife and all seemed very well that I might be absent that day. Many times, however, I perceived a certain malcontent on the part of the children and also of my wife. It was for me the bell of alarm, the click of the trigger, the moment to live the Word.
From that moment I disengaged myself from that meeting and I began to live for Mother’s Day, for my wife, to begin with the children to choose a gift. I wanted that that day might be really beautiful, a true gift for my wife. For this I remained with her always, helping her in her work: washing the dishes, preparing to eat, doing the chores around the house. She was a little struck in seeing me always with her, but I said to her that this was the surprise to live Mother’s Day: I really wanted to share time with her, to live for her. We did everything together and it was wonderful. She was very pleased; myself and the kids were happy.
Renato S., Venice (Venezia), Italy
Monday, July 4, 2011
Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt 26:41).
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/07/01/luglio-2011/)
How can we find the help we need to overcome the temptations in our life? The seven sacraments give us strong graces to be able to say “no” to the temptations and “yes” to Jesus. Six of these sacraments produce effects and give graces corresponding to each sacrament. But the sacrament of the Eucharist is Jesus Christ in His very Person! The source and summit of the Christian life is the Eucharist!
One always experiences a type of emotion when one arrives to the source of the river Piave or of the river Tevere or of some other great river, because those streams of water recall to mind important facts for Italy and for the whole world. In the same way this happens when we pause, without hurry, before the Eucharist: from this sacrament there has gushed forth the whole life of the Church expressed throughout 2000 years of history.
From the Eucharist the martyrs received courage and strength. During the persecutions, the Christians invented every stratagem in order to bring to the condemned the Eucharistic bread.
From the Eucharist there has gushed forth a river of charity that has given rise in the world to hospitals, hospices for the incurables, orphanages and other charitable institutions. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta would open her religious houses only if there was the possibility of having the Mass and of having Eucharistic adoration “because, she would say, one cannot love the poorest of the poor if one does not feed himself or herself at the source which is Jesus”.
From the Eucharist a great number of Christians obtained wisdom. Saint Thomas Aquinas, held by the Church as the unparalleled teacher, acquired his knowledge from Jesus in the tabernacle, on which he often rested his head.
The Eucharist, the source of the life of the Church, gives rise to unity: “one bread, and one body” (1Cor 10:17).
With the Eucharist we are intimately inserted into the life of Jesus as members of His Body. For this it is called “communion”: it leads us to overcome our instinct to close ourselves in our egoism and it opens us up to the divine love toward others; it makes us one body, as it is one the bread that we eat.
Also the Eucharistic procession seeks to express this unity not static, but of life, of collaboration, of a journey made together.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Cardinal Van Thuan, during the Jubilee year, preached the Spiritual Exercises to the Pope and to the Roman Curia. In his reflections he recounted many facts of his lived experience in a concentration camp in Vietnam, where he passed 13 years in prison, nine of which were in solitary confinement.
“Put in prison I succeeded in writing to my friends, who sent me a little wine with the label “medicine for the stomach” and some hosts hidden in a sealed torchlight. I can never express my great joy: each day, with three drops of wine and a drop of water in the palm of my hand, I celebrated Mass… They were the most beautiful Masses of my life! So in prison I felt beat in my heart the same Heart of Christ. I felt that my life was His, and His was mine.”
“In the indoctrination camps we were divided into groups of 50 people; we would sleep on a common bed, each allotted 50 centimeters. At 9:30 pm one had to turn off the lights and all had to go to bed. In that moment I curled myself in bed in order to celebrate the Mass, by memory, and I distributed Holy Communion by passing my hand under the mosquito net. We even put together little sacks with the wrappers of cigarette packs in order to conserve the Most Blessed Sacrament and to bring it to others. Eucharistic Jesus was always with me in my shirt pocket.”
“Each week there was an indoctrination session, in which the whole camp had to participate. During the interval, with my catholic companions, we took advantage of this moment in order to pass a small sack to each of the other four groups: all knew that Jesus was in their midst. During the night the prisoners took turns in adoration. Eucharist Jesus helped in unimaginable ways with His silent presence: many Christians returned to the fervor of the faith. Their testimony of service and of love had an ever increasing impact on the other prisoners. Even the Buddhists and other non Christians came to the faith. The strength of the love of Jesus was irresistible.”
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/07/01/luglio-2011/)
How can we find the help we need to overcome the temptations in our life? The seven sacraments give us strong graces to be able to say “no” to the temptations and “yes” to Jesus. Six of these sacraments produce effects and give graces corresponding to each sacrament. But the sacrament of the Eucharist is Jesus Christ in His very Person! The source and summit of the Christian life is the Eucharist!
One always experiences a type of emotion when one arrives to the source of the river Piave or of the river Tevere or of some other great river, because those streams of water recall to mind important facts for Italy and for the whole world. In the same way this happens when we pause, without hurry, before the Eucharist: from this sacrament there has gushed forth the whole life of the Church expressed throughout 2000 years of history.
From the Eucharist the martyrs received courage and strength. During the persecutions, the Christians invented every stratagem in order to bring to the condemned the Eucharistic bread.
From the Eucharist there has gushed forth a river of charity that has given rise in the world to hospitals, hospices for the incurables, orphanages and other charitable institutions. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta would open her religious houses only if there was the possibility of having the Mass and of having Eucharistic adoration “because, she would say, one cannot love the poorest of the poor if one does not feed himself or herself at the source which is Jesus”.
From the Eucharist a great number of Christians obtained wisdom. Saint Thomas Aquinas, held by the Church as the unparalleled teacher, acquired his knowledge from Jesus in the tabernacle, on which he often rested his head.
The Eucharist, the source of the life of the Church, gives rise to unity: “one bread, and one body” (1Cor 10:17).
With the Eucharist we are intimately inserted into the life of Jesus as members of His Body. For this it is called “communion”: it leads us to overcome our instinct to close ourselves in our egoism and it opens us up to the divine love toward others; it makes us one body, as it is one the bread that we eat.
Also the Eucharistic procession seeks to express this unity not static, but of life, of collaboration, of a journey made together.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Cardinal Van Thuan, during the Jubilee year, preached the Spiritual Exercises to the Pope and to the Roman Curia. In his reflections he recounted many facts of his lived experience in a concentration camp in Vietnam, where he passed 13 years in prison, nine of which were in solitary confinement.
“Put in prison I succeeded in writing to my friends, who sent me a little wine with the label “medicine for the stomach” and some hosts hidden in a sealed torchlight. I can never express my great joy: each day, with three drops of wine and a drop of water in the palm of my hand, I celebrated Mass… They were the most beautiful Masses of my life! So in prison I felt beat in my heart the same Heart of Christ. I felt that my life was His, and His was mine.”
“In the indoctrination camps we were divided into groups of 50 people; we would sleep on a common bed, each allotted 50 centimeters. At 9:30 pm one had to turn off the lights and all had to go to bed. In that moment I curled myself in bed in order to celebrate the Mass, by memory, and I distributed Holy Communion by passing my hand under the mosquito net. We even put together little sacks with the wrappers of cigarette packs in order to conserve the Most Blessed Sacrament and to bring it to others. Eucharistic Jesus was always with me in my shirt pocket.”
“Each week there was an indoctrination session, in which the whole camp had to participate. During the interval, with my catholic companions, we took advantage of this moment in order to pass a small sack to each of the other four groups: all knew that Jesus was in their midst. During the night the prisoners took turns in adoration. Eucharist Jesus helped in unimaginable ways with His silent presence: many Christians returned to the fervor of the faith. Their testimony of service and of love had an ever increasing impact on the other prisoners. Even the Buddhists and other non Christians came to the faith. The strength of the love of Jesus was irresistible.”
Friday, June 3, 2011
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rm 12:2)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/06/01/giugno-2011/)
How can we avoid conforming to the mentality of this age, but instead to transform ourselves by the renewal of our minds? In this period of Easter, we heard in the Liturgy the answer of Peter to Jesus which indicates to us the way!
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (Jn 21:17).
With this triple answer to Jesus, Peter receives the primacy of love; he becomes the “vicar” of Christ, receiving the ministry of loving always, everyone, totally, even to death.
After the experience of sin and of its consequences, of betrayal and of returning to a past without hope, like a useless night of fishing, it is sweet to hear the call of the One Who took on my sins and forgot about them and He asks me only to re-begin to love, in the present, as if the world began anew. It is like finding oneself in a family where there is only one law for the first and the last person, where the first must be the last because authority is measured by the greater responsibility to serve. Finally, Peter seems to say, I understood You, when You called me Satan, when You bent down to wash my feet, when You caused me to bitterly cry with Your fatherly look of reproach and You refused my sword to defend You.
And so we too, say with Peter: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
For a whole year I had a good job; finally a secure occupation. But then an accident occurred. I was a freelancer, and for a good while the company for which I worked had promised me that I would be covered by their insurance policy. But when the accident happened we discovered that I was not covered and after three months of sickness they told me that I would no longer be paid and that I would loose my place in the company. I could have filed a lawsuit, but I would have had to cite in the proceedings my former colleagues, putting them in grave difficulties, with the risk of causing them to loose their place in the company. With my wife we decided to try to resolve our problems without damaging anyone.
After the forth month of unemployment, we began to have economic difficulties. Martha’s work was not sufficient to support the family. But Providence did not ever abandon us, helping us to find, precisely at the moment when we were most in need, little jobs which allowed us to go forward. Together with the children each evening we sang a “Hail Mary” in a way that my grandmother had taught me. We asked her for help not only for ourselves, but also for others who we knew needed help.
Six months after the accident, when the industry of our area was in extreme difficulty, upon the indication of a friend I found a job better than the one I had lost. To us it seemed an answer… of the One Who never lets Himself be outdone in generosity.
M. & J.L., Uruguay
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/06/01/giugno-2011/)
How can we avoid conforming to the mentality of this age, but instead to transform ourselves by the renewal of our minds? In this period of Easter, we heard in the Liturgy the answer of Peter to Jesus which indicates to us the way!
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (Jn 21:17).
With this triple answer to Jesus, Peter receives the primacy of love; he becomes the “vicar” of Christ, receiving the ministry of loving always, everyone, totally, even to death.
After the experience of sin and of its consequences, of betrayal and of returning to a past without hope, like a useless night of fishing, it is sweet to hear the call of the One Who took on my sins and forgot about them and He asks me only to re-begin to love, in the present, as if the world began anew. It is like finding oneself in a family where there is only one law for the first and the last person, where the first must be the last because authority is measured by the greater responsibility to serve. Finally, Peter seems to say, I understood You, when You called me Satan, when You bent down to wash my feet, when You caused me to bitterly cry with Your fatherly look of reproach and You refused my sword to defend You.
And so we too, say with Peter: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
For a whole year I had a good job; finally a secure occupation. But then an accident occurred. I was a freelancer, and for a good while the company for which I worked had promised me that I would be covered by their insurance policy. But when the accident happened we discovered that I was not covered and after three months of sickness they told me that I would no longer be paid and that I would loose my place in the company. I could have filed a lawsuit, but I would have had to cite in the proceedings my former colleagues, putting them in grave difficulties, with the risk of causing them to loose their place in the company. With my wife we decided to try to resolve our problems without damaging anyone.
After the forth month of unemployment, we began to have economic difficulties. Martha’s work was not sufficient to support the family. But Providence did not ever abandon us, helping us to find, precisely at the moment when we were most in need, little jobs which allowed us to go forward. Together with the children each evening we sang a “Hail Mary” in a way that my grandmother had taught me. We asked her for help not only for ourselves, but also for others who we knew needed help.
Six months after the accident, when the industry of our area was in extreme difficulty, upon the indication of a friend I found a job better than the one I had lost. To us it seemed an answer… of the One Who never lets Himself be outdone in generosity.
M. & J.L., Uruguay
Monday, May 2, 2011
Matthew 22:37
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mt 22:37)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/05/01/maggio-2011/)
Like Jesus, also Saint Augustine gave an extremely simple answer to all of the theologians, to the moralists, to the canonists: “Love and do what you will”.
But in order to love it is necessary to know Love, it is necessary to be love, just as God Who loves us and is Love.
Jesus, making of the two only one commandment, indicates to us that the point of encounter between the love of God and neighbour is the Incarnation. God Who makes Himself flesh, that is man. From this moment the path which leads us to God passes obligatorily by way of man, by way of the Son of God which we all have become.
In the Old Testament the law of love came by way of “com-passion”, by way of the being all image of God, by way of the origin and the common destiny of all.
Today, the other is Jesus. In Him one finds all God Who offered Himself for us and for all of humanity which in Jesus was recreated into a new life by way of the cross.
Thus to be Christians is simple; it is enough to love. But this is extremely demanding because love requires all; it gives all; it is God.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Last year, fully committing myself, I succeeded in being the first in my class. For this I received a cash prize from the school. I gave the money to my parents who used it, supplementing the amount, in order to buy two books which I would need for the year. During the vacation, a friend asked to borrow one of these books. I was very possessive of these books, but, seeing Jesus in him, I gave it to him, insisting to him though that he use it with great care.
A month later I discovered that this book had been covered with writings and drawings and I became very angered. I wanted that Jesus might show me what I should do and so, in order to confront myself, I went to speak with a companion with whom I share a spiritual walk. He said to me that my friend had forgotten the book on the table in the house; his little sister had written those writings and those drawings. I understood that I should not be attached to a thing that passes and I burned up the anger inside of me.
A few days later I met my friend, who was mortified and did not know how to speak to me about what had happened. I spoke up first to play things down and he told me that he had already recovered the book with a beautiful cover which covered the “fruits” of the talents of his little sister. I said to him that the covering that he found was too nice and we both began to laugh!
(Rindra, India)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/05/01/maggio-2011/)
Like Jesus, also Saint Augustine gave an extremely simple answer to all of the theologians, to the moralists, to the canonists: “Love and do what you will”.
But in order to love it is necessary to know Love, it is necessary to be love, just as God Who loves us and is Love.
Jesus, making of the two only one commandment, indicates to us that the point of encounter between the love of God and neighbour is the Incarnation. God Who makes Himself flesh, that is man. From this moment the path which leads us to God passes obligatorily by way of man, by way of the Son of God which we all have become.
In the Old Testament the law of love came by way of “com-passion”, by way of the being all image of God, by way of the origin and the common destiny of all.
Today, the other is Jesus. In Him one finds all God Who offered Himself for us and for all of humanity which in Jesus was recreated into a new life by way of the cross.
Thus to be Christians is simple; it is enough to love. But this is extremely demanding because love requires all; it gives all; it is God.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
Last year, fully committing myself, I succeeded in being the first in my class. For this I received a cash prize from the school. I gave the money to my parents who used it, supplementing the amount, in order to buy two books which I would need for the year. During the vacation, a friend asked to borrow one of these books. I was very possessive of these books, but, seeing Jesus in him, I gave it to him, insisting to him though that he use it with great care.
A month later I discovered that this book had been covered with writings and drawings and I became very angered. I wanted that Jesus might show me what I should do and so, in order to confront myself, I went to speak with a companion with whom I share a spiritual walk. He said to me that my friend had forgotten the book on the table in the house; his little sister had written those writings and those drawings. I understood that I should not be attached to a thing that passes and I burned up the anger inside of me.
A few days later I met my friend, who was mortified and did not know how to speak to me about what had happened. I spoke up first to play things down and he told me that he had already recovered the book with a beautiful cover which covered the “fruits” of the talents of his little sister. I said to him that the covering that he found was too nice and we both began to laugh!
(Rindra, India)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Mark 14:36
"Not what I will, but what thou wilt.” (Mk 14:36)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/04/01/it-aprile-2011/)
In these words that Jesus speaks to the Father in the garden of Olives is the arrival to the summit of man’s journey who returns to God.
After the experience of sin Adam, the “old man”, feels for the first time in his heart the fear to meet the Lord and thus tries to hide himself. The voice of the evil one put him into a state of confusion creating for him a mistaken idea about God. Thus he flees from Him and from His will and goes forth wandering about, prisoner of his own fears.
Jesus puts an end to this flight, to this living as a vagrant who hide himself from God. He reveals the true face of God, that of a merciful Father Who wants the good of His own children and He calls them to participate in His own Life.
The man Jesus does not flee but seeks God; He wants that His own heart beats in unison with that of the Father. This relationship is fulfilled in prayer, kneeling in prayer Jesus compels His (and our) humanity to receive the design of love which surpasses us. From the “yes” to the Father is born the “new man”, capable of giving ones life for love overcoming every fear.
Also we, in these holy days, recollect ourselves in prayer in order to take part in the trial of death and of the resurrection of Jesus and in this way to regenerate in us and around us the “new man”, that one made according to the will of the Father.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
A friend, Angelo, who I discover is unemployed, communicates to me a great sorrow: the death of his new born baby girl. When we take leave of each other, I have in my heart only one desire: to do something for him. The day after, my first thought was: I want to find work for Angelo.
Among the very few possibilities in an area with much unemployment, Carlo comes to mind, another friend, manager of a large company.
But my day was so filled with things to do that I realized that I would not succeed in contacting him. During the Holy Mass I complain a little with Jesus: “You ask to much of me!”
While I was on my way to meet with a person that was going through a very difficult situation – one of the scheduled tasks for that day – I confide to the Father the work for Angelo.
I listen for hours, with great peace, that person who in the end was truly relieved and happy.
Returning home, there was a message. It is Angelo who found work. He is happy. And I am happy too. But his second statement really touched me: the work is with Carlo’s company, the manager, with whom he came into contact walking along another street.
X. Z., Italy
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/04/01/it-aprile-2011/)
In these words that Jesus speaks to the Father in the garden of Olives is the arrival to the summit of man’s journey who returns to God.
After the experience of sin Adam, the “old man”, feels for the first time in his heart the fear to meet the Lord and thus tries to hide himself. The voice of the evil one put him into a state of confusion creating for him a mistaken idea about God. Thus he flees from Him and from His will and goes forth wandering about, prisoner of his own fears.
Jesus puts an end to this flight, to this living as a vagrant who hide himself from God. He reveals the true face of God, that of a merciful Father Who wants the good of His own children and He calls them to participate in His own Life.
The man Jesus does not flee but seeks God; He wants that His own heart beats in unison with that of the Father. This relationship is fulfilled in prayer, kneeling in prayer Jesus compels His (and our) humanity to receive the design of love which surpasses us. From the “yes” to the Father is born the “new man”, capable of giving ones life for love overcoming every fear.
Also we, in these holy days, recollect ourselves in prayer in order to take part in the trial of death and of the resurrection of Jesus and in this way to regenerate in us and around us the “new man”, that one made according to the will of the Father.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
A friend, Angelo, who I discover is unemployed, communicates to me a great sorrow: the death of his new born baby girl. When we take leave of each other, I have in my heart only one desire: to do something for him. The day after, my first thought was: I want to find work for Angelo.
Among the very few possibilities in an area with much unemployment, Carlo comes to mind, another friend, manager of a large company.
But my day was so filled with things to do that I realized that I would not succeed in contacting him. During the Holy Mass I complain a little with Jesus: “You ask to much of me!”
While I was on my way to meet with a person that was going through a very difficult situation – one of the scheduled tasks for that day – I confide to the Father the work for Angelo.
I listen for hours, with great peace, that person who in the end was truly relieved and happy.
Returning home, there was a message. It is Angelo who found work. He is happy. And I am happy too. But his second statement really touched me: the work is with Carlo’s company, the manager, with whom he came into contact walking along another street.
X. Z., Italy
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Luke 1:38
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word (Lk 1:38).
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/03/01/eccomi-sono-la-serva-del-signore-avvenga-di-me-quello-che-hai-detto-lc-138/)
Mary is the person who responded with her own unconditional yes to God: she granted space in herself to God. In this yes, Mary is a Mother that generates: in her the love of God truly made Himself love for man. This fact alone is a scandal. Plato had said that no God mixes with men, and had thus indicated the desolation of the ancient world, which warned the abysmal distance between God and man and thought it to be unbridgeable. It was filled by Mary. In her “behold me”, she became the creatural space where the divine entered into humanity.
It is the particular love of Mary, her love as a woman and as a mother: she does not ask, she gives. She does not pretend; she considers herself in debt. And her beauty is to be background, not to put herself before; thus it is delicate love, respectful, hidden, veiled and at the same time extremely strong, because it is capable of generating. The specificity of generating is the fruit and that of love: the experience to be the response.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
When Frances communicated to us her decision to become a religious sister, she said it to us with words that opened our hearts as parents: “You see, - she told us – I did not seek this; it was not in my plans or even in my dreams. When I realized that perhaps the Lord was calling me to the consecrated life, I tried to push away this thought and to not indulge in it too much. But gradually it appeared to me ever more clearly the will of the Lord in my regard. It was not asked of me to think or to understand, but to correspond with a spirit of receiving and abandonment.” She added: “On my own I asked myself: but how is it possible that the Lord might actually call me, who does not have exceptional talents, who is not better than so many other girls of my age? I discovered with joy that the Lord had fixed His gaze on me even seeing very well, much better than me, the limits, the defects, the weaknesses, my fragility. Thus, I can confide in Him and entrust myself to Him. Today and always He accompanies my steps with His presence, with His support, with His light, with His strength. This certainty gives me a great interior peace.”
These words of Frances helped us to understand that the life of the children, whatever way they decide to take, is always an answer to an initiative of God. We parents are called to be near them always, so that where the Lord will wait for them, they can go with trust and with great interior peace.
(The parents of Frances; Italy)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/03/01/eccomi-sono-la-serva-del-signore-avvenga-di-me-quello-che-hai-detto-lc-138/)
Mary is the person who responded with her own unconditional yes to God: she granted space in herself to God. In this yes, Mary is a Mother that generates: in her the love of God truly made Himself love for man. This fact alone is a scandal. Plato had said that no God mixes with men, and had thus indicated the desolation of the ancient world, which warned the abysmal distance between God and man and thought it to be unbridgeable. It was filled by Mary. In her “behold me”, she became the creatural space where the divine entered into humanity.
It is the particular love of Mary, her love as a woman and as a mother: she does not ask, she gives. She does not pretend; she considers herself in debt. And her beauty is to be background, not to put herself before; thus it is delicate love, respectful, hidden, veiled and at the same time extremely strong, because it is capable of generating. The specificity of generating is the fruit and that of love: the experience to be the response.
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
When Frances communicated to us her decision to become a religious sister, she said it to us with words that opened our hearts as parents: “You see, - she told us – I did not seek this; it was not in my plans or even in my dreams. When I realized that perhaps the Lord was calling me to the consecrated life, I tried to push away this thought and to not indulge in it too much. But gradually it appeared to me ever more clearly the will of the Lord in my regard. It was not asked of me to think or to understand, but to correspond with a spirit of receiving and abandonment.” She added: “On my own I asked myself: but how is it possible that the Lord might actually call me, who does not have exceptional talents, who is not better than so many other girls of my age? I discovered with joy that the Lord had fixed His gaze on me even seeing very well, much better than me, the limits, the defects, the weaknesses, my fragility. Thus, I can confide in Him and entrust myself to Him. Today and always He accompanies my steps with His presence, with His support, with His light, with His strength. This certainty gives me a great interior peace.”
These words of Frances helped us to understand that the life of the children, whatever way they decide to take, is always an answer to an initiative of God. We parents are called to be near them always, so that where the Lord will wait for them, they can go with trust and with great interior peace.
(The parents of Frances; Italy)
Friday, February 4, 2011
Romans 8:14
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rm 8:14).
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/02/01/febbraio-2011/)
The Spirit of God has always loved us, even from all eternity. He has followed us along the ways of false freedom, of idolatry of ourselves, as the shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep, as the Father who waits for the son, with infinite patience, in the doorway of the house, ready to make a great feast. He searched for us in the labyrinths of life where we lost ourselves, with the anxiety with which one seeks for the precious coin, as if it were His only treasure.
He allowed Himself to be annihilated by death, He descended down to the lowest level of the underworld in order to not loose anyone, even to feel as if forsaken, emptied in the Soul of His essence, Love. By this we have been called back to life in the life of Jesus Who embraced and held us tightly to Him and thus brought back to be able to breath the Spirit of the Father.
The Spirit of God allows us to say “Abbà”, Father. How can we live as children of God?
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
We have been married for 26 years and we have three children who are still in school. I work as a hospital doctor, but my wife, after the birth of the third child, left her work as a physical therapist in order to dedicate herself to the family and to be able to confront together, according to ones own possibilities and capacities, the normal daily undertakings and, sometimes, the difficult moments.
It has helped us a lot to dialogue and to confront the problems immediately, convinced to be able to always find the most adequate solution, as in the occasion of the decision of our son and his girl friend, to renounce the life that they had conceived. It is understandable their uneasiness, but not justifiable their behaviour and in particular their decision. The law permits it; the conscience does not! There is no difficulty to do what they intended to do – guaranteed privacy, unknown to anyone, except the consciences. A shocking declaration, devastating for the fact and its possible consequences.
How to respond? “Let us give them a hand!” It is this that we said in unison, after a few minutes of dismay, of silence, of understanding arrived at only with intense reciprocal looks, without reflecting too much, omitting the “ifs” and the “buts”, certain of one thing: their decision expressed an evident plea for help in order to understand, to act. The subsequent dialogues and silences indicated the different dynamics. The diversity of ideas, of convictions, of external and intermediate positions, gave way to go forward together along a way that was not easy but illuminated by the sure beacon of the goal: Life always and anyway.
In the end we pronounced all together a clear “yes” to life, a liberating “yes”, enthusiastic in the successive choices for the practical and concrete commitments. The idea unleashed action, enthusiasm, involving other people, “in the face” of privacy, of shame, of interested conformism or of empty dignity. Love, sincerity, dialogue and availability are always the winning weapons. Boldness and courage must always prevail over insipid timidity.
Principles and values must be the object of discussion but never put in question: life if the most beautiful gift that God has given us!
Paolo (Verona, Italy)
(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2011/02/01/febbraio-2011/)
The Spirit of God has always loved us, even from all eternity. He has followed us along the ways of false freedom, of idolatry of ourselves, as the shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep, as the Father who waits for the son, with infinite patience, in the doorway of the house, ready to make a great feast. He searched for us in the labyrinths of life where we lost ourselves, with the anxiety with which one seeks for the precious coin, as if it were His only treasure.
He allowed Himself to be annihilated by death, He descended down to the lowest level of the underworld in order to not loose anyone, even to feel as if forsaken, emptied in the Soul of His essence, Love. By this we have been called back to life in the life of Jesus Who embraced and held us tightly to Him and thus brought back to be able to breath the Spirit of the Father.
The Spirit of God allows us to say “Abbà”, Father. How can we live as children of God?
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
We have been married for 26 years and we have three children who are still in school. I work as a hospital doctor, but my wife, after the birth of the third child, left her work as a physical therapist in order to dedicate herself to the family and to be able to confront together, according to ones own possibilities and capacities, the normal daily undertakings and, sometimes, the difficult moments.
It has helped us a lot to dialogue and to confront the problems immediately, convinced to be able to always find the most adequate solution, as in the occasion of the decision of our son and his girl friend, to renounce the life that they had conceived. It is understandable their uneasiness, but not justifiable their behaviour and in particular their decision. The law permits it; the conscience does not! There is no difficulty to do what they intended to do – guaranteed privacy, unknown to anyone, except the consciences. A shocking declaration, devastating for the fact and its possible consequences.
How to respond? “Let us give them a hand!” It is this that we said in unison, after a few minutes of dismay, of silence, of understanding arrived at only with intense reciprocal looks, without reflecting too much, omitting the “ifs” and the “buts”, certain of one thing: their decision expressed an evident plea for help in order to understand, to act. The subsequent dialogues and silences indicated the different dynamics. The diversity of ideas, of convictions, of external and intermediate positions, gave way to go forward together along a way that was not easy but illuminated by the sure beacon of the goal: Life always and anyway.
In the end we pronounced all together a clear “yes” to life, a liberating “yes”, enthusiastic in the successive choices for the practical and concrete commitments. The idea unleashed action, enthusiasm, involving other people, “in the face” of privacy, of shame, of interested conformism or of empty dignity. Love, sincerity, dialogue and availability are always the winning weapons. Boldness and courage must always prevail over insipid timidity.
Principles and values must be the object of discussion but never put in question: life if the most beautiful gift that God has given us!
Paolo (Verona, Italy)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Acts 4:32
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, as everything they owned was held in common. (Acts 4:32)
(http://www.domusviridis.org.uk/wol/1994/199401.htm)
BUILDING NEW RELATIONSHIPS
In inter-human relations giving requires receiving, because it is giving and receiving that create communion, fraternity and consequently equality.
Giving means then to share, the communion of spiritual and material goods. With these attitudes of giving we overcome other attitudes of giving which exist in the civilization of having: that which offends because they are flawed by the desire for power over others; that which in the act of giving one seeks ones own satisfaction, ones own vainglory; that “utilitarian” that even though giving, it is finalized and directed to ones own usefulness, ones own gain.
True giving that creates new relationships is that which Jesus taught us in the Gospel. That giving which, lived by the first Christians, did such that one could say of them: “they were of one heart and soul and among them there was no one in need” (cf. At 4,32).
Nothing less than this is required of Christians today in order to construct a united world.
Chiara Lubich said at a large gathering of youth at Palaeur in Rome in 1990:
“Jesus defined the commandment of love “mine” and “new”, because it is typically His, having filled it with a very new and singular content. “Love one another – He said – as I have love you”. And He gave His life for us. Thus in this love there is in play here ones life. And a love that is ready to give ones life is what He asks of us also toward our brothers. It is not sufficient for a Christian only friendship or benevolence toward others; philanthropy is not enough, nor even solidarity alone. The love that Jesus asks is not exhausted in non-violence. It is something active, very active. It requires that one no longer live for oneself, but for others. And this requires sacrifice, fatigue. It asks of everyone to transform themselves from cowardly and egotistical people, concentrated on their own interests, their own things, into little daily heroes, day after day, they are at the service of the brothers, ready to give even their lives in their favor”.
In these relationships that come untied in everyday life and in the strong moments of life, the person arrives to the maturity of emancipation, and, thus, of authentic sociality.
Vera Araujo
(Vera Araujo is a Brazilian sociologist; she teaches social doctrine of the Church in the international citadel of Loppiano and collaborates with various magazines. Beyond being a consultant to the Movement "New Humanity" – a social expression of the Focolare Movement – she took part as an "expert" at the Fourth Conference of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) held in 1992 in Santo Domingo.)
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
I have always been attached to my cloths and each year I tended to accumulate them. A month ago, during the change of season, I realized how much I was conditioned by this attachment; I felt a strong push to eliminate from the closet all that was superfluous. In the end I ended up with a few things and a great freedom of heart; I discovered the beauty and the importance of the communion of material goods!
This little cutting permitted me to re-give the proper value to things putting again God in the first place.
(A seventeen year old girl)
(http://www.domusviridis.org.uk/wol/1994/199401.htm)
BUILDING NEW RELATIONSHIPS
In inter-human relations giving requires receiving, because it is giving and receiving that create communion, fraternity and consequently equality.
Giving means then to share, the communion of spiritual and material goods. With these attitudes of giving we overcome other attitudes of giving which exist in the civilization of having: that which offends because they are flawed by the desire for power over others; that which in the act of giving one seeks ones own satisfaction, ones own vainglory; that “utilitarian” that even though giving, it is finalized and directed to ones own usefulness, ones own gain.
True giving that creates new relationships is that which Jesus taught us in the Gospel. That giving which, lived by the first Christians, did such that one could say of them: “they were of one heart and soul and among them there was no one in need” (cf. At 4,32).
Nothing less than this is required of Christians today in order to construct a united world.
Chiara Lubich said at a large gathering of youth at Palaeur in Rome in 1990:
“Jesus defined the commandment of love “mine” and “new”, because it is typically His, having filled it with a very new and singular content. “Love one another – He said – as I have love you”. And He gave His life for us. Thus in this love there is in play here ones life. And a love that is ready to give ones life is what He asks of us also toward our brothers. It is not sufficient for a Christian only friendship or benevolence toward others; philanthropy is not enough, nor even solidarity alone. The love that Jesus asks is not exhausted in non-violence. It is something active, very active. It requires that one no longer live for oneself, but for others. And this requires sacrifice, fatigue. It asks of everyone to transform themselves from cowardly and egotistical people, concentrated on their own interests, their own things, into little daily heroes, day after day, they are at the service of the brothers, ready to give even their lives in their favor”.
In these relationships that come untied in everyday life and in the strong moments of life, the person arrives to the maturity of emancipation, and, thus, of authentic sociality.
Vera Araujo
(Vera Araujo is a Brazilian sociologist; she teaches social doctrine of the Church in the international citadel of Loppiano and collaborates with various magazines. Beyond being a consultant to the Movement "New Humanity" – a social expression of the Focolare Movement – she took part as an "expert" at the Fourth Conference of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) held in 1992 in Santo Domingo.)
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
I have always been attached to my cloths and each year I tended to accumulate them. A month ago, during the change of season, I realized how much I was conditioned by this attachment; I felt a strong push to eliminate from the closet all that was superfluous. In the end I ended up with a few things and a great freedom of heart; I discovered the beauty and the importance of the communion of material goods!
This little cutting permitted me to re-give the proper value to things putting again God in the first place.
(A seventeen year old girl)