Monday, September 3, 2012

John 4:13-14


“Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:13–14).


How much one suffers of thirst today, and they all run to drink again, not yet convinced to have mistaken the source!

Is there a source that refreshes? Yes, it is Jesus.

Today activism drains us, it pushes us into a race so anxious so as to lose direction, and one wastes infinite energies in the pursuit of very provisional goals.

Only by satiating that thirst which makes you feel loved by the Father, fully valued and accepted by Him, placing in His hands every concern, looking to Jesus for the Words of Light that assign to every dimension of life the right value, you discover that you no longer need to run because you have already arrived, you are in Christ, in the fullness of life and you move in His presence.

Will you allow yourself to love yourself? To find a space worthy for your interior life, for prayer and meditation, in order to say thank you, in order to ask for pardon, in order to recognize your limits and your greatness? You would become a person with whom one likes being around, like being near the source! … and near the springs rose up entire cities!

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An Experience of Life:

After the first few years of marriage, we moved to a house that best suited our needs. This house had a large garage. Often, we wondered what to make of this environment, which had remained unused for years.

As a married missionary couple of the Community of Villaregia, we wanted to give to our family life the color of the missionary outreach. The work of Tino allowed us to have some free afternoons which we utilized to collect clothing and medicines in the various collection centers for the mission, existing in our area.

Four years ago, we had an idea: why not make available the garage for storage and distribution of medicines? This insight increased the vitality of the family. Every Tuesday, about fifty people gather in our house to select drugs to be shipped in the containers. From early afternoon until late in the evening, there is a steady stream of adults and young people who offer their services to the poor brethren. Last year, thanks to the generosity of so many physicians and pharmacists, and the constant commitment of this group of friends, we were able to prepare thirty-two crates of medicines, worth about three million euros.

Even our four children, not withstanding their study commitments, participate in the initiative, happy to make space within the domestic walls, for brothers near and far.

Tino e Marta (Tombelle (VE), Italy)