John 6:27

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (Jn.6:27)

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/06/01/giugno-2012/)

The feast of the Body of Christ runs a risk: that Jesus offered to us today as Bread, might be admired, contemplated, adored along the streets and squares, but then He remains closed in the monstrance and tabernacle.

But Jesus says: “take and eat”! So how should we live concretely the gift of the Eucharist?

We need to take and eat. That is transform ourselves into Jesus, to be Him. To live not for ourselves, but that Jesus might be, live and work among Christians.

Christians then, among themselves, if they want to be totally committed, must conduct themselves as members of one body. But this is not enough. During the day this communion must become concrete in social relations in a spiritual communion in actions and material goods.

This applies for Christians. But for those who do not communicate in the sacrament of the Body of Christ? We ourselves must be communion for them with our body: by loving we give Jesus.

Indeed, allowing ourselves to be "eaten" by others, we make ourselves Eucharist for them. Letting ourselves to be eaten means to be people who do not impose themselves, but who make themselves one with everyone, suffering with those who suffer, rejoicing with those who rejoice, participating in the life, problems, struggles, and joys of others.

In a continual giving of love they make of themselves a bridge between Jesus and humanity so that the invitation of Jesus will reach the others: “Take and eat, this is My Body!”.

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An Experience of Life:

At work something that always saddened me a lot was to see that, when a reprimand was to be given, it was done before everyone; in fact it happened that a coworker was reprimanded in the department.

I always asked Jesus that there might be a good time to do something about this. Sometime ago there was a trade union meeting and at the end of a talk of a union organizer he asked if there were any questions or problems to deal with. It was the opportune moment to intervene. And so I raised my hand and I explained my point of view, saying that I had witnessed reproaches made to colleagues in public and with offensive words and I saw it was not right: if a colleague had worked badly or had made a mistake, it was the duty of the manager to let him know, but it should have taken place between them.

My words caused a general murmur of approval. A few days after our union rep told me that my speech was very important; she knew that they had spoken at the summit and we both noted that afterwards we did not witness a similar scene. She once said: "I willing talk with you because you are a humane and fair person. I was once like you too; I tried to help everyone, then I saw that when I myself needed help no one did anything, so now I just mind my own business.

I listened to her trying to "make myself one" and I sensed that there was a lot of suffering under her words. I told her that I understood because I had to face in life many trials, but one thing I was certain: to turn ones back on people was not the right solution to be well.

 

(Daniela, VR)

Luke 12:49

“I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” (Lk 12:49).

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/05/01/parola-di-vita-maggio/)

Immediately after these words in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus continues: “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” (v.50).  The fire may be the purifying Holy Spirit or charity. The baptism is the baptism of blood of the Passion (cf. Mk 10:39). This fire of the Holy Spirit, of true charity, is set aflame only through “the baptism” of the sufferings in our lives embraced out of love in union with Jesus on the cross. Paul said: “Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8).

We do not lose our lives for Jesus, or better, we do not find ourselves in Him only through martyrdom, but also by doing His will with love moment by moment.

Pius XI, speaking of the life of St. Therese, entirely spent for love, defined her life as “daily martyrdom”, a witness of heroic love. Those who train everyday in this martyrdom of love find themselves prepared, if they might be asked, to undergo martyrdom of blood: all this in order to find themselves in Jesus.

Three butterflies desired one day to draw closer to the fire to understand it. Stopping to observe one of them said: “It is something that gives light.” The second, feeling the heat, said: “It's something that warms.” But the third one took off in flight, went deep into it and became of itself a living flame. It alone understood what really is the fire!

If salt does not accept to be dissolved, it would not be worth anything; if wood does not accept to be burned, it would not give heat and would rot needlessly. “Whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it”.

A song is not a song until it is sung; a bell is not a bell until it is rung. By its very nature, love is not love until it is given away!

From the pierced heart of Jesus gushed forth, as two rivers, blood and water, figures of baptism and the Eucharist. By living these two sacraments, which makes us children of God and one in body with Jesus, we can enter the heart of Christ and, through Him, into the abyss of love of the Trinity.

This transformation process takes place each time, while making ourselves empty in order to love, we become capable of receiving the gift of Jesus in every neighbor we encounter.

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An Experience of Life:

Every act of love turns on a light. If then this takes place in the deepest darkness of hatred, then it provokes an explosion of light. Today, in our modern secular culture, there is less true Christian love than every before.  

George Bielecki, a prisoner of Auschwitz, wrote about what happened when Father Kolbe offered his own life to save a prisoner condemned to death:

“It was a huge shock for the whole prison camp. We realized that someone among us, in that dark spiritual night of the soul, had raised the measure of love to the highest peak. A stranger, one like everyone else, tortured and deprived of his name and social condition, offered himself to a horrible death to save someone who was not even related to him. Thousands of prisoners convinced themselves that the world continued to exist and that our torturers could not destroy it. More than one individual started to seek this truth within themselves, to find it and to share it with other comrades in the prison camp.

To say that Father Kolbe died for one of us or for the family of that person would be an understatement. His death was the salvation of thousands of human lives. And in this, I could say, lies the greatness of that death. And as long as we live, we who were at Auschwitz, will bow our heads in memory of what had happened. That was a shock to us that brought back to us optimism, that regenerated us and gave us strength; we were dumbfounded by his gesture, which became for us a powerful burst of light capable of illuminating the dark night of the prison camp…”

John 15:3

You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. (Jn 15:3)

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/04/01/aprile-2012/)

One finds this verse in the passage where Jesus speaks of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8). These disciples of Jesus "have already been cleansed" because they live the word of Jesus, each one individually and together as a community.

The true vineyard is the community of those who adhere to Jesus, as the branches to the stump. Only he who remains united to Jesus, as the vine to the branches, belongs to the Father's vineyard. The disciple who follows Jesus is called, every day, to give his response to the Word, and in this way is grafted into Jesus. The Word of Jesus, accepted and lived, is like a seed of rebirth, like a germ of life, destined to grow incessantly in those who live it. An ever greater fidelity to the Word is the condition of every apostolic activity. The branch can have apostolic power only to the point that it is rooted in the Lord, bearing witness to Him in sorrows, trials and even death. This indwelling of Christ is a strong and courageous, manly and daily faithfulness. Because this fidelity of the disciple is guaranteed by the faithfulness of the Lord: "I in him."

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An Experience of Life:

Simone Weil, a Jewish converted to Christianity, looking one day at the tall and slender plants, with long and leafy branches, commented that these branches, flooded with sunlight, by way of the phenomenon of chlorophyll, transmitted the lifeblood to the whole plant and thus the roots branched deep into the earth. Concluding her paper, Simone Weil posed a question: "But the plants, then, where do they have their roots, in the earth or in heaven?". And she herself replied: "In Heaven". And she concluded: "So too we have our roots in heaven, and the more one is rooted in God, so much the more one becomes man and so much the more one enters into humanity and becomes companion to each man.”

John 6:68

‘Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ (Jn 6:68)

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/03/01/marzo-2012/)

How many words we hear in a day! There are simple and difficult words, those for love or for hate, those which soothe or make angry. There are tender words or words of reproach. There are words that are imprinted in the memory, which enter into the heart, others that slip away and that we forget quickly. Jesus, after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, turns to the crowd with a long speech. In the first part He speaks of the mystery of His Person. In the second part Jesus pauses to talk about the bread of the Eucharist. And He identifies Himself with this Food: it is He, Jesus, the living Bread. He who eats It deeply unites himself to God and can live for God Himself.

The listeners were surprised and found it difficult to receive these words. This is why so many leave. Jesus sees the uncertainty of faith even among the twelve. Jesus asks them also to take a position. Peter responds on behalf of the friends with an authentic profession and experience of Christian faith: he recognizes and testifies that only the revelation of Jesus can lead into the divine life: "You have words of eternal life," of the fullness of life. The words of Jesus are words of life. Not only because they can be put into practice, but also because when you live the words your life takes on a particular fullness. We learn to hear the word of God, distinguishing it from a thousand other words that pass by. It is the Word of a Father Who wants the good of the children and this is why He gives us words that give meaning to daily life.

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An Experience of Life:

I went many times to visit Franca in prison. Her pain, her anguish, within the walls of the prison grew every day. I just felt helpless, but every now and then I could give her a bit 'of serenity.

One day she said to me: "I like you because you are like me ".

She had expressed the desire to come to our home during the periods of leave. We talked with the children and together we received her with joy. There was with us, at that time, our mother, rather ill, and it was surprising to see how she knew how to console Franca.

Then there was a special Christmas; Franca was already at our house when we received the news of the arrival of my brother with his whole family.

Knowing his way of thinking I was afraid that the presence of Franca would upset him. Instead, seeing our willingness and the joy that Mom felt in helping the unfortunate girl, after a first moment of surprise, he was taken up by the climate of solidarity without judgment. Franca had found the warmth of a family.

N.S., Italia

P.s.

I highly recommend reading the book:

The True Devotion To Mary,

By St. Louis De Montfort.

(http://www.catholictradition.org/Classics/secret-mary.htm).

In particular read paragraphs 47-59 for our very particular period of time in the history of the world and of the Church.

Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote about this book:

“The reading of this book was a decisive turning point in my life. I say ‘turning point,’ but in fact it was a long inner journey… This ‘perfect devotion’ is indispensable to anyone who means to give himself without reserve to Christ and to the work of redemption.” “It is from Montfort that I have taken my motto: ‘Totus tuus’ (‘I am all thine’). Someday I’ll have to tell you Montfortians how I discovered De Montfort’s ‘Treatise on True Devotion To Mary’, and how often I had to reread it to understand it.”

Mark 1:15

Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mk 1:15)

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/02/01/febbraio-2012/)

In the primitive Church Lent was a precious time dedicated to the “catechumenate”, that is to the preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism at the Easter Vigil. Also for us who have already received the gift of the Christian life, Lent is a precious moment to reflect on the received gift, not only to “feel” part of the baptized people, but especially to “live” as baptized people.

This is what it means to “repent”, to overturn our hearts, that is, to go to God with a “new heart”. Conversion is not just about a pagan who embraces the faith in Christ the Savior, but every Christian, in fact the more one is holy, feels even more the need to go to God with the “heart renewed”. To this we are invited in the walk of forty days, helped by the gift of the word of God, because it becomes life of our life, similar to how bread that we eat becomes our flesh.

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An Experience of Life:

I CONDEMNED A DEAD MAN

I committed a big error. I knew that John had died in a sad shameful way: after a night out in drunkenness with prostitutes. He was rich, he had a wife and children, but he also had some really bad habits.

Today will be held the funeral. They called me to bless the body. I said that I would not go. Because of the life that he lived up to the last moment – I replied – he did not deserve the blessing of the Church. I felt I had to defend justice, to give a good example to the people, to do, you might say, my duty.

I was left alone; I did not have peace. I asked myself what would Jesus have done in my place and I was ashamed of myself. In this moment of sorrow, while the wife and the children are crying because there is no longer Dad because he left in that way, I, who could bring a little relief, I condemned a dead man! I know this man from the outside; only God knows him from the inside. I am not his judge, but Jesus Who for him poured out His Blood! That night I was not able to sleep.

The next day I went to find the widow and the children. I asked for their pardon and we made a date for the funeral Mass. The fact became known to the people: the priest went to ask pardon! Perhaps this gesture evangelized more than all of my homilies!

Father E. P. (Italy)

Colossians 3:1

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Col 3,1)

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/01/01/%C2%ABse-dunque-siete-risorti-con-cristo-cercate-le-cose-di-lassu-dove-si-trova-cristo-assiso-alla-destra-di-dio%C2%BB-col-31/)

An icon of the Eastern Churches depicts the Risen Christ that breaks down, in a powerful way, the door that holds the dead prisoners. The hinges and even the nails fly in every direction. Jesus stretches out His arms: with one hand He pulls out Adam, and with the other Eve. In the first human couple is represented humanity snatched from death and brought into the kingdom of the risen Christ.

Jesus with His death descended into the abyss of our anguish, of our death, of our sin, to raise us up to heaven. Being incorporated as members, in Him, we already participate in His resurrection, and we are already risen in him, in the heart of the Trinity. But, while we are itinerants on the earth, the work of sanctification continues unrelentingly. Every day we see the gap between "what is above" and our fragility that leads us to give up. "Up there" sin and death can no longer enter and the Father's will is perfectly done. Instead, as long as we are on this earth, we are exposed to thousands of difficulties and temptations that can slow or even divert our path toward false goals.

Knowing the struggle that is in us, St. Paul urges us: "Risen with Christ, seek the things above." He urges us to engage ourselves in order to witness in our surroundings the realities that Jesus brought to earth: the spirit of concord and peace, service to others, understanding and forgiveness, honesty, justice, fairness at work, fidelity , purity and respect. Affirming with our lives these realities, we bring the world to better reflect the life of "above".

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An Experience of Life:

Twenty years, and the belief that to live my life meant to do whatever I liked. A circle of friends beyond the limits of legality: drugs, disco, hooliganism, clashes with the police, the thirst for money and power, fights between rival gangs.

My brother had started at that time to hang around with new friends who immediately struck me: they had between them a relationship very different from what I had lived with my gang and they lived taking seriously the words of Jesus. God for me was nothing and those guys intrigued me, but I could not understand them: I watched them so that later I could have a good laugh with my friends.

Then, the accident: a car struck me while I was on a motorcycle going to the disco. The drama of a moment: if my life had ended, what was left in my hands? I in a flash there appeared to me all of the futility of my years spent chasing nothing, that left me nothing. And a suddenly flash: a trip to the mountains many years before, a person who had proposed that I entrust my life to God. By now it was too late to do it, or perhaps God had accepted that prayer?

At the hospital, none of my friends ever came to see me. Instead the girl friend of my brother came immediately and stayed by me all the days of hospitalization. With her, slowly, was born a friendship and deep esteem and I discovered that her God-Love could transform and enrich even my life.

"Love one another as I have loved you," Jesus repeated even to me: it was a radical revolution. In my heart I said yes. I drastically decided to get out of the gang. It was not easy. But there were my new friends to support me and the personal love of God to give me strength. I felt reborn and the Gospel indicated to me, step by step, the way to go.

Susy F., Milan (Italy)

Luke 3:4

“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.

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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)