In this moving collection of writings from his final year in this world, we hear John Paul II’s voice again as he calls us to build a society that recognizes universal human rights, to listen to our neighbours cry for help, to build bridges and to share in one another’s gifts. Read more
Available from New City Press (NY)
This faith in the love of God, however, cannot remain closed up within the inner depths of each individual person. As Paul explains very well: God has given us the ministry of bringing others to reconciliation with him (see 2 Cor 5:18) by entrusting to each Christian the great responsibility of witnessing to God’s love for his creatures. How can we do this?
Our way of behaving should make this truth credible. Jesus said clearly that before bringing our offering to the altar, we should be reconciled with our brothers and sisters if they have something against us (see Mt 5:23–24).
And this holds true first of all within our communities: our families, groups, associations or churches. In other words, we are called to break down all the barriers that block harmony among people and nations …
“On behalf of Christ” means “in his name.” Our aim then is to take his place, to live with him and to love one another as he loved us, that is, without being limited by attitudes and prejudices, but being open to accepting and appreciating the positive values of our neighbors, even ready to give our lives for them. This is Jesus’ commandment par excellence, the characteristic of Christians, which is as valid today as it was in the time of the first followers of Christ. Living these words means becoming reconcilers.
In this way, if our every gesture, every word, every attitude is imbued with love, they will be like those of Jesus. Like him, we will be bearers of joy and hope, of concord and peace — that is, what all creation is waiting for: a world reconciled to God.
Chiara Lubich
The worldwide link-up will start from Nairobi (http://live.focolare.org/y4uw/) when on the 1° of May, at 1 o’clock Italian time, youth from five continents will be linked together to launch the United World Week 2014 (UWW): “Bridging cultures”, a galaxy of activities and actions of the Youth for a United World (YFUW) in the five continents, centered on reciprocal sharing. Other link-ups are foreseen with Japan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Algeria, Portugal, Brazil. In Nairobi (Kenya) about a hundred young people have arrived: half of them represent the African peoples of the sub-Saharan area and half from the other continents.
“Sharing with Africa”. This is the motto to express the reciprocity that the 2014 edition of the UWW would like to realize with the African continent, emblem of colours, culture and challenges, to deepen some pillars of the African culture, in a reciprocal sharing of treasures.
Loppiano (Italy), just like every year, will be transformed into a big plaza (#Spiazzaci) to give visibility to an different Italy with the initiatives that are going on regarding legality, interrelogious dialogue and immigration.
If you want to know more, go to:www.facebook.com/y4uw.international?fref=ts
Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, expressed to the youth her gratitude for the “committment” and the “stubborn courage” they have in “pursuing the objectives of the United World, immersed in the complex situations and in the diversified realities of the world today”. It is “a huge construction site” she added, but we are dealing with God’s dream, as Chiara Lubich loved to call it.” Assuring all those who “ identify themselves with the ideals of the Focolare Movement” of her support, she recalled the wish that John Paul II directed at the YFUW: “Only those who look to the future will make history”, concluding, “It is history, as leaven in thedough, that we are building here and now” with many others.
The 1° of May, aside from the above, will launch the Atlas of fraternity, a first report on 800 fragments of fraternity, courageous actions that propagate in the cities, that build bridges between people, groups and cultures, that open roads of dialogue and indicate new pathways for the communities. An ideal journey among the meridians and the parallels of the Globe that demonstarte how fraternity in action can cover the world. It makes up the first document of the United World Project (UWP) after the Genfest 2012 in Budapest, it can be found on www.unitedworldproject.org.
