Focolare Movement

The encounter with pain

Apr 14, 2017

Klaus Hemmerle (1929-1994), once Bishop of Aachen (Germany), proposes “four steps” to recognise and embrace the face of Jesus forsaken in every suffering.

20170414-01First step: prepare yourself In the morning, as I wake up, I prepare myself by saying: «Today I shall await Him.» I don’t know what the day will bring, but I know that in an unforeseen way, Jesus Forsaken will come to me: in the difficulties, disappointments, perhaps also in my shortcomings, and in bad and painful news. I declare that He will come, and that I am awaiting him. Second step: recognise him During the day, almost always in an unexpected manner, I meet the negativity around me or in me. At these moments it is important to recognize him immediately without hesitation. He, in his abandonment, is already present in every need or fault: in such a way that every pain is “his sacrament” and what matters, within the sign of this pain, is to recognise the countenance of the Crucified and Abandoned, loving and adoring him immediately. Third step: call him by his name Upon meeting him, I am not only aware, but observe and greet him. I call him by his name. Giving a name to every countenance of Jesus Forsaken is a precious exercise and much more than a superficial act. It is no longer “a thing” but a “You.” Precisely in this way, every action of mine becomes contemplation. Fourth step: welcome him warmly Prepare a feast for Jesus Forsaken. By this I mean welcoming him not only hesitatingly, as if it were an inevitable fact, or like welcoming someone who, despite being a friend, drops by at the wrong moment. Furthermore, I don’t want him to sit in the waiting room even for an instant, but will welcome him right away, in the heart of my love and joyful willingness. This is the transition of pain to love, passing through the abandonment in Easter.  Only through one who loves in this way will the Forsaken give joy to the world. The feast we prepare for the Forsaken is that feast day which will not see the sunset, because Love never sets. Klaus Hemmerle Published in the Gen’s Magazine 36, Roma 2006, n. 1, p. 3.

___

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

Indonesia: spreading hope

Indonesia: spreading hope

In Medan, capital of the province of Sumatra, Indonesia, following the 2004 tsunami, the local Focolare community set up the Sumber Harapan Social Centre, which means Source of Hope, to meet the needs of the poorest people in the city. Maximus and Fretty, leaders at the centre, tell us about the work they do.

Simply Emmaus

Simply Emmaus

Jesùs Morán, the co-president of the Focolare Movement, shares his memories of Emmaus Maria Voce, the first president of the Movement after Chiara Lubich.

On the road with Emmaus

On the road with Emmaus

From her election in 2008 to the end of her second term in 2021, here are some images of the moments that marked the 12 years in which Maria Voce Emmaus was President of the Focolare Movement: events, milestones in the journey of dialogue, meetings with religious and civil leaders, and with various Focolare communities around the world.