There is a proverb that says, “Only those who fall can get up again”. This is seen very clearly in the tenderness and courage of young children as they begin to develop their skills. How much willpower they show as they take their first uncertain steps, getting up again and again with determination, until they gain confidence and begin to move with increasing assurance… the journey of life!
As we grow up and face various challenges and problems, getting back up each time becomes more difficult. Life’s trials weigh us down and sometimes we are held back and lose confidence when we encounter people who are different from us or do not think in the same way as we do. Willpower and even a sincere desire to be consistent with our values are not always enough. In these difficult moments, being able to count on a helping hand can give us the impetus to start again without fear. It can create a sense of silence in the depths of our consciences and allows us to be “renewed and whole” within.
Chiara Lubich wrote: “Is there anyone who does not go through trials and challenges? They take the form of failure, poverty, depression, doubt and temptation […] The materialistic and individualistic society that surrounds us is frightening, with its wars, violence and injustice…“. Chiara’s own life was a witness to this. It is precisely in those moments of darkness and struggle that it is important to find the strength to ”start again,“ and confidently say, ”you can still hope for everything.”We need to begin with ourselves[1].
This is what Emilia from Terra Santa managed to do. She works as a manager in a government office where there are a number of Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze. After October 7, 2023, she understood that love was the only possible response to the great pain everyone was feeling and she began to love everyone around her with a great sense of commitment. In particular, she listened to others so that she could welcome them into her heart. She listened with an attitude of love and humility and understood whatever others people were saying, whether they were Arab or Jewish. As a result, a large number of her colleagues have become so open with each other that they can talk freely about the situation. In turn, this has encouraged other workers to express their fears and struggles and the group has remained peaceful and united[2].
There are many stories of wounded communities that do not give up and that find strength each day in the reciprocal sharing of all they have, believing that hatred cannot have the last word.
Even if we will not be the ones to see the fruits of our commitment, every time we get back up, we contribute to forming “new people” because, as Bonhoeffer said from prison shortly before his death, “For those who are responsible, the ultimate question is not how I can heroically get through this affair, but what the life of the coming generation will be like.”
Jesus climbed a high mountain with Peter, James and John and, from there, the disciples saw the glory of their Master and heard the voice of the Father who recognised him as his son.
This was an extraordinary experience; being face to face with God allowed his creatures to know him in his splendour. The disciples were afraid and fell to the ground, but Jesus touched them and said,
Get up and do not be afraid.
The verb ‘to get up’ is the same one often used in the Gospel in reference to the Resurrection, just as ‘do not be afraid’ are the first words that the Risen Lord addressed to the women at the empty tomb after having greeted them[1]. Jesus’ strong and clear words on this occasion are a decisive invitation to enter into a new life which the disciples were able to experience through the touch of his hand.
We too are sometimes held back by our fears and weighed down by life’s trials and situations that seem to have no solution. When this happens, we cannot rely solely on our own strength if we want to rediscover the enthusiasm and momentum of witnessing to our faith. Instead, we should depend on the grace of God who always goes before us.
“Who does not go through trials in life? They take the form of failure, poverty, depression, doubt or temptation … Furthermore, the materialistic and individualistic society that surrounds us, with its wars, violence and injustices is also frightening… Faced with these situations, doubt can creep in and we may ask ourselves, ‘Where has God’s love gone?’ … Jesus truly entered into every painful situation and took all our trials upon himself … He is Love, and it is love that drives out all fear. Every time we are assailed by fear or suffocated by pain, we can recognise the true reality hidden within it: it is Jesus who is present … Let us allow him to enter our lives. And then let us continue to live as God wants us to do by focusing upon loving our neighbour. We will discover that Jesus is always Love. We will then be able to say to him, just as the disciples did, ‘You are truly the Son of God.’ (Mt 14,33)[2].
Get up and do not be afraid.
Those who have experienced God in their lives have been captivated by his presence, touched and healed by his Word. Sometimes, the witness of a Christian community accompanies us on this divine adventure and gives us the courage to get up again, to step outside ourselves and resume our journey with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters.
“At the end of last year, my country went through a very difficult time. My city was hit by a wave of chaos and fear. I was deeply concerned for my family, my friends and myself. In the midst of so much uncertainty, I tried to remain steadfast in my hope in God and to stay strong despite everything that was happening. Before these events, the young people with whom I am committed to living the Gospel had planned some projects to support families in need by preparing food parcels and organising various initiatives.
But the situation forced us to temporarily suspend all activities. After a few days, we managed to get together and, at that meeting, we found strength and courage in one another. We decided not to let fear overwhelm us, but to put our trust in Jesus and continue on the path we had begun. Thanks to the faith we shared among us, we were able to help more than forty families who were in real need of support. In the midst of those difficulties, we felt that, thanks to God’s love and our unity, we could really make a difference.”
Get up and do not be afraid.
After climbing the mountain with Jesus to meet God and hear his voice, we can also descend with him, to “return to the plain, where we meet so many brothers and sisters weighed down by fatigue, illness, injustice, ignorance, poverty both material and spiritual.” [3].
Even as a Christian community, we may suffer and feel lost, but this Word urges us to set out together, to bring to everyone “the fruits of that experience with God by sharing the graces we have received.” [4].
Christine Schneider-Heinz and Michael Heinz from Eggenburg, Lower Austria, received a short message from the Focolare community in Kiev: it expressed an urgent need for winter clothes for people in Ukraine. The couple have long been committed to helping refugees from different countries, organizing accommodation in their town and helping with initial needs. They immediately knew who to ask for help.
Friday, February 6 – even before morning coffee
The first messages and requests were sent out. The first went to a friend who works in the nearby shoe factory and who already had organised donations of shoe several times. By 10 am he confirmed 100 pairs of winter shoes, including transport to Eggenburg.
Friday 6 February – 11:30 am
A message was posted in their WhatsApp Status and sent to their friends in the vicinity: “bring warm clothes and shoes for people in Ukraine to the presbytery of the Catholic parish this evening, between 18:00-20:00”.
Friday, February 6 – 6:00 pm
Christine and Michael had already gone through their wardrobes and went to the presbytery with the first bags, equipped with labels in English and Ukrainian to pack and label everything.
What awaited them was incredible: an overwhelming display of solidarity and readiness to help. The Mayor had shared the appeal on the municipal app, the parish through the parish app and many people had spread the message through their Status and networks.
People arrived with single jackets, with full boxes, bags and cartons. Some brought items while others accepted them, sorted them, packed and labelled them. Young people from Kharkiv and Afghanistan, women from Kiev and Eggenburg worked side by side.
Some families returning directly from their ski holiday spontaneously brought their ski equipment and thermal clothing. A man took off his expensive down jacket, left it there and went home in his shirt sleeves. People who didn’t know each other stayed to help and everyone was happy to contribute. By 22:30 two minibuses were already loaded.
Saturday, February 7, early morning
The first two minibuses left for Vienna, where the material was delivered to the collection point. Meanwhile, the work of sorting, labelling and packing continued at the Eggenburg presbytery. At 14:00 a third minibus left for Vienna.
Donations came from all over and a variety of people participated: the current Mayor and two former Mayors, the pastoral assistant and a German teacher, an Afghan pizza chef and other shopkeepers, parents with their children and pensioners.
There was a deep sense of warmth between everyone: some people embraced while others shyly left their bags at the door and slipped away.
Someone wrote: “Something like this makes you hope that humanity can still change course. You could feel the willingness to help when we heard the news from a bombed and freezing Kiev. Then someone started to help and suddenly a little miracle happened”.
Saturday 7 February @ 5 p.m.
Over a ton of donations was sorted, packed, labelled, loaded and delivered to the collection point for Ukraine. 27 hours had passed since the appeal was received. The entrance to the presbytery was empty once more and back to normal. Was it a dream? No. But perhaps Eggenburg truly experienced a little miracle.
