If we are attentive to the world around us, we realise that it is often the clamour of different views and opinions that prevails. Everyone wants to have their say and there is a proliferation of forums for debate in which it seems as though everyone knows everything. However, we do not always find genuine wisdom there; on the contrary, there is sometimes a risk of encouraging superficiality, ignorance and gradual cultural impoverishment.
Faced with this scenario, what truly deserves to be heard? There are words and Words. What distinguishes them? We can call them Words with a capital W — whether written or spoken — which, once embraced, have the power to transform us. These are words that express wisdom because they offer a key to understanding human existence, the desire for transcendence and the relationships that bind human beings to one another and to nature. As Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian poet, philosopher and writer, writes: ‘Words that come from the heart, go to the heart.
The Word does not belong to a particular era, place or religion. Xavier Melloni, an anthropologist and theologian observes that for some people, the Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit whilst for others it is the fruit of the enlightenment of the conscience. But how can we recognise the Word that conveys value?
‘We might say that the Word enables us to open up to others, to give of ourselves, and pausing in silence, go beyond our own being towards an always greater depth. The true Word generates life[2]. This is how the Word, understood in the broadest sense, frees us from the constraints to which we are subjected; it does not depend on hidden interests and it is not coercive but it becomes idolatry when it ceases to be wise.
Nonetheless, the Word may have a different resonance within each of us, even when it is expressed in the same way. How we receive it is closely linked to whatever we are experiencing and our stage of life. Superficiality, excessive self-suffiiciency and indifference are obstacles that prevent the Word from bearing fruit within us and, through us, in others.
The wise Word becomes a fixed point of reference on the journey through life. Sometimes it offers us answers; sometimes it raises new questions; it allows us to view things from a different perspective and to open up to dimensions of reality that we were previously unable to perceive. The Word sets us free and leads us to experience what is truly essential to our existence. Only the authentic Word, the Word of wisdom, can transform the way we think and act. When we welcome and live by it, it helps us to give greater meaning to our lives, to live deeper relationships and to build a more humane and fraternal society together.
Jordi shares his thoughts: ‘Every encounter with the Word is personal and intimate. My encounter with the Word came after years centred on work and technology. Reading books from various fields – biographies, novels, philosophy, etc. – reawakened in me a search for wisdom to make sense of life’s big questions, to sustain my existence and to understand why the Word manifests itself in such diverse and seemingly contradictory forms. On this journey, I came to know the wisdom of Chiara Lubich, expressed in a fresh and vibrant reinterpretation of the Gospel and borne out by an inspiring way of life. Despite its confessional nature, this wisdom has proved capable of resonating with people who, like me, have no religious convictions, and of drawing them into the path of fraternity.’
This month, let us nourish ourselves with words of wisdom, make them our own and transform them into life. And, if we have the opportunity, let us share the fruits they bear with those who, like us, are on a journey. In this way, we will build together a more humane and meaningful way of living together.
[1] This expression is taken from an address given by Jordi Illa at the International Conference for People of Non- Religious Convictions, 2013, entitled “The Word.”
[2]Xavier Melloni, Vers un temps de síntesi, FragmentaEditorial, Barcelona, 2011, p. 55.
THE IDEA OF THE MONTH is currently produced by the Focolare Movement’s “Centre for Dialogue with People of Non religious Beliefs”. It is an initiative that began in 2014 in Uruguay to share with non-believing friends the values of the Word of Life, i.e. the phrase from Scripture that members of the Movement strive to put into practice in their daily lives. Attualmente L’IDEA DEL MESE viene tradotta in 12 lingue e distribuita in più di 25 paesi, con adattamenti del testo alle diverse sensibilità culturali. dialogue4unity.focolare.org
Jesus had spoken in parables to a large crowd on the shores of Lake Tiberias, and then he turned to his disciples and explained the deeper meaning of all he had said.
The central theme in the story he had told is the Word of God which is likened to a small and fragile seed. Stones, thorns and birds may prevent it from sprouting, taking root and producing ripe ears of corn but the wise sower knows of its surprising vitality.
Through these images, Jesus revealed the relationship between humanity and the Word that God offers in abundance. Although there are people who welcome the Word, there are others who, for various reasons, let it fall to the ground without bearing fruit. In fact, superficiality and materialism sometimes dominate the human heart and threaten the miraculous supernatural life that God would like to kindle within us.
We too, like the disciples, are invited by Jesus to enter into the humble mystery of God’s love and, at the same time, are personally called upon to decide what kind of ‘soil’ we wish to be.
The seed falling on good soil refers to the person who hears the Word and understands it: this person bears fruit and yields plentifully.
Listening and understanding seem to be the secret that makes us resemble receptive soil where the seed of the Word can express its power and bear good fruit.
Willingness to listen is very precious because, from a spiritual perspective, it creates space for the life of God, whose mercy always precedes us and who has the patience of the sower who knows and respects the time it takes for the seed to ripen.
Chiara Lubich wrote, ‘God’s words enlighten not only our minds but our entire being from within because they are light, love and life. They bring peace – the peace that Jesus calls his own: “my peace” – even in moments of turmoil and anguish. They offer joy even in the midst of the pain that sometimes grips the soul. They give strength especially when we are dismayed or discouraged. They set us free because they open the way to the Truth… If we wish, we can develop a passionate love for the Word of God and welcome it attentively when it is proclaimed in churches or we read, study or meditate upon it… But above all, we are called to live it… By living a single word of Jesus, we live the whole Gospel. He reveals his whole being in every word. He comes to live within us… and enlightens our way of thinking, acting and all we desire in all aspects of our lives [1].
The seed falling on good soil refers to the person who hears the Word and understands it: this person bears fruit and yields plentifully.
Wambil from Mexico tells us: ‘There was a time when I felt trapped in a deep hole. I was in an abusive relationship and tried to escape and sort everything out on my own. I was influenced by social media and all the world offered me – and so I often chased after things not guided by God. Despite all my efforts, I felt empty and without a purpose in life. I knew that love is a universal language. When I started volunteering, I found a sense of fulfilment that could only come from God. Over time, I discovered a place where I could listen to his word and grow in my relationship with him. I am deeply grateful.’
Even when we feel like barren, stony ground, it is the Word itself that is effective as the prophet Isaiah reveals: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish… so is my Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ (Is 55:10–11).
We are sustained by this hope and in this time dominated by fears and tensions, we can also nurture trust in the women and men with whom we share our lives. By believing in their capacity to bear good fruit and creating opportunities for listening and dialogue, we will walk together towards a better future marked by fraternity.
Run4Unity, the worldwide marathon of the Teens for Unity, takes place every year, on the first Sunday of May, at 12:00 in every country in the world. Imagine that while some young people are running against the background of the Egyptian pyramids, the prizes for the race just concluded in India are being awarded and in Asunción in Paraguay, preparations are underway for sporting events about to start in a big city park. Races and tournaments dedicated to peace and solidarity that, starting in Oceania and ending in the Americas, involve thousands of young people over a 24 hour period, all ready for the “start” when their time zone reaches noon. At that time they receive the relay baton from the countries of the preceding time zone and, one hour later, they pass it on to the countries of the next time zone.
A brilliant and simple idea which came from the International Centre of Teens for Unity and some Gen 3 boys and girls in 2005, after Chiara Lubich, who had just returned from a trip to India, told them about the beautiful experience she had when she had been invited to participate in a huge vent of young people of the Hindu Swandhyaya Movement who were deeply committed to sport. Chiara said, “Perhaps sport could be a way forward for young people.”
The format of Run4unity spread in the blink of an eye, adapted locally according to the different countries and the particular characteristics of each culture: sport became combined with initiatives for interreligious dialogue, development projects for those most in need, care and protection of the environment and commitment to peace and fraternity among peoples.
In 2025, the DG EAC (Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture) a Directorate of the European Commission, together with the EACEA, (the European Education and Culture Executive Agency) which manages funding programmes for education, culture, audio-visual media, sport, citizenship and volunteering launched the #BeActive EU Sport Awards.
New Humanity of the Focolare Movement submitted the long standing international Run4Unity project which was selected as a finalist in the Peace category. The Run4Unity organizers said, “A few weeks ago we learned that we had been selected from among 279 sports initiatives and that we were among the 15 finalists, 3 for each category The communication included an invitation for 2 representatives of each project to go to Brussels on 23rd June, 2026 for the award ceremony,. Agostino Spolti (formerly co-responsible for Ragazzi per l ‘Unità) and Elisabetta De Bernardi (a Gen 2 from Turin who had participated in several Run4Unity events focused specifically on peace, both as a Gen 3 and later as a Gen 2) went and …we won!”. This prestigious recognition comes in 2026, 21 years after the first Run4Unity, which this year saw relay events take place in over 100 countries, with thousands of young people, accompanied by youth leaders and adults in a fruitful intergenerational collaboration.
Sport is a way to live inclusion, concern for others, respect and growing together and – as stated in the competition announcement, it is obviously a way to form and spread a culture of peace. Agostino Spolti said, “We won because Run4Unity embodies all these elements: sport, the passing of the baton between different countries, the experience of belonging to one human family, taking time to reflect and to pray for peace with the “Time Out” and all of this has enormous educational value.”
