Love opens unexpected paths
Love opens unexpected paths
All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. (Is 52:10)
When they were led into exile in Babylon, the people of Israel lost everything: their land, their king, their temple and, therefore, the possibility of worshipping their God who had brought them out of Egypt in the past.
But then, the voice of a prophet made an astonishing announcement: it was time to return home. Once again, God would powerfully intervene and lead the Israelites across the desert to Jerusalem, and all the peoples of the earth would witness this miraculous event:
All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
Today too, alarming reports fill the news: people are losing their jobs, their health, their security and dignity; the future of young people is particularly at risk because war and poverty caused by climate change is robbing them of their homeland, peace and dignity.
This tragic scenario on a planetary scale takes our breath away and leaves us living beneath a very dark cloud. Who will save us from the destruction of everything we thought we had? There seems to be no basis for hope. Yet the prophet’s announcement is for us too.
All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
God’s word reveals his action in both our personal and collective history and invites us to open our eyes to the signs of his plan of salvation. This is already at work in so many different ways: it can be seen in the commitment of a teacher, the honesty of a business man or woman, the integrity of an administrator, the fidelity of a married couple, the embrace of a child, the tenderness of a nurse, the patience of a grandmother, the courage of those who peacefully oppose crime and the welcome of a community.
All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
Christmas is approaching. God’s patient and merciful presence in human history is revealed once again in the disarming innocence of the child Jesus. We can bear witness to this through the choices we make which may be different from many of the current trends in society.
“In a world which may seem paralysed by materialism and selfishness and where strife and the law of the strongest and most unscrupulous prevail, the answer is to love our neighbour. This is the medicine that can bring healing. It is like a wave of divine warmth that radiates and spreads, gradually transforming society by penetrating relationships between individuals and groups.”[1]
Just as at a certain moment the people of Israel set out on their journey, this is the time when we too can take a decisive step to reach out to those who need to experience a gesture of care and closeness: the young and the old, the poor and the migrants, the unemployed and the homeless, the sick and the imprisoned. We must bear witness to the gentle yet powerful presence of God’s love among us.
Today, the boundaries we encounter as we share this good news with others may be geographical such as frontiers or the painful dividing lines of war, but they may also be cultural and existential. Even digital communities, which are often populated by young people, can make an effective contribution to overcoming aggression, loneliness and marginalisation.
As the Congolese poet Henri Boukoulou writes, ‘O divine hope! Behold the desperate cry of the wind wherein the first lines of the most beautiful love poem are etched. And tomorrow, there is hope!!»[2].
Edited by Letizia Magri & the Word of Life Team
[1] C. Lubich, Word of Life May ‘85 iiAA.VV, Anti-Apartheid African Poetry, pub 2003
[2] Cf.
Photo: © Ryutaro – Pexels
Hope has no limits
At the moment, weare experiencing challenges on a global scale. The news of tragic situations affecting our planet conspires to take our breath away and leaves us living under a very dark cloud that blocks our view of a brighter horizon. Hope seems like a fragile commodity, almost a mirage. Itis natural to ask if we can still “hope” for a better future for humanity, or are we doomed to simply resign outselves to the situatation?
In the current circumstances, the thoughts of the German philosopher, Ernst Bloch (1885-1977), may be helpful. He said, “Hope is not a passive illusion but a ‘forward dream’, an active principle that anticipates what is not yet given. It is linked to the idea that the future is not predetermined but is open and flexible.” [1].
This is how each of us “can still hope”, how we can day dream whilst keeping our eyes open. If we look carefully, we may glimpse sight of a new dawn which is gradually awakening. This is already at work in so many different ways: it can be seen in the commitment of a teacher, the honesty of a business man or woman, the integrity of an administrator, the fidelity of a married couple, the embrace of a child, the tenderness of a nurse, the patience of a grandmother, the courage of those who peacefully oppose crime and the welcome offered by a community.
The example of children who have found safety and protection in certain facililities situated in war torn areas speaks even more powerfully of hope. This is evident in the drawings of the young people who have followed the “Save the Children” psychosocial programmes. Their colourful pictures illustrate their hopes of becoming doctors, writers or fashion designers. These safe environments provide a space where they can play, freely express themselves and imagine a future beyond conflict. Their drawings were first shown to the public on World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2025, and testify to the resilience of children in the face of war. [2].
Last but not least, we find hope in millions of people around the world: children, young people, adults and the elderly who, afflicted by serious illnesses, face the challenges that “life” has given them with strength, tenacity and resilience and try to overcome the obstacles they encounter. Such people show incredible courage and their example shows great love for life.
These small, everyday signs remind us that hope is not an illusion, but a real force, the fruit of love that spreads and is capable of transforming society step by step.
Everyone thirsts for hope, both those who are close to us and those who are far away (physically, existentially or culturally). The idea this month invites us not to remain inactive but to take the initiative in bringing hope to those who need it and see no meaning in life. Let us take notice and draw close to them by loving generously and sensitively. There are many who await this and we are called to reach out to them all. As the Congolese poet, Henri Boukoulou, writes, ‘O divine hope! Behold the desperate cry of the wind wherein the first lines of the most beautiful love poem are etched. And tomorrow, there is hope!’ [3].
Photo: © byFreepik.com
[1]Ernst Bloch (1885-1977), Das Prinzip Hoffnung (1954-1959)-“Il principio speranza” (ed. italiana)
[2]https://www.cittanuova.it/multimedia/i-sogni-dei-bambini-di-gaza-tra-guerra-e-colori
[3]Cf. AA.VV. Poeti Africani Anti-Apartheid, I vol., Edizioni dell’Arco, Milano, 2003.
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. Currently, THE IDEA OF THE MONTH is translated into 12 languages and distributed in more than 25 countries, with adaptations of the text according to different cultural sensitivities. www. dialogue4unity.focolare.org
Open your heart to hope
Open your heart to hope
Light up hope
Light up hope