Earthquake: “Financial embargo suspension to Syria for humanitarian organizations”

Feb 8, 2023 | Non categorizzato

Call from the Politics for Unity Movement – Focolare

“A heartfelt and strong call for an immediate end to the embargo in Syria that makes it difficult even to get aid through at this terrible time”. This is addressed by the International Center of the Politics for Unity Movement, an expression of the Focolare Movement, to the international community, governments and the European Union. “At least temporarily suspend the financial embargo in order to promptly allow the humanitarian organizations already active on the ground to provide the necessary aid”. Dramatic news is also arriving from communities and families in the earthquake-hit areas. The Focolare Movement, which has already been working in Syria for years with humanitarian aid and projects, has taken action with a special worldwide fundraiser. However, the difficulty of getting aid to Syria remains due to the measures introduced with the financial embargo. The Politics for Unity Movement is also activating all possible channels of contact with other Movements and Associations and with those who have decision-making power and political persuasion, “but let’s do it quickly, to save as many people as possible”.

Stefania Tanesini 

Living Gospel: “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16: 13)

Feb 8, 2023 | Non categorizzato

In a time considered the age of anxiety where no one ever feels up to the expectations of the world, the One who calls us to do great things is a Father who rests his gaze on us as on the day of Creation; a God who looks at that indestructible core of beauty that is in each person and who invites us to keep our eyes open to the efforts of those who are next to us with the same love that He has for us. Repairing the past My parents divorced when I was little and my father then had five wives: from those marriages I have two half-brothers and two half-sisters. My husband’s parents are both addicted to alcohol. Years ago, during a serious trial in the family, my husband and I decided to try to bring serenity among our relatives, as if to straighten our family tree. Since then, with prayer, with the creativity of love, with invitations to dinner, with parties, we have been able to bring about a real “healing”. Of course, all this involves effort and money but we never lack providence. For example, we had organized a birthday party for a half-sister, but at the last moment we realized that we had thought of everything except a gift. God solved the problem through a neighbour: he had bought a beautiful blouse for his daughter that turned out to be too small so he thought of offering it to our daughter. Just the right the gift for my sister! The size and colour were perfect: “How did you know it was just what I wanted” (D.E. – Czech Republic) Looking at things differently We’re a retired couple. Four years ago our neighbours forgot to turn off their garden pump overnight. As a result, our ground floor flooded, causing about $9,000 in damage. We asked the neighbours to report the damage to their insurance company in order to get compensation but they refused because it would increase the annual cost of the insurance. There and then I wanted to take them to court also because there were reliable witnesses. But then, talking about it, my wife and I decided to forgive them. In these four years we have always greeted them kindly, exchanging a few words with them. Two days ago they moved house and, while the workers were loading the furniture on the truck, our neighbour approached my wife: “You are good people and we have wronged you. Please  forgive us”. When we heard these words, the world seemed a little more beautiful. (T.C. – USA)

Curated by Maria Grazia Berretta

(taken from The Gospel of the Day, New City, year IX – n.1° January-February 2023)

Chiara Lubich: The Resurrection of Rome

Feb 6, 2023 | Non categorizzato

The Resurrection of Rome is one of Chiara Lubich’s most famous writings and was the fruit of an experience she then related in an article in ‘La Via’ magazine in 1949. The text shows both the mystical dimension of a charismatic experience, expressed in language that is particularly rich in images, and the practical application of this experience in contact with humanity. The text marks a turning point in Chiara Lubich’s experience in 1949: her return to Rome, and therefore to normal life, which was lived as bringing light and life into daily routine and bearing fruit in a renewal not only of one’s personal existence but of society. For the author, the way of looking at Rome means, in fact, a way of looking at all the cities of the world. The video we present is the result of long and patient work by Javier Garcia, with the original voice of Chiara Lubich taken from the reading of the text addressed to the Focolare leadership on 3rd October 1995. Activate English subtitles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acrJDXY6Lig

Download the full original text

Mariapolis in the Holy Land: vocation to community  

Feb 3, 2023 | Non categorizzato

Being a community is more than just being together.It means responding to a call to build: giving life to a family sustained by the Word and meeting each other. Here, in this video, is what some people who participated in the Mariapolis of the Holy Land last July told us. There is a light breeze which caresses the ancient ruins of the Church of St. George, in Taybeh, the only entirely Christian village in the Holy Land. According to Scripture, it is the place where Jesus came to rest with his followers before the Passion. And it was here, on 8^th-9^th July 2022 that adults, young people and children of the Focolare Movement gathered together to live a truly special Mariapolis, a moment of fraternity and true communion. “Mariapolis is a time for the family to get together,” says Mayra, from Bethlehem, “It usually takes place every year but due to the pandemic we couldn’t have it. This year, after three years, we could and for me it’s like taking a break from my life and recharging myself spiritually.” “To be witnesses of love” was the title of this two-day event that saw the participation of people from many regions of the country, from Haifa, Nazareth, to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Gaza. Despite the socio-political and cultural challenges of the Holy Land, the desire to enjoy beauty and to live as a community give the strength to overcome physical and often inner barriers. The community is the place where we find the values that become nourishment, where we build a present and a future which respect the dignity of all; the place where listening to and witnessing to the other in the light of the Gospel invites us to better understand the work of God in our lives and, more than anything else, it is the place where no one is alone. Marcell and Boulos, from Nazareth shared this with us: in their life-journey, they were able to experience support and family during the most painful moment of their lives, the death of their youngest son, Jack. And Khader, from Gaza, who despite the daily hardships to be faced in the context in which he lives, places his hope in God, joyfully recognizing the beauty of the vocation to which he is called: that of happiness.

Maria Grazia Berretta

Activate English subtitles https://youtu.be/cCMZ1jlYzhA

Living the Gospel: becoming instruments in the hands of God

Jan 26, 2023 | Non categorizzato

One of the greatest sufferings for human beings is to feel worthless when faced with the realities of life, to accept that at times we cannot do anything. To be an instrument in God’s hands means to make ourselves available, rediscover our own value in letting someone else do something, and learn the art of entrusting ourselves to others. A bit of prudence As head of a department in my company, one day I noticed that my typically peaceful colleague had an aggressive attitude. When I invited him to talk, he confided in me his problems with his wife, who had turned out to be violent to the point of laying hands on him. She continually demanded more and more money from him. This was what was behind his working overtime. Since then, my colleague started phoning me outside work when things were going badly, certain that he would find a listening ear. However, when I realised that I had become a kind of safe haven for him, I felt the need to talk to my husband about it, out of Christian prudence. After helping me to understand that for that man I might not just be a friend, but the ideal of a woman, my husband put forth an idea that turned out to be a winner. We invited over the colleague’s family using the excuse of a birthday. After trusting in God, and thanks to the atmosphere created by our children’s games and prizes, the relationship established with the other couple gave hope for a change in their situation. (G.T., Portugal) Goodbye bicycle For some time now I have had to put my beloved bicycle, my companion on so many journeys, to rest in the garage. The fact is that, because of my bifocals, I am now forced to walk. To be honest, it has cost me a bit personally. The bike was very useful, because I could put my shopping and other things in the basket, which I now have to carry by hand. Luckily I live in a small town where everything I need is close by. That said, I have discovered an advantage of going without two wheels, beyond that of avoiding falls, which are so disastrous when one has reached a certain age. Walking gives me the opportunity to meet many people, have a chat… and there is always something sad or joyful to share. In short, everything is an expression of God’s love, if we are willing to do his will. Better to try to go to heaven without a bicycle than to go faster… and where then? (Marianna, Italy)

Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta.

From “Il Vangelo del Giorno”, Città Nuova, year IX, no.1, January–February 2023