The huge multitude of Christians should be quite visible. But they are so divided that many peopledon’t notice them and so don’t see Jesus through them. Unity is the only sure way to proclaim God’s mighty acts. When the Lord acts, he does mighty things. As soon as he had created the universe he saw it was ‘good’ (Gen1:25). Indeed, after creating the man and the woman, and entrusting the whole of creation to them, he saw it was ‘very good’ (Gen 1:31). But the act of God that exceeds all else was done by Jesus. In his death and resurrection he created a new world and a new people. It is a people to whom Jesus has given the life of Heaven, a genuine fraternity, in mutual welcome, in sharing with one another and in self-giving. Peter’s letter helped the first Christians realize that God’s love had made them ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Pet. 2:9; see also the whole passage vv. 9-10). If, like the first Christians, we were to become fully aware of what we are, of how much God’s mercy has done in us, among us and around us, we would be amazed. We would not be able to contain our joy and we would feel we want to share with others the need to ‘proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord’. But it is difficult, or virtually impossible, to give witness effectively to the beauty of the new kind of relations in society that Jesus brought about, if we stay isolated from one another. It is normal, therefore, that Peter’s invitation is addressed to the whole people. We cannot show ourselves as argumentative and partisan, or even merely indifferent to one another, and then proclaim that ‘the Lord has created a new people, and has freed us from egoism, from hatred and rancour, giving us mutual love as the law that makes us one heart and one soul…’ Among the Christian people there are indeed differences in our ways of thinking, our traditions and cultures, but these diversities are to be welcomed with respect, recognizing the beauty of this huge variety and aware that unity is not uniformity. This is the journey we will follow during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (celebrated in the northern hemisphere on 18-25 January) and throughout the year. The Word of Life invites us among our different Churches and communities to try to get to know one another better, to tell one another of the marvellous works of the Lord. In this way we will be able to ‘proclaim’ these works credibly, giving witness that we are one precisely in our diversity and that we support each another concretely. Chiara Lubich encouraged us with great energy to follow this path:Love is the greatest power on earth: it unleashes the peaceful Christian revolution around those who live it, so that today people can repeat what the early Christians said centuries ago: ‘We were born only yesterday and we have already spread all over the world.’ Love! What a great need there is for love in the world! And in us, Christians! (Tertullian,The Apology, 37:7) All together we Christians of various Churches number more than a billion people. Such a multitude should be quite visible. But we are so divided that many do not see us, nor do they see Jesus through us. He said that the world would recognize us as his own and, through us, would recognize him, by our mutual love, by unity: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35). Our world today asks each one of us for love; it asks for unity, communion, solidarity. And it also calls upon the Churches to recompose the unity that has been torn for centuries.’
“I’m dictating this letter since I can’t move my hand anymore, but my head thinks and prays for all of you as you come into my mind with your joys, your sorrows and your difficulties.” This is the beginning of a Christmas letter of Dori’s from a few days ago. It is addressed to her “Dearest friends,” people she had met over the course of her life and now tried to reach around the world. Doriana Zamboni, known simply as “Dori”, was born in Trent, Italy, in 1926. She met Chiara Lubich when she was a very young and rebellious student in upper secondary school and was taking Philosophy lessons from Chiara. That was in 1943, the beginning of a spiritual adventure that would lead to the birth of the Focolare Movement. “Jesus and Our Lady will help you through my prayers too,” the letter continues. “And even if I don’t know your needs, I place them inside Her heart so that she keep faithful your love towards Jesus abandoned on the Cross.” That faithfulness had marked the life of Dori. Indeed, she was the person to whom Chiara first confided her intuition that Jesus greatest suffering was His abandonment on the Cross, and it quickly become the secret and cornerstone of Chiara’s life and the life of those who followed her path. “Remain in my love” (Jn 15:9) was the Word of Life that Chiara had suggested to her as a guide for her life because it seemed to reflect who Dori was. She travelled the world to spread the ideal of unity: 1956 in France; 1965 in England; 1971 in Belgium. In all of these places, together with the focolares, she opened new paths on the ecumenical journey and in the dialogue with other cultures. She accompanied thousands of people on their spiritual journey. From 1976 the Focolare foundress entrusted to her the Branch of the Volunteers of God, lay people actively engaged in the midst of society, and the New Humanity Movement. In 1956 she was a member of the team that began Città Nuova and was therefore amongst the pioneers of the publishing house and magazine of the Focolare Movement. Dori continued to encourage and support the work of publication up until the last days of her life. “Wherever you are, remember me,” her letter continues, “because my health is failing and I would like it to be in many of your prayers to help me make the climb. . . I feel you all very close to me, desirous to help me to bear and suffer whatever God may send to me.”. Thus, enveloped in the love and prayers of those who had assisted her until the end she passed away peacefully on the morning of December 26th. Focolare president Maria Voce announced her death to the Movement while expressing her gratitude for Dori’s life and inviting everyone to join in prayer. The funeral will be held at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, on Monday, December 28th at 10:30 am (Italian time).
«If I should have to leave this world today and you were to ask me for a single word, one last word that sums up our Ideal, I would say – certain of being perfectly understood – ‘Be a family’. Are there among you those who are suffering spiritual or moral trials? Understand them as a mother and more than a mother would, enlighten them with your words or example. Do not leave them alone; indeed, surround them with the warmth of a family. Are there among you those who are suffering physically? They should be your preference. Suffer with them. Seek to understand their sufferings in depth. Share with them the fruits of your apostolic endeavors so that they may realize that they, more than others, contributed to its success. Are there those who are dying? Imagine yourself in their place and do all that you would want others to do to you, to the very last instant. Are there those who are happy because of a particular achievement or for any other reason? Share in their happiness, so that their consolation may not be saddened and their heart closed, but that the joy may be of all.
Play this video in the original language (Italian)
“Are some people leaving? Let them go, but first fill their heart with this one heritage: a sense of the family, so that they may bring it to their future destination. Never put any kind of activity– neither spiritual, nor apostolic – before the spirit of being a family with the brothers or sisters with whom you live. And wherever you go to bring the ideal of Christ, […] you can do nothing better than to seek to create with discretion, with prudence, but with determination, the spirit of a family. It is a humble spirit, it wants the good of the others, it is not proud… in short, it is charity, true, complete charity. In conclusion, if I should have to leave you, I would have Jesus in me repeat to you: ‘Love one another… so that all may be one‘». Chiara Lubich (La dottrina spirituale – Città Nuova Ed. pp.92-93)
“I wish everyone a Christmas characterised by sharing, remembering Pope Francis’ words: justice, solidarity and a simple lifestyle.
Justice means seeking out those who suffer and those without basic needs, not as a category of people to be helped, but brothers and sisters to be loved.
Solidarity means not being afraid to open our hearts, empty our pockets, our purses and wallets, so as to live as one family.
A simple lifestyle means not spoiling the things that belong to everyone, starting with the beauty of creation.
I hope for this and I trust in the grace of Christmas!
This is a time when we can all live mercy. God believes in us and puts a spark of His own love into every heart. Christmas can then become something beautiful for everyone.
Christmas will be beautiful if it is a Christmas of love.”
https://vimeo.com/140678777 A child recounted: «I only knew about Santa Claus, but nobody has ever told me the real story of Christmas, the birth of Jesus!» Another child said, «Oh yes, people have forgotten, but we can remind them about it! Still another added «All the other kids in the world have already started!» These are the gen4 boys and girls “who love everybody the way Jesus does and want to show everyone that He is the greatest gift of all!” They learnt this from Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, who had urged them to “Let Jesus be born in your midst with your love, so that it will always be Christmas! […] We can offer Jesus in our midst to the whole world, and bring this love and joy to the streets, schools, and to the big and small… everywhere!” Years ago at Christmas, while walking through the streets of Zurich, Switzerland, Chiara had seen the shop windows adorned with lights and toys, and snow on the trees, Santa Claus… and had asked herself: But where is Jesus? He was not there. And so she wrote: «This wealthy world has taken Christmas for itself, but has dislodged Jesus.» «What does it mean to ”dislodge?”» A child asked. It means that Jesus has no place to go to, like when he was born and there was no room for him anywhere.» It was then that Chiara told us «So we must welcome him, and celebrate his coming! We, gen4 around the world, wish to do this and invite everyone to do the same.». Then came the idea of making a statue of Baby Jesus and nativity scenes to offer to those who do not know or do not remember that at Christmas, Jesus is more important than buying gifts. «We want to recall that Christmas is the feast of Jesus. And we tell people: do you want to bring him home with you? Some answer no, some keep walking on and do not even stop, but others stop and so we give these little statues of Jesus, or the nativity scenes we have made. We do this in the main squares of the big cities and in the shopping centers; we even give it to our mayors and go to the homes for the aged. We attract attention with our stands and concerts, and organise Christmas parties for many children. It is like a wave of happiness that overwhelms us all with happiness and brings the “celebrated Guest” back as the central point of Christmas.» On Sunday, 20 December, St. Peter’s Square will celebrate the Children’s Jubilee and Pope Francis will bless the statues of Baby Jesus. On the same day, the TV programme Sua Immagine (Rai Channel 1 at 10.30), will be dedicated to children, and will broadcast the reportage on the project “They Have dislodged Jesus.”
This year, the usual appointment promoted by the youth of the Focolare and aims to involve the greatest number of people and institutions in their journey towards fraternity, will be cantered in Quito, Ecuador. The theme of inculturality, with a manifestation of the youth at the so-called “Other half of the world,” where one can enter with one foot in the boreal hemisphere and the other in the austral hemisphere. There will be days of dialogue among young people of different cultures, through work sessions, sharing and community tourism in a setting of exuberant nature. Complete information on the Ecuador programme is given on the site, www.munodunido2016.com. “Link Cultures – un camino para la paz” is the title that expresses the core of all the fraternity initiatives that will ensure simultaneously throughout the world, uniting generations and cultures in a unique workshop and can be traced through the hashtag #4peace. Run4Unity – Another novelty this year is the involvement of the kids: the wold sports event, Run4Unity, the world relay race for peace which in the previous editions saw the participation of thousands of teens, which will be held annually from now on, and will be inserted in the United World Week. The La Run4Unity 2016 will take place next 8 May. The Youth for a United World hope that this on-the-road International Expo, now running on its 20th anniversary be also recognised by the UN. The initiatives that come about during the year, and on which the United World Week focuses its spotlight, are all part of the United World Project.
