Chiara Lubich's commentary on the Word of life of March 2006
“To live” the truth? We “learn” the truth; we “speak” the truth…. But for Jesus, truth is “lived out.” Jesus always takes us by surprise.
Even Nicodemus, a Rabbi and a member of the Sanhedrin, was surprised. He had gone to ask Jesus how one could enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus replied that he would have to be reborn, that is, he would have to accept the new life that Jesus had come to bring on earth and to allow himself to be inwardly transformed by it to the point of becoming a son of God and thus enter into his very world. Salvation, rather than being a human accomplishment, is a gift from on High.
Nicodemus, who came to see Jesus at night, in the darkness, went away full of light.
«Whoever lives the truth comes to the light.»
This Word of Life is an invitation to act in conformity with the truth, in harmony with the Gospel. It asks us to be people who are “doers of the word and not hearers only” (Jas 1:22; see 1 Jn 3:18). One of the Fathers of the Church, Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, said that “there is nothing about the Word of God that cannot be lived out: everything that is said in it needs to be put into practice. The Words of God are decrees” (PL 9,295).
Our faith and our moral behavior are closely linked together.
In Jesus, as clearly appears in his intense discourse with Nicodemus, the light, the life and the love he lived out all coincide. So too they should coincide in those who accept him and become, in him, sons of God. Another Father of the Church, Clement of Alexandria, wrote: “Those who obey the Lord and because of him live their lives according to Scripture will then be fully transformed in the image of the Teacher: he or she will make it to live like God on earth” (PG 9,539C).
The same coherence is asked of those who do not profess a specific religious creed. The deep convictions that conscience dictates require that they be translated into deeds.
«Whoever lives the truth comes to the light.»
The result of living out the truth is to come to the light, “to accept Christ.” Jesus promised us: “Whoever loves me… I will reveal myself to him” (Jn 14:21). He is the “true light” (Jn 1:9).
But the result of living out the truth is also the witness that radiates beyond ourselves and into that area of society we live and work in. Jesus had already said this when he invited us to make our light “shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16).
A consistent life is more eloquent than any speech. Children ask that their parents practice what they preach: they want them to be united, to be intent on maintaining and consolidating the harmony in their family. Citizens expect consistency in the political leaders they have elected: that they be faithful to their campaign promises, that they be effectively concerned about the common good, and that they be honest in their administration of financial resources. Students ask their teachers to be consistent in their obligations to teach and to educate. Honesty, transparency, competence are all elements that are asked of people in business, in professions, and in every kind of work.
Society is built up and improved also through the witness of consistency between the ideals we profess and the practical choices we make each day.
«Whoever lives the truth comes to the light.»
This is the experience of people like Nelson Mandela, who remained steadfast in his quest for equality, enduring many difficult years in prison, only to emerge victorious as his nation’s leader, and of people like Martin Luther King, Jr., who paid with his very life for living out what he believed.
This is also the experience of many men and women who remain unknown but are no less authentic and heroic in the choices they make. For instance, this was the case of a small business owner who was asked to accept an illegal bid in exchange for new supplies. He opted to remain faithful to his principles. It was a difficult decision, for he made it with the full awareness that by being honest, he risked losing a large part of his sales. In fact, the merchandise chain that sold his products held back its orders, bringing his business to the brink of bankruptcy. After a few months, however, the merchandise chain was forced to backtrack on its decision because so many shoppers had complained when they no longer found the small business products on the shelves. A consistent way of life was rewarded.
Chiara Lubich
[:it]Al fisico Ugo Amaldi il Premio Renata Borlone[:es]Al físico Ugo Amaldi el Premio Renata Borlone[:pt]O físico Ugo Amaldi recebe o Prêmio Renata Borlone
[:it]“Noi e l’Islam”
A world without poverty, Christian identity and religious plurality
A world without poverty, Christian identity and religious plurality
have been among the themes of the 9th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches which took place in Brazil, Porto Alegre, 14-23 February 2006
20/02/2006
The World Council of Churches’ strategy to promote economic justice, a world without poverty, Christian identity and religious plurality was the central topic dealt with in the 9th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, which took place in Porto Alegre (Brazil) from February 14 to 23. The Assembly met under an auspicious title: “God, in your grace, transform the world.”
The participants numbered 4,000 and included delegations from the 347 member Churches of WCC which have a total following of 550 million faithful (Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox).
A Catholic delegation also attended the Assembly, guided by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity. During the opening of the Assembly, he read the message of the Pope which re-affirms the commitment “to seek ways to cooperate ever more effectively in the task of witnessing to God’s divine love.” Joan Back (from the “Centro Uno,” Focolare center for ecumenical dialogue) was part of the delegation. Though not a member of WCC, the Catholic Church nevertheless offers its collaboration through the meetings of a joint working group between the Roman Catholic Church and the WCC, and through the commitment to carry out joint projects.
During the plenary on “economic justice,” various experiences of church alternatives to the present economic system were shared. Vera Araujo, Brazilian sociologist, presented the Economy of Communion project, initiated by the Focolare Movement 15 years ago.
The leaders of the various Churches expressed their concern about the “increasing inequality, the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, and the destruction that is threatening our planet – all problems which are aggravated by the scandal of poverty in the South, that is now expanding to the North.” Such statements were offered vigorously in the Appeal composed by the “Justice, peace and creation” Commission, and explain the reason behind the choice of the Assembly logo: “Gathered at Porto Alegre, the place where the World Social Forum was held, we are encouraged by the constructive and positive message” launched by those Movements “which tell us that there are other possible solutions.”