26 Feb 2003 | Non categorizzato
I am a law student and work in a Ministry in Paraguay. In order to defend my principles until their ultimate consequences, I often find myself going against the mainstream of a mentality that is the opposite of God’s design. An important person at work, who enjoyed certain privileges, was clearly behaving dishonestly. In order to justify himself he argued: “If you have decided to be a lawyer and not break any laws, you are wasting your time and will surely die of hunger.” I felt that it wasn’t true. I had the examples of many people who live according to their principles and I told him so. Though it was risky I had to do speak up, and I spoke with kindness. That inner voice won which told me it is an act of love to tell another that which is wrong. Just as I had feared, I lost my job for having expressed my convictions. Though I suffered terribly, I knew that I had acted in the right way, so I was serene at the same time. The knowledge that I have a Father for whom all is possible and who loves me beyond all measure is too strong. Doesn’t the Gospel say that the Father who cares for the birds of the sky cares all the more for us? Humanly speaking, the economic and employment situation in Paraguay left no hope. Yet that same evening, I received two job propositions. I had an interview the next day. What’s more the new job is more in line with my studies and therefore more interesting and formative. The thanks I hold in my heart for the Father is infinite. A new challenge opens before me and offers me thousands of opportunities to love and serve. P.C. – Paraguay From “The Little Flowers of Chiara and the Focolari” – St Paul Publishers
11 Feb 2003 | Non categorizzato
“The difficulties hanging upon the world’s horizons lead us to think that only an intervention from on High, capable of orienting the hearts of those who live in conflict situations and of those who hold the destinies of Nations, can bring hope for a future with less darkness.” Quoting from the Apostolic Letter, the Pope launched another appeal to make use of the ancient Marian prayer, the Rosary during the Angelus on Feb. 9.
Youth response: the Planetary Rosary for Peace. An enthusiastic participation: every minute of the 24-hour day (thanks to the different time zones) youth are reciting the Rosary with the special intention for peace for areas where it is threatened or where conflict has broken out as in the Holy Land, the Ivory Coast, the Congo etc. Here are the times for those who want to join the Youth for a United World initiative. Italy/ local time / places 1 —-> 18 Mexico, Central America 2 —-> 20 Chile, Perù, Colombia 3 —-> 22 Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela 4 —-> 8 India 5 —-> 8,10 Pakistan, Thailand 6 —-> 12 Singapore, Vietnam 7 —-> 14 Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia (Perth) 8 —-> 8 Germany 8 —-> 16 Korea, Japan 9 —-> 9 Belgium, Holland 9 —-> 8 Great Britain, Ireland, Ivory Coast 9 —-> 18 Australia 10 —> 10 Italy: Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Sicilia, Toscana 11 —> 11 Italy: Lombardia, Campania, Roma; Middle East 12 —> 12 Austria, Switzerland 12 —> 11 Portugal 13 —> 13 France 14 —> 14,15 Poland, Russia 15 —> 15 Czeck Rep., Slovakia 15 —> 17 Kenya 16 —> 16,15 Croatia 16 —> 18 Madagascar 17 —> 17 Slovenia 18 —> 18 Congo 18 —> 14 Brazil 19 —> 19 Cameroun 20 —> 20 South Africa; Italy: Abruzzo 21 —> 21 Hungary; Italy: Sardegna 22 —> 22 Madrid; Barcellona; Italy: Triveneto, Piemonte 23 —> 14 USA: San Antonio, Los Angeles; Western Canada 24 —> 16 USA: New York, Chicago; Canada: Toronto
11 Feb 2003 | Non categorizzato
The grave challenges confronting the world at the start of this new Millennium lead us to think that only an intervention from on high, capable of guiding the hearts of those living in situations of conflict and those governing the destinies of nations, can give reason to hope for a brighter future.
The Rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace, since it consists in the contemplation of Christ, the Prince of Peace, the one who is “our peace” (Eph 2:14). Anyone who assimilates the mystery of Christ – and this is clearly the goal of the Rosary – learns the secret of peace and makes it his life’s project. Moreover, by virtue of its meditative character, with the tranquil succession of Hail Marys, the Rosary has a peaceful effect on those who pray it, disposing them to receive and experience in their innermost depths, and to spread around them, that true peace which is the special gift of the Risen Lord (cf. Jn 14:27; 20.21).
The Rosary is also a prayer for peace because of the fruits of charity which it produces. When prayed well in a truly meditative way, the Rosary leads to an encounter with Christ in his mysteries and so cannot fail to draw attention to the face of Christ in others, especially in the most afflicted. How could one possibly contemplate the mystery of the Child of Bethlehem, in the joyful mysteries, without experiencing the desire to welcome, defend and promote life, and to shoulder the burdens of suffering children all over the world? How could one possibly follow in the footsteps of Christ the Revealer, in the mysteries of light, without resolving to bear witness to his “Beatitudes” in daily life? And how could one contemplate Christ carrying the Cross and Christ Crucified, without feeling the need to act as a “Simon of Cyrene” for our brothers and sisters weighed down by grief or crushed by despair? Finally, how could one possibly gaze upon the glory of the Risen Christ or of Mary Queen of Heaven, without yearning to make this world more beautiful, more just, more closely conformed to God’s plan?
In a word, by focusing our eyes on Christ, the Rosary also makes us peacemakers in the world. By its nature as an insistent choral petition in harmony with Christ’s invitation to “pray ceaselessly” (Lk 18:1), the Rosary allows us to hope that, even today, the difficult “battle” for peace can be won. Far from offering an escape from the problems of the world, the Rosary obliges us to see them with responsible and generous eyes, and obtains for us the strength to face them with the certainty of God’s help and the firm intention of bearing witness in every situation to “love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:14).
(Paragraph n. 40)
31 Jan 2003 | Non categorizzato, Word of
The psalm, from which the Word of Life is taken, reminds us that we are the people of God and that he wants to guide us, as a shepherd guides his flock, in order to lead us into the promised land. He who has thought of us from all eternity knows how we need to walk in order to live in fullness, to reach our true being. He lovingly suggests what we should do, what we should not do and he indicates the path to follow.
God speaks to us as friends because he wants to introduce us into communion with himself. If someone listens to his voice, the psalm concludes, he will enter into God’s rest, that is, into the promised land, into the joy of heaven.
Also Jesus compares himself to a shepherd who leads each one of us to the fullness of life. He speaks and his disciples, who know him, hear his voice and follow him. He promises them eternal life.
God’s voice reaches everyone. The Second Vatican Council reminds us of this: “Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, tells him inwardly at the right moment: do this, shun that. For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God.”
What should we do when God speaks to our heart? We should simply listen to his word, knowing that in biblical language, listening means adhering completely, obeying, complying with what is said to us. It’s like letting ourselves be taken by the hand and guided by God. We can trust him, like a child who abandons himself in the arms of his mother and allows himself to be carried by her. A Christian is a person who is guided by the Holy Spirit.
«Oh, that today you would hear his voice.»
Right after these words, the psalm continues: “Do not harden your hearts”. Jesus often spoke of the hardness of hearts. We can stand up against God, we can close ourselves to him and refuse to listen to his voice. A hard heart doesn’t allow itself to be shaped.
At times, it’s not even a matter of bad will. It’s because it’s hard to distinguish “that voice” in the midst of many other voices that resound within us. Our heart is often polluted by too many deafening noises: they are the disorderly inclinations that lead to sin, the mentality of this world which is contrary to the plan of God, fashions, lifestyles, advertising slogans…. We know how easy it is to confuse our own opinions and desires with the inner voice of the Spirit, how easy it is, therefore, to fall into arbitrariness and subjectivity.
I must never forget that the Reality is within me. I must silence everything within in order to discover the voice of God there. And I need to draw it out as if I were extracting a diamond from the mud: polish it up, highlight it and allow it to guide me. Then I can be a guide for others as well, because this subtle voice of God which urges on and enlightens, this lymph which rises up from the depths of the soul, is wisdom, it is love, and love is meant to be given.
«Oh, that today you would hear his voice.»
How can we sharpen our supernatural sensitivity and evangelical intuition in order to perceive the suggestions of that voice?
First of all we need to constantly re-evangelize ourselves by becoming more and more familiar with the word of God, reading, meditating, living the Gospel, so that we increasingly acquire a Gospel mentality. We will learn to recognize God’s voice within ourselves in the measure that we get to know it from the lips of Jesus, Word of God become man. And we can ask for this in prayer.
Then we’ll have to allow the risen Lord to live in us, denying ourselves, waging war on our selfishness, on our “old self”, always lying in wait. This means that we must always be ready to say “no” to all that goes against God’s will and to say “yes” to all that he wants; “no” to ourselves in the moment of temptation, cutting short with its suggestions, and “yes” to carrying out what God has entrusted to us; “yes” to loving every neighbor; “yes” to the trials and difficulties we encounter.
Finally, it will be easier to discern the voice of God if we have the risen Lord in our midst, that is, if we love one another, creating oases of communion, of brotherhood around us. Jesus in our midst is like the loudspeaker that amplifies the voice of God within each one of us so that we can hear it more clearly. The apostle Paul also teaches that Christian love lived in the community enriches us more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception to discern what is of value.
Our life will then be lived as if between two fires: God in us and God in our midst. In this divine furnace we will be formed and trained in listening to and following Jesus.
A life guided as much as possible by the Holy Spirit is indeed beautiful: it has spice, zest, drive, it is authentic and filled with light.
Chiara Lubich
